[ open: all arise! ]

[vorbratta]

WHO: you. yes, you there. you're invited
WHAT: Sonia is throwing a big party, because everyone needs an excuse to get good and drunk together right now. And dancing. There is always dancing.
WHEN: Justinian, shortly after the return of the jungle crew
WHERE: The suite at the top of the mage tower
NOTES: ♫ have some party jams ♫

The month in the jungle was a long one, made longer by the total lack of any alcohol to mitigate the experience. Utterly unthinkable. Sonia is addressing a public need by throwing a grand party -- a public service, even. Besides, it's what she does. When was the last time she got to plan a party, anyway? Granted, this is not a Denerim soiree for the young nobility, but the venue doesn't matter. Only the people and the drinks, and Sonia is assuredly rich in both. It is also a fantastic excuse not to think about any of the bad things that have happened since she was last in Kirkwall.

The decoration in the residential suite at the top of the mage tower would be best classified as improvisational -- one of those drapes tacked along the wall for ambience may be a bedsheet -- but it's the spirit of the thing that counts. One makes do with what one has. In one corner are a few tables laden with spirits, some provided by Sonia, others by generous partygoers. There are a few Barra vineyard vintages in the mix, highlights of her personal collection, a testament to the celebration she considers tonight to be. There's a small selection of food nearby, mostly for snacking to go with the drinks, though guests are free to bring whatever they like to share.

And there is, of course, music. Someone here has brought a fiddle or a flute or a bunch of pots masquerading as a drum set. Maybe you've brought your very own a capella choir. Whatever the accompaniment, there's something to dance to. Sonia makes sure there is dancing.

Tonight is not for licking wounds or swapping grisly stories of terror and survival. Tonight is for feeling alive, getting properly and delightfully drunk, and having a good god damn time.

Comments

[bouchonne]

[ And By, in return, lowers his head, and uses his bow to play upon his violin the precise prosody of the phrase thank you. It's a little creepy, but also a little delightful. ]

Any requests?

[highborn]

[ The voice, he thinks faintly, sounds a bit familiar. But that's no surprise, is it? A party like this, a man as attractive as that, certainly Vanadi would have heard him speaking to someone by now. He sets the thought aside and draws nearer, looking thoughtful. ]

I'm afraid we're not likely to have any overlap in familiarity. [ He shrugs vaguely; rifter, what can you do? ] But I'd happily settle for a favorite of yours.

[bouchonne]

Hm.

[ Likewise, this man's voice is familiar. But by this point, By is a little too soused to think about it too deeply. Instead, he lifts the bow, and asks - ]

Happy or sad?

[highborn]

Happy. [ An automatic answer, even if not the one his moping heart might typically prefer. ] Of course. This is hardly the evening for anything else, yes?

[bouchonne]

The man has a sense of occasion.

[ With a flourish, he obeys. He puts the bow to the fiddle, and stamps his foot to set a time that seems rather simplistic - a steady march beat - until the instrument comes in, setting a frenetic pace over the whump-whump-whump-whump of Byerly's foot.

After an introduction, however, the violin line eases up a bit and becomes less complex. The reason for that becomes clear as By loosens his grip a little and untucks his chin so he can start singing along with his playing. It's a Fereldan song, one known to the other musicians, as they join in; unlike most Fereldan songs, which tend to focus on warfare or murderesses or lovers killed young, the lyrics of this one are peppy, as long as you don't mind a bit of dog death.

By's voice is quite pleasant, a strong and lively baritone. And his enjoyment of the song is clear - he plays to the audience, milking every last bit of theatricality from the tune. ]

[highborn]

[ He'd known already the man was good, but to get such a clear and lovely voice as well? What a treat. Vanadi steps back into the audience, giving the man his stage, and there he sips his drink and enjoys the performance.

There's some well-honed sense in him that gives it a while, that turns his attention to other things — that knows precisely the moment his musician of interest opts for a break. That's when Vanadi materializes at his side, two drinks in hand and a smooth smile in place. ]

You must be thirsty, after all that.

[bouchonne]

Oh, I'm always thirsty.

[ He grins rakishly, but his desire for something stiff outweighs his desire for milking the moment. He tucks his fiddle under his arm, and takes the glass - slightly out of breath, but only slightly - and tips it to his elven benefactor before tossing it back in a go. ]

[highborn]

[ The line gets a cocked brow -- not unpleasantly so. It was even charming, in a manner of speaking. ]

A happy coincidence, as I'm ever ready to assist. Always with the drinks, and all.

[ Vanadi takes a much more sedate sip of his remaining drink, and a few steps back for a comfortable lean against the nearest table. A nod invites his mystery company to join him. ]

I'm quite sure this will be no novel declaration for you, but you have a beautiful voice and very skilled hands.

[bouchonne]

Why else do you think I perform?

[ His lips lift a little further. A beautiful voice, hm? ]

Some do it for the love of art. My only interest is a kind word from a handsome stranger.

[highborn]

[ That gets a quick huff, an amused quirk of a grin. ]

Quite the scheme. [ And he allows himself to enjoy, if briefly, a once-over. Just in case he'd missed it while busy with the instrument. ] Were you one of those lucky bunch stuck out there, then?

[bouchonne]

[ Byerly blinks his devastatingly, impossibly long and dark eyelashes at Vanadi. ]

Don't you think you'd have noticed me if I were here before?

[highborn]

[ Not impossible, with Vanadi as new as he is -- but that's not the answer to move this conversation along, of course. He laughs charmingly. ]

No, you're right, a foolish question. It's only -- I'd never have guessed it by how very fresh you look tonight.

[bouchonne]

Oh, I'm not even close to my handsomest. This is me on a bad day.

[ By reaches out and brushes a strand of hair away from Vanadi's forehead experimentally. ]

[highborn]

[ He tips his head ever so slightly toward that touch, and there's a brief moment when his smile shifts from the easy, practiced flirtatiousness and toward something that looks a little warmer and kinder. He knows of course this is no real connection, just a tease towards a lively evening, but sometimes it's nice to pretend otherwise. The alcohol helps, too. ]

Truly? Tonight's evidence does seem stacked against you. [ That brief, kind smile is replaced with a quick grin. ] But I'm willing to believe it when I see it. Would tomorrow morning be kinder to you, do you think?

[bouchonne]

Oh, immensely.

[ By grins, his pleasure at Vanadi's forwardness plain to see. ]

I can highly recommend myself as I'm just starting to wake up from a late sleep. Or alternatively, scampering out of a room in the small hours of the morning. Depending on one's preference.

[ He gives a small gesture at Vanadi, clearly indicating who one is intended to be. ]

[highborn]

I can picture it now. Quite the sight.

[ He winks over the rim of his glass as he drains the last of it, and sets the glass aside with fresh invigoration. ]

Tell me, my dear, do you dance?

[bouchonne]

With immense skill.

[ He extends one hand, eyebrow cocked in invitation. ]

[highborn]

[ He takes it without hesitation, looking pleased. That's just the answer he'd been hoping for. ]

A multi-talented man! [ He grins and draws himself closer. ] Please -- impress me.

[bouchonne]

[ And By, without hesitation, whirls him out onto the dance floor, breaking into an opening in the dance line and falling into step with the other dancers. It's well-timed: the other musicians have just started a new dance, and it's one that's fun and energetic rather than seductive - which might seem at cross-purposes, save that it's rather too early in the seduction for a slow dance.

It is a dance that requires a little bit of knowledge of the steps, but By clearly knows them, and leads Vanadi easily. ]

[highborn]

[ It's late enough by now that Vanadi has had the evening for a bit of learning, building on a base of solid familiarity with a number of dances from a world away. It's not so difficult to keep up with the man, though he does appreciate the lead.

His energy is high, higher than it's been since he got here. The alcohol helps, but also -- it's the feeling of life as it was, which has felt so unattainable since things slid sideways. His grin is lively and genuine, his enthusiasm for it apparent. Coy flirtatiousness aside, this evening is proving to be quite simply very fun, and Vanadi is having an unexpectedly good time of it all. He shares it in quick laughs and pleased grins, sliding in as close to Byerly as the lively music allows here and there for a lingering touch, a hint of an almost. ]

[bouchonne]

[ And once or twice, By sneaks a little extra - a hand just a bit too low on the small of his back, a finger curled in against a palm. Nothing too forward or too scandalous. Just small touches. ]

You're quite graceful.

[ That's murmured into his ear after a turn. ]

[highborn]

[ It's much appreciated -- usually Vanadi is the one pursuing, slyly encouraging, enjoying an instigated touch where he can. How nice, to meet equal attentions. His good mood only lifts him higher, puts a little more spirit into his increasingly confident dance steps. ]

Mm, as are you. [ He tilts his head to offer a very-close grin that edges toward sharp. ] Very impressive, for a human.

[bouchonne]

How saucy of you.

[ He plays briefly at offense, a coquettish display that's mostly designed to show off his eyelashes as he blinks in mock-outrage. ]

My people are no less capable of grace than yours are.

[highborn]

[ He incorporates a shrug into a backwards swing of a move, loose and careless. ]

You don't really know my people, I'm afraid. I left them a world away.

[bouchonne]

No slipping into melancholy, now.

[ By follows after him in the dance. ]

This evening is supposed to be fun, for a change.