Well it's time to celebrate your birthday, it happens every year

[pinprick]

WHO: Anders, Nathaniel, and invitees!
WHAT: Fancy birthday party in Camp Shady
WHEN: Harvestmere 27, evening
WHERE: Camp Shady
NOTES: Will update.

Since many Wardens moved into the Kestrel House, there is plenty of space in the camp for a big top tent. Finding enough candlesticks, tables, and chairs required a lot of time and a number of bribes to pull off. The tables are nicely draped with fabric lent by one of Anders' patients, and each is decorated with flowers. The tent is alight and smells like good food--more donations from grateful patients.

One of the Wardens is known for her fiddling, and she plays lively dances and crooning ballads. In the center table is an ice sculpture of a cat chasing a butterfly (you guessed it--donated by a mage patient). It glitters spectacularly in the candlelight.

On the menu is a slow-roasted pig, spiced hot cider, spectacular salads, jams, cakes, delectably seasoned vegetables, a lamb-flank, and your choice of wine. There is even a hard-won bottle of Antivan brandy Nathaniel had to win several card games to achieve.

Relax, enjoy, greet the birthday boy, and mingle. The nights will be cold soon, but under this tent, life glows.

Comments

Later on

[circleprodigy]

Having helped herself to some spiced hot cider and a lamb flank for Garahel, Inessa heads over to join Anders. he mabari has been painstakingly bathed, much to his displeasure, at the side of his mistress who for once isn't wearing the typical Grey Warden armor but simple mage robes of deep blue with only the signet ring as a reminder of her allegiance. She flashers Anders a warm smile, not minding when Purrelden comes over. As the owner of a mabari, Inessa's not fazed by bottomless pits.

"Hello, you two. I'm not sharing my cider, but you can have some of the lamb. Garahel will survive, trust me." As she offers a portion to the cat, the mabari huffs, waiting impatiently to devour the rest. "Is now a good time for presents? You were bombarded earlier, and then I didn't want to interrupt your dancing."

[justice_is_blond]

Purrelden is all too eager to take a portion and pull it further over on the table before she starts gnawing at it.

"She'd say hello too if her mouth weren't occupied," Anders says with warmth before he nods. "And please. I'd enjoy it. I've never... I can't say I've not gotten gifts before, Hawke and Jonas seemed obsessed by it, but I'm certain you're familiar with how much of a surprise someone caring about your birthday is."

/steals from Skyrim images

[circleprodigy]

"That I am. I encourage taking advantage while we have that chance, to make up for lost time." That gets a nod and wry smile from Inessa, who puts down her drink long enough to retrieve the packages. One is a typical box shape, the other a thin, rod-shaped sort. "That last one is for Purrelen, actually. It didn't seem right to arrive without a little gift for her, too."

It's a simple toy, really, just a rod and string attached to some feathers, something for the cat to pass the time with. As to the other, it's a finely-crafted puzzle box, of dwarven make.

\o/

[justice_is_blond]

He stars working the thin one first, beaming. "Have you picked a birthday? Or, rather, do you remember yours?"

And then it's open, and he chuckles. "Dangling feathers are her favorite, and I"m glad to have something that will perhaps save my poor pauldrons. And this..." He turns the puzzle box over in his hands, feeling along the edges and figuring out what it is a few moments later. "Oh, it's splendid. Thank you." A puzzle box. He'll have to figure it out later, and that promises to be fun.

[circleprodigy]

That prompts a warm smile form her. "I thought you might want something to occupy your downtime in the healer's tents. Not that there seems to be an excessive amount, but even so." Not every moment in Skyhold is filled with crisis, and the times between can take a toll without something to occupy that mind.

She picks up her hot cider again, glancing over to where Garahel is busy decimating that lamb. "I remember mine, though I have no plans for it. It's the second of Wintermarch, so First Day celebrations often suffice." And depending on the company, many are often too hungover for more celebration the next day, an arrangement which doesn't bother her in the slightest.

[justice_is_blond]

"Even so." He wraps the puzzle box up again, because if it's going to be a diversion at the tents he shouldn't start playing with it now. Once that's done, Anders knocks a pea over toward Purrelden to bat at until she inevitably smashes it.

"Were you interested in plans? Celebrating things is important, even if it's difficult. As in, celebrating things that most people get to have and enjoy." Only after it's out does he realize how that sounds, and Anders shrugs to try to make it sound a little less defiant. "Obviously, what you do is your choice."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa, understanding where he's coming from more or less, tilts her head a little at the thought of applying it to herself. That's often a foreign concept, both as a mage and a Grey Warden. "I hadn't thought about it until now, but...something small, perhaps? I doubt anyone will have the energy for more after a First Day celebration, as it is."

Garahel looks up from his meal and barks, obviously in support of Anders.

[justice_is_blond]

Garahel gets an actual smile, because Anders knows the sound of a happy dog. He'll always welcome allies.

"Something small sounds splendid. Especially as some likely will have hangovers. Of course," Anders looks around, a little in awe, "I asked for small here. This is... far more impressive than I'd expected."

[circleprodigy]

Looking over at Garahel, Inessa's lips twitch. "You just want more food and opportunities to beg it from people."

She glances around, likewise impressed. It's quite a gathering, considering the entertainment and the menu, and the general atmosphere. "Celebrations have a way of expanding beyond our initial plans, don't they? But it's a delightful arrangement, nonetheless. I especially like the feline ice sculpture." She grins, realizing that she should get back into that. It's been a while since she used her ice magic for more than combat or medical needs.

[justice_is_blond]

"He is a dog." There's amusement in the statement rather than derision. He'll never be a fan of dogs, but he doesn't hate them. But then he's looking back at her and nodding, returning the grin subconsciously when it crosses her face.

"I like it as well. I'm not that skilled with ice, I doubt I'll ever be that skilled, which makes it all the more impressive. It's unfortunate that you can't make sculptures with fire, because that's the element I'm most skilled with. Do you think you could do something like that?"

[circleprodigy]

Looking it over, Inessa nods after a moment. "It's been a while since I did so; ice does not last long in the Western Approach or the Anderfels. But given that we live in an ideal location for it, I'll have to give in at some point. Maybe what would really help morale is a Corypheus statue that could be pelted with snowballs?"

[justice_is_blond]

"Mm. It could." It's a fun suggestion. He's only a little hesitant because it could inspire others to copy, and make statues that perhaps aren't quite so distant. But maybe sometimes he needs to be a little less fixated on himself, especially considering making a statue recognizable would take work that few here are really skilled enough for.

"Or you could go for an even more interesting trick and make elaborate icicles inside the grand hall." That would be pretty, it would be confusing, it would be fun, and in theory it wouldn't backfire. In theory.

[circleprodigy]

The possible, unintended outcome for that statue idea comes to mind a moment later, so Inessa's fine with dropping that angle. It's his birthday and she didn't come here to bring down his mood, after all. She tilts her head thoughtfully, picturing it. Beautiful, but also extremely costly in terms of effort. Still, it's an image she can't shake.

"That would require a lot of energy, more than I alone could muster. Though the Inquisition has its share of other ice-based mages, does it not? I could see a group effort bearing fruit. Perhaps they'll allow it for First Day celebrations?"

[justice_is_blond]

"They may. You could perhaps take several students up and craft them for that?" A beat, and his look gets a bit amused. "Or perhaps just decorate the lower camp so that everyone has a chance to see them."

A lot of the refugees don't really have reason to hang out in the fortress proper, after all. There's some divide here.

[circleprodigy]

That gets a nod as she ponders her options, not opposed at all to prioritizing refugees over noble visitors. "That can be arranged, and we have enough time to manage it starting from now. And yes, there will be a griffon. I'm certain I would never hear the end of it otherwise, though other suggestions are welcome." At the very least, she's intent on an ice sculpture of Garahel. Skyhold could use more mabari.

[justice_is_blond]

"What about a cat riding a griffon?" Best of both worlds, clearly. But it's suggested with a definite smile; he doesn't think she'll be into it.

"Or perhaps we could have vague figures too, a generic swordsman, generic mage, generic archer. An ice arch that looks like it's made of ice vines, things that suggest details and don't require too many?"

[circleprodigy]

"I like that plan, it would certainly save time and energy. I'll see what I can find in terms of references to work from, just because." As though she needs an excuse to go to the library, really. "And I think I could manage Purrelden, to go with my inevitable mabari. What do you say, would you like that?" The question is delivered to the cat as Garahel finishes his lamb and flops down by his furry friend.

[justice_is_blond]

He beams at the suggestion, looking over at the cat as well. She jumps, a little startled by the flop, before prying at one of Garahel's ears and then flopping as well, this time over a paw of his.

"I think that's a yes." Purrelden's steadily gotten used to mabari, and while she ignores most of them as beneath her, she seems to like Garahel and Lady. "I'd approve, at least. Adding cats improves nearly everything."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa stares at the pair thoughtfully. "I might try for that pose for the both of them, it would be rather adorable if it could be managed." Garahel, for his part, is extremely patient with the cat and doesn't mind being poked and prodded and whatnot as long as it doesn't draw blood.

[justice_is_blond]

"I've seen your skill with ice. I think you could manage it with a little work." It is adorable, especially as she's not clawing at the mabari, simply flopped there. ...with a tail twitch every now and then that suggests she's plotting something before she reaches over to clawlessly bat at his free paw.

"I also think you may wish to memorize this scene while it lats, because she's likely about to end the moment of peace. She doesn't often sit still and quiet for long."

[circleprodigy]

"I would definitely make the effort, to be sure." Inessa trusts in her eidetic memory to make an accurate image, and would take the time to make it as perfect as possible, just becase.

Purrelden batting at the paw has Garahel twitching it playfully, happy to keep his feline friend occupied. Inessa, observing this, chuckles. "Garahel will go along with it, though if they become too noisy I'll send him outside to cool down. He'll listen to me; it's only when he's wrestling other mabari that I'm not quite certain of that."

[justice_is_blond]

She follows the paw, batting at it as it moves, tail twitching in the way that says she's attentive rather than bothered, and Anders follows her movements. He loves this cat and she's having fun, as is he.

"Purrelden knows what I'm saying, and obeys when she wants to. She wants to more often than she used to, at least. But... Cats. They're intelligent, and obstinate. And I think I love her all the more for it."

[circleprodigy]

Garahel lifts said large paw...and then boops Purrelden on the nose. Clearly that invites retaliation, right? Inessa shakes her head, knowing her mabari is going to get in over his head but it's not a bad idea for him to learn a lesson or two about that.

"Believe it or not, I though myself more a cat person before he imprinted on me. I can appreciate intelligence and a little obstinancy just fine. But I turned out to be more Fereldan than I thought, and now I'm fairly certain it would be too much to handle both. Garahel will just have to settle for playtime when he can get it."

[justice_is_blond]

Clearly. Purrelden leaps up, clambering to the top of Garahel's head apparently so she can try to get his paw from there and wrestle it down.

While Anders is watching Purrelden carefully to make sure she doesn't go too far, that doesn't keep him from chuckling at Inessa's words. "The only bit of me that's Fereldan is the accent. ...And the better half, but that doesn't mean I'm about to have a mabari imprint on me. I didn't actually know they imprinted until I got the tiny one for Nate, actually. We got lucky."

[circleprodigy]

Yay, new hat! At least that's how Garahel seems to see it, his attention now more focused on that than what the cat is doing with his paw. Purrelden has full rights to wrestle it down, at least until Garahel gets bored and twitches it again.

"Lady, is it? I met her when observing the flag competition." Inessa smiles fondly at that, like now a much needed bout of lighthearted fun to combat some dark times. "She's remarkable; I've never seen a miniaturized mabari until now, though like everyone, I've heard about Xenon's bear. Where did you find her?"