OPEN: Satinalia

[faderifting]

WHO: Everyone
WHAT: SATINALIA
WHEN: Firstfall 1
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: Party hard, use content warnings, move explicit content to inboxes.

Named for Satina, the smaller of Thedas' two moons, Satinalia is a celebration of freedom, marked by wild celebration, pranks, the donning of costumes and masks -- not the fine, delicate masks of Orlais, but animals and caricatures and playful horrors -- and the exchange of gifts both sincere and satirical.

There is no party at the Gallows, but those who can be spared on Satinalia may be given the night off to join Kirkwall's celebration, which spans the entire city and will take several days to peter out. Hightown plays host to lavish balls—but you'll need an invitation, and the unlucky guards posted at the stairs leading into the nobles' district are especially on guard for mischief-makers. There's no such crackdown in Lowtown, where masked revelers spill out of taverns and into the streets, often bringing barrels of ale along with them. Even Darktown gets involved, in its own way: anyone who can afford a celebration goes to Lowtown, but some of the roving bands of thieves in the tunnels don animal masks for the occasion.

And near the docks, enterprising children draped in white cloth are selling admission to a "haunted" warehouse for one copper. Adorable—except that some of the partiers exiting seem genuinely terrified, with one unfortunate man even having wet himself. Taking the children up on their offer will reveal that they have a genuine haunting on their hands. Doors slam, objects fly, footsteps appear in the dirt floor. There's laughter at the edge of hearing and movement on the edge of vision, and brief snatches of a sea shanty sung in a monotone. Make a hasty exit, or try to find the source.

Comments

[universal_charm]

"The songs from home are always the best songs, aren't they? Even if they only make sense to you," he chuckled. "But I am always happy to hear new ones. Your land must be lovely, if those are the songs it produces."

[universal_charm]

"Well, naturally - I couldn't possibly miss it!" he said, striding closer and reaching out to smack James' shoulder in a brotherly welcome and then reach for a brief hug. "I see even you can be drawn out by a party this big. But where's your Saturnalia spirit? No mask?"

Says the pot to kettle, as Kirk did not have one either.

[universal_charm]

Well, no one in their proper mind should argue with a woman anyways, much less a woman like Korrin who could toss you across the room if she wanted.

"Hah, it's all right, I was stuck on the road with a teenager for a month anyways. I wouldn't have made for good company," he shook his head, plopping into the offered chair. "And you mean you have kept the location of Thedas' party central secret from me all this time? For shame, Korrin! I thought us friends!"

Samouel Gareth - Open

[el_tybs]

Lowtown

Even if he had been reminded numerous times, Sam still feels that Satinalia had snuck up on him; had it already been a year already? Again? It's because of this that he finds himself rushing to get all his gifts together to hand out.

During the day he mostly spends his time at the infirmary, checking on patients to make sure they were well enough to go out for the celebration, and if they were not then made sure they at least had some treats - the children of course got a bit more and some toys to play with.

The evening is for himself though. He doesn't dress up, his attire simple, but he does don a mask to be in the spirit of things - it does little to conceal who he actually is, an old half mask from a previous party, but he felt it needed some use. Sam mostly keeps to the streets - a little wary still of the taverns - enjoying foods and beverage being offered at the stalls.

[el_tybs]

Sam snorts lightly at the licking, cooing at Interceptor as he engaged in giving him a lot of pets, or at least as much as he could manage while still giving James his attention.

"Beleth?" he asks, raising a brow in curiosity. "And... why are you looking for her?"

[gatheringstorm]

"Pfft, it's no secret. Ask anyone, they'll just point east and say that's it's where Antiva sends its wine, only second to Val Royeaux. But if it'll appease you, I can share the remaining stash I brought back with me sometime. It's best when shared with a friend, after all. Or you can just come with me whenever I visit again, but then you'll have to endure my parents."

[universal_charm]

If there was a person to recognize who Sam was, half-mask, full mask, or no, it was Jim Kirk. He could spot his lover a mile away, and he had been looking forward to a fun evening with him. They had each been at their respective jobs during the day. Even with a celebration going on, there was still coin to be made, especially if he planned to get some treats that night at the party itself.

"Why good evening good serah" Kirk chuckled, low and warm, to Samouel's side as he came up alongside him. "Might I trouble you for some company this evening?"

[meds4sale]

"They measure distance," he explained to Casimer, in his usual slow, halting monotone, "from demons."

He seemed about to ask a question when he too heard the song, probably quite a bit more keenly with his ears that seemed big even as elves went.

"I did," he confirmed, as the final three scales that emerged from his pack settled on each of their shoulders. They bowed in turn to Kit and Casimer. They may have been strange little devices, but at least they were polite.

"I doubt it needs to be said, but let us proceed with caution."

[meds4sale]

"Rage," he said tugging open one of his drawers and letting loose the tiny legion of delicate looking jeweled scales, "does not come from nowhere."

When they had settled along the walls of the corridor, he followed Beleth into the room, one of the scales settled on the tip of his manicured finger and swaying gently, as though it was trying to detect something.

"They are not much more frightening than the people that make them what they are."

There were shades here, half-formed things that flitted in and out of existence. They paid Beleth and the Medicine Seller little mind, and the scales ignored them. Something had drawn them there, clearly. He scoured the room, looking for some clue to where they came from. Nothing to find but moldering crates and furniture.

"They seemed to be heading further in."

Re: Lowtown

[meds4sale]

"One might consider it a kind of medicine," he said, accompanied by one of his cold, humourless laughs.

"But it is, indeed, quite effective. I take it this Sulu is someone you knew before coming?"

[el_tybs]

If he was ever told of such prowess - spotting him from a mile away - he might have to put it to a test. For the sake of 'Science'.

He's on his second cup of alcohol, talking with chuckles to the lady behind the stall serving him the drink, when he feels the presence slide up to his side. How he shifts to press his side against Jim portrays that he had heard him, welcomed his presence, but he doesn't turn his attention away from the woman just yet, thanking her kindly while passing her the coin for his drink. She seems to take it reluctantly, shifting a look to Kirk, before purposefully busying herself with someone else.

"I suppose not," he finally says, turning his face to look at Jim through the holes in his mask, one he would find very familiar, back from when they first went to Orlais. "Depends on what sort of company you are looking for though, serah." He grins at that, holding his drink up in silent offering if Kirk would like to try it; something warm with a bit of spice.

[motherfucking_ghost]

"Oh my god, no, but if you're really evil, don't mind a smell, and have gloves, you could totally ruin the fuck out of someone's day!" Please...please do not give drunk Church ideas.

"Okay okay okay, like, the drinking, do the kids drink? Like, law-wise. I don't know. Do we have laws about underage drinking here? Is that--is that a thing, or do we not care who drinks?"

[gatheringstorm]

That image sets Korrin off, and she throws back her head and laughs. Drunk Church is brilliant, she'll never say otherwise. But she'll manage to stop before all she can manage is wheezing.

"We don't usually care, because it's either that or water...which could make you sick unless it's boiled. Ale is fine, and weak enough as long as they're not having it on an empty stomach. But this is a 'qunari' you're talking to, ale is like water for me. Only qunari hooch and a few other exceptions seem to have any impact."

[gottakeeponejumpahead]

He smiled and poured himself another mug of ale, drinking deeply. He was amongst his people, and so, he knew he was safe.

"I do in fact, remember that adorable puppy. So I can give you ... Puppy Man instead." He grinned, before he asked, "So how is that adorable puppy?"

[judgemewhole]

Oh, and now, he's blushing again. He breathed out, sharply, before he set his shoulders. "I am ... looking at her to have a dance. With me."

He has absolutely no idea what will happen after that.

[arlathvhen]

Beleth is aware that she is both grinning like an idiot, and blushing like one, as well. She has a distant feeling that she should be far more self-conscious than she is, but at this moment, she just can't quite care about it.

"I would like that a great deal," She admits, and then--eyes glancing to him, then back down, as she struggles to spit it out: "But I remember you mentioning getting something to drink, as well. Surely you're not planning on taking that back?"

Okay, yes, she is at the moment, the biggest idiot in the entire Inquisition. But she's pretty sure it's worth it.

[arlathvhen]

"You never know, I've seen some foolish things make people angry." Beleth points out, glancing at the little scales. Ah, she's familiar with them, and they're useful (usually) little things. Without being creepy. Like certain swords.

"Though, rarely mad enough to become rage demons," She admits, peering deeper into the house. "I suppose we'll be going deeper in, as well? We can't exactly leave them here. Someone could get hurt." They didn't seem too malicious at the moment, but who knew how long that would last?

She sighs, and then, with a casual hand movement, pulls a dagger out of...somewhere. "What a pain." One day, she's going to figure out how to get a bow she can sneak in and out of places.

[judgemewhole]

He arches an eyebrow at her, before his smile returns again. Warmer, and a bit more teasing as he states, "Well, I cannot possibly let down a promise to a lady, can I? So no, I am not taking ... any of it back."

Not a word, not a desire, not anything. She was rather stuck with him this evening.

[limier]

She doesn’t affect a mask; being a wet blanket is its own costume.

But if plainclothes stand out a touch, they’re yet easily dismissed; workers will be joining the festivities from their posts late into the night. Wren hasn’t come looking for him: She doesn’t envy anyone who need search tonight’s revelry, and she’s other business about. But when that business vanishes upstairs in arm with a swan (complete with ample, feathered bodice) she’s left with two drinks in hand and no particular energy to pursue the matter.

For the best, upon sighting him.

"Cade," Her brows lift in faint surprise, but she doesn’t sound unhappy for it. Hadn’t quite expected him to be seen so nearly social. "Happy Satinalia."

The bruises have faded, sped along by magic — it wouldn't have done to show up to the Viscount's party black and blue —

[el_tybs]

"... You're looking for her so you can ask her to dance," he says, not asking, just restating it... less awkwardly. Obviously he wasn't quite expecting that for an answer, wrapping his head around that for a moment.

He notes the red on James's cheeks.

"James," he starts, a grin slowly spreading on his face. "Are you... and Beleth...?"

[onlyhymns]

Cade knows all about wet blankets, and could be one professionally if he had the chance.
He's sitting on a half-wall above the Lowtown market, safely above the festivities while still close enough to enjoy them. He almost doesn't hear Wren, but when he does, he actually smiles, at least in his uncertain, questioning way.
"Ser Coupe," he greets in return, "Happy Satinalia." He looks out and around, then back at her, and tentatively holds out his hand to help her up, should she want to join him.

[judgemewhole]

"I. Ah. No. No we have not ... done anything." He let out an aggravated breath, as he looked around again, "It is near impossible to get there if I cannot find her. If I could find her, then maybe then you can mock but ... not right at this moment."

[el_tybs]

"'Done anything'? I was just curious if you were just seeing each other." You know, like taking first steps; the innocent stuff. Mostly because he's never seen James just ask anyone to dance. "And I'm not mocking you. When have I done that? Amused." And perhaps a little surprised.

"Have you tried calling her crystal and asking where she is?"

[judgemewhole]

"Well that is what I ... meant as well. I mean, I am trying to talk to her to see if she would like to be seen. With me. In an informal, formal sort of way." He sighed, "And yes, I have. No answer."

[el_tybs]

So 'no', but it looked and sounded like James was interested. "Hm, no answer, huh?" Perhaps she couldn't hear it or had turned it off?

"Well... can't say I've seen her, but then again there are a lot of masks and I haven't been on the lookout. I could give you a call if I do see her. Could see if her brother knows where she is." As soon as Sam says that he makes a bit of a face. "Or... maybe you could call Cyril and see if he knows." Probably better/safer chance there.