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.

[justice_is_blond]

He places his hand in Nate's with no hesitation at all, beaming at Nate.

"I'm glad to give it to you. And you've earned it, besides. Lead on, love." He doesn't mind taking what's usually the female part of the dance. He gets to dance with Nate. That's what matters.

The first few steps are a little slow, and then he's falling into the pattern fairly easily. "I still don't know how you managed to get the brandy."

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!"

[justice_is_blond]

He's a little startled by how nice she looks, brushing his blue-and-silver warden-inspired robes down as if to make them nicer before suddenly there's a gift in his hands and his cheek's being kissed.

"Ah. Thank you." He means to sound more thankful, but in reality it's a little dazed. Sure, Anders hadn't doubted that she'd care and show up, but this is actually happening, and now he's holding a gift, too. Slowly he starts working at the wrapping, not wanting to tear it with the fine job she's done.

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."

[justice_is_blond]

Anders is watching the antics with some amusement. Purrelden doesn't care as long as she's getting fed, but Anders can sit and wait and hope she bats at a finger playfully before long.

"Do we count immortal bit that was a part of me for a time? Because then I'd put the average more at fifty hundred. But don't tell Nate, I don't want him to feel weird about the age gap."

[pinprick]

A short way away, Nathaniel chokes on his drink.

[justice_is_blond]

"All right?" He shakes his head as he takes the present, half-smile pulling up the corners of his mouth. "You waving at me across the courtyard would be 'all right.' Instead you came, and you brought something as well. It's more than all right, Jamie."

He unties the bow first, before starting to work on the strips of cloth. This is the first time anyone's celebrated his birthday since he was little, and the fact that people are joining him for this means more than any item or wrapping job could.

[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.

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.

[justice_is_blond]

He jumps, a little surprised at the exuberance. It's Merrill, he should be used to it by now, but at the same time it's Merrill, someone he spent years and years being rude to. Anders very simply doesn't understand her. Maybe that's for the better; if she was more like what he expected she wouldn't smile when she saw him. Or hug him. And frankly, he likes the hugs even if he's not said as much and may not.

"Ah. I... Thank you." She gets a small smile in return, one that's also in his eyes despite his nerves. She's nice. It doesn't actually hurt to be nice in return. He takes the present and starts to open it, nodding at the pelt on her shoulders. "Did you kill that yourself, or is there someone you'd recommend for getting a fur to turn into something warm?"

Winter is coming, after all.

[chainlightning]

Life is too short to be horribly bitter about things people say, especially when those people are wrong. Merrill's pretty good at coping, all things considered - at least with that much. Besides, she likes hugs, too.

"You're welcome!" Inside the parcel are two items. One is a corded leather collar for Purrelden with a little charm made of antler in the form of a leaf. The other is a necklace, also made of corded leather, set with blue stones and with a small empty vial in the center.

"Asher made it, when he was alive. I think Yngvi of the Boneflayers has some others, though- ones made of bear, too!"

[justice_is_blond]

"Thank you," he says, before inclining his head back toward the crowd. "Is that an invitation? Because I'll take you up on it if so. Or I can take a break, if you're not feeling like dancing."

Either way works. He's feeling good today, which is a ridiculously nice change from what's gone on of late. "They've dances where you're from, I'm certain." They have to. What's a world without dancing?

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.

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?"

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Her smile widens, pleased by the expression and pleased look on his face. The dazed voice is nice, as well, and she beams. "I remember Nathaniel telling me that you liked the finer things in life. I am not sure if this fits but ... "

It's a cloak, one with dark brown silk with a snow fleur lining. "I traded them for a full set of warm knitted things, which you now have."

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?"

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.

\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.

[justice_is_blond]

He pulls out the collar first, smiling at the little leaf and holding it up to see if it meets Purrelden's approval. She leans forward from where she's sitting on his shoulder and sniffs at it before playfully batting. Carefully he puts it around her neck, a task made a little difficult by her still trying to play with the charm.

"Mm. I've not had occasion to run into Yngvi yet, but I don't know that he'd share. Maybe I'll have to see if I can bribe Nate into killing something fuzzy for me. It'll be a lot easier to turn something that took an arrow to the eye into a coat than what took a few fireballs." He's joking. He doesn't need fur, and he doesn't need to send his lover against something dangerous. Nate does more than enough for him. Now he's pulled out the other piece, though, and his attention is on that.

"Oh." Blue and a small vial, it's probably for lyrium and it will be so very useful. No one would expect a necklace of it, and if he's hit with Silence it would be right there, easy to drink. "Thank you."