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

Anders, OTA, hit him up anytime

[justice_is_blond]

At the start, Anders is a little nervous and it shows in his smile. Making a big deal for him still feels like it's an invitation for trouble. He's greeting people, though, thanking them for coming, and slowly relaxing as the evening goes on.

Midway through the evening is when he's found dancing to some of the fiddled tunes, partnering with whomever wants to join in. This is when the tension's truly bled away and he's relaxed, smiling fully and able to let go.

Later on he's taken a seat and is eating, chatting with people who sit down to eat with him, and feeding Purrelden what bits she wants from his plate. When he's not fast enough to give her food, she tries nosing around at other plates and gets softly admonished for it.

By the end of the night Anders is quiet, leaning against a tentpole and looking at the people here. They've come here because of him. Because they like him. It's touching and terrifying at the same time.

Midway

[pinprick]

"May I have this dance?" Nathaniel bows, offering his hand during a lively tune, his smile just a little crooked, like the cat who stole the cream. The cream, in this case, is a proper dance with Anders.

At the Start ... there was a Hawke

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Bethany followed the invitation to the letter, and when she appeared at the opening of the tent, she was dressed in the fine dress she had worn for the Orlesians. Her hair was neatly piled atop her head, and she wore a little jewelry that she had inherited from her mother at her throat and in her ears.

She dimpled as she moved towards Anders, holding out a finely wrapped gift, moving in to kiss his cheek so he couldn't protest the gift landing in his hands. "Many happy returns!"

later on

[byblow]

Between mouthfuls of lamb -- and slipping food to the cat, too, but carefully, putting it on the table and bringing his hand back quickly so there's no unnecessary direct cat-to-skin interaction -- Alistair says, "How old does this make you? Fifty?"

At the start

[wontforgetyou]

Fancy get-togethers aren't normally Jamie's cup of tea, but for Anders he's willing to make an exception - and he still has his soiree outfit and enough downtime that he's able to come up with what he hopes will be a good present. So that part of things isn't a problem.

Wrapping the present is another matter, however, and when he turns up, the semi-formal effect is ruined a bit by the irregularly-shaped bundle that he's got in his hands. It looks more than a bit like he's taken strips of cloth and wrapped them around and around something...which is exactly what he's done. He's managed to turn part of it into a bow, though, and when it comes down to it, he doesn't seem at all bothered by the way it looks when he offers it out. It's the thought that counts, right?

"Here, I hope this is alright. Happy birthday, Anders."

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."

midway through

[extramural]

The Outsider cannot dance -- he has never had occasion to either learn or to participate. This is not surprising, probably, but it does mean he's peering at the dancing with an absurd amount of interest.

It also means that, when Anders whirls out of the crowd of dances with a smile, he's almost immediately pounced upon by him.

"You have excellent footwork."

at the start

[chainlightning]

"Happy birthday!"

Merrill all but leaps upon Anders upon arrival, beaming at him when she pulls back from the forced hug. She's dressed up a little bit, though perhaps ruining the effect is her wolf slanket from Asher as a nod to the cold. It does, however, help her conceal Anders' present.

A parcel is tugged out from beneath the fur and offered to him, smile unwavering.

End of the night

[conqueredhearts]

It was easy enough to spot the mage when one could tower over the heads of everyone around. So Iskandar made his way over to him and handed him a cup of wine, his other hand holding one of his own. Under his arm was a bag that he also planned to give him but he would do that in a moment.

"A good night, my friend. Will you allow me to share a drink with you?"

towards the end of the night

[samahl]

Cyril comes up towards him and grins, head tilted a bit to the side. "Starting to wind down are you?"

the very end of the night

[doneisdone]

Parties were, at one point, something Teren could handle, and perhaps even enjoyed. But nowadays, they just make her nervous and cranky, surrounded by people who are all at least a decade younger than herself, making her feel old and weak. Not to mention she's still on the mend from what she wouldn't allow Anders to heal, so she's more than fashionably late as she seemingly appears next to Anders and leans against the pole.
"Staved off death for another year," she wryly observes, "well done you."

Later On

[universal_charm]

Kirk had arrived a touch late to the party, but it was more than well enough in time to get in a dance or two. Flushed and glad to be off the dance floor, he spied Anders currently without someone else occupying his attention and say his moment. He went to a table and picked up his small wrapped gift and came to the other.

"Happy birthday," he declared, holding out the square item wrapped in as colorful a cloth as he could find.

Midway

[bookish_lioness]

Hermione is mostly late because of the gift, which she'd only managed to wrap in a small huddle of parchment. By the time she spots Anders, he seems to be having a good enough time, and she waits until he seems to be mostly on his own before approaching him, managing a small smile.

"Happy birthday," she offers before holding out the small package. "I, um... I made you something. I'm a bit out of practice with my knitting, I'm afraid, and I don't think I've ever seen anything like this in Thedas, but it seemed practical enough...."

Once he opens it, he'll see she's talking about a pair of imperfect but still functional convertible mittens, which may or may not have started out as a way to hide her shard only for her to realize she'd been making them far too large for her own hands. She's sure they likely seem like malformed gloves to him, but she's ready to jump in with an explanation the moment he looks even a little quizzical.

Later on

[el_tybs]

He had greeted Anders at the beginning of course, but seeing as he had so many guests he kept it short. With the party underway though and plenty of time for everyone to mingle, he takes this chance to find a seat next to Anders, a plate of food at hand as well.

"Having a good time?" he asks with a smile before making an 'ah' noise and raising his plate as Purrelden comes climbing into his lap. He has no issue with sharing, but he also doesn't want a cat on his plate either. Tearing a piece of meat he offers it to the cat to satisfy her for the moment as he glances back at Anders.

Later On

[unbrokenoath]

Kaisa plops bonelessly in a chair next to him, a plate of food sat on the table with her. "I'd say you're gonna spoil that cat, Anders, but I know good and well you've already gone and done it." She says it good naturedly, well aware of the hypocrisy of the accusation as she plucks some meat off of her plate and hands it off to Puppy. After a pause, she plucks a smaller amount, and lays it down for Purrelden.

"Pretty neat party, I gotta say. I like it. How old are you now, anyway? Just old, or old as dirt?" She gives him a wide grin at that, gently digging an elbow into his ribs.

Iskandar | OTA

[conqueredhearts]

Food was a great way to find Iskandar. Of course one could always find him due to his size but now that he needed to be eating again he was often found where there might be food. One could probably say this was due to this need to eat but in truth he was just enjoying the fact that he could sample new types of food that were prepared in ways he hadn't seen before. They weren't Japanese and they certainly weren't Greek or Persian. Which made them exciting and new! And sure to get him to grin at the closest person to him as he presented a plate in offering. Because sharing was the best way to enjoy a party.

Midway through he could be found with wine in hand and sharing tales of his own adventures, songs of his creation, stories from his childhood, or even poetry. The good news was that now he was sitting on the ground which made his enormous height less intimidating. Hopefully. But one could feel free to request something from him! He was sure to play along.

Toward the end the large man could be seen watching those still there with a smile on his face. He didn't know any of these people well but he considered them all his friends. As exuberant as he could be there were times when it was good to just sit back and enjoy the moment, to take it in and appreciate the beauty of people coming together to celebrate. Particularly over Anders who Iskandar felt deserved the love. So come join him for a little quiet and some conversation. He was always good for a chat.

[circleprodigy]

As a mabari-owner and a Grey Warden, there can never be enough food in Inessa's vicinity. The Grey Warden (for she made that evident enough with her signet ring even out of armor) returns for some more hot spiced cider and lamb-flank for the every-hungry war hound at her side. Trying to keep Garahel from sniffing at everything else, Inessa nearly bumps into someone before she can't stop herself.

"Oh, sorry--" And then she looks up...and up, at the man over two feet taller than her.

towards the end

[samahl]

Cyril slides up next to Iskandar and sits next to him. "You know, it'd be be really easy to mistake you for a Tal-Vashoth," he says as he looks over Iskandar's body. "And they're among some of the best lovers I've ever had."

FOOD

[universal_charm]

It's comical, really, watching the other sample all the treats laid out. Fascinating too, in a way, because he could certainly put away a lot, couldn't he? And there was something about watching someone so thoroughly enjoy a meal that one could not help but smile at.

And then said food was being thrust at him, making him blink in surprise before letting out a laugh. "What, you can't finish?" he teased the man, taking up one of the bite-size snacks involving some sort of cheese and popping it in his mouth with a delighted hum.

Felix Alexius

[blightedson]

Felix eats as much as he can without seeming rude. He's gotten control of his Warden appetite by now, but he still enjoys the taste of the food. His gift had been imported from home, a Tevinter ring that was enchanted to help with magical energy.

Throughout the night he mingles politely but tends not to dance unless asked. He seems pretty content to people watch.

[conqueredhearts]

Iskandar was rather quick to notice someone people watching. Not because that someone stood out necessarily but more that the someone didn't. He rather liked people watchers actually. They always had such interesting observations of the world.

So of course he went over to the man and gave him a large smile. "Good evening! I am Iskandar. Who might you be, my friend?"

Because the best way to start a friendship was a friendly introduction, right? Probably more essential when one had an intimidating height of nearly seven feet and the muscles to go with it.

[justice_is_blond]

"I see you're over here being quiet." It's friendly, and delivered as he munches on a cake. "I'm going to guess this in no way represents a party back in the Imperium?"

Jamie | OTA

[wontforgetyou]

After giving Anders his present Jamie can be found over where the tables of food have been set up. His outfit, while not as formal as some of the other outfits, still holds memories for him of the last formal event he'd attended, and for the first little while he seems more comfortable slightly apart from the festivities - happy to partake in the food, but also somewhat distracted and occasionally looking around as if trying to catch a glimpse of someone in particular.

Around the middle of the evening, however, he starts to relax with the help of the wine - and he winds up mingling more, sharing stories, and occasionally seeking out someone to dance with. He seems fairly open to being asked to dance as well, but even if not he's happy to simply talk and spend time with whoever's nearby.

Near the end he slips out for a little bit, but only for as long as it takes to return with a small wooden recorder. It's not quite as loud and boisterous as his bagpipes, but it's something he can play just as easily as the more complex pipes and fits in a bit better. While he doesn't ask to sit in on the ballads, he's more than willing to join in on the lively tunes from time to time, following the fiddling Warden's lead and adding a few merry notes to the gathering. When he's not playing, he's content to sit back (with a bit more wine) and just enjoy what remains of the evening.

KIRK | OTA

[universal_charm]

At the start (except maybe a little later, because fashionable late, Kirk tries to be unobtrusive as possible coming in, moving to place his gift on a side table out of the way and find out where he can go to get a sense of the party and start mingling. He didn't want to distract from the birthday boy after all. Which means he ends up near the food foremost, which is lucky because he's actually starving, admiring the sculpture work. He may or may not end up with jam on his cheeks as he eats, wanting to get a taste of them before they're all gone.

Midway through he's more than happy to dance. Granted, he knows the bare minimum of steps to any dance that would be common in Thedas, and he only knows the waltz by heart, which he doesn't think is practiced here. But he's game and willing to be taught if his partner is patient, or equally willing just to sway to the rhythm on the fringes and hold conversation instead. Sorry in advance if he steps on your toes.

By the end of the night he's flushed, full, and tired. He's taken a seat, picking at a last few bits of food and watching everyone, waiting for the moment to politely leave, but also to happy and full to actually move too. Such a dilemma.

Little bit from each column?

[el_tybs]

"How did I figure I'd find you over here?" There's an amused grin on Sam's face as he steps around the captain to get to the table, obviously there to get a bit more on his plate. When he actually sees Kirk's face he grins even wider, spotting some jam or something on the man's face, but chooses not to say anything just yet. "I was wondering if you were even going to show up."

Hermione Granger

[bookish_lioness]

Hermione had been expecting to simply slip in, wish Anders well after giving him his present, and sneak back out once she's found a polite enough way of doing so. But she finds herself quite surprised when, upon looking around, she realizes she actually knows a good deal of the people here. And the faces that aren't familiar seem friendly enough. She can't really remember the last time that had happened in Thedas.

So she decides to linger for a bit, and those who know her might notice that she's in better spirits now than she's been in quite some time (not that that's particularly difficult). Those who don't know her will just notice a young woman in a red dress who seems particularly interested in getting to know all about... well, everything, given that she's largely back to her old inquisitive self.