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

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.

[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?"

[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.

[universal_charm]

Everything is good for the sake of Science and Kirk would be very up for such experiments. They probably involve a fun prize at the end, he's sure.

A soft bit of pressure in return says he accepts the greeting for what it is, secretly pleased that they can communicate in such quiet, subtle ways. He doesn't miss the way the woman looks at him, the way she busies herself, and he wonders if it is because he and Sam are intimately close, or if she knows he is a rifter. More than ever he takes care to shield his shard from view, usually in bandages and sometimes in gloves, though he really should invest in a proper pair of leather ones. Either way, he decides it is best not to linger, tugging Sam to walk with him now though the way Sam looks in that mask is very distracting.

"Only the best sort of company, serah," he replies, taking the offered cup and sipping, licking his lips in appreciation of the taste. "The sort that knows how to have a good time."

[el_tybs]

It probably had more to do with the fact she was enjoying said mask and the distracting man behind it, working up a way to suggest he pay for his drink with something else and Jim oh-so-effortlessly swooping in. Not that Sam had actually noticed the interest, simply they had a friendly exchange; it was definitely lost on him as soon as Jim had showed up.

Sam follows without struggle, his one hand reaching out and lightly holding onto Jim's as they made their way through the crowd. "Ah, well it is good that you found me then as I am quite good at that. I see you approve of the drink." First step in showing a good time clearly.

[universal_charm]

Well, that was always a possibility too. With things as they were, they weren't the initial conclusion Kirk tended to jump too, though with Sam being as handsome as he was, it was perfectly plausible. Not that Kirk worried about such things now that he had Samouel's attention. That, and Sam tended to be rather oblivious, if in an adorable way.

"It's got a nice spice to it," he hummed, stealing another drink before handing it back. "And I am very aware of your talents, Samouel. It is why I sought you out as my companion for the evening."

[el_tybs]

To be fair his obliviousness as of late wasn't so much out of naivete - he was aware that people looked - but rather because he wasn't looking for such things. Why would he when he was already quite content with the two men he was already in relationships with?

Sam hums in kind in agreement about the drink, taking it back eagerly to take another sip. There was only a little bit of alcohol to it, giving it a bit more bite, but it mainly came from the apples and spices brewed with it. "Hm. You flatter me, James," he says warmly with a chuckle, hiding it mostly behind his drink. "And which of the events this evening did you want me to accompany you to?"

[universal_charm]

Honestly, Samouel, it is both devastating and endlessly endearing that you don't realize how handsome you are, though Kirk does endeavor to remind you at every opportunity.

"Well, that is the question, now isn't it? So many to choose from. Perhaps the one that will inspire the most jealousy with you on my arm," he mused aloud, letting out a soft giggle because of it and reaching for the drink again as they meandered down the street. "Or no, perhaps I wish something a bit more intimate. I am a covetous man, you see."

[el_tybs]

How could he not know how handsome he was? Both Jim and Cyril made an effort to point it out all the time. He just didn't act on it... much.

When Kirk reaches for the cup he makes sure he has a hold before giving up possession of the drink. "I cannot deny that." That Jim was a covetous man. "That's very hard to give a suggestion of something to do if you're fighting with yourself on how to have me in public."

[universal_charm]

"That is true. And honestly, we should probably check on the animals. So... head home? After stop for a few snacks," he said, not wanting to miss out on the delicious treats being sold at the vendors while they were still there. He especially liked the sugary treats or the sweet ones if he could get them. Normally he wasn't much one for a sweet tooth, but special occasions? Absolutely. And he was sure he could find something fun to use them for as well, where Sam was concerned.

"That is, if you've had enough of the festival for tonight."

[el_tybs]

Ah-huh. The animals. Sam gives Jim a knowing look all the while stealing back the drink and actually taking a sip from it. "Sounds like you want the more intimate event of the holiday. Covetous indeed; already stealing him away from the crowds.

"So long as we get a few snacks that I like... and a couple more cups of this drink, I can call it an early evening from public."

[universal_charm]

"You know me far to well," he said, not that he sounded displeased by this fact as his gaze scanned the stalls, looking for something for them to snack on as he had promised.

He turned his gaze to Sam after a moment, just smiling to himself as he watched the flicker of light across his features, half hidden by the mask. God, he was lovely, wasn't he? Sometimes he had to wonder how he had gotten quite so lucky as to snag Samouel, how he managed to keep him around.

"We'll get a whole gallon of the stuff if you like."

[el_tybs]

"Very well," he mutters in agreement, sipping at his drink.

While Jim looked at the stalls from afar, Sam's eyes were more intent on watching what was in front of him. His lips quirked up into a small smile behind the cup, taking in the profile of Kirk's bare face, watching how intent he was in finding their 'supplies' so that he could get them home in a quick manner. Course as soon as he saw Jim turning his gaze towards him, Sam directed his sight elsewhere, pretending that he was equally looking. Honestly he didn't know why he did, just out of habit to not get caught staring at someone. So after a moment he looks back, noticing Jim looking at him and gives a smile in return.

"A whole gallon? Not sure that will last, but I suppose I shouldn't get too spoiled."