[ 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

iii

[sohighandwild]

[Ket doesn't know anyone in Riftwatch well enough to get truly drunk, but after the jungle ordeal, a drink or two is certainly in order. And if it pays to appear a little more unguarded than she actually is, well. She'll take any windfalls she gets.

Still, it also pays not to overdo, and her Antivan accent is crisp as ever:]

Is whatever you're drinking worth trying? I still haven't forgotten the phrase "womb spiders" and I'm making a desperate attempt at it.

[bouchonne]

It's all right. Decently strong.

[ He answers her in accented, but decent, Antivan. And he continues in the tongue as he offers the glass to her: ]

Would you like this? I haven't drunk from it yet. And the likelihood of someone trying to assassinate me tonight is quite low.

[sohighandwild]

[The switch in language wins a small smile, though she arches an eyebrow as she takes the drink. In the same language:]

It would be a bit ironic to avoid a jungle full of murderous flora and fauna and then to die at a party as collateral damage to someone else's assassination. I'll take my chances, though.

Is the assassination a hazard of being a division head, or is it mostly personal?

[bouchonne]

Hazard of being a division head.

[ He smiles wryly. ]

I'm certainly not important enough to warrant that on my own merits. I wish I did.

[sohighandwild]

Well, I suppose we must all find our own ways of measuring success. Do you think poison would be very likely? Hard to trace, in this kind of setting, but also hard to control unless you don't mind a lot of potential extra corpses.

[bouchonne]

[ He taps a finger against his lips. ]

Poison is what I would assume, but perhaps that's simply because it would be my weapon of choice. What do you think would be the best method?

[sohighandwild]

Maker, I'm not an assassin, so I'm sure I couldn't say.

Though common sense suggests that poison is a sensible enough choice. It's simply a chaotic venue to try to apply it. Lots of chances to get close, yes, but also a lot of chances for you to go handing your drink to a nearby young lady. Even granted that your assassin doesn't care about collateral damage for its own sake, they still have to try again to get you, only now everyone's in a panic because someone's just dropped dead at a party.

[bouchonne]

True, true.

[ He touches a finger to his lip. ]

Unless, of course, the traitor is among us. Watching. Waiting. Calculating.

[ He swivels his head, eyes narrowed, as though searching for this nonexistent person. ]

[sohighandwild]

[Pseudo-solemn:]

Always possible, of course. Though I'll take my chances for now.

[She takes a drink, more than a sip though not enough to be actively showing off.]

...not bad. At least if I'm wrong and it's my last drink, it's pleasant.

[bouchonne]

Yes - the hostess has impeccable taste.

[ That's said quite warmly. It's not an idle comment, but instead praise of someone dear. ]

[sohighandwild]

[This gets a real smile, less arch.]

Evidence suggests. Do you know her well? I hadn't had the pleasure before tonight.

[bouchonne]

Of course. All Fereldans know one another.

[ Then, less facetiously: ]

My cousin. I've known her since we were children.

[sohighandwild]

Ah. Well, I plan to give her my compliments myself at some point, but if it's late enough that they don't stick, you may tell her so later too. I think many people would have been satisfied with much less, after the jungle, but she really showed her skill. If she's involved in all Riftwatch parties, I'll look forward to them.

[This being her first of any size.]

[bouchonne]

Agreed. She does a finer job of it than I do. And I'm very good.

[ And very full of himself, it seems. ]

I must imagine that any time previously you were at a party like this, you were working, no?

[sohighandwild]

Were the department heads provided with a full dossier, or are you just filling in based on the allegations that landed me here?

[bouchonne]

[ He smiles, and gives no answer. ]

Am I wrong?

[sohighandwild]

[She makes a subtle show of thinking about it.]

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "a party like this." The very last party I attended before Riftwatch, I was assuredly not working, but it was a bit less of a formal affair. Though...

[She glances around.]

I'll give it some time. It's possible arm-wrestling may yet break out this evening.

[bouchonne]

[ A laugh - ]

My prior comrade - co-head of Diplomacy with me - organized fighting rings. I think that arm-wrestling is very possible.

[ And then he glances over, and allows - ]

I used to work parties like this.

[sohighandwild]

Did you?

[She's still smiling, but it's a bit less arch.]

Doing what? I can think of a few ways to work at this sort of party.

[bouchonne]

Oh, doing probably every single thing you can think of, at one time or another. Sometimes two or more simultaneously. Old though I am, I think I might still have enough dexterity to pick a pocket or two here.

[sohighandwild]

[The flicker of her smile is quick, but warm.]

Well, being falsely accused, I'm sure I wouldn't know how hard or easy that is. But it sounds like a way to keep one's hands occupied.

If I were to commit a crime at this sort of party, though, I think I might aim a bit higher. Palming jewelry offers immediate satisfaction, but convince someone to buy you jewelry and you can draw things out for weeks on end. I would imagine.

[bouchonne]

[ He laughs, and leans in a little closer, saying - ]

That was my specialty.

[ Then, straightening, he admits: ]

Well. With a few differences. I was far more interested in someone to keep me in wine than I was in someone to keep me in diamonds.

[sohighandwild]

Well, to each his own. Though I will point out you can fence the diamonds and then buy wine with the proceeds.

[bouchonne]

A thought that, regrettably, didn't really occur to me as a young man. I suspect you're quite a bit cleverer than I was at your age.

[sohighandwild]

I'll accept the flattery on the grounds of its neat delivery.

That said, I suppose if you had what you wanted, you were succeeding on your own terms. A lot of young men don't do even so much.