faderift | A bottle of white, a bottle of red

WHO: Open to anyone that wants wine and warmth and a little company.
WHAT: Wine and no whining.
WHEN: After the mage meeting wraps up.
WHERE: Close to the healing tents, specifically the Orlesian section.
NOTES: There will be wine, drinking, unwinding, and nibbles.

The meeting had been stressful for just about everyone involved. Tempers had flared, opinions made known, a few rounds of confetti and arguing before some manner of accord. Whether it would last or however long it might? No one could truly say. In the interest of being quite done with the stress and headaches such debate brought on the Orlesian healing tents clearing out the potions, bandages, and poultices in favor of what cushions and braziers they had on hand for light and for heat. The space was open, warm, and inviting with an odd assortment of tin mugs or clay glasses set around flat side tables propped up with stones to keep them from wobbling and tipping the whole mass onto the ground. There are some dried fruits and hard cheeses, dried meat and hard crusted bread- whatever scraps they could scavenge or spare and a few bottles of wine or brandy. Across the entrance to the tents there was a sign:

Bring a bottle or food to share for entry.

Tacked below was a list of rules:

Everyone is welcome, don't make a fuss
Don't hog the wine
Don't hog the food
Don't fight or argue
If you finish a bottle open a new one, don't recork it for someone else to find
Clean up after yourselves

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

At some point in his search, he catches Ellana's eye and she stands, heading over to him at the entrance. She can guess his reasons for staying on the perimeter, since he seems the type to keep his background quiet, as opposed to the flashy magisters who attended the meeting.

"Hello. Were you interested in learning the outcome of the meeting? I didn't go, but my clan mate told me all about it."

He smiles at the sight of her and feels a blush come to his face that has little to do with the fevers he gets.

"That obvious?" he asks, still smiling. "Clearly I missed the 'remaining dark and mysterious' lessons magister's sons are meant to attend when they're young."

"Clearly you did. You resemble a lost baby halla more than anything dark or mysterious," she teases. "I heard things went well. They decided on a council as opposed to one representative. Elections to come later." For now, it's time to celebrate the fact that Skyhold is still standing after a bunch of mages gathered in one room to argue.

"Do you want to come in? Oh, but you need to bring food. I already did or I'd give you something to bring."

He waves away her concern about him coming in. "That's all right," he replies. "I wouldn't want anyone to eat anything I had carried anyway. That and having me around tends to put a bit of a hold on everyone's good moods."

Then he focuses more on what she told him. "Do you have any idea who expressed interest in leadership?"

A frown tugs at her lips, but she nods, not wanting to argue or bring up something he doesn't want to continue discussing.

"Not really. Like I said, I didn't go. I--" She hesitates, half turns like she's going to look at Pel, but stops and turns back. "Pel -- our clan's first -- said I should represent the Dalish mages."

That gets his complete attention. He focuses on her for a moment, considering that. He remembers the way she had looked when she said she wouldn't be a leader, and the way she had changed subjects so quickly.

"Do you want to do that?" he asks.

Her eyes dart away, decidedly uncomfortable with the topic. And yet... hasn't she always wished for a purpose beyond lighting fires and gathering wood? It's making her head very jumbled.

"I want to help the Inquisition. And the mages here. We should have a voice and take care of each other. But I'm not sure I'd be the best at it. I wasn't trained in these things like Pel was. She's destined to be Keeper someday."

"Respectfully, this isn't your clan. There are no Keepers here, from what I understand." He is careful to keep his tone light and comfortable. He doesn't want her to think that he's disparaging her people.

"That's true," she says slowly, the wheels in her head turning. Why couldn't she reach out and offer herself as a representative? They could always tell her no if they thought she wouldn't be a good fit.

"It's something to think about, I suppose. It doesn't hurt to just think, right?" And in her experience, it has never hurt to dream either, even if she thought those dreams would never come true. The fact that she's away from the rest of the clan is proof that things can change and end up surprising you.

"I don't think so," Felix replies thoughtfully. "What matters most is how you feel about it. If it is something you want or not."

"I do. I mean, I want to help the mages here, and I'll do that however I can. This is one way." She doubts someone like Felix who grew up among the magisters of Tevinter needs someone like her to represent him, but others might.

"There may also be other ways, though, if you'd rather not do it," he says. "What I mean is, don't allow yourself to feel pressured."

"It's good of you to think of me, but I assure you, I'll be all right. I'll be happy as long as I'm doing something besides sitting on my hands." Her gaze shifts to the gathering, back to him, and she tilts her head back towards it.

"I should get to meeting more of us, to take into account what they want to get out of a council."

He nods. "Go ahead. Enjoy the party. I'll be sure to support any choice you make."

"Ma serannas," she says, touched that he'll support her. She steps back, giving him a little wave before heading off.

A bottle of white, a bottle of red

i just need more awkward already

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it was always felix's journal who replied. i think we were both seeing things.

my inbox was merely trolling me

yep!

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