Now helping wrap up the party, Link found himself swept up in a crowd of guards, Sheikah and Hylian alike. They often went on to after party for some time with the serving class after a large party, as once the guests were in their beds there was often still much food and drink that would go to waste otherwise. Still, Link had never actually attended one; he'd been too young before, and this was the first party he'd attended since returning from his quest.

Normally he wouldn't join in, but on a night like it was, Link didn't want to be alone. He wanted to find distraction from the events of earlier and how the princess had felt in his arms, even as out of her wits she'd been.

So that's how he was in a courtyard, passing around a bottle of leftover rice wine, wincing at the flavor. The company was some Hylian guards, a Sheikah guard, and a Rito who'd happened upon them. It was mostly laughing at various antics, like the Rito's impression of a nobleman who'd lost his wits while on a hunting expedition. Somehow though, the topic of women and romantic endeavors were brought up. Even that was mostly laughing at one of the men's poor luck.

"So, Hero," one of the Hylian guards said, passing the rice wine on, "you must have better luck than Ralf here."

Link laughed and didn't answer, assuming it was a sarcastic, rhetorical question. When they continued to look at him, he sobered slightly. Were he not feeling the effects of alcohol he wouldn't have said anything even with the awkward air, but his judgment was impaired. "I don't know about that..."

"What is the Hero's taste?" someone asked, "I've never seen him around a lady other than the Princess or Lady Paya."

Link turned red and said nothing.

"Well, they're both pretty ladies in different ways," Link said, trying to avoid his obvious favoritism. Tonight already turned a few heads, though if there was even any point to pretending otherwise Link wasn't sure. Officially nothing was going, or could go, on. Still, these men didn't seem to be teasing him about his relationship with the princess, more so his seeming lack of interest in women. Something Link supposed was true enough, if he hadn't already been in love with the princess he doubted he would allow himself the luxury of falling in love now.

"If by different ways you mean they could kill you with a look," Ralf argued

"What kind of man would you be to not be attracted to that?" the first guard asked.

"I dunno," Ralf said, "a sane one. Say, are there any Sheikah that aren't warriors?"

The Sheikah guard was red in the face and barely paying attention to the conversation. "I mean, Gerudo women are pretty hot don't you think?" he said.

Rolling with the conversation, the guard said, "See, Strawn gets it. And I agree man, Gerudo women– very fine."

"Especially Lady Reba…" Strawn said dreamily. "Her dance of the seven scimitars is incredible."

"Lady Reba, she's the Gerudo pilot, right?" Ralf asked.

"She's so cool," the sheikah guard said, ignoring the question and taking another draug of the rice wine. Link couldn't help but be amused. He wondered how many admirers Reba had, and if she knew about any of them. If she did know, would she do anything about them? "Hey, Hero, do you know Lady Reba?"

"Well, yeah."

"Is she as cool as she seems?" he asked.

"Yeah," he answered honestly.

Someone took the bottle away from Strawn, and Strawn cupped his face in his hands. "I tried to talk to her tonight, but she was distracted by something."

Link had a feeling he knew what that distraction was.

"Wait, dude, you actually tried to talk to her?" another guard asked.

"Well… I…" Strawn trailed off and the first guard said his name.

"Strawn."

"Paya told me to report to her about the status of the perimeter."

"Well that's something, isn't it?" Link asked, realizing his idea of quality time was a little warped as soon as they looked at him funny.

"See," the Rito said, shaking his head, "this is why courtship dances are the best way to decide this sort of thing. Less dancing around each other, and more dancing with each other."

The conversation then shifted to the differences between Rito and Hylian courtship rituals, which would've been interesting if Link hadn't already known most of it. Admittedly, before he'd come to the capital he hadn't known much, if anything, about Hylian courtship rituals. His attention was brought back to Strawn the Sheikah guard.

All he knew about Reba's preferences was that she'd been in love with Zelda's brother. Strawn shared very little in common with the crown prince. Strawn wasn't very high up in the hierarchy, he was a skilled warrior, and his looks were almost completely opposite. Their hair color was the only thing almost similar, but even the blond was different. The prince had shared Zelda's golden blond hair, while Strawn had the cornsilk color that some of the Sheikah had.

He knew Reba wanted to find a beau of some sort…

While they were shuffling about so someone could show off a new wrestling hold he'd learned, Link moved to sit next to the Sheikah guard, who'd drawn into himself. He was sure why he was moving until he opened his mouth to say, "Are you, like, legitimately into Reba?"

Strawn looked up, clearly confused why Link was talking to him.

"Uhh," he started, "Yeah?"

"Like, actually serious?" Link asked.

"Yeah," Strawn said, "...why?"

"I want Reba to be happy," Link said simply. He wasn't close to her, but her and Zelda were close. Considering the stress that being a pilot was to her, Link figured he could try and help her in this way. Who was even to say if she would like Strawn… but Link felt like meddling. He'd have to try and get her opinions later… or ask Zelda about it. Zelda would probably know.

Link set a hand on Strawn's shoulder and then stood to go throw up or go to bed, possibly both, leaving a bewildered Sheikah in his wake.