Emerald says he'd really like to go meet Hope first. There is no real rush right? It's not like the Love Hibiscus is going anywhere right?

"Oh, I suppose not. Fine, go give Hope your dumb present." Joyride says rolling her eyes, "Just hurry okay? I'm going to go mingle."

Emerald almost skips over to the balcony, and pushes his way through the crowd the best he can. He actually finds Hope surprisingly quick, but the situation is kind of odd.

The reason he found them so quick is because Hope and another pony he doesn't recognize are basically in the center of a ring with quite a few other people aroudn them. The others are making fake conversation and are otherwise pretending to be occupied, but clearly trying to listen on on what the two are saying.

It seems to be mostly Hope talking, but she is talking in an angry whisper and Emerald can't make out any of the words. The stallion, a tall, muscular bearded earth pony just looks down at her, seemingly absorbing every word silently.