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

[icasm]

"Ah. I'm not... terribly familiar with the myriad of differences between a wizard, a warlock, a witch, and a mage. Where I'm from they're mostly different words for the same thing, being a magic practitioner. But Allumin has told me a little of what it means to be a warlock." Is he going to out his friend for apparently being a hater?

Not tonight.

Loki smiles when Diabhall takes him up on his offer, but since he is a troublemaker at heart, he does reach out and put a finger underneath Allumin's chin. "I still want a dance with you as well, so don't disappear on me."

The music stops and there is a momentary pause in the orchestration before the band picks up again. Loki bows once more, offering a hand to Diabhall. "Would you like to lead or shall I?"

[loversinverted]

Well. Now he's in for this, he supposes. Allumin is all too ready to step back and let them have a moment, which seems natural. A moment for him to calm, more than likely. Or drink. Probably drink.

He nods a little to Loki's assertions of what he knows of magic from their world - satisfied with him knowing the basics, he simply replies, "I see. If you have further questions I would be amenable to answering them. I've given talks on the topic academically."

Diabhall watches Loki reach out, touch Allumin, playful and sweet - and of course, it's lovely that he has friends, now isn't it? But when Loki bows and he bows in return, there is a quickening of his blood, something that makes him lift his chin and reply, coolly:

"I will lead."

He takes the hand, firmly but gracefully, walking Loki towards the dancefloor.

Not looking at Allumin.

[voidtransport]

There is a measure of gratitude he feels at the response Loki gives regarding the warlock topic. And perhaps it would be good for Diabhall to also state things from his own side on the matter. With Loki's fervently inquisitive nature, it would make sense too for him to know multiple perspectives.

Of course, then that attention has moved away from Diabhall for a moment and onto him. The finger under his chin is disarming enough, and he wordlessly nods at Loki's request. At most, he can muster a little affirmative hum that he will be here, waiting.

And then Diabhall says he's leading and Allumin is stunned. Not out of doubt that he's not capable but surprise that he has chosen to do so versus, what he has come to understand, the man's usual inclination towards relinquishing power to others. He watches them both head off to the dance floor, and had been intending to busy himself with another glass of wine or maybe an attempt at conversation but now he can't help but be curious, wanting to watch.

[icasm]

Loki does glance at Allumin briefly as he's led to the dance floor and gives an incline of his head in parting before returning his attention to Diabhall. He doesn't know the weight of what Diabhall has opted to do, but he does recognize that his actions have netted a response between the other two.

Good. He's a messy bitch who occasionally still lives for the drama, and this is easily done.

Diabhall gets Loki's best dancing posture, his now undivided attention, and a flair to his movement that states he's definitely enjoying himself.

"You should tell me more about yourself. Or about enchanted structures, because that sounds fascinating."

[loversinverted]

Diabhall is aware that his decision is likely to be startling to Allumin - it was chosen for that reason.

But why? This person is objectively attractive, and in normal circumstances the elf would have immediately acquiesced to his lead. Pride, of course, will not let him change his mind...and so, however this has begun, he begins whirling the stranger around the dancefloor, light of step and delicate of posture.

Attempting to re-center, he latches onto the questions as they are asked. Yes. Talking about work.

"Well, difficult to know where to begin with me personally - but my work is likely of more interest anyhow," he croons, voice arch and icy. "Building with enchantment in mind is my specialty. Turning whole facilities into conduits for arcane power - or containment. It depends on what is necessary. Even buildings to act as a giant arcane focus, so wizards can cast freely within."

Focus on work.

Don't look at Allumin.

[icasm]

Loki is paying enough attention to the edges of the room to be mindful of the fact that Allumin has more or less opted to stay put; that's enough, however, and he makes no attempt to break eye contact with Diabhall as they spin around and talk.

It's an intriguing thing, for a man to say that their work is more interesting than their self. He gets it, conceptually, but simultaneously does not understand in the least. Ah, well. He'd provided the opportunity to speak on either, and he'll run with it. He tilts his head in curiosity as Diabhall speaks, trying to imagine what that would look like, that sort of architecture, here in Kirkwall where so much is dark, heavy, and terrifying in those aspects.

"I don't think I've heard of anything like that, here." Partially, he imagines, because there are no wizards exactly and almost all native mages use their staves as a focus. "I would be interested to see how it interacts with the native magical forces. Have you done much reading on the nature of the Fade during your quarantine?"

[loversinverted]

The fact that Loki's gaze doesn't wander makes it much easier for him to keep his own set - vibrant red-pink eyes, the black of the pupil strangely muted to a darker shade of the iris. Ocular albinism. When he had first noticed it, he was at least glad his eyesight did not change. The unusual color just makes the intensity all the more obvious. He's not just looking at the other man, he is...scrutinizing him.

"I'm not surprised," he says lightly, expression still unchanged. "It was a novel concept back home as well."

A tricky turn - he carries it out with ease, long white hair and dark skirts both billowing and twisting before he continues. "I read on it, yes. I'll be curious to see what I am able to harness myself. It feels...peculiar to be without the connection to my Patron."

[icasm]

Loki smiles widely as the turn is completed, feeling very confident about being the center of...several someone's attention, at least, between Diabhall and Allumin and whomever else might be watching.

He thrives on being the center of attention, clearly, and is not even slightly put off by Diabhall's eyes.

"Tell me more about Patronage; I'm familiar with the concept in terms of an artesian and someone who handles their financial needs, but magic is either innate or it isn't, in the society I'm from." Another turn. "I'd be more interested in your personal experience than the academic definition therein."

[loversinverted]

There is something in the back of Diabhall's mind that's needling him - he can't put his finger on what, precisely, but it manifests occasionally in his having to will his hands not to clench tighter around Loki, in his chin lifting just a little more proudly than it ought to.

Instead, he focuses on the question. A variable he has control over.

"Well, in the case of a Warlock, a deal is made between a powerful being and someone aspiring to that power. The terms depend on what the entity wants. In the case of my Patron, I promised him knowledge and study, and in return, he would grant me magic."

[icasm]

Loki notices the chin lifting, at the very least, but he doesn't know what it means, or that it is a source of ...concern, for lack of a better word, to Diabhall.

People hold themselves differently around him all the time. Nothing new, exactly.

"So your Patron was primarily interested in your research?" Curioser and curiouser. Loki imagines that would be an interesting sort of deal, for anything that would age slower than the one being patronized. "What sort of being was your Patron?"

[loversinverted]

Externally, his face is still calm, collected. Internally, however, Diabhall is questioning what is happening. He had thought any potential damage done by his arrival would have sorted itself out by the end of quarantine...but something is plainly not right. Probably with his brain. That would explain it.

During a turn that points him towards the edge of the dancefloor, he steals the briefest glance at Allumin - then, just as quickly, brings it back to Loki again.

Focus.

"Correct. He deals in knowledge and wanted to know all that I could find for him to collect." A twist, a spin, a complex little step. "He was an Androsphinx. Infernal, but not necessarily demonic. I made the deal in adolescence."

[icasm]

That glance is not lost on Loki, but again: double rainbow, what does it mean? When Diabhall returns his attention to his dance partner, Loki inclines his head with a smile.

"I've heard of a sphinx before, but not an Androsphinx." Feel free to elaborate, Diabhall, but if he's waiting for a direct question: "Have you ever regretted your decision?" This time, when Loki is facing the direction of Allumin, he blows the other man a kiss very quickly.

Lest he feels too isolated, out there.

[loversinverted]

That doesn't surprise him - honestly, Loki having heard of a sphinx at all is a welcome surprise. He considers speaking more on the subject, but then the question is asked, and...he thinks about it for a turn or two as the music begins to wind down. It's a question he's only been asked once before in his life.

He doesn't dwell on when the last time was, but something in his face...changes. Just a little.

"...On occasion," he admits. "My Patron was more than fair...but there have been times when I wondered if I could have made it as a wizard if I had only applied myself more in my youth."

[icasm]

Loki wonders if it would be impossible for Diabhall to figure that out, to apply himself in his big age (whatever age that might be) before he realizes that being here, without a Patron, means that Diabhall is essentially without magic altogether.

That, he imagines, is quite the shift.

"Well," he says, as the last few notes of the song are played out, "I hope that being here proves to be more opportunity than lack thereof." The dance ends; Loki bows deeply before Diabhall. "Thank you, for the dance."

Now it's time to return to Allumin, yes?

[loversinverted]

It's an incredible shift - but one that, if the elf really stops to think about it, may just be a welcome change.

"The wishes are appreciated." Frigid - but it is becoming evident that it is simply his nature. The music fades, and smoothly, the bow is returned, long white hair cascading down and over his shoulders. "I thank you as well."

Holding out his arm for Loki to take, he begins to guide them both back off the dancefloor...a curious knot forming in his gut as they reapproach the younger elf.

Must have spun too fast too soon after a glass of wine.