OPEN | Bon anniversaire, nos vœux les plus sincères ♪

[coquettish_trees]

WHO: Evie, Lexie, their CR, and anyone else who feels like Partying Hearty on someone else's dime
WHAT: b u r s d a y
WHEN: 22nd of Justinian
WHERE: the De La Fontaine apartments in Hightown
NOTES: quality sisterhood, a lot of booze, a 100% chance of embarrassing parlor games in which one is required to kiss inanimate objects or try to bargain for ladies gloves or recite poetry or sing or do whatever other party trick you have that you've never gotten to showcase.

please threadjack each other atrociously (unless otherwise noted). ♥

Had a certain hot-house blossom hurricane of a sister not decided to join Geneviève in Kirkwall, the Chevalier would most likely have let the day pass— as she had before— without overmuch note. Alexandrie, however, takes after their Lady Mother when it comes to extravagant parties and will not be satisfied without a certain level of celebration on the occasion of their shared natal day. Given that the two women are currently sharing the Hightown apartments both rented and renovated by their architect father and that there will be a party happening there, it seems that this year Evie will be celebrating her birthday.

To this end, there is a not insignificant amount of alcohol and seemingly self-replenishing finger foods both sweet and savory. The household staff that came along with the twins to Kirkwall may be small, but all have been with the family for over a decade at the least and are prideful in their service both in representing the De La Fontaines and, in what has become an even more cosmopolitan city since the installation of the Inquisition, Orlais.

Those who need particular invitation have been particularly invited, and the rest of the Inquisition has been duly informed by crystal. Let's do this.


A Party in Several Parts:

I. Sister Sister (closed to Lexie and Evie): Look, Evie, if you don't let her get you fancy, what even is the point of Lexie coming to Kirkwall anyway. Should we bicker about dresses? We should bicker about dresses. Let Emile put your hair up for the Maker's sake, and please borrow her best set of pearls, she knows they look good on us. Honestly if you don't accessorize you'll be very sorry when she convinces everyone to play Le Créancier or a rousing and heartily impertinent game of strip Vingt-Et-Un and you don't have anything to take off but your shirt.

II. Blood, Bond, Besties, and Beaus (closed to fambly/CR): Those personally known by the twins have been informed of an earlier time to join them for what will be a slightly more intimate gathering. Gossip, catch up, bemoan the lack of society here, pregame the rest of the Inquisition appearing, listen to Lexie show off on harpsichord before she gets too tipsy for 64th notes, show off yourself, play cards, lounge. L o u n g e!

III. Party Time, Excellent (OTA!): The festivities are in full swing by this point, and throughout the night somehow there are still more of those little darling sandwiches, and there always seems to be another cask of something. It only happens once a year, right? Appreciate the apartments, let an inebriated Lexie dress you up, go find some secluded corner with someone you've had your eye on, play ridiculous parlor games. Speaking of whiiiich...

IV. Le Créancier (OTA! One thread for this one!): Eventually, Lexie is going to want to play a game. The rules, she explains, are simple: someone will be chosen to begin as the creditor, and they shall approach another player to collect the debt owed them. A number of kisses, perhaps, or a segment of verse, song, dance, show of acrobatic prowess, a piece of truth, a dare, anything else your terribly clever minds can concoct. The debtor must then argue with them, appeal to their better nature, or attempt to otherwise evade the collection. Hold fast, creditor! In the end, the debtor must either acquiesce or protest that they are entirely insolvent and offer some accessory or article of clothing— worry not, all shall be returned— to be accepted in its stead. The debtor then becomes the creditor and approaches another!

[OOC: Anyone who wants to play, drop me a line on plurk/discord/journal message me so I know who all is available to be picked. If you have something you'd particularly like your character to be asked to do (a talent they're shy about but that you'd like to see them get to show off), let me know! Start that ship! Surprise everyone with your character's virtuosity! I'll make sure everyone's coordinated. 8D Shine on, you crazy diamonds.]

Comments

[coquettish_trees]

Loki's breath tickles her ear and Alexandrie shivers very slightly, before raising a hand to thump him lightly on the chest with its open palm in recompense. "Do not murmur so, you shall give me a chill." This said with exaggerated propriety, although a smile twitches at the corners of her mouth.

The ribbon swiftly finds a new home snugly around her neck, the ends trailing from the small and slightly lopsided bow she manages to tie (being just that side of drunk), before making her way inside the wrapping with less deftness than usual. Yet, she is determined, and eventually and triumphantly opens the box contained within to reveal a matched pair of very finely crafted daggers, weighted for throwing, forged in the Orlesian style of such things. Her eyebrows curve upwards slowly, and she turns her head to regard Loki with bemused curiosity.

"And what, pray tell, am I to do with such exquisite armaments?"

[hwaaaitsme]

"Well I surely cannot say, my dear," Loki tells her, a look of pure academic interest on his face. His mock innocence is a thin veneer. It is fortunate the other man wandered off.

"They are fairly utilitarian for all that they are beautiful. Whatever needs you might have for them will certainly be appropriate."

He smirks, then, and gives up a bit of the game.

"If you would like instruction in their common uses, well, I would be happy to tutor you.

[coquettish_trees]

Here Alexandrie finds herself caught briefly between two responses. (There is a third, but the idea of dodging the topic entirely and using them as far too excellent cheese knives is discarded as soon as thought.) The first is to simply take Loki up on his offer. After all, it would afford another reason to share his company, the which she genuinely enjoys.

The second, which she manages to surprise herself with, is to tilt her head, smile, and inquire with a rather darkly tinged innocence after tutelage in their uncommon uses, which would almost certainly break one of the only two rules she has always taken to bed with her.

This has never happened before. That fact, plus the wine, means that for the space of a breath she is looking at him with a curious and thoughtful consideration that is both frank and slightly detached before the response that takes less thought comes out of the coquette again.

"I have heard tell that I could have no finer, in this particular art," she says, "It would be quite foolish, I think, to miss such an opportunity."

[hwaaaitsme]

Her answer takes time to craft, a terrible faux pas, but not without reason. He allows it and, when she finally agrees, he grins more openly. It is a rare occasion, teaching someone how best to use knives. It is rarer still to teach someone clever.

"How fortunate for me that you are no fool," he says and gestures to his valet. They are still at a party and carrying about knives...well, that is for a different sort of party, really.

"My valet shall take these wherever you like. I do so hope your sister enjoys the matching sword."

[coquettish_trees]

"I cannot but imagine she will." Alexandrie replies, "She does so enjoy both swords and country." It's said affectionately; despite the often glaring differences, she does genuinely love Geneviève. She makes a gesture of her own, and her lady's maid appears soon afterwards. "He may give them to Emile, she shall see them safely away."

Orders given, she returns her attention to Loki. "At least, until I am given to your no doubt excellent tutelage."

She pauses for a moment, and begins to look quite serious. "Now you must know I am absolutely desolate," here she sighs and effects quite the mournful countenance, "but I have promised several dances, and it would be terribly rude of me to break my word by continuing to sit here and appearing to play at favourites, would it not?"

[hwaaaitsme]

Her countenance shifts to something grave and, at once, she informs him that she must depart. His valet passes off the gift and resumes his position, discreetly, at Loki's side. Loki, cocks a brow and leans forward, speaking directly against her ear once more.

"I imagine watching you dance shall be...quite inspiring."

He draws back a bit and his arm shifts to release her waist. The sensation of his hand, however, does not leave her as swiftly.

"By all means, enjoy yourself. I know I shall."

[coquettish_trees]

With a sweep of skirts, Alexandrie is on her feet again with a dazzling smile and only the slightest of swaying, although she leans back down to reply.

"Why, you may do so more directly than this," she says quietly, a sparkle in her eyes as she raises a hand to cover the space where his touch is lingering. "I imagine with an hour or so more wine in the room, I should hardly be missed. Do come and cut in if you are so... inspired."

With that, she withdraws toward the space they'd cleared for dancing to accept an offered hand, flicking a last look and quick wicked smile over her shoulder before joining the others on the floor, that careless laughter of hers still audible over the music.