faderift | Truth or Dare: The Imperial Court

Truth or Dare: The Imperial Court

WHO: Select Orlesian and Fereldan Nobility and the Inquisition
WHAT: Josephine and Vivienne have orchestrated a good-will soiree in response to this dastardly rumor.
WHEN: Drakonis 15, Evening
WHERE: Skyhold Great Hall
NOTES:
- A list of nobles in attendance can be found here. The list was provided by the mods but there will be no npc support for them. Play away.
- A secondary outside party is being held in the valley in the tent town for anyone who couldn't/wouldn't attend and/or behave in the fancy pansty party.
- The goal of the evening is to clear up a spurious rumor about Cassandra and Leliana, with secondary goals of establishing the Inquisition as a respectable presence in Thedas (and fish for more money). Any major disruptions that would Game Over the court approval should probably be brought to the advisors and/or mods.

To say that Josphine has far outdone herself with this little soiree would be the understatement of the year. The Lady Ambassador has pulled out all the stops in providing a festive and yet elegant stage for this political intervention. Because sometimes gossip can be more deadly than a sword.

The Great Hall of Skyhold has been converted into a grand receiving hall, glittering with hundreds of lights around the room, in addition to the repairs accomplished to the original chandeliers. Of course, there has been artful placement arranged so there are a few shadowy corners for rendezvous of the more suggestive nature. Just in case. The majority of the floor has been cleared for dancing, and a fine troupe of musicians have been installed for the bulk of the evening's entertainments. Some members of the Inquisition have plans to entice attendees with their own artistic performances in addition to the group of mages performing illusory tricks to oohs and aahs.

For those who feel their energy flagging, there are chairs set against the walls, with a few tables interspersed between. Servers hired for the evening circulate the crowds with wine, fine Orlesian and Nevarran reds as well as crisp whites from Antiva. Refreshments are set out on buffet tables, tasteful and extravagant nibbles, including imported cheeses, spicy saucisson, dried fruits and nuts, and the highly sought after deep mushroom and anise petits fours that are all the rage in Orlais.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Mia!" Ellana says on seeing her in her beautiful dress. Spending all evening staying one step ahead of the nobles has been exhausting, but with Morrigan's tutelage, she's come out of it all right so far. Still, seeing Mia reminds Ellana of how much she enjoys her honesty and straightforward manner, so she comes beside her at the edge of the dance floor, glad for her company.

"You look stunning," she says, clasping her hands together lightly.

"I look stunning?" She chuckles, gesturing to the elf with open hands. "You look the vision of woodland royalty, my dear. How many must have sewn all those little birds and flowers into that dress? Magic had to have been at work. And so very sheer. How you're staying warm, I hardly know."

A bold choice, but she certainly looked a vision in it. It tickled Mia to think of the ruckus it might well cause, and her pleased smirk said as much.

Her dress really does make an impression. When the tailors said they were going "woodsy," she'd braced herself for something racist, but they had surprised her.

"The front is actually warm enough, but the back..." She shifts a little to show off the low dip of her dress. "But it's only for tonight, so I'll manage." Indeed, it caused a ruckus, as did some of the other outfits the elves were wearing. It's difficult for the nobility to look down on an elf when their clothes rival what the nobility themselves are wearing. Instead they just get jealous.

"Have you been socializing much?"

"I've said hello to a few people," she replies with a modest wave of her hand. "If it weren't for my relation to the commander, I doubt most of them would have a single word to say to me."

That much they had in common, tonight, even if her elven friend had opted for the more scandalous response.

"And that would be their loss," Ellana says without missing a beat. "Though they probably wouldn't appreciate you not fawning all over them. They're surprisingly needy for people with so much wealth."

Though after a moment's thought on the subject, she could understand. They must be surrounded by sycophants who do nothing but compliment them. If they go an hour without hearing how wonderful they are, they must start to panic.

"Will you be dancing with the Commander this evening?"

"If I can find him. Some of the nobility may already have tried to spirit him away. And if not them, I may know of someone else who may care to."

She smiles dryly, waving her hand once in dismissal.

"I expect much of the evening will be spent doing absolutely nothing of use. I must resign myself to it. I may even dance, before the night is over."

"Dancing is a fine way to spend an evening, if your partner is agreeable. And if you know the dances." She nods her head towards several dancers. "I don't know any of them except that one with three steps repeated."

"The waltz?" Mia chuckles. "Dalish dancing must be a much different affair. My sister did admire these things, however, and we indulged her sometimes when she was young with little 'balls' of her own."

A time that seems very far away now, softer and idyllic in the way nostalgia always seems.

"Well, let's see. Who might make an agreeable dance partner?" she presses on, eyebrow lifting questioningly at Ellana.

"Yes! I keep forgetting its name. The waltz. " That was a dance she could do. "It is. Our celebrations are held around a bonfire, and our dancing is far more carefree instead of memorized steps."

It is, she'll admit, one of the things about life in the clan that she misses.

Ellana looks back at Mia and her lips twitch with a smile. "I would pick almost anybody in the Inquisition over these nobles."

"Well? Don't keep me in suspense," Mia tutted, before gesturing back towards the crowd. "Nobles aside. Tell me who you'd prefer to have a dance or two with."

There were certainly a number of attractive men and women in their number, of varying degrees of quality. But Mia didn't often pay attention to that sort of thing. That game always seemed one for those of younger, gentler hearts than hers.

Ellana certainly seems to fit that criteria.

Ellana exhales a soft laugh of acceptance, dipping her head a little. "All right. I see many friends here. Let's see... Jamie, over there in the... plaidweave? And Sam, of course. The tall one by the cakes. Alistair over there, though only if he doesn't make that face at me during. I have to dance with Sabriel, of course. She's my roommate. Look at her gorgeous dress! Oh, and Araceli is a dear. Korrin too." One can't mention one without thinking of the other. "Cyril, naturally. See him over there with the Vashoth? Or Tal-Vashoth. I'm actually not sure." She contemplates asking Sina, but thinks better of it. She's still so weak, and she knows her friend would probably say yes despite that and overexert herself.

"And, um... well, Felix." Ellana tries her best not to blush. She really does. In an environment such as this, it's like blood in the water. Any noble who spots her blushing will see a weakness they can exploit. But even so, just thinking of Felix has her heart racing and her cheeks flushing. She looks at her feet a moment to try and collect herself.

"What about you? Are you planning on dancing, because if so, I would like a dance with you."

"I may very well be, but come now."

And Mia gets a very knowing smile on her face, eyebrows lifting.

"Felix? He's one of the visiting Tevinter, is he not?" Not the match she would have imagined, the history between the elves and Tevinter being what it is. But there's no mistaking that flushed expression. Rosalie bore it far too often in the presence of some handsome lad or another.

"Go on. Tell me more."

"Oh, well he's not visiting anymore. He's a Warden now." She draws in a breath, about to explain, but then hesitates because she doesn't know how common the knowledge is that Felix was dying and now he suddenly isn't.

But that doesn't mean she won't say anymore. So far, she's really only revealed some of what she feels to Sabriel. She's been holding all this close to the chest, because she's an elf and he's of Tevinter. What will her clan think? Add in the fact that she worries her romantic nature is making her rush ahead again, like she did when she was seventeen, and that ended with her heart broken. She wants to be smarter this time, but her heart isn't listening. Maybe talking to Mia will help. The woman is so sensible and straight-forward that she would be able to tell Ellana if she's rushing ahead.

"He's so very kind," she begins. "Giving, selfless, brave. He doesn't hold the same views on elves as his country does. He believes in me, even when I don't believe in myself." She recalls him asking if she would join the Mage Council and gently encouraging her when she worried she wouldn't be any good at it. "I-- I like him very much." It feels good to say it, and she exhales a soft breath of relief. "I'm... I worry I'm too much of a romantic, and feeling things too fast. Do you think it's possible I might be?"

"There's no such thing as being too romantic. Only in letting it cloud your judgement." Two very separate things where she was concerned. And Ellana is so very clearly happy with the way thing are progressing. Why on Earth would she wish to steal that away from the girl?

Even if love with a Grey Warden was ultimately doomed, on principle.

"So. This giving, selfless, brave young man who seems to believe in you more than you do yourself...has he spoken about how he feels?" she presses on, leaning in closer. "Or is he the gentlemanly sort?"

Definitely doomed to end before she's ready for it to, but she can't help what she feels.

"I'm trying not to let it," she replies, knowing it's been a challenge to keep reminding herself to be sensible. Mia's question has Ellana leaning in too, feeling her face warm all over again.

"He's a gentleman. He says such kind things. He's said I'm lovely, and beautiful, and goes out of his way to do sweet things for me. But he hasn't spoken about what he feels. I worry that maybe he's this good to all his friends and I'm nothing special."

"You're certainly special. He'd have to be a fool not to see that," Mia replies swiftly, clucking her tongue. "It may be he has another reason for keeping his feelings close to the vest. Perhaps he simply wishes to protect you."

There were, after all, a number of ways this could go terribly. If the young man was truly as noble and gallant as she seemed to think, it could easily be that he understood the position such an affair could put her in.

Young love was nothing if not complicated on the best of days.

"It's possible," she admits, knowing that a Tevinter magister's son and a Dalish elf are a controversial pairing. It doesn't help that the Alexius family had owned elven slaves, but that had been something Felix had learned was a terrible thing when he grew older and attended the University in Orlais. He doesn't support the treatment of elves in his country at all. And, of course, he is now a Warden, and they aren't the most popular group right now, even though Ellana believes they have been put in a terrible position by Anders's selfishness.

"I should probably just ask him, shouldn't I?" Tonight she's been flexing her skill at being above the Game. It's been hard, but she's refused to let herself falter. Past times when she's been scared and needed to be rescued come to mind, and it's inspired her to never be that scared little elf mage ever again. She can stand up to scrutiny and come out on top. Ellana now has the confidence needed to stop fearing Felix's response and to just tell him what she feels and ask if he feels the same. Or if he ever could.

Mia takes the moment's pause to reach over, gently taking the young woman's hands into her own. Maker, but she was so much like Rosalie it was frightening. But what if he doesn't like me, Mia? As though anyone could look at her and not see someone worth having in their life.

"You should. But when you feel ready to do so, and not a moment before," she replies steadily, brow furrowing. "It's a tremendously difficult undertaking even in the best of situations. Beyond all the fluttery feelings and significant glances, there's a good deal of work involved. And as a Grey Warden..."

She pauses, shaking her head.

"But if this is what is in your heart, then take it. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Don't regret never saying anything while you could. Believe me."

It's something Ellana has given a great deal of thought to, staying up late at night in bed as she listened to Sabriel toss and turn beside her, unable to sleep due to the false Calling in her head. For Mia to consider it shows that she doesn't want Ellana to be hurt, and her concern touches Ellana deeply.

"I know, Mia," she replies, squeezing her friend's hands. "I know he doesn't have as much time left as others, and that his life will be dangerous, but the same could be said of any of us now. Every day could be our last. I don't want to have regrets. I would rather have some time with him, than live regretting not having any at all." A smile touches her lips, but her eyes look sad. "You speak from experience?"

"I do."

And that look is tinged with regret for a moment before she smiles more brightly still, giving the girl's hands another squeeze before releasing her hold on them. "But your life is yours to live. If this is what you want...find out what he truly feels. Hold on to what you have while it is yours."

It's not Ellana's place to press Mia to tell her more about what she means, so she nods and takes a deep breath before smiling.

"Thank you for your help. Would you care for a dance?"

Perhaps one day she'll tell her. It's a difficult thing to bring up at the best of times, and not the sort of thing one discusses at a party. Particularly when Ellana is reveling in this newfound affection.

With a chuckle, Mia extends her hand. "It would be my pleasure, dear."

Ellana smiles and takes Mia's hand, dipping into a curtsy. Then she leads them over to the dance floor to have some fun before she wades back into the world of nobles.

[ ooc: wanna wrap up with a handwaved dance? ]

[ ooc: works for me! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Truth or Dare: The Imperial Court

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject