open | your baddest behavior

[cozen]

WHO: Alexandrie, Bastien, Byerly, and their captive audience
WHAT: Mandatory etiquette and dance lessons
WHEN: Justinian 15, 9:45
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: See the OOC post and IC announcement for more information! If you didn't sign up, you can still participate in Parts A and D, and just handwave the other two, without needing to sign up or get an assignment. If you want to do B and C, you can find your own dance partner/seating group OOC, or you can sign up now and we'll dole out new assignments if we get enough latecomers to do so. If you signed up and are missing from the lists when you shouldn't be, I'm sorry and please tell me!

disclaimer: event less fancy than pictured

Seating Assignments
— Table One: Gwenaëlle, Iorveth, Matthias, Athessa
— Table Two: Flint, Ilias, Darras, Med Seller, Yngvi
— Table Three: Julius, Thranduil, Anders, Brienne
— Table Four: Benedict, Colin, Valentine, Six, Derrica
— Table Five: Teren, Salvio, Bartimaeus, Osana
— Table Six: Freddie, Petrana, Kain, Merrill, Silver
— Table Seven: Yseult, Cosima, Steve, Inessa
— Table Eight: Sidony, Fifi, Nell, Fingon
— Table Nine: Thor, Nathaniel H., Solas, Skadi

Dance Partners
— Cosima & Nathaniel H.
— Athessa & Anders
— Teren & Flint
— Freddie & Bartimaeus
— Yseult & Darras
— Nell & Julius
— Merrill & Colin
— Skadi & Benedict
— Gwenaëlle & Solas
— Petrana & Salvio
— Osana & the Medicine Seller
— Sidony & Matthias
— Six & Thranduil
— Brienne & Valentine
— Fifi & Steve
— Thor & Fingon
— Ilias & Iorveth

Comments

[swordproof]

The look of horror on Six's face is undeniable as she stares at Loki. She had no intention of ruining this for someone, and there's a knot of anxiety bubbling in her stomach - this is why someone like her, gangly and awkward and uncomfortable, should not be allowed at functions like this. She makes a mess of things, all the joy slipping out of her before she breathes out sharply.

"I - I am sorry," her voice is low and quiet, despite her size and stature. "I will pay for it to be properly cleaned."

[hwaaaitsme]

Given the general temperament of people in Kirkwall, or at functions like this (at least the proper ones), Loki was expecting a bit more pushback. He was wearing an obvious brooch with a Tevinter snake, he was clearly clad in a style that was not Orlesian, and he was standing in a thoroughfare with an open drink. A sniping insult or offer to toss some gold at it would be par for the course.

This one actually....looked apologetic, though? That was strange. Were she less tall he would be under the impression she was cowed.

What use were mandatory etiquette lessons if they didn't teach you how to deal with pompous pricks?

Loki rolls his eyes and, in a strange turn, feels rather generous.

"No, no, no," he corrects and with a wave of one hand manages to clear the drink from his robes, or at least hide the damage from sight. It is impossible to tell which, honestly.

"Come now, if you're going to attend a real party like this you have to be prepared for some snark. Orlesians love it when you manage to tell them off cleverly. Apologizing and offering recompense only works with Nevarrans. Try again."

[swordproof]

Six is not like most people and she is aware of that; on the battlefield or defending those that need it she is fierce and dangerous, a warrior in her own right, noble and proud. In a function like this where she clearly stands out, does not fit in, does not seem the part... She feels like she is a child once more; as if the looming threat of punishment is hanging around her like a shadow, breathing down her neck.

She winces, just a little. Those are not the thoughts to be having now, not when she has been engaging in such a pleasant evening.

"Ah," and the damage is gone as if she had never done it in the first place, and she absently wishes she had that sort of magic as well, "try again?"

What is she supposed to say? Adalia would be better at this, surely, and she longs for her sister so fiercely it aches.

"Perhaps you should not have been in my way?"

[hwaaaitsme]

"Good but not particularly cutting," Loki replies conversationally, gesturing with his empty drink. "You should add an insult to it, passive aggressive is best if you can manage it."

He thinks a moment and gestures to himself.

"You perhaps didn't see me, my outfit is so quiet you thought I was a furnishing? Perhaps you could play upon my perceived deficiencies?" Loki suggests. "You aren't given to looking so far down when you walk?

"Though, I suppose, that does open one up to insults in the riposte." He hums idly and then looks her over. She is still waiting on him for either leave to go or acceptance of his apology...or a lesson. It is hard to say. He appreciates her quiet slightly meek demeanor, it makes him feel all the more important, if only subconsciously.

"Good attempt, though. How are you at dancing?"

[swordproof]

"I am not designed to be cutting, I do not think." Six is designed to destroy people on the battlefield, to crush them under the weight of her greatsword, to feel the flames of Sarenrae's touch and know that she has done something good. Social situations like this, gatherings, parties... She does not feel as comfortable, and it shows.

Her eyes flick down and she looks at him, hesitant, before -

"You are not that short." As if that is the problem here. But all she looks is awkward and uncomfortable; this is the sort of thing Benedict might have taught her to do, once upon a time, but she has not had such education in months.

Perhaps it is good they have done this - that they have taken the chance to teach the new Riftwatch all this business.

"Better than I am at this," she admits. "I have not broken any toes yet."

[hwaaaitsme]

"Do not underestimate the value of pointed clumsiness," Loki warns but it has little bite to it. He regards her a moment and tilts his head as he thinks.

"Who was your partner?"

[swordproof]

"I may attempt to learn if it proves useful." Perhaps if she keeps going to these events - the wedding, and with her relationship with Thor...

Hesitating, she tries to pretend that her cheeks are not flushed.

"Thor."

[hwaaaitsme]

The grimace that pulls across Loki's face is one he only bothers to stifle and it gives it a casual, joking air. His expression shifts to something a little longsuffering and apologetic and he sets his empty glass aside on a nearby table.

"My condolences," Loki tells her dryly. "Though you appear to have survived well enough."

[swordproof]

There’s a moment where it seems as though Six might leap to Thor’s defence - that she might say something to show this man just what she thinks of his comment, but she bites her lip. She’s not yet comfortable enough to do such a thing, and she fears giving it away despite the colour on her cheeks.

“He was a good partner,” she says instead. “I did not think I would be capable of matching him.”