faderift | [ open: all arise! ]

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ No matter how much care Derrica takes to keep respectfully out of Athessa's space, the fact remains that there's only so many doors in and out of this party. Inevitably, Derrica is attempting to slip out as Athessa is slipping back in, and the collision is—

Not as bad it could be, granted. But still, Derrica's grasped Athessa's arm, caught one hand to keep either of them from toppling, and the result is that they're simply too close. Derrica winces, immediately contrite. ]

I'm sorry.

[ Instinctively, since this feels like something to be sorry for. ]

[ For a split second, it's easy to forget that there's any reason to be awkward about this. Athessa instinctively reached for Derrica just as she had, preventing a fall where none was imminent. And then they linger too long and Derrica's hand against Athessa's feels simultaneously like fire and the balm needed to soothe it.

Athessa huffs out a breath, something like a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth half-heartedly. ]

Don't worry about it.

[ Derrica's grip tightens briefly before she loosens her grip, lets go. Her palm is tingling. She feels flushed, embarrassed, even if Athessa doesn't seem all that upset about the near-collision. ]

I should have been looking where I was going.

[ She shrugs, a little lamely as she takes another step back. ]

It's just...you know, the festivities.

[ They were too close, and now with that step Derrica has taken all the air with her across some vast chasm. ]

Pretty sure you were looking at the door. I just got in your way.

[ Athessa ducks her head slightly and steps aside so Derrica has enough room to get by if she wants to. ]

[ This is excruciating. In some ways, it is a confirmation of many things Derrica had already assumed: that to linger in a place where you've been so intimate with a person is to invite non-stop regret every time you see them.

But what is there to be done? Is she not beyond the point where she can easily flee this place? ]

You could never be in the way.

[ But there's no reason not to pass through the doorway now. As she walks past, her hand lifts almost of it's own accord to pat Athessa's cheek. A stupid, flirtatious habit, one she regrets almost instantly, but she flashes a quick, rueful smile over her shoulder and keeps walking.

It's fINE. ]

[ Athessa doesn't see the smile, or that Derrica looks back, because she freezes as soon as she touches her face. Did Athessa turn into the touch? She didn't mean to, but she must have.

She just stands there, staring between the feet of the dancers in the middle of the room. She should go after Derrica. She should do something. Grab her, kiss her, beg her to forget everything Athessa ever said about how she feels and go back to being happy with each other. Anything to put a stop to the ache.

But Derrica leaves and Athessa stays, remembering to breathe only after they're far enough apart for the thread tying them together to snap. ]

[ open: all arise! ]

as the night goes on.

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