A bottle of white, a bottle of red

[fleurdesel]

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

Comments

[fleurdesel]

Adelaide had set herself in the back with a mug of red and one of her apprentices unwinding her long braid to rework it into something looser, easier. Something that wouldn't quite add so much to her growing migraine. There may have been a book propped up for her to read somewhere but for the moment she simply lounged, her eyes closed, moving only to sip from her mug now and again. This wasn't the worst idea anyone might have had and honestly? If she didn't have to move for the next hour or so she would be deeply pleased.

But if company came to her she would pour them a mug and offer a thin smile. Comment on the weather, offer something Orlesian as adverse to Fereldan- clearly it was the superior wine.

[aceso]

Christine is exhausted, but trying her best not to show it. She still walks with her head high and back straight as she maneuvers to find a place to sit. Once she spies Adelaide, however, she changes course to sit beside her and only then do her shoulders slump a little.

"I'm relieved that's over with."

[fleurdesel]

Without a thought or more than a faint huff, Adelaide shifts to accommodate, tucking the arm not holding her wine around her shoulders to support her. "It could have gone better. It also could have gone so much worse."

[aceso]

And that's all Christine needs to rest her head on Adelaide's shoulder. It's comforting. There wasn't much of it at her Circle. More like backstabbing as mages desperately tried to claw their way out by playing the Grand Game, letting the nobles treat them like puppets on a string for their amusement until the mages reached high enough to pull the strings back.

"Let us focus on the fact we accomplished something. It did seem touch and go for a moment there. Thankfully cooler heads prevailed."

[fleurdesel]

"For that I must thank you. Senior Enchanter Theadora has a valid point of view- it is less her desire for a reformation of the college and more the way she seemed to make light of what had happened to either party that frustrated me." That she had seen and survived Kirkwall? Meant she did not make light of much of anything, rather focused on what was to be done. Adelaide could learn from that, perhaps. "Whatever comes it'll be for the better. It must."

[aceso]

"What is the phrase? She can't see the forest for the trees? Or she can't see her nose in spite of her face? I always confuse them." Christine feels likewise. It was hardly their fault that no one in favor of reinstating the Circles exactly as they were happened to speak up until far later into the meeting. The meeting was meant to explore options, and for that, they needed to put forth ideas. Voices couldn't be heard if mouths were shut.

"The world can't go back to the way it was. It can't." But then her voice grows softer, so no one else can overhear them. "I'm afraid of the decisions the new Divine will make about us. If she reinstates the Circles as they were, there will be chaos again."

[gatheringstorm]

Similarly drained, Korrin nonetheless has a list of people she wanted to speak with and Adelaide is on it. During the meeting, she made mental notes of who said something worth supporting, or having the thankless task of holding the meeting together. Naturally, the Orlesian mage comes to mind. Pleasantly mellow after finishing off that glass of brandy, Korrin wanders over while unable to decide what she wants next.

Plopping down in a nearby seat, the Vashoth woman flashes a weary but genuine -and perhaps slightly apologetic- smile. "I owe you a drink for all that, you know. If you get tired of what you have and want something else, at least let me snag it for you."

[fleurdesel]

"You owe me nothing but a promise that you will not set anything on fire or collapse on an elf. They bruise so easily." Two glasses of wine on more or less a light to empty stomach makes for a much more relaxed and unreserved Enchanter. Adelaide salutes Korrin with a faint twist to her lips. "Your voice is one that we will need in the future, so I do hope you do not lose patience with us."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin nods at mention of fire but sighs dramatically at the latter part. "You ask so much of me. But fine, I'll do my best." Collapsing on someone is probably inevitable, but she'll at least attempt to keep it to someone human-sized or bigger.

"...I've just roped myself into more politics, haven't I? Well, shit." She'd feel sorry for herself...but also anyone who has to put up with her, when things get heated. "As long as non-Circle mages are taken into account, I think I can manage some self-control. Maybe even some volume-control." Maybe.

[fleurdesel]

"If I must go down I intend to take every other sensible mage with me." She taps their glasses together. "Consider this my passing the buck along. I didn't want to be involved much either but- we may yet have to. Be loud. Be honest. Be blunt. That's what we need."

[gatheringstorm]

That gets Korrin to chuckle as she returns the salute, before slouching back once more. "That I can most definitely do. And I can always buy drinks afterward to ease any headaches I might cause in the process. Because believe it or not, I do appreciate those who are more even-tempered and try to hold everything together. It must've been like herding stray cats." Stray cats that can create fireballs.

[laurenande]

Galadriel had not taxed herself as the native mages had, but she had heard Adelaide's voice quite often. It wove itself in and out of the din, clear and firm as the arguments rose and fell from a fever pitch. She was not surprised to find the woman reclining and nursing a cup of some fragrant vintage.

With little caution and a bright smile, Galadriel took a seat alongside the human. Adelaide had relaxed, quite casually, among the cushions and Galadriel followed suit. It was perhaps, unwise, to move so closely to another, and with such familiarity, but she could see no harm in it. That she was nearly draped against Adelaide's side did not occur to the elf, or if it had, it didn't bother her in the least.

"How unusual that I should find you in such a state," Galadriel said. She spoke softly because she was close, not because her words were illicit, but the end result was the same.

[fleurdesel]

"And what state would that be, Lala?" Wine loosened lips and warmed the heart- it also provided excuse enough for the rather pleased flush on Adelaide's cheeks to find herself in Galadriel's company. The diminuative slipped out before she could think better of it, too caught up in closing the distance and leaning. Like this Galadriel's song was clearer, purer. Comforting after so long a stressful afternoon.

How it might look or how proper or not it may be didn't occur to her in the slightest. She was among friends- or at least friendly acquaintances for the moment.

[laurenande]

The diminutive passed without comment, folded into their conversation as easily as they'd taken to sitting together. Galadriel's brows rose, but they did nothing to disturb the amusement on her face.

"I had thought you weary and resting," Galadriel explained and lifted her cup to her lips. "It seems I was mistaken."

She had little left in her clay mug and once she'd emptied it, she rested it in her lap, held idly between both her hands. It was some small miracle that the deep white of her gown had not been dirtied by Skyhold. The fabric was resilient, woven by her own hand, but even Galadriel could not save silk from spilled wine. No, that feat was beyond the power of men or elves.

"I cannot say I am sad to be wrong. The ease of wine and warmth suits you well."

[fleurdesel]

"I was, at first." Then Roul had pressed a glass of mulled wine into her hand and Sabine took to unwinding the tight braid she kept about her head- Henri fetched a book she'd taken from the library to read at her leisure rather than for research. The rest fell into place little by little, a platter of cheese here, another bottle of wine there, warmth and company and now? Music. More even than the Bard in the far corner of the tents.

There was always an undercurrent of music when Galadriel was near. "This all...happened on it's own. Though I am glad that it did. We all needed this."

Some more than others but- she would not begrudge any one person here the comfort offered by warmth and wine and good company. "It suits you as well. You're glowing- you always glow but it's...warmer, now. Joyful."

[laurenande]

Though she'd felt the ease of the wine as it crept through her, she hadn't recognized the warmth until Adelaide commented on it. Confused, she brought a hand up and traced her own cheek. The warmth of her own face surprised her and Galadriel's hand froze. She stared at Adelaide for a long moment, startled into silence and as abruptly as she'd frozen, her smile spread again and she laughed. The sound was light and quiet.

"I had not realized the spirits of Thedas were so strong," she admitted brightly, though it was impossible to tell if the double entendre was intentional. She glanced at her cup with a bit of merry suspicion. "I cannot recall the last time I felt so light after drinking so very little."

Her smile turned a little private and softened.

"My husband would have delighted in this to no end, I think."

[el_tybs]

"You look comfortable." Honestly, she looks tired, but she also looks a lot less stressed now that things were done and over. For now.

Smiling, Sam sets his own mug down so that he doesn't accidentally knock it over while he takes a seat. He doesn't plan on bothering the woman for very long, but with recent events he hasn't seen her much. "Well. This has been an interesting week, hasn't it?"

[fleurdesel]

"Something more will happen soon, another argument, another headache, another crisis." She smoothed her hair out of her eyes to offer Sam a weary smile. It was early yet in the night and for all the agreements made and the points raised? She feared for what was to come.

"But for tonight I would not think on it. For one night I would rather we simply...be."

[el_tybs]

'Simply being' sounded wonderful, but it always seemed rather hard to pull off as well. The last time he had felt like that was... when he was only a child, ignorant to worldly issues and not being fully aware of his magic powers. Even so, Sam smiles at that, nodding at LeBlanc's words.

"Should I get you another drink then? Me or one of the others could take watch tonight." Adelaide honestly needed to just rest and not worry about such things tonight. Especially if she planned on having more than one drink tonight.

[fleurdesel]

"Tea, I think. There should be a pot near one of the braziers for those not intending to have wine." Much as she'd like to have another glass, pacing herself for the night would be key. Neglecting her health wasn't something that Compassion would allow gladly.

The offer, though? That pulled a warmer, broader smile from her. "If it will not trouble you to do so- I would appreciate that."

[el_tybs]

"So you're talking about me." He chuckles, tipping his mug forward so that she could see that he had already gotten to the pot of tea. Even if the wine was supposed to be good, it still wasn't something he was too fond of.

The fact that she doesn't turn down his offer makes Sam smile wider. Not that standing guard is fun, but the fact that for once his mentor is willing to give herself a break. "It wouldn't be any trouble. It's the least I can do." A quick glance at her mug with a raised a brow. "You sure you wouldn't want your mug topped off again and we'll just consider it the first?" Not like he would judge her in the first place, but he could turn a blind eye and pretend for her if she indeed wanted to let loose a little bit tonight.

[snarksman]

Clint wasn't originally down near the healing tents for the party. Like the insane fool that he was [or a rather terrible rogue, depending whom you speak with], Clint had taken a rather nasty tumble down by some of the lesser constructed parts around Skyhold and had gotten a rather nasty gash above his eye. It wasn't anything new, Clint's had some close scrapes in the years he's been alive. Of course, to him this isn't serious; a bloodied rag placed to his forehead and a quick jaunt to the healing tents should let him know if he'll need it stitched up or not.

But he spots the sign as well, and he's got a bottle of stuff in his pack that he's been saving, and it might as well be a good enough time to break it out. It's nothing fancy, nothing Orlesian in origin, but strong enough to put hair on your chest, or so the bartender had told him when he had bought it.

He's seen her around, and she looks like the best person - or rather, a person in charge - to point him in the right direction. "I've got alcohol and a rather nasty cut. Can I enter?"

[fleurdesel]

"Mm?" Oh. Blood. That's- she should probably do something about that. Technically these were still the healing tents even if several had been linked together in the interest of saving warmth and space. She set her mug aside and waved him in, gesturing to a wobbly chair propped up to one side. She wasn't so deep into her cups she couldn't tend to an injury. "From a scale of 'an ant bit my pinky' to 'my lungs are full of bees', how much pain are you experiencing?"

[snarksman]

He maneuvers to the chair, watching his pack as he sits. He's tried to mop up most of the blood, but there's still some left over on the side of his face from parts that he missed.

A quick shrug of his shoulders, and he flashes a quick smile. "Hard to say, really. I'd say that there was a ram butting against my temple right now. Not nearly as bad as bees yet."

[fleurdesel]

There was probably- ah, there. A lingering cotton bandage soaking in grain alcohol. Terrible for drinking but fairly effective at cleaning out wounds. Adelaide takes his chin and tips his head to the side, dabbing at the blood. "Fortunately, I can work with ram. How did this happen?"