{ CLOSED } If I just breathe

[aceso]

WHO: Christine and her closest friends
WHAT: A birthday picnic.
WHEN: Bloomingtide 13th
WHERE: the foothills of the Vimmarks, an hour NW of Kirkwall

As with most things, Christine overplans for her picnic. She studies maps and speaks with the locals about the safest areas outside Kirkwall and finds that heading towards the foothills of the mountains around mid-morning is probably her safest bet. She invites those nearest and dearest to her to join her for a birthday celebration, though it's by no means fancy. There will be plenty of food, drink, and activities to be had, but the part she's most excited about is just leaving Kirkwall. To breathe fresh air and see some greenery again. The brief respite she had for Aleron and Bethany's wedding made her crave this outing all the more.

On the day, they load up their mounts with the supplies and head out. The trip only takes around an hour and the path is well kept, so when she spots the large maple tree and stream cutting through that a local told her about, she knows they've reached the picnic spot. It's a wide, mostly flat field that starts to rise towards the north. To the east at the end of the field, it rises more sharply, the hills dotted with heavy stones. To the west is the path they've veered off, the large tree, and the stream that keeps going west under a short wooden bridge. And to the south is the view. Green hills descend before them, and while there's a hint of Kirkwall's Hightown within sight, what they can see beyond is the shimmer of sunlight on the Waking Sea. Now it's time to set out the blankets, let the mounts graze and lap water from the stream, and relax. Oh, and release the hounds, cats, and fox. Some of them brought their pets.

Comments

{ MULTI-PERSON THREADS }

[aceso]

{ the eating bit: one thread for all }

[aceso]

Christine and any who wanted to help have made plenty of food for this trip. There are sandwiches of all kinds, a variety of salads both lettuce based and not, cold chicken, loaves of bread with jam and butter ready to smear on, raw veggies, strawberry hand pies, lemonade, ale, and several bottles of wines. As they spread out on the blankets, trying to avoid the begging eyes of their pets, Christine looks around and releases a happy sigh.

"It is so good to be out of Kirkwall."

[el_tybs]

Sam had been one of the few that had helped with preparing food so that Christine didn't end up making all of it for her own birthday picnic, and likewise took up helping with setting up the picnic area. Course there was a couple of close calls during the unloading seeing as Conan had taken interest in some of the salad, and trying to stop a hungry noggalope wasn't easy - thankfully he had planned ahead and brought some extra veggies to distract him where they were hitched.

"Picked a good day to have a picnic," he says with a sigh, sitting down and spreading out at the end of one blanket, just taking in the sun for a moment.

[circleprodigy]

While Inessa isn't much of a cook even now, she had no problem with carrying what she could and adding to the feast with some wine and tarts purchased from the market. She doesn't want to burden Garahel with much in case they run into trouble, but his side bags have enough room for him to assist as well. And yes, there are plenty of dog treats to go around when they're settled. Anticipating those soulful eyes, she offers one to Garahel, Ponce, Conan and whatever other animal companions had joined them.

Once all are contentedly devouring their treats, the slight elven woman sits down and nods in agreement with Sam. This has to be the most relaxed she's seen Christine, especially since their arrival to Kirkwall. "It's a fine view, one worth savoring. Thank you for the invitation."

[aceso]

"The weather would not dare cross me on my birthday," Christine jokes, chin lifted in the air dramatically. But then she laughs and runs a hand down Ponce's back as he works on the dog treat, making sure he isn't about to choke on it.

"Of course. I can think of no better way to celebrate the day than with friends. Thank all of you for coming." Christine has never been one to surround herself with loads of people. It takes her awhile to trust others, but those she's invited here today are those she's formed bonds with and she absolutely trusts them. They should get to enjoy the weather and scenery too.

"Now, is it too early to open the wine?"

{ the greatest rifter volleyball game in the history of thedas: one thread for all }

[aceso]

When Christine mentioned they could play some games, she thought maybe racing horses or a friendly archery contest. But then the word "volleyball" was thrown around and after some planning (of course), they have a ball, an old worn out fisher's net, and two poles to tie it to. And there it is: a volleyball court. Christine takes a seat in the grass nearby (but hopefully not so close she'll be hit with the ball) with Ponce settled in her lap and looks at the setup with a smile.

"I take it a team goes on either side of the net?"

[gatheringstorm]

Volleyball sounds interesting, and Korrin is more or less dressed for athletic pursuits, so why not? She'll happily assist with setting up as long as she's given instructions. Nodding contently at their finished work, she flashes a grin at Christine and the others.

"Alright, let's do this. I'm game."

[motherfucking_ghost]

"All right all right!" Church is so glad, so glad, to have any little slice of home. And maybe he's not normally a volleyball guy, but he is super here, HERE, for getting down and dirty Top Gun style with volleyball. Maybe it's usually done at beaches, but hey, whatever! He strips off his shirt anyway and tosses it in Christine's direction with a wink. God. Why did you do this to yourself, Chris. You did this.

Besides, it's a nice day, it's May, it's not in the fuckoff mountains, and it's physical activity. "Caaaan I be on her team? Tall and fit is always a plus. I'm feeling the slightest bit inadequate." He doesn't say that he hopes the ball doesn't hit her horns, because that might be insensitive?? Unsure.

[el_tybs]

Finishing with tying off the side of the net Sam turns to see Church make a show of removing his shirt and tossing it. Whether it was a volleyball thing or Church showing off to Christine thing - both? 0 he wasn't sure, but it does have him raising a brow.

"That's hardly fair considering the rest of us don't even know how the game is played," Sam calls from where he's standing, referring to Church already calling for Korrin on his team. Let's be real they're all going to want Korrin on their team.

{ INDIVIDUAL THREADS OR SMALLER GROUP THREADS}

[aceso]

Go ahead and post a starter for your character under here! Did your character and another have a private conversation while everyone was eating? Are three of these characters going for a walk with the dogs? Was your character dared to climb up the maple tree? The sky's the limit!

Christine

[aceso]

Christine can't stop smiling at everything around her. Excepting the break for Aleron and Bethany's wedding, it's been weeks since she felt so calm and happy, which just goes to show how a change in location can help the mood. At least she knows that the next time the Gallows becomes too much for her she can take her horse and escape the city for a little while. Green fields and a gentle breeze are vastly preferable to the stone walls and stale air of the former Circle of Kirkwall.

She pours herself a second cup of wine, using a tumbler instead of a wine glass because she hadn't wanted broken glass in her picnic basket. Reclining back on the blanket, she props herself up on one hand and takes a sip, but then her yapping dog bounds forward, jumping on her stomach, which causes her to jerk upright and spit out her wine.

"Ponce!" she yells, wiping at the dribble on her chin with the back of her hand. "No! Very bad!" Ponce, it seems, doesn't care because he barks at her and wags his tail before hopping down and sniffing at the leftovers on an abandoned plate. Christine lets out an exasperated sound and hooks an arm under the dog's belly, hoisting him up and away into her lap.

"Little hog," she mutters, returning to her wine.

[lifeofendurance]

There's a soft chuckle from Aleron for the dog's scolding. Did anyone know he was capable of even that much laughter? Regardless, marriage seems to suit him admirably. He's still formal and polite, that much will never change, but he's not nearly so tense as most are used to. Nor is there the mashed down and hidden away sense of grief he was masking but never well. Still not big for outright smiles, but he seems at peace and he absolutely is happy to be included in the group today.

Once Ponce is settled on Christine's lap, the Seeker takes a seat beside Christine and extracts a small wrapped package from a pocket in his jerkin. Wrapped in green muslin and tied with a gold ribbon, the contents betray themselves with the scent of honeysuckle and roses. He extends the gift to the birthday lady with a small nod and a hint of a smile.

"Happy birthday, my friend."

Endridge milk soap, made in limited supply and sold at high price to a select list of elite customers across Thedas: viscounts, queens, empresses and merchant princes. This is the true source of the Darton wealth. One is being placed into Christine's hand.

[aceso]

Christine says Aleron should savor these moments that make him laugh as much as possible. She knows what it feels like to go through a laughter drought and it always feels so good once you're on the other side of one. She smiles up at her friend and colleague, eyebrows lifting in surprise.

"Aleron, how kind!" Christine has to let go of Ponce to accept the gift, but the little dog is so intrigued by what is being passed over (is it food?) that he stays put and gets his nose right up against the package. And then he sneezes from the perfume and escapes his mistress's lap because that's too much for his sensitive nose.

But Christine loves it, bringing the package up to her nose and inhaling with a pleased sound. She now does set does her wine (out of Ponce's way) to untie the ribbon and see that it's soap. Not just any soap, of course. She definitely heard about it at the wedding. Shooting Aleron a smirk, she can't help but lightly tease, "Why, Aleron, is this your way of telling me I smell bad?"

[lifeofendurance]

Oh Maker, what has he done?!

Immediately Aleron turns red and shakes his head in denial. "No, absolutely not! Nothing of the sort, I assure you!" See, these are the reasons why his family always tells him to leave the social things to the ladies because he's completely inept at them. (Nor does he realize she is teasing.) Now he's stammering an explanation, "It's a luxury product my sister's estate produces. I meant nothing by it except that it seemed something you might like."

No really, please stop him at any time before he finishes off his boot that he's clearly stuck in his mouth. His wife is going to scold him for making an ass of himself on a friend's birthday.

[motherfucking_ghost]

"Wishing your mom had a cat, huh?"

Church lays himself out next to her, grinning. He'd kiss her, but he's...not sure if he should? They haven't talked about public displays of affection. They haven't talked about if other people knowing is okay. He hasn't told anyone in so many words, yet, for that reason, so he's here, he's close, he's head over heels, but that's as far as he's going right now.

"More like little shit. Who's a little shit," he goo-goos at the doggo, "is it you? Yeah, it's you."

Here's the thing. He didn't know it was her birthday. Only when she started planning, and informing him of the plan, did he know, and...panicked a little, because he didn't know what to get her. So. It's not here, because that would've been maybe dangerous, but back in Kirkwall, there's going to be a vase with flowers in it. It's cliche and dumb and stupid and inadequate, but hey, she can use the vase for all kinds of things. Here, all he has for her is his presence.

[aceso]

Really, the two of them should talk more about things like this, because she's wondering the same thing. She wants to reach over and kiss him, or maybe guide his head into her lap to run fingers over his hair, but she doesn't know if he wants her to. Would he be embarrassed for others to see them so close?

Ponce is so used to Church by now, it's like he has two owners, so while Christine laughs and answers, "Sometimes," Ponce wags his tail at Church and flattens down his front half on the picnic blanket, going into his play stance. You'll let Ponce attack your fingers, won't you, Church?

She watches the two for a moment before reaching out and brushing the backs of her fingers against Church's cheek. "Is this all right?" she asks, heart racing like this is somehow forbidden instead of a simple thing. Maybe because it will be confirmation to everyone around them? Well, except Sam. Sam already knows because she'll tell Sam practically anything. That's just how she is with him. Like when they return to Kirkwall and she sees the flowers, she'll be sure to tell Sam all about it, face bright and excited to be gifted something so beautiful and fragrant.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Oh yes, if by 'attack' we mean 'pull them away at the last second and find something more appropriate for the furbean to chew on'. Cuz that'll happen. What a little fluffy shit. He's so cute.

Christine touches him, though. Like, in a beyond-friend way. And he stills, looking at her with wide eyes. She's asking him if it's all right? "Yeah. Definitely all right. Is it all right if I kiss you? Right now, I mean, not generally. Because I know that's all right in a general sense."

[el_tybs]

"Looks like you're having a great time." There's a grin on Sam's face as he walks up, having seen the entire thing. Nikita, likewise, saw it all, peering down at Ponce from her perch on Sam's shoulder, watching with mild interest before losing it and returning to figuring how to find a better position to lay out. That has Sam giving a small snort, reaching up to scratch her head and muttering that she too was a bit spoiled.

When Kirk joins them he gives a smile to the man before leaning down and holding out a small decorative basket out to Christine. "Happy birthday, Christine. From the both of us." In the basket was a bottle of wine and three boxes, each with their own colored ribbon, two of which had a set of hairpins and a necklace with a bird motif, and the other...

Actually he wasn't quite sure what the little black box had now that he thought of it.

[universal_charm]

If Nikita was spoiled, then Leonard was little better. He sat on Kirk's shoulders, though his own interest was far more piqued and easier kept than his sister's. Inquisitive, like his dad. Or maybe he was enjoying the fact that a dog was getting yelled at and not him. That superiority complex at play and all.

Kirk smirked from slightly behind Sam, his fingers teasing at Leonard's whiskers as he waited for Christine to open the smaller box. He was sure Church would appreciate it, and it would make Sam blush naturally. Because Kirk had managed to find a pair of white lace panties with little blue ribbons.

What? A lady should feel good on her birthday.

[foxsays]

Unsure if she's ever taken the time to actually explain any of the customs of her people, Araceli's actual gift such as it is, has been kept away from the wine she did manage to bring along with some food since that's the benefit to being one of the helping hands in the kitchens. Or whatever passes for kitchens. Or makeshift cooking space.

They really need to all settle on a term for whatever they're calling it but by the time they do people will likely be able to have spaces of their own in Kirkwall rendering it all moot unless the historians want it recorded for their footnotes.

Anyway, Araceli strolls over with Lux at her feet and the fox is of course aghast at the behaviour of this little dog in the presence of a lady as well as his own mistress because who does he think he is? How dare he? Lux will at least sit. Extend a paw. Fix Christine and Araceli in turn with beseeching looks of longing until one of them takes pity on him and feeds him.

"Feliz cumpleaños," she says with a smile before producing a bottle of Rivaini rum from behind her back. "The water of life, where I come from."

[aceso]

Oh yes, Ponce saw this creature earlier. He struggles in Christine's grasp, front paws pushing at her arm and back legs kicking against her side in the hopes she'll release him so he can investigate this newcomer. But Christine holds on, afraid that Ponce will leap on Lux and the fox will swipe back.

And so she has to set down her wine in order to accept the gift, lips parting in surprise.

"Thank you, Araceli. This is very good of you! What was that you said?" She'd try repeating it, but odds are she would just sound ridiculous.

[circleprodigy]

A soft chuckle is heard as Inessa approaches, with Garahel in tow. The large mabari barks in a friendly manner at the smaller yapping dog, tail wagging. Hello again, friend! Whether or not Ponce feels the same way, Garahel's default is always enthusiastic friendship. The leftovers get his attention, but he stops short as his mistress speaks up.

"Don't you dare, Garahel. I won't have you setting a bad example for him." She smiles sympathetically at Christine, shrugging. "They will never not be bottomless pits, I've learned. I hope it's not overshadowing your birthday too much, though. Is it an enjoyable one so far?"

She eyes Ponce, wanting to give him a treat but deciding to wait until his manners improve. There's no sense in rewarding bad behavior.

[aceso]

You know what, Garahel? You're okay. You're like Puppy, and Puppy is Ponce's friend. Therefore, by papillon logic, you must also be Ponce's friend. He struggles in Christine's grasp to be let down so he can say hello, and after a moment's thought, Christine does so. She's a little worried after their last encounter, but it seems Ponce has come a long way, as he enthusiastically hops up to Garahel and gets in the play fight position: front of his body flat, little butt in the air and tail wagging.

"Oh, not at all!" Christine assures, patting a spot beside her. "I felt it wouldn't do to invite all my friends here and have them leave their pets behind in the city. They need the fresh air and exercise too."

[lionheartedman]

Cullen has not done a stellar job of wrapping this gift. The hair accessory is folded in a square of rich green fabric, and he's tucked a little wildflower into the knot. That counts as festive, right? He waits until Christine is, not on her own, but not actively engaged with the people around her. "I, um-- got you something. I don't know if it's-- I'm not very good with--" Not helping yourself here, Rutherford, and finally he just holds the small package out to her. "Happy birthday."

[aceso]

Honestly, how does a man who commands hundreds end up all flustered over presenting a gift? It's truly a marvel. Christine takes it from him, exhales a soft laugh at his awkwardness, and then gives a pleased look at the personal touch of the flower.

"I am sure it is wonderful!" She opens it to reveal the bird and she just has to beam at it. Has she discussed birds too much with her friends? The image has always meant a lot to her and perhaps she's gone off on an excited tangent a few times before, because Inessa, Sam and Jim, and now Cullen have all given her presents sporting a bird motif.

"Oh, it is beautiful!" The fact that it's black and resembles a crow hardly registers because it's a bird and therefore perfect. Plus her hair is blonde so this will contrast nicely. "I love it. Thank you, Cullen!"