Open: Party Preparations

[madame_de_fer]

WHO: Josephine, Vivienne, OPEN
WHAT: Preparing the Inquisition for the Soiree
WHEN: 15 Guardian to 14 Drakonis (about a month's span before the event)
WHERE: Skyhold, varies
NOTES: * Josephine is the hostess of the shindig. Matters regarding invitations, guest lists, admittance, entertainment, food, or general complaints/suggestions should be directed to her.
* Vivienne has personally invited three tailors from Val Royeaux to assist with clothes making for the attendees. She is available to assist with design selections and/or advice on how to behave.
* YOU are open and invited to grab your nearest and dearest CR to complain about the party, ask for a date to he event, complain you have nothing to wear.
* Belinda Darrow has donated from her own private purse to the cost of clothing which people could otherwise not afford.

The Orlesian tailors arrived in great state, bringing with them a cadre of servants, workers, and snotty attitudes. They hate everything. It is cold in Skyhold. It is damp. Everything smells of wet dog. The working conditions are abysmal. The food is criminal. There's not a damned thing they don't complain about, except for the piles of coin they stand to make from this soiree. Yes, they are more than content to build a fortune with exclusive work that will be seen by some of the aristocracy's finest.

Harritt apparently doesn't much like them either. They've taken over his Undercroft with their fabrics and threads, designs and opinions. Oh they have opinions. He stays to one corner, attending his work, and grumbling under his breath about the poncy cheesesniffers.

Comments

[gatheringstorm]

Likewise being on the receiving end of this 'make over the savage non-human' nonsense, Korrin darts a look of sympathy Pel's way. At the moment, they're just taking her measurements but she knows enough Orlesian to be aware of what's coming. There's no escaping this for her either, not with Madame de Fer at the helm.

"Vivienne was right. Those colors suit you, Pel." Someone gasps upon hearing Korrin use the Iron Lady's bald name with no title attached, but that might be why she did it. If she has to endure them, they have to endure her.

[mythalenaste]

Pel does not look put-upon. Actually, she is running her fingers over some deep purple velvet that makes her think of a violet's petals.

"I'll have green, then," she says somewhat wistfully. "Until I'm more certain what else I can wear. Although there's a political advantage to green. I won't be apologetic about my history."

[gatheringstorm]

"I never imagined you would. We have just as much right to own who we are as they do, if not more." It's not like Orlesian elite have ever struggled to be accepted as they have, or ever would. Korrin's eyes linger on that deep purple velvet, thoughtful. "That would compliment you, too. It'd go well with your hair color, and--look, I said no sleeves. Stop measuring my biceps."

She frowns at the tailor, who relents...at least, for now.

[mythalenaste]

A stifled giggle. "There's nothing wrong with him taking the measurement, Korrin. It'd help him know how big to make the arm-holes, at least."

[gatheringstorm]

That giggle gets a small smile out of her, though she doesn't tell the tailor to continue. "It's harmless enough now, but I'm afraid if I blink they'll put me up in something ridiculous and constricting all for the sake of 'fashion'." She wrinkles her nose just thinking about the possible horror, forced to straighten and stand still when the tailor's assistant complaints that that she's moving too much.

[mythalenaste]

"Sleeves are constricting?" Pel holds out a sleeved arm, considering.

[gatheringstorm]

"For me, they are. You'll probably be fine, because they know what to do with someone of your size and shape. I usually don't bother unless I know the tailor well or I'm up in the north where 'qunari' are more common." Practically all her clothes were gained up north, so those have sleeves. Those that don't are likely to be more recent or specific qunari gear.

[mythalenaste]

"Your arms are too beautiful to cover anyway." Pel is clearly in a good mood. She moves her hand over the purple velvet again. "Next time," she declares. "Next time, purple."

[gatheringstorm]

Aw, Pel. Korrin grins at that, maybe flexing a little just because, at least until the tailor makes her stop. "Knowing Vivienne, there will probably be a 'next time' sooner than you'd think. I wonder how much of a scandal I'd cause if I wore the same thing I will for this one." What, formal wear is formal wear. Nevermind that the assistants are already sending looks to each other and shaking their heads.

[mythalenaste]

"I've never worn anything fitted at all, till recently. Now, I'm experimenting. I can't say how successful."

Pel is wearing a flattering gown with a wide belt, though the neckline is very modest.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin isn't one for gowns, herself, but she nods in approval at the result. "These tailors will find anything to complain about, so don't ask them. But I'd say it suits you, and keep doing it if that's what you prefer. Dressing to suit ourselves is more important than impressing their lot, anyway."

[mythalenaste]

"I do need to impress their lot. I want to convince everyone that the Dalish are a force worth acknowledging."

[gatheringstorm]

"An uphill battle, for sure." Korrin casts annoyed glances to the Orlesian tailors, having seen enough of Orlais' elite to suspect that the only people to impress them are their own kind. Then again, maybe Pel can do what others cannot. "Vivienne and Adelaide ought to know who among the guest list has the best chance of that."

[mythalenaste]

"Good thinking. I'll ask them both. Of course, whether the Dalish themselves can come into the Dragon Age remains to be seen. I'm proud of our culture. We don't need to be our ancestors."

[gatheringstorm]

She nods approvingly to that, though the tailor sharply corrects her so they can measure across her shoulders. Sigh. "Damn right. What culture Vashoth have is based on not emulating our ancestors, though when all we have to look back to is the Qun, that's not much of an example." If they had better examples to follow, Korrin could see more value in tradition...but she'd still favor Pel's notion of living in the present.