With money you squeezed from the peasants (open)

[toujoursdroit]

WHO: Open to all Riftwatch agents who care to attend. Plus-ones allowed within reason.
WHAT: The duke de Coucy is throwing a celebration to mark his eldest grandson’s 18th birthday, which he would do anyway and which is definitely not a blatant attempt to keep said grandson from running off toward the nearest opportunity for combat.
WHEN: Mid-Kingsway
WHERE: The de Coucy property in Hightown. (The servants are spying in case you break anything.)
NOTES: If you’d like your character to come but think some maneuvering would be required to make it happen, hit me oocly and we’ll figure it out. Similarly, if you need or want a starter with Romain or an NPC, just let me know.

The engraved invitations only go to a select few: the division heads and project leaders, Alexandrie d'Asgard, Petrana de Cedoux and (after some deliberation) Hugo and Jehan Mercier d'Annecy. Others, without a specific addressee, are posted in common areas in the Gallows including both dining halls, the herb garden and the game room:



Those at ease enough or bold enough to take him up on the invitation arrive to find the duke’s Hightown residence lit with a mixture of opulent scones, torches and enchantments. Once admitted through the outer gates—the servants at the door have a list on which one’s name must appear, seemingly including every member of Riftwatch—guests will be ushered a short walk back from the street to the house proper. The foyer boasts more servants, ready to take any outwear (the weather does not dictate it, but fashion may), as well as any gifts for the marquis.

Guests are then shown through to the ballroom. While it is generally used these days as a training area, it has been converted back to its intended use for the evening. The space is brightly lit and features a small but talented collection of musicians. The center of the room is clearly intended for dancing, but chairs and railings along the edge of the room provide a place for those who need a breath or who simply prefer conversation to dancing. Staff circulates with wine and hors d'oeuvres (mainly local shellfish and assorted pastries from Romain’s imported Orlesian patissier). In addition to their fellow Riftwatch agents, guests may run into carefully selected individuals from Hightown society, gratified to varying degrees at having been included.



Those who find even the edges of the ballroom too much may discover that the lower level of the two-level library is open, though servants pass through with enough regularity that it is not truly private. (Assuming one thinks servants count, of course.) The upper level is roped off. Anyone attempting to make their way up will be gently but firmly redirected by the staff. The lower level, however, does offer a few tables and various comfortable chairs and chaises, good for quiet conversation or simply a break from the crush of society.

About two hours after sunset, dinner is announced. All present guests are shown into the dining room. Those few in attendance who have seen the duke’s estate in Orlais, or even his home in Val Royeaux, would know this room is smaller than either. Everyone is seated comfortably, but in addition to the long, rectangular table at the room’s center, a few smaller circular tables hold the overflow. The seating has been chosen carefully for status, affiliation and balance of conversation. The duke heads the long table, and his grandson Thomas sits opposite. Thomas, like his grandfather and younger brother, is masked, but those who chat with him will easily be able to determine his buoyant mood from his voice and manner. The food is excellent, if less varied and exotic than it would have been had supply lines not been so constrained. (Romain thought to bring a few things back from his most recent trip to Orlais and finds himself glad of it now.)



After dinner, guests may resume dancing and gossiping in the ballroom, or engaging in quieter conversation in the library. Or they can make their way out to the courtyard in the rear of the property. While Hightown’s constraints mean the outdoor space is not extensive, it is walled to offer privacy from the nearest neighbors and boasts a water feature, impressively lit in honor of the occasion.

The duke circulates throughout the party for the evening, seemingly doing absolutely nothing other than chatting with his guests. Yet somehow after he passes through, any guests with empty glasses find someone offering to fill them, any low-burning torches are promptly replaced, and any guests causing a scene are discreetly spoken to or, if necessary, shown into a carriage that will take them home. In addition to Romain, guests may have a chance to speak to the guest of honor, Thomas, or to his younger brother, 15-year-old Raoul, who has been given a special dispensation to stay at the party as long as he likes and is seemingly determined to make the most of it. The festivities will drag on until dawn, for those most committed to a bit of merriment in the face of invasion, or at least most committed to eating the duke’s refreshments and drinking his wine until they’re cut off.

Comments

[coquettish_trees]

[ Alexandrie had little expected to be alone out here— after all, the Duc de Coucy had lit the feature with such extravagance it was certain to draw more attention than hers— and so she is far more entertained than annoyed when she turns from the lights playing over the water to look at the person— elf?— who'd arrived so abruptly. ]

You need not worry over departing, [ there's music in her voice, the tone of it amused; wry in acknowledgement of his discomfiture, but not in the slightest unkind, ] I think perhaps there is enough air here for the both of us.

[voidtransport]

Oh - [He takes in a deep breath, the words following it barely existent on an exhale.] that's very gracious of you. [His mind is racing with all sorts of reasons why he should excuse himself but honestly he doesn't have air enough right now to argue.

Instead, he does his best to stabilize his breathing. It's not going well, but he is trying. He reaches back to pull his braid aside and the collars of his shirts down so the chilly air can reach the back of his neck as he looks out over the water. Gradually, he starts calming down somewhat.]

It's - very beautiful - isn't it? [He feels so awkward just standing here so here he goes attempting to small talk.]

[coquettish_trees]

[ The sound of her chuckle might be lost in the play of the water, or it might not; all depends on his ears. ]

Stand up straight without locking your knees and breathe from here— [ She places a hand low on her abdomen in illustration, fingers spread in a way that would hold the swell of such a breath if her corset would allow for it. ] You need not force long breaths, only count and make sure your exhale is longer than your inhale each time.

[ One of the first and simplest of the exercises she had been taught to bring her body back to a state of calm, but an effective one nevertheless.

Looking back at the water then: ]

Yes, it is. I have always been fond of fountains like this. It is like having a little pet waterfall; as like to its counterpart as a kept cat is to a lion.

[voidtransport]

[He's grown accustomed to being amusing to others, which doesn't make it really better so much as he expects it at this point. The advice, however, does help. He nods in acknowledgement, and as he takes it to heart in practice he can feel the lingering stress fade away.]

Thank you. [then:] That's a very poetic way of putting it. But you're right - it is, isn't it? Taking something that in its nature is too strong to safely get too close to and turning it into something no less majestic but also less fearful should you reach out to touch.

[coquettish_trees]

Just so.

[ She tilts her head slightly in acknowledgement of his thanks, and when she smiles again it is warm and curious; a welcome to, rather than an amusement at. ]

What would you choose, if you might take a fearful thing from nature and make it small enough to safely touch?

[voidtransport]

Oh, a pet mimic would be amazing - [forgetting for a moment that such a creature is not a thing here] - it'd be excellent for guarding your things while you are away or if you were in a sticky situation and needed to fool someone.

[in a silly bad guy voice:] "Hand over the such-and-such!" So you turn and give your mimic a wink and a nod and it turns into a perfect copy of whatever it is and you had it over, and as whoever it is inspects the "item" - [he does little air quotes with his fingers] then the mimic reveals itself and attacks! And then you have the advantage to attack or make an escape, whatever you choose!

[He's very animated as he recounts the hypothetical, like he's definitely considered this before.]

i made it hhhhh

[coquettish_trees]

[ The smile stretches a little wider at Allumin's animated speech and movement, and Alexandrie turns from the water to face him fully so she might be a better audience to it. ]

A mimic. [ She makes a face of exaggerated thought, pulling clues from his description. ] It is... a shapeshifting creature, then, that may turn into objects? And it understands your speech?

[ Her eyebrows raise with respect for such a thing. ]

Wild ones do sound fearful. Do they turn to other creatures as well, or only items? Have they a true form?