They're alright. I've only really climbed trees...and part of a mountain, but there wasn't much of a view due to all the smoke.
[Because it's totally normal to just climb an actively erupting volcano. Though it's the Goron's fault, ultimately, for living on an active volcano. But they also eat rocks, so lava might just be akin to a really hot bath to them.]
[He says it lightly, a bit like a joke. To each their own, really; not everyone likes heights, or so he's heard. But there's something quite special about climbing a mountain.
[Beneath his mask, Link's eyes widen by fractions, his breath catching for just a moment. The name of a place he hasn't thought about in quite a while...could it be that they hail from the same place? He has spent a long time relying on an anonymity granted by this place that he has neither earned nor deserved. If there's a chance this person could know him, or know of him...maybe it's time for him to face that.
He's quiet for a beat, thinking about his response, and then overthinking, and rethinking. Finally, he lets his hesitation dissipate.]
They're Gorons. I assumed the volcano was a perk, for them.
[The villagers in Kakariko don't seem to mind it too much either. But they're kind of a strange lot anyway, so.
There's just enough of a pause in the conversation to let Link get distracted by a couple down below, one of whom is having a very hard time staying right-side up. It takes the mention of Hyrule to get him to realize what he agreed with.]
...You are? [And then there's the name.
He's looking his companion over now, quickly trying to figure out if he's seen him before. Whatever magic the masquerade is employing is doing a good job at preventing that, though, so that gets him nowhere. They seem to be around the same age, so maybe 'Link' is a far more common name than he thought.]
[Well, that was unexpected. Surprise is evident on Link's face, even beneath the mask, at the admission.] Really? [he blurts out, without thinking.
In all honesty, as unexpected as it is...he can't say he's not relieved. It's not as though everyone in Hyrule knew him, but the idea that someone might know the Hylian Champion...well, it felt very slightly intimidating. He was steeling himself to the possibility that he might have to face that, but in reality, he's relieved he doesn't have to. Not right now, at least.]
I've heard it's not an uncommon name, [he adds momentarily. Many generations picked up the names of legendary heroes, after all. It's certainly possible that there's more to it, of course, but he's never been one to worry overmuch about things like that.]
[It is alright with him, something he shows with a nod. And so the music begins -- step, two, three, repeat. Some of the dancers waltz together, swaying romantically, floating into the air. Others move with an airier step, dancing lightly across the room. Link hasn't observed the other dancers as much as his partner has, so he sticks with what he knows. In some ways, the Hyrulean waltz is a little more formal, but it's easy enough to lead or to follow that it's meant to be a backdrop. The Royal Guard's dancing instructors had called it...what had they said? "An easy dance for conversation."
That's the part he's always had trouble with, anyway.
The anonymity granted by the mask makes this a good time to...work on things like that, perhaps. Or, at least, not to feel as burdened by them. He takes his time with his words nonetheless, thinking them through. Overthinking, some might say.]
So, [he begins, a little stiffly,] How have you been finding all of this?
[He can't gesture at the party, but he nods toward the larger part of the ballroom: the dancers, the food, the activities.]
[ At first, Naminé's focus is on the dance - for the sake of her partner's feet, if for no other reason. Conscientiously she follows along, learning the steps as they move, and to her pleasant surprise, it's easier than she'd expected. (Perhaps her anticipation was too great in light of her typical experiences; Alastor's style always has been more creatively energetic than this neater, more regulated fashion.)
Presently, without knowing it to be intended, she finds she has quite a lot of room left over in her mind for conversation. It's about that time that her eyes finally lift to find Link's, and from there her focus lingers. Resumed is that analytical consideration of hers as she meets his gaze with open curiosity, hardly aware at all of doing so.
And abruptly she realizes - with the benefit of a far greater sensitivity to those same social cues - that he's perhaps as hesitant as she is, only in a different tone. Sympathy, therefore, softens her expression, where before she might have remained as stiff as he is. ]
It's... all very exciting, [ she admits, sounding thoughtful; the 'but' is implied in her tone before she actually continues. ] And a little strange.
[ Step, two, three - it's easy enough, so Naminé sets her mind to how best to connect with her companion instead. Not because they're obligated to, or because it's what's expected, but-- because she wants to ease that caution between them, that uncertainty fundamental in interacting with a stranger. Ironically, she confesses more about herself than she might so easily were she aware they knew each other prior in her, ]
Most of my life, I've been alone, so I always hoped I'd see something like this someday. But now that I'm here-- [ A beat passes as she considers how to phrase the sentiment. A little quieter, ] I guess I wasn't expecting them to make a game out of it.
[The movement helps, as Link has found; it's hard to be self-conscious about conversation or dancing when you're forced to focus on both at the same time. It may not be the most interesting style of dance --there are plenty of "country dances" in regions of Hyrule that are far more spirited-- but it's meant to be simple. In a way, Link is grateful for that...dancing has never been something for which he had a particular affinity. Maybe when he was young, but certainly not since being chosen by the Master Sword.
His partner's eyes on him call forth a feeling of knowing that he finds a little surprising. In his travels, Link has become used to a measure of anonymity not granted in his life before the Calamity...a measure he was truly grateful to have, as he struggled to find his identity amidst his lack of memories. The masks serve a similar purpose, and here, now, her gaze seems to cut through it, as if she can see who he really is beneath it. As though she knows how he is, if not who he is. It's not unnerving, exactly, but it is surprising, and for a moment, he has to focus much more intently on the dance to avoid a misstep. It's strange, really, the things that can trip you up if you aren't expecting them.
Nonetheless, he finds her words somewhat relatable. Exciting and strange...he can understand that, and nods in agreement, smiling faintly.
Here, too, he thinks cautiously about his words...and when she continues, he becomes even more glad that he held his thoughts. He has the impression that she's trusting him with something, perhaps a memory that is seldom shared. After a beat, he responds,]
... Alone?
[That is something he can understand, in ways; his time in the wild has been spent alone, for the most part, and while it can be nice to have the quiet...well, it does make for long, lonely nights. If she wants to speak more about it, he'd like to listen, but he keeps his tone gentle, in case she's not so eager to share.]
[ At the echo of her own word, there's a flicker of something hesitant in Naminé's expression. She's been careless already, she realizes, to admit to even that much. Although she's spent the night mostly unaffected by her newfound anonymity, here it is that she's made her first real misstep, and yet--
And yet there's a certain appeal in voicing what she mightn't otherwise - in being known, just a little bit, in ways her life has rarely allowed for. The past is an ugly thing, and so Naminé typically holds it safe and quiet in the depths of her mind, where it can harm nobody but her. This stranger, though... he has no cause to be troubled by it, does he? He's got no obligation or reason to care, like family or a friend might. (Except - he seems the sort to do so anyway, considering how he inquired in the first place.) She doesn't mean to burden him for his kindness, but, she decides finally, perhaps she can at least assuage his curiosity.
At some point, her gaze has fallen toward their feet again, not out of necessity but out of an inability to meet Link's. When she draws them up, she offers him along with their attention the barest, most apologetic of smiles, as if to lighten the answer before she ever speaks it. ]
You could say... that my existence has been unusual from the start. [ In so many more ways than one. ] When I was younger, I never went to school, and making friends just wasn't possible for me. In fact, it wasn't until I came to this world that I really started to live my own life.
[ Now, finally, she can't hold that wan smile any longer. Mouth pursing, Naminé considers him a moment, then shakes her head, bowing it slightly. ]
But that's-- a very long and complicated story.
[ Her tone, eager to dismiss it as she sounds, suggests that she rather hopes he'll assume it to be a boring one. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
MASQUERADE OVERFLOW
LINK @timesensitive
Link shakes his head at the question, leaning forward a bit to look down at the festivities.]
Not specifically. But I like heights. What about you?
no subject
They're alright. I've only really climbed trees...and part of a mountain, but there wasn't much of a view due to all the smoke.
[Because it's totally normal to just climb an actively erupting volcano. Though it's the Goron's fault, ultimately, for living on an active volcano. But they also eat rocks, so lava might just be akin to a really hot bath to them.]
no subject
[He says it lightly, a bit like a joke. To each their own, really; not everyone likes heights, or so he's heard. But there's something quite special about climbing a mountain.
A beat. Wait, what?] ... Smoke?
no subject
[Well, the part that was easiest to climb. Seems someone built a whole temple inside said volcano for Reasons.]
It's called Death Mountain...you'd think that would stop people from living near it, but it doesn't.
no subject
He's quiet for a beat, thinking about his response, and then overthinking, and rethinking. Finally, he lets his hesitation dissipate.]
They're Gorons. I assumed the volcano was a perk, for them.
[He flashes a faint smile.]
I, too, am from Hyrule. My name is Link.
no subject
[The villagers in Kakariko don't seem to mind it too much either. But they're kind of a strange lot anyway, so.
There's just enough of a pause in the conversation to let Link get distracted by a couple down below, one of whom is having a very hard time staying right-side up. It takes the mention of Hyrule to get him to realize what he agreed with.]
...You are? [And then there's the name.
He's looking his companion over now, quickly trying to figure out if he's seen him before. Whatever magic the masquerade is employing is doing a good job at preventing that, though, so that gets him nowhere. They seem to be around the same age, so maybe 'Link' is a far more common name than he thought.]
My name is also Link.
no subject
In all honesty, as unexpected as it is...he can't say he's not relieved. It's not as though everyone in Hyrule knew him, but the idea that someone might know the Hylian Champion...well, it felt very slightly intimidating. He was steeling himself to the possibility that he might have to face that, but in reality, he's relieved he doesn't have to. Not right now, at least.]
I've heard it's not an uncommon name, [he adds momentarily. Many generations picked up the names of legendary heroes, after all. It's certainly possible that there's more to it, of course, but he's never been one to worry overmuch about things like that.]
Nice to meet you, Link.
NAMINÉ @lethechained
That's the part he's always had trouble with, anyway.
The anonymity granted by the mask makes this a good time to...work on things like that, perhaps. Or, at least, not to feel as burdened by them. He takes his time with his words nonetheless, thinking them through. Overthinking, some might say.]
So, [he begins, a little stiffly,] How have you been finding all of this?
[He can't gesture at the party, but he nods toward the larger part of the ballroom: the dancers, the food, the activities.]
no subject
Presently, without knowing it to be intended, she finds she has quite a lot of room left over in her mind for conversation. It's about that time that her eyes finally lift to find Link's, and from there her focus lingers. Resumed is that analytical consideration of hers as she meets his gaze with open curiosity, hardly aware at all of doing so.
And abruptly she realizes - with the benefit of a far greater sensitivity to those same social cues - that he's perhaps as hesitant as she is, only in a different tone. Sympathy, therefore, softens her expression, where before she might have remained as stiff as he is. ]
It's... all very exciting, [ she admits, sounding thoughtful; the 'but' is implied in her tone before she actually continues. ] And a little strange.
[ Step, two, three - it's easy enough, so Naminé sets her mind to how best to connect with her companion instead. Not because they're obligated to, or because it's what's expected, but-- because she wants to ease that caution between them, that uncertainty fundamental in interacting with a stranger. Ironically, she confesses more about herself than she might so easily were she aware they knew each other prior in her, ]
Most of my life, I've been alone, so I always hoped I'd see something like this someday. But now that I'm here-- [ A beat passes as she considers how to phrase the sentiment. A little quieter, ] I guess I wasn't expecting them to make a game out of it.
no subject
His partner's eyes on him call forth a feeling of knowing that he finds a little surprising. In his travels, Link has become used to a measure of anonymity not granted in his life before the Calamity...a measure he was truly grateful to have, as he struggled to find his identity amidst his lack of memories. The masks serve a similar purpose, and here, now, her gaze seems to cut through it, as if she can see who he really is beneath it. As though she knows how he is, if not who he is. It's not unnerving, exactly, but it is surprising, and for a moment, he has to focus much more intently on the dance to avoid a misstep. It's strange, really, the things that can trip you up if you aren't expecting them.
Nonetheless, he finds her words somewhat relatable. Exciting and strange...he can understand that, and nods in agreement, smiling faintly.
Here, too, he thinks cautiously about his words...and when she continues, he becomes even more glad that he held his thoughts. He has the impression that she's trusting him with something, perhaps a memory that is seldom shared. After a beat, he responds,]
... Alone?
[That is something he can understand, in ways; his time in the wild has been spent alone, for the most part, and while it can be nice to have the quiet...well, it does make for long, lonely nights. If she wants to speak more about it, he'd like to listen, but he keeps his tone gentle, in case she's not so eager to share.]
no subject
And yet there's a certain appeal in voicing what she mightn't otherwise - in being known, just a little bit, in ways her life has rarely allowed for. The past is an ugly thing, and so Naminé typically holds it safe and quiet in the depths of her mind, where it can harm nobody but her. This stranger, though... he has no cause to be troubled by it, does he? He's got no obligation or reason to care, like family or a friend might. (Except - he seems the sort to do so anyway, considering how he inquired in the first place.) She doesn't mean to burden him for his kindness, but, she decides finally, perhaps she can at least assuage his curiosity.
At some point, her gaze has fallen toward their feet again, not out of necessity but out of an inability to meet Link's. When she draws them up, she offers him along with their attention the barest, most apologetic of smiles, as if to lighten the answer before she ever speaks it. ]
You could say... that my existence has been unusual from the start. [ In so many more ways than one. ] When I was younger, I never went to school, and making friends just wasn't possible for me. In fact, it wasn't until I came to this world that I really started to live my own life.
[ Now, finally, she can't hold that wan smile any longer. Mouth pursing, Naminé considers him a moment, then shakes her head, bowing it slightly. ]
But that's-- a very long and complicated story.
[ Her tone, eager to dismiss it as she sounds, suggests that she rather hopes he'll assume it to be a boring one. ]