faderift | OPEN: this will be a better year

OPEN: this will be a better year

WHO: Everyone
WHAT: First Day
WHEN: Wintermarch 1 (forward-dated)
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Scouts from both the Western Approach and Emprise du Lion are welcome (but not required) to have returned to Skyhold in time for this event.

There have been better First Day feasts, and less crowded ones, and cheerier ones. It isn't a good year for many to look back on, and this one isn't starting any better. Reports from both Eastern and Western Orlais are grim. Many in the Inquisition can't afford to take more than a few hours away from their work, if that.

But for those who can, the ambassador does her best. At lunchtime some tables, hot food, and finery are reserved for visiting nobility and wealthy pilgrims--cause for grumbling in some quarters, perhaps, but they're the people filling the Inquisition's coffers, and allowances must be made--but there's plenty of stew, bread, and ale for everyone, even with the soldiers and refugees who stay outside the fortress invited inside for the holiday. The recently repaired garden and its carefully tended plants aren't off limits, but anyone noisy and holding a drink will be stopped at the door; the battlements, with their potential for deadly falls, are blocked by Inquisition guards. But the courtyards brim with people, most of them happy despite the possibility that the world might end before another First Day arrives.

If the courtyards are too full of tipsy visitors for comfort, there's also the valley beyond the fortress, expansive, barren, and covered in snow. By the river the soldiers help the refugees make a bonfire larger than would ever be allowed inside Skyhold's walls, and some lend their shields to use as sleds down the embankments. A group of scouts start the most intense game of hide and seek Thedas has ever seen, with snowballs to the face for whoever is found first. In the camp, a refugee girl with her hand wrapped in a green scarf chases other children around the tents, shouting raaar, I'm from the rifts!

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"Doesn't need to be refined. We're covered in snowballs dancing by a bonfire. Refined's for a ballroom. You seen any ballrooms around here lately?"

At least it makes him lift his gaze back up. "It would kind of suck if I made you have to heal yourself in the first place, though. Where's the fun in that?"

"I think if I did, it would be Ambassador Montilyet's doing, but no, no ballrooms as of yet."

Though if there was, it would probably be taken over by the troops to use to train. Why train in the cold when you can do it indoors?

"I hardly need the practice for such a small injury; I can tell you that. So I suppose fun would not factor into it. I take it you will continue to be careful, hmm? Always looking at your feet instead of at your dance partner?"

But then if they were going to train indoors, why make a ballroom in the first place? Make them train in the fucking basement.

"Uhhhh." He is definitely not embarrassed! Not at all. And he totally knows how to talk to women. Pretty women! Yep. "How 'bout I just keep looking at you and trust that I won't be an ogre with my feet. I think that'll work out for us both."

"A little trust will work," she replies, lips lifting in a smirk. After all, he's handsome. "I would hate to be deprived of seeing your face."

"Oh. So you like my face?" Wait, try that again, but a little less surprised-sounding. "I mean. Yeah, my face is a pretty good face. Uh. Handsome. It's a handsome face." Now that he's glimpsed it in mirrors and reflective surfaces. Not bad. Not bad! There's nobody here to tell him if he looks like the Director, though to be honest, he might not want to know.

"Your face is a good face, too." Ain't he just eloquent? "Pretty! Pretty face on a pretty woman." God, just keep digging the hole. "I'm gonna pretend that sequence of sentences didn't just come out of my mouth."

Christine does her best to stay composed and not outright laugh. She's never made a man so flustered before! It feels empowering, to be honest. It's a new year and time for some new experiences in her life.

"Perhaps I should interpret all that as 'you are pretty,' yes? Would that make you feel better about it?"

"Yeah, because it's true. You are pretty. I am handsome." She reminds him a bit like Adelaide, but younger and, despite initial impressions, finds smiling and laughter easier. ...Maybe he's got a type. Or maybe he attracts a certain type! "Me speak good for ape-man, ook."

All right, now that laugh she was holding back is coming out. He's just the type of ridiculous that she's able to handle without getting really annoyed. So... yay for him?

"Yes, I'm impressed. The ape-man moves his feet well enough too. What will he do next?"

"He hasn't figured that part out yet and is mostly just winging it. Kind of how he lives. On the edge. Ready to do anything." Liiiike wrap his arm around her entire waist and lift her just enough to spin before plunking her back down to her feet. "See? Winging it."

Christine's eyes light up. No one has ever lifted her up and spun her around before. (Though, truthfully, her father did when she was little; she just can't remember it anymore.) Maybe it's the drink plus the atmosphere and the company, but she's feeling rather giddy.

"Winging it can be a dangerous thing. I must prepare myself. You should too." And then, impulsively, she gives him a quick peck on the cheek. "See? Were you prepared for that?"

"Nnnnnnnnnnnnnno. No, I was not prepared." It's adorable. And nice. And...good. And doing anything else might be seen as improper. Oh jesus fuck what would Tucker do in this situ--no wait what is the opposite of what Tucker would do...

"You know, uh, if you're, um, still all...cold and wet and, well, you don't want to catch anything, being cold and wet and shit, you could always, um, go inside and uh y'know just y'know take a hot...bath. Rearrange your hair and...stuff. And you could take a plate of food and a hot drink to go with! And nobody else would get in your hair and you could warm up and feel all, y'know, good."

Obviously he is a master of words. And a master at failing to invite himself along to pretty girls bathing god damn it.

Christine listens, her face becoming more confused as he goes on. There's a touch of amusement on her lips too, because the rambling is quite adorable, but what is he even saying? Is he trying to tell her to leave? Really, it was just one little kiss, and not even on the lips! He can't be that desperate for her to leave, can he?

"You wish for me to go and take a bath?" Her brow furrows, because she can't tell if this is some odd sense of chivalry he's showing, or he really wants her to go.

"To get warm! And uh. Uhhhhh I could...join you. In the bath. Since I'm also cold and wet?" Hint hint. Hint! Feel his mental hinting. He's mentally hinting really hard.

Her lips part slowly in surprise. Is her really asking to take a bath with her? Has she given any indication that that is what she's going for here? Because she may not be an expert, but she's pretty sure she never put that out there. And because it's so ridiculous an offer, she starts laughing.

"You are a bold one! I think I am supposed to slap you for insolence, but you're already cold and wet. I cannot be that cruel." Her laughter tapers off into an amused hum. "Perhaps another day." Because he's handsome, and she's not going to shut the door on the opportunity, all right? "Is it common where you come from to ask to bathe with ladies?"

"Yeah I--no, that's not--I wouldn't normally ever say that but we're getting kind of flirty and I didn't know where to go!" He can admit that he sucks at this. It's really...really obvious. "I'm...wow. I'm an asshole. Thanks for not slapping me?" Also she seems not opposed to the idea some other time. "What with your fussing about your hair and the cold and wet thing and uh and uh and I was just--

so I'm gonna go now yeah." Bury his head in a snowdrift and die is what he should do.

Christine laughs again, though this time she cuts it off quicker, not wanting him to think she's mocking him. But it is funny.

"Church, I am not the best at understanding when someone is flirting with me, but even I can tell that your approach needs work." Her expression turns a little fond. He's growing on her. "But you have not offended me. Get to know me a little better and I will consider your suggestion in the future." Then her smile turns playful. "You are rather handsome, you know. We have established this already."

"You kissed my cheek and I didn't know if we were doing a thing like a playful thing or a flirty thing so I'll. Um. I'll watch my boundaries. Blame it on the wine. I've had a few." That's not a lie, but he's not as impaired as to blame it all on that. ...Or is he. He really hasn't experimented on how much needs drunk to get drunk in this body yet...

"We can just stick to handsome and pretty andddd see where it goes in the future. Just be acquaintances for now. Friendly acquaintances! Friends, even. Right?"

"Ah, it was meant for fun. To be unexpected." That'll show her to be impulsive. Give a friendly kiss, get propositioned for bath time.

Christine nods her head. "Friends who dance together. And may be winging it in the future. I like this idea."

"No no, that's. awesome! That's great. We're winging it. And will continue to wing it! I will just stop misinterpreting signals from pretty doctor ladies." That there's at least two so far should be a sign of trouble but pff. Whatever. "How about. we ignore that I was a dumbass. And not let that cloud our interactions. So yeah, back to normal. Ape-man shut down animal ape brain part, ugga ugga."

With the way he speaks, it's hard to tell if he's actually speaking of her plus additional doctor ladies, or just her. She really should bring him up with Adelaide to see.

"I can do that. And in future, I will be more clear on whether or not I am flirting with you." There; that should help. Everything's out in the open, nice and clear. Surely no way there will be misunderstandings in the future.

...

Anyway, they continue to dance.

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OPEN: this will be a better year

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