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

[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.

[judgemewhole]

"Well, Bush is Fereldan, if that will give you some breathing room. Delightful fellow, if you like the kind who plays about." He smirks faintly, "And if you like women, I cannot recommend Anamaria highly enough."

[bouclier]

"I prefer men, though women are nice, too. I'll have a few conversations, see what strikes me." She sighed, tilting her head a little as she thinks. "I have always enjoyed an organic flirtation more than something forced."

[judgemewhole]

"I have absolutely no fear whatsoever that you are going to find someone that you are organically attracted to as much - if not more so - than me." He snorted softly, "Honestly I am starting to wonder if I just look good as an outside package but internally it is just ... not ... wanted."

[bouclier]

Evie frowns at that, looking up at him silently for a moment before speaking.

"Is that the impression you've been getting from women? Is that why you pretend like you don't know when someone is interested in you?" Initially she'd thought it was because he was adorably clueless, but it makes her a little sad to know that may not be the case. "James, I cannot speak for others, but on my part, if I'm just interested in sleeping with someone because I find them attractive, I don't spend much time talking to them."

[judgemewhole]

He paused, and then sighed. Lifted his chin so he could look out at a window, and not at her, as he answered, "Honestly? ...Sometimes I really am that foolish. Othertimes, I simply do not want to get into a dangerous liason which I know will, again, break my heart. I would never call myself a ... subtle man, but I am not completely ignorant."

[bouclier]

She doesn't look away from him at first, though her eyes drift a beat before she replies.

"I can understand that. It's far easier to face an enemy with a sword, than face an adversary that you cannot fight." Maybe it's strange to put romance in combat terms, but she's a soldier. Much of how she comes at things is with a "can I stab it?" attitude.

[judgemewhole]

He looks back at her, with a faint smile on his lips, "Precisely so." He is also a warrior, a soldier for the Maker. "The heart is a dangerous place, even in the best of situations."

[bouclier]

"It's certainly safer to keep your shield up," She replies, eyes cast down at the floor before them, her hand that isn't resting on his arm absently picking up her skirts and shifting them as they walk, like she suddenly just doesn't like the way her gown is falling.

"Lonely, of course. But also wildly less complicated." She's actually lived her life with an aversion to developing feelings. She's felt like she might be able to get attached to a few people in her life, but generally she runs the other way when those feelings start to come up.

[judgemewhole]

"I've kept enough shields up in my life - right now it seems like the smart thing." He watches her movements, before he clears his throat.

"So ... you are going to give yourself another chance, with someone else, yes? Eventually." A mock-haughty sniff. "I know how irresistible I am ...but ..."

[bouclier]

She lets out a forced laugh, looking up at him and shaking her head.

"You're quite full of yourself if you think my heart is shattered at your intentions to pursue another. I have no shortage of opportunities to take my mind off my advances being spurned." Though she normally combated little crushes by sleeping with them and then thoroughly alienating them, obviously that wouldn't be an option in this case.

[judgemewhole]

"I have been told I am quite arrogant, so .... yes." He nodded at her, his green eyes narrowing slightly before he stated simply, "Then I suppose all I can do - is allow us to have another glass of wine?"