A Very Official Party

[arlathvhen]

WHO: Division leaders and everyone who signed up
WHAT: The leaders + the viscount are throwing a very fancy party to introduce Inquisition people to Hightown nobles and prove that they aren't demons
WHEN: 29th of Harvestmere (day before Satinalia)
WHERE: Some mansion in hightown
NOTES: OOC post!

The mansion of the hightown noble tasked with hosting the party is tastefully decorated for the event.
There's a few references to the approaching Satinalia here and there, but it is clearly not a costume
party, and none of the nobles are wearing masks. Tomorrow they may done their costumes, but for now,
it's important for the Inquisition for faces to be be seen.

There's plenty of food to be had, either on a table off to a side, or via one of the servants carrying
around trays, filled will little snacks and glasses of wine. Inquisition guests will be forewarned
that while they are not prohibited from drinking--It would, after all, look super sketchy if the
entire Inquisition abstained from drinks--they are under no circumstances to become intoxicated.

The other guests are the nobles, who look like an indecisive mixture of excited, gleeful, and
terrified. There's an air about them as they chatter amongst themselves that they are currently
engaged in something quite thrilling, if dangerous. Talking to the rifters! Possible demons, right
before their eyes! They clump into their own groups for the most part, but as the party starts in
earnest, braver souls will begin to peel off from the others to go inspect the guests and speak to
them. As the party winds on, the groups will slowly begin to disperse and mix with the Inquisition
freely.

Inquisition guests are, naturally, encouraged to approach these groups or individuals directly.

Closer to the end of the night, the division leaders will break off from the rest of the party, and
along with the Viscount, make their way off to a private room to converse on how the affair has gone.

Try to behave while they're gone (and in general) or you might find yourself facing a list of the
worst jobs Petra could concoct the next morning.

Comments

[bouclier]

Evie's head turns at James's voice, and the smile she gives him is much more genuine than the one she's had plastered on her face most of the evening.

"What a flatterer you are," she laughs, laying a hand on his arm as she glances back to the dignified gentleman she'd been speaking to. "We were talking of the rifters, of course. I was just saying how they seem to be good people, and how lovely I find it fighting side-by-side with them." She's very good at steering conversations, and is under instruction as to where these conversations are to be steered.

[judgemewhole]

"You know me. A roguish charmer." He drawls, letting himself be drawn in by her. He nods his head in agreement to her statement, adding with a firm, crisp statement.

"Marvelous people. You know that they are helping us close the Rifts all across Thedas? It is only theories right now but there is a serious concern that they are closing off their only way home, and yet still, here they are. Helping protect a land that is not theirs."

[bouclier]

"Yes... The lady was being quite thorough without your assistance," the noble replies, somewhat cooly. He's obviously not pleased with the interruption from the templar. Jumping on that Evie tightens her hold on James's arm, an apologetic look that is entirely fabricated creasing her features.

"I of course would like to speak more on this, but I'm terribly sorry serrah, I do need to step away to discuss business with the Knight Commander for a moment." She reaches out with her hand that isn't now wrapped around James's arm, touching the nobleman's arm lightly before gesturing behind him. "There is a rifter, if you are feeling bold. Perhaps I will find you later."

Without waiting for a response she turns, trusting James to keep up with her, and walks quickly in the opposite direction of where she'd just sent the stuffy older man.

"Andraste's tits you're a life saver. I thought I was going to have to go change my dress after that man was finished salivating," she says quietly as she more or less drags him away.

[judgemewhole]

Oh ho, it was like this. So James put on his best deadpan face. The one that stated 'Oh no I am a clueless templar who has no idea why you are angry at me. Your behavior is so odd.' He allows that blank face to remain as Evie dragged him off, and let her keep his arm as they escaped from the faintly glowering noble.

He smirked but managed to bite down a laugh as they wandered away together, "And here I just came by to chat, as I had done all the rounds with the other nobility." He eyed the glass in her hand, "Please tell me that's only your second one?"

[bouclier]

She sighs and relaxes a little once they've put some distance between them and the noble, though she judiciously doesn't look back over her shoulder.

"Well we can chat, provided it's far away from any who may drool upon me." She knows in some arenas her beauty is a valuable tool, but there are the drawbacks as well. When he draws attention to her wine glass she glances at it, before nodding her head in a somewhat dismissive gesture.

"Not even enough that I can feel it."

[judgemewhole]

"If you are going to put that particular proviso on our conversation, we may have to go all the way out to the Western Approach again. That should dry up much of the spittal." James stated in a completely straight face.

A nod of approval - they all had to keep their wits about them after all.

"Good. Although I feel after this we will all need to drink a great deal more than one glass. Have any of them groped you yet?"

[bouclier]

"You've never drooled on me. Even if you had, a little saliva is acceptable in certain cases," she replies with an equally straight face, adding in an innocent head-tilt as she glances sideways at him.

At his question she lets out a short laugh, shaking her head.

"I've had a few attempts, but I'm better at dodging than they are at being subtle. You? I seem to recall you had issues in the courts of Orlais."

[judgemewhole]

"That is quite true ... and no thank you. I like keeping my tongue in my head while I talk to women. It means I might actually get out of a conversation unscathed." He drawled, smirking sideways at her.

A roll of the eyes.

"Three times. Twice by older women, once by a younger man. The older ladies were simply sly about it - that young man wanted to devour me."

[bouclier]

She just shakes her head at his response smile still on her lips and allowing it to go unanswered in favor of the new topic at hand. She gives him a ponderous look, eyes sweeping deliberately up and down, taking in the entirety of his appearance.

"I can't say I blame him. You do look quite appetizing, tonight."

[judgemewhole]

His eyes narrowed and he let out an aggravated sigh as he rolled his eyes. Then one eyebrow arched as he drawled dryly.

"You realize you have just given every single noble in here the same idea - and I am being sized up like a piece of beef?"

[bouclier]

Evie's eyebrows raise in response, and she tilts her head down, pursing her lips for a moment.

"My common must not be as good as I think it is, because it sounds as though you are upset with me. Do we not playfully flirt? I did not mean to offend."

[judgemewhole]

And his eyebrows raise in turn, before he cleared his throat.

"Ah, I was ... joking." His mouth turned at the corners, looking rueful. "My apologies. My face is usually 'too serious' by far. I did not mean to make you feel as if you upset me. I am fine."

[bouclier]

"Ah!" Evie's look of concern turned to embarrassment and she put her wine glass down on the nearby table and clapped her hand lightly to her cheek.

"I should have known. Don't apologize, your seriousness is one of the charming things about you. I'll blame the wine for not being as on my toes as usual."

[judgemewhole]

Now, he was going to snicker behind his hand, before clearing his throat. "Perhaps we ought to take a few rounds the room, clear your head so you get more of the deadpan humor? That way I can show off that I get to stand about you, and they do not."

[bouclier]

"Mmmm, make the nobles jealous? Aren't we here to foster peace between the Inquisition and Kirkwall?" Evie replies, her smile back in place as she secures her arm to his.

"Well I do need to walk. I suppose it can't be helped."

[judgemewhole]

"Well naturally, but I think we can do that by walking around and looking attractive. Especially when they see we are not really attached to one another, and thus, are open game to their ... " A sigh, "Groping."

He offered his arm gracefully. "Shall we?"

[bouclier]

"Intimately attached, I hope you mean," she replies as she slides her arm through his, gently laying her hand along the side of his forearm in impeccable posture.

"I feel somewhat attached to you. Though I wouldn't entirely mind intimately, either."

[judgemewhole]

"Yes, that is precisely what I meant." He leads her for their round about the room, and although her comment gets the flush and the faint smile, he shakes his head slightly.

"That ... will not be possible, I am afraid. Not that I would not partake but - I am currently directing my attentions to someone solely."

[bouclier]

"Oh," she replies, her tone light though her expression pinches slightly. She feels oddly disappointed. She's faced rejection before so it's not an entirely new sensation, but all the same it's there.

"She is... a lucky woman. If she doesn't realize how lucky she is, keep me in mind, will you?" She's frank with that statement, she'd said before it was a shame that he was so unaccustomed to women being open about appreciating him. Her smile returns to her face after that, and she dips her chin down. "And I hope that won't make you stop talking to me entirely. I may flirt, but I value your friendship before anything else."

[judgemewhole]

He glances over at her, and realizes that perhaps the flirtation was ... perhaps more serious than he had realized. His own face falls a little, for he never wanted to hurt her.

"... If she ever fails to realize it, you shall be the first I come to sob on." He states, with a faint smile, and then, he laughs, "I woudn't dare. I am afraid you are stuck with me, the stuffy one."

[bouclier]

"Good," she replies, mollified and shifting her hold on his arm a little, though not letting go. "It's entirely exhausting trying to find people worth my time around here. If I had to find a handsome templar to replace you I'd absolutely be bereft."

[judgemewhole]

He chuckled softly, as he tipped his gaze at her. "You know there are other handsome templars, yes? A whole troop for you to flirt with. I know I am the best, but still."

[bouclier]

She sighs, somewhat exaggeratedly, glancing at James sideways. "You'll have to give me names. I've met a few, but none have impressed me, particularly."

[judgemewhole]

"I can give you two off the top of my head - Bush and Gillette. Both Knight Captains, both handsome, and charming. Gillette IS even Orlesian." He smirked faintly.

[bouclier]

Evie wrinkles her nose at that, shaking her head, though smiling.

"Orlesian may be a deal breaker. I avoid them, when I can. My mother has eyes all around us, and it gets back to her I've been seen even speaking to someone who might have good Orlesian breeding, I have fourteen letters to answer asking when the wedding is." Her mother is a little desperate to marry her off. It's part of the reason why she decided to sign on with the Inquisition a little more permanently.