Afterglow [OPEN]

[SERAPHINA HERODOR]

Seraphina, for all her lack of formality, poise, grace and etiquette, rarely drank. A simple fact, strange though it may seem, but she scarcely had the time. Far too many inventions to make, to test and to refine, so much nonsensical challenges for her position. As if any could take her from her vaunted position. But tonight, after many nights of hard labour, she drank. And boy was she drinking heavily. A celebration, to her completion of her workshops, her laboratories, her private secluded realm, deep under Death Mountain, where few could venture, and return alive. Fewer still would even find the place.

It was a bold and masterful design, the location fuelling her experimentation, being a natural ward against intruders, and feeling more like home than anything else. Soon, she would reveal its creation to the foppish idiots withing the Hylian Court. Then they would see sense. Hopefully. She sloshed back another powerful spirit, her unusual biology seeming to burn the alcohol out of her system. Even so, the volume she was consuming was enough to make her tipsy, despite her otherworldly assistance.

[red]Barkeep! Another! Make it a double this time![/red]

She was smiling the whole time, before the barkeep looked at her reproachfully.

[yellow]Miss, that was a double.[/yellow]

She looked at the drink, then back at the man, still grinning broadly.

[red]So it was! Then a quadruple! Quick, quick, before I burn this load off as well![/red]

He returned to his serving with a sigh, before passing the glass to her. She noticed none of this, so pre-occupied with telling anyone who would listen about her grand achievement.

[red]...tremendous! Truly, it puts a new meaning to hot-spot! It's pleasantly warm all year round, and better yet, aids my wares![/red]

Many listened with rapt attention, as she failed to point out the reason it was 'pleasantly warm' to her was because she was basically on fire all the time. And that it was in a volcano.

[Kulau]

Kulau was walking through the town, eagerly awaiting the moment he could enter the castle and meet the princess about the pressing issues. He was impatient, but he understood he wasn't as high a priority as some other things.

Walking past one of the bars dotting the road, he heard a commotion and a unique brand of heat coming from one of the many bars. He peeked inside to see none other than the human Seraphina, a woman of importance, in a way. He walked inside and took a seat next to Seraphina, smiling and bowing his head respectfully.

"Serphina Herodor, champion of the humans. It is a pleasure to see you well. You haven't been by Zora's Domain recently, and I was wondering if you had returned to the mountains." The barkeep walked to Kulau, asking if the Zora wanted anything to drink.

"No thank you sir, just some water would be nice." Being around the fiery champion dehydrated him quickly, but to him, she was nobility, and should be regarded with respect.

[OOC: I looked at your history, and figured you had been around the Domain. As a diplomat, Kulau would at least have basic knowledge of who you were.]

[Nadia al Khalifa]

"HEY! YOU!"

The door was opened and Nadia entered into yet another bar. She fully enjoyed this new discovery of bars outside of the desert. She grinned as she flagged down the man who had offered the couple some alcohol. "Don't you go anywhere unless you plan on bringing me ale. And lots of it!" she exclaimed in that oh so familiar mannerism of hers. The bar was Nadia's home, and the people in it were her family.

Nadia quickly sat down across from Seraphina and giggled with glee as a tankard of ale was placed in front of her. "Ms. Herodor here will cover my tab, thank you!" she said to the bartender with a dismissive wave of her hand. She had overheard the zora acknowledging her, and ever being comfortable around people Nadia was one to not pass up an opportunity such as this.

Namely getting free booze.

Her hand rummaged in her pocket and she produced Lucy, the rabbit stone, slapping it down on the table. "Meet Lucy, she'll be keeping track of everything I won't remember tomorrow!" Nadia said, explaining. It was routine for her, considering she was regularly in bars and regularly forgetting the events of the night before. "And I'm Nadia al Khalifa, your new best friend!" she said with a flamboyant grin. Anyone who bought Nadia alcohol was a friend of hers.

[SERAPHINA HERODOR]

The shot vanished down her neck as quickly as it had been noticed. Her 'tolerance' for alcohol clearly impressed many of the males in the establishment, but unfortunately for her, was probably not great for her publicity. Not that she cared, she was a misfit and a renegade in all honesty. Someone most people believed failed to uphold the ideals upon which their nation was founded. Seraphina almost laughed at the thought, before turning to look at the Zora sat next to her. The face seemed familiar, but the alcohol that had actually managed to get to her fogged her mind somewhat.

[red]Huh?[/red]

A truly intelligent reply. She quickly recovered, composing herself, her hand coming up to her head, rubbing her temple slightly, before continuing, a measure of self-awareness returning to her.

[red]Oh, yes... The Domain. Sorry, I've been... Pre-occupied of late. The mountain... Yeah, I was there. Had some... Personal affairs to get in order. I'm sorry, but I don't even know your name friend! I'd give you mine, but you already have it![/red]

Making a fool of herself? Check. Still managing to sound exactly the same as always? Half-check, a few more pauses than normal but otherwise just about fine. She looked at the Zora, as always forgetting the fact that she was generating such a lot of body heat.

[red]A little parched are w... Hey![/red]

A bluster of red had suddenly dropped herself across from her, and had immediately gotten an ale. On HER tab. Her eyes blazed for a moment, her hair glowing slightly, before she looked on curiously at the strange device she produced. She cocked her head, eyes still alight, hair still aglow, but with an entirely different, non-menacing light. She looked up at this... Nadia, before smiling slightly.

[red]Everyone seems to know my name, now tell me, what IS this curious thing you have here? Some sort of... Device to recall previous events I presume?[/red]

Her keen eyes began the process of disassembling the mechanisms in the strange thing she called Lucy, turning it over in her mind, looking on with near fanatical interest, entirely forgetting that this woman had just commandeered a spot on her tab.

[Kulau]

Kulau sipped the water, accepting that a highly ranked figure could be busy. But she seemed to amuse some of the Zoras, whether or not that was actually a good thing was a judgment call.

Now there was another in the room. A redhead with little respect of authority. Ordering drinks on Seraphina's tab was unacceptable in his eyes. He needed to divert the attention somehow. He didn't want to do it, but he felt like he had to just to prevent any incidents. Besides, he was only going to have water.

He hailed the bartender. "Excuse me sir, please have the tab of Ms. Khalifa to my own. Lady Seraphina will not be paying for her." he then turned to Nadia, scorn in his fishy eyes.

"I feel a little respect is in order, Gerudo." He narrowed his eyes as he returned to his water, chugging it before ordering a refill.

[Nadia al Khalifa]

Nadia blinked the fiercest of blinks as she looked across at Seraphina, who suddenly inquired into Lucy. The dumbstruck gaze was taken off by the sudden intake of a tankard of ale into her system, and the exuberant expression on her face as she flagged down another tankard. Nadia had long since developed a very strong resistance to alcohol, so she had to speed through the first few tankards in order to even feel anything. And then the fish man took up her tab. Even nicer!

"Lucy? No, Lucy's just a stone. But she has a pretty good memory, so she remembers for me and tells me the stories of my own hi-jinks in the morning!" she said with a wide, goofy grin. "And I can get up to some hi-jinks," she added, throwing Seraphina a wink. The woman was quite fiery, and while she seemed to be too much of a thinker for her own good, she did strike a fancy within Nadia, the ever flamboyant womanizer herself.

Especially when she was drunk.

"Another tankard!" she said excitedly as she waved her second empty pint in the air. "On my fine fishy friend!" she said with glee. "And I don't see why I need to respect anyone who is too far up their own ass to buy me a drink. Our Herodor isn't like that, are you?"

[SERAPHINA HERODOR]

Seraphina continued to look at 'Lucy', turning it over in her minds eye while Nadia spoke about 'her'. The mage's hair dimmed, her eyes reduced to a simmer, the air around her cooled down, and she looked a little sad. A shame. No internal workings. No mechanism. Nothing. Just a hunk of rock. With... A memory? She shrugged. She'd heard stranger. She'd made stranger. She looked up at Nadia, smiling again, the light returning slightly to her eyes. Oh well, at least she'd made a friend. Of sorts.

[red]Ah well. A shame, I thought I could replicate the design. But, if it's just a rock blessed with a good memory, who am I to judge I suppose! Whatever works! Barkeep, another quad on my tab if you will.[/red]

She looked now at the Zora, her eyes continued to flicker, as she regarded her statement, thinking for a moment. A good point really. But really? All this stiff formality, what a load of nonsense. She waved her hand half-heartedly, a good-natured waving off.

[red]Oh it's no trouble. I've got this. I have money to burn. Ha! Money to burn! Oh the irony![/red]

She burst into a fit of alcohol fuelled giggling for a moment, before shaking her head, smiling at the Zora.

[red]Besides, I'm celebrating, and I would not cause someone else to pick up the tab on sharing in my merriment.[/red]

She seemed to miss Nadia's last comment, as her fresh round, along with the water refill and another tankard of ale, were delivered to their table. She raised her glass, standing up, shakily, swaying slightly.

[red]To good health, good fortune, and praying that my foundries work properly![/red]

A strange end to the toast, but one that she said regardless. Things generally sounded better while tipsy. Verging on slightly drunk. The shot thundered down her throat, a burning not afflicted by flame tickling at her. A delightful experience. She smiled, before sitting down, a little clumsily, almost knocking the tankard over, landing somewhat heavily, a small pout on her lips.

[Kulau]

Kulau shrugged, eyeing Nadia with suspicion. He didn't trust her one bit, just strolling in here and putting drinks on other people's tabs. But Seraphina didn't seem to mind, if she wanted to pay for Nadia, Kulau wouldn't stop her.

"As you wish, milady." He smiled at the burning commentary, but didn't laugh. In all honesty, he just didn't find it money. He also had plenty of money, and was just trying to be polite. He blamed Nadia, it was her fault. She should have never thrusted the tab onto someone else.

"To the continued prosperity of Hyrule." Kulau raised his glass of water and drank it down, asking the barkeep for another.

[Nadia al Khalifa]

A toast? Oh yes, some people did that with their drinks before drinking them. Nadia usually had hers gone before such an act could even be thought of, but seeing as how all of their drinks arrived conveniently at once, Nadia decided to partake. "To getting plastered with new friends, however fishy they may be!" she announced loudly and raised her tankard high before tipping it backward down her throat. Tankards didn't last long; Nadia had built up an immunity to the bitter, burning taste of the fluid inside long ago.

Third tankard down and she was only just feeling the effects. Not that Nadia needed the alcohol to loosen up. Actually after a few more drinks her company might begin to see the other side of her that came out only when she was remarkably drunk. Lucy had spoken of the other Nadia with . . . well rocks don't convey emotion or inflection very well, but Nadia liked to imagine her other side struck fear into the hearts of all those around her with her boisterous nature. She had to be worth something, since it was her fault Nadia woke up next to so many strangers!

Or new friends, however one might look at it.

With a wide cheerful grin across her face and the rosy color of her cheeks just beginning to glow Nadia looked back and forth between her two friends. The fiery one was fun. Nadia liked her so far. But the fish . . . well there weren't many zora in the desert and the sight of him still gave her the willies. Fish belonged in the water, not in a bar drinking water. "Have you ever been to the desert?" she asked, randomly, of the fishy one. "I've always wondered if zora go to the desert."

[SERAPHINA HERODOR]

The toast went down alright, despite her clumsy descent. And better yet, the Zora and the other woman were actually speaking. Sort of. She frowned a little, before thinking on the woman's question, who from her talk of the desert, she presumed to be Gerudo. What a... Strange question... She was certain no Zora had ever entered the Gerudo desert. No water for miles, they would almost certainly die within hours. The one next to her seemed to be guzzling enough water to sink a ship. She sat anyways, restraining herself from stating the obvious.

[red]If you like hot places, you should see what I just finished making![/red]

She smiled genially, the pride of her achievement increased due to her inebriated state, as her cheeks began to redden slightly, her hair and eyes intensifying, the heat around her increasing in its ferocity. She seemed not to notice, but it was fairly localised, but still warm enough to be noticed.

[red]It's a wonderful place. I can make everything I would ever want to make down there, and nobody can pry! Nobody would make it down there. Nahuh![/red]

She smiled triumphantly, calling for another drink. Again. To hell with the consequences, it wasn't every day you finished your underground laboratories!

[Kulau]

While the other two at the bar were becoming more and more intoxicated, Kulau remained sober. He couldn't afford getting drunk, not with his mission being what it was.

He downed another water and asked for a refill. At this point, the bartender was satisfied just giving him a full pitcher, which didn't bother Kulau. Being around Seraphina was making him parched, but he would endure.

"No ma'am, I have not been to the desert. I have no need to visit the Gerudo. If the Zora were to attempt diplomatic relations with them, we would send a female instead." He filled his glass and drank. "No Zora has been sent to the desert since I began working for her majesty. However, that does not mean any have been there."

His attention then turned to Seraphina. He raised his glass again and smiled. "Congratulations champion."

[Nadia al Khalifa]

The more this Champion person spoke the more Nadia found herself growing fond of her. The more the fish spoke, the more Nadia found herself not caring. Business and diplomacy didn't matter to her outside of the caravan. When she was with her caravan she was the local diplomat in charge of public relations. But then it was nothing like this. Nadia didn't want to talk business here. She was away from the caravan, enjoying the time. She downed another tankard and leaned forward to Seraphina, making sure to give her a view as her arms crossed in front of her.

"Oh yeah? What kind of place is it?" she asked, showing interest where interest was due. She smiled widely, her elbows finding the table and propping up her head. "Maybe I can see it, get the grand tour!" she cooed, eagerly. Screw the fishy one, he was flopping around far too dryly. This Seraphina, though, she was certainly quite . . . attractive. "I definitely don't mind the heat, in fact I totally prefer doing things . . . hot." She was drunk; subtlety is not exactly her strongest attribute in this state.

^{OOC: GAH! Posting! Hard!}

[SERAPHINA HERODOR]

Seraphina smiled as she took the drink from the barkeep, who was looking slightly worried at this point, the heat that she was giving off creating a shimmer. Still, she continued unabated, spurred on by the congratulations and drunken comments. She blew a stray strand of incandescent hair out of her face, before readjusting the goggles on her forehead slightly, taking the gloves from her hands. The skin beneath was a pristine example of feminine flesh. Delicate, well kept, and aglow with a healthy composure. Or possibly just aglow.

[red]My thanks friend! Appreciated. Really, it is. I'm glad to hear my work can get SOME recognition at least. I'd offer a visit, but it would be completely at odds with your very being. What with it being in the middle of a lava flow.[/red]

She knocked the drink in her hand back down her throat, once again, the pleasant burning sensation rippling down before she felt a fresh wave of giddiness overtake her. She looked at Nadia just in time to catch a glimpse, but oblivious to the nature of the movement, she continued, smiling, encouraged by her wish to see it.

[red]I thought you'd like to see it. It's my personal retreat. Apparently, according to the Goron, it was a mine seam until the lava made it impracticable to strip out.[/red]

Her choice of language was fabulous as always. She, once again, seemed to not hear the meaning behind Nadia's words, and once again, used vocabulary to best effect.

[red]Everything I do in there is hot! I'm in a lava flow, and I'm a walking flashfire![/red]

She giggled at the thought, blinking her eyes to try and clear the fogginess in her eyes, turning to the Zora.

[red]Can I get you something a little stronger?[/red]

[Kulau]

Kulau wasn't bothered by the fact that Nadia was ignoring him in favor of Seraphina. He almost found it funny that Nadia seemed to be flirting with the champion. He downed his water and refilled his own glass. He didn't think Seraphina's workshop would be a good place for him.

"Sounds like a place I couldn't stay at for very long. But if I need to locate you, at least I know where." The human representative may have had limited political power, but she was still a representative, and therefore important.

However, at the mention of something stronger, he shook his head politely. "No thank you, champion. I have a meeting later on and I don't wish to be inebriated. It is a matter of importance after all." Truthfully, the meeting probably wasn't happening anytime soon, but regardless he wanted to be ready, which meant no crazy drinking nights for Kulau.

[Nadia al Khalifa]

Yeah, lava was a little much for Nadia. Contrary to popular belief the desert wasn't so much fire as earth. It was sand and stone everywhere, with little water and little life. There wasn't much that was combustible out there. It was really hot, yes, but it was more earth than fire. Nadia did not think lava would be the best thing for her complexion, but thankfully there were such things as inns and hostels and back alleys and other such areas to have some real fun with this one.

"There are other ways to have fun outside of lava flows," she said as seductively as possible, bringing her elbows closer together. Alcohol was a wonderful thing. It turned the strictest of people into loose cannons, capable to doing anything. It was just a matter of planting the ideas at the right time. Nadia had turned this into a science, much like Seraphina was interested in. Certain ideas at the right time can help her bed practically anyone she wants with enough amber influence.

"I'll have something stronger," Nadia exclaimed, her attention getting drawn to something she loved more than . . . well . . . fun. "Goron ale, bet you can't handle it, Ms. Champion!" she said with excitement, and furthering her devious plan to manipulate the leader of the humans. Nadia didn't really know or care. Booze was booze no matter your company. "You too, Fishy. You need to loosen up for your meeting. Things might actually get done. Right now you're just like a fish out of water!" she said and giggled at her own joke.

[Lord Balian of Ibelin]

A lone man was covered with a cloak as he entered the bar. He covered his head with the hood as he went past the commoners, and sat himself down on a stool, waiting for the bartender to come and take his order. "A mug of barley ale," he spoke to the bartender and nodded to him. He revealed his hand which is covered with a leather glove, the young man rubbed his nose with his finger for a while as he waited for his drink. Without sudden, a group of men or... drunkards approach the young man from behind. "Hey you, boy! You're the one who stole my money, didn't you?!" the "leader" of the drunkards yelled at him, but the young man turned his silvered eyes over his shoulder. "Kind sir, I think you're mistaken me for being a thief-" before he could speak further, one of the drunkards swung a chair against the young man. With quick reflexes, the hooded young man dodged the attack and the chair hit the bar counter, he grabbed the attacker's head and smashed him on a table nearby. "Get him!"

Tavern Brawl

The other drunkards charge at him but the hooded man already set his stance, he gave one of the drunkards with his elbow strike while kicked the other in the groin. One of the drunkards grabbed and captured him from behind, the hooded man struggled for a while and knocked the drunkard with the back of his head. The hood fell down and revealed the young man's face, he have a scar on his lips and long brown hair with two bangs hanging down the sides of his face and a short pony-tail which is tied with red ribbon down his nape. The last drunkard who was led his gang, draw out his dagger and tried to stab him in frontal charge but the young man, drew out his sword behind his cloak and deflected the drunkard's dagger, sent it flying and impaled on the ceiling.

Pointed his sword at the neck of the drunkard, the young man shook his head and took his cloak off. He was wearing a tabard and chainmail, he was a knight. Suddenly, another group of men but this time, knights with the same tabard like the young man's, approach the drunkards and point their blades at them. "How dare you attacked Lord Balian! You deserves no mercy!" one of the knights yelled and gave the drunkard a punch in the face. Balian raised his hand up after he sheathed his sword, the knights were put their swords at ease. "They're drunk, Almaric. Just go, begone." Balian said to the drunkards and they quickly get up onto their feet, "Thank you, my lord! Thank you!" the drunkards were trembled in fear and run out from the tavern's entrance, the knights later sheath their swords back into their scabbards.

As he turned around, Balian saw the barkeep was dumbfounded, or perhaps... stoned. "... 5 more barley ales," Balian said to the barkeep as he sat back to his seat, along with his knights who sit besides him.

[SERAPHINA HERODOR]

Seraphina's mind was far more fogged up by now. Every thought required a little more force to push through into true development. The smile continued to be planted firmly upon her face, inane, nonsensical. But it was a pleasant feeling. Drunkenness. A feeling she was entirely unfamiliar with, but was growing to like. She looked back and forth between the Zora and the Gerudo, processing their words. Meetings... A thought throbbed through her head, failing to take form.

[red]Meetings... Gah, don't you just hate them? All words, so rarely any action... I'm sure you're the same Nadia. Whoa, what's going on there![/red]

About to comment on her being able to handle anything Nadia could handle, a bar brawl broke out. Seraphina watched, her eyes somewhat glazed, trying to process the flurry of motion without causing her to feel queasy. Before she could even recognise the person who had been attacked, and so deftly defended himself against his multiple assailants, he and four others were sat around the table next to them, drinking ale. She blinking, smiling. Of course. That man.

[red]You do yourself proud Balian. Not seen moves that impressive since I last took to the field![/red]

She smirked at the man, raising her glass before draining on nothing, looking at the bottom, pouting. Typical really.

[red]I'm out again. What were you saying about Goron Ale Nadia? Oh, yeah. Two Goron Ales here please! Oh, and another water, are you sure you won't take anything else? It's on me after all. And might I please have your name, makes conversation that much easier, and I don't believe we have met until today.[/red]

She sounded surprisingly sober once again, but in actual fact, was simply fighting desperately against the slurring which fought to claw her sentences to ragged pieces. Seemed to be working. Didn't stop her speaking a tad too loudly.

[Kulau]

Kulau was debating giving in to peer pressure and getting a real drink or two. His thoughts were losing him until the tavern brawl broke out and he found himself ashamedly watching a bunch of drunkards throw fists at a hooded man with a leather glove. They didn't stand much of a chance though, and quickly fled.

Afterward, Kulau returned to facing the bar when he made his decision.

"Excuse me, bartender, I'll also have an ale." He then turned to hear Seraphina congratulating this man, whose name was apparently Balian. Not one Kulau had met in the past, but he seemed competent enough. Although his companion did appear protective.

"Kulau, champion. And please, the champion need not pay for a diplomat like myself. I can pay my own tab, although I thank you for the kind gesture." At that point, his ale came and he took a sip. He tasted it, and nodded approvingly. "This ale is quite good, I must say."

[Nadia al Khalifa]

Goron Ale, one of the most potent drinks in all of Hyrule. Part alcohol, part gravel, some said, and the taste seemed to mimic that recipe. That being said for those looking to get plastered fast there is no better alternative. The only problem was here in Castle Town it was watered down. In the desert even Nadia couldn't take on more than three tankards of Goron Ale without spilling some in her own drunken stupor. This was an impressive number, considering most people who weren't goron could barely handle a single tankard.

"You know I always wondered how they distilled rocks," she mused as another tankard was delivered. Before Nadia could further that thought there was a sudden fight. Nadia couldn't deny her gerudo instincts and turned to observe as the men fought quite deftly. Then weapons were drawn and Nadia's nose scrunched up. "You don't draw steel in a barfight! That's just not cool!" she said loudly for the men to hear, then batted her hand dismissively to the side, her interest in the scrap was gone when the knights cheated. Self-righteous pricks.

But the fish was now indulging. This brought a wide grin to Nadia's face and she raised her tankard of Goron Ale to him. "I bet the meetings will go all the smoother because of it!" she said, her voice getting steadily louder the more she drank. The tankard met her lips and didn't come down until it was completely upside down, the contents emptied in record time. It didn't find the table, either, but the floor as Nadia tipped too far back and fell to the floor with her feet up in the air. "Oops!" she said from the ground and giggled drunkenly. "Sera, you should come down, it's comfortable!"