SATINALIA

[incaenstrix]

WHO: Everybody!!
WHAT: SATINALIA!!
WHEN: Backdated to the first day of Firstfall
WHERE: Gallows courtyard
NOTES: Drunkenness and shenanigans. HALLOWEENMAS!!

This Satinalia is, perhaps, less grand than in years past. Blockades are still limiting access to luxury goods, after all, so the fine liquors and dainty foods that have been featured before are nowhere to be found. And Tertia, the temporary Morale Officer, doesn't have the connections or deft touch of organizers past, so things are rougher than they've been before - the musicians are less polished, the ale a little more watered-down, the decorations somewhat haphazard.

But you know what? It's still Satinalia. Nothing can really screw up Satinalia. Especially because there are some rather lovely touches, the best of which might well be the ice skating rink. A section of the Gallows Courtyard has been roped off and frozen over with magic, leaving a (largely) smooth sheet of ice covering it. Skates are available to borrow if you don't have a pair. Of course, some injuries are definitely going to result (if you skate off the edge, you're smacking into stone instead of a soft snowbank, which can be disastrous), but hey, it's fun.

Other perks are the bonfires, with mulled wine and cider being served out of cauldrons around them, where people might sit and reflect while watching the flame. There's also dancing, of course, with the musicians basically being any band that's been recommended by members of Riftwatch - so there are lots of half-competent cousins-of-friends playing here. What they lack in skill they make up for in enthusiasm; this is the first gig for a lot of them, and they're thrilled to be here.

One thing that's missing is the Satinalia fool being named ruler. Tertia wasn't familiar with this tradition and didn't arrange it - so there's a last-minute campaign being held, in which people can either nominate others or self-nominate to be named Riftwatch's greatest fool to be celebrated.

Enjoy yourself. Exchange presents. Get drunk. Have a blast. Don't lose any teeth.

Comments

[notathreat]

Ellie elbows her with an eyeroll, turns right back around to flop down on the bed and scoot over to make room to lay down next to her.

"You get a portrait of you in armor," she says, like it should be obvious. Ellie stretches out on her side, pillowing her cheek in one hand. "To hang up somewhere. Like an asshole."

Okay, it sounds a little stupid.

"What do you want?"

[laruetheday]

The face she's making over the thought of hanging up a portrait of herself in her room to just, like, look at. She can be a little arrogant, sure, but that's another level. Right? Like "I'm Henry VIII and I just beheaded my fifth wife" or "I'm a Greek god and I'm about to starve while I stare at my own reflection" or something.

"See, I was thinking you'd keep the portrait and I'd get paid for doing you the favor of posing for it." Paid in what, she's not saying out loud, but after a second she gives Ellie an obnoxious little smile.

[notathreat]

Ellie bursts into laughter at the look on Clarisse's face, doesn't even try to stop it. Okay, so there's definitely a line there- and one more thing she knows about her friend, now. (She'd suspected there was a limit to Clarisse's ego, but it's still nice to have it confirmed.)

Said obnoxious smile has her cheeks pinking up because of course it does. And because Ellie really can't resist rising to a challenge:

"The armor's coming off either way, so you'll have to get creative."

[laruetheday]

Now she's making a face because Ellie's laughing at her. That doesn't stop Clarisse from leaving the sketches and flopping down next to her on the bed, though. Aggressively, face down.

"Shut up," she says again, muffled, then rolls to her side. "Speaking of stuff coming off, are you going to wear this pirate thing all night?" A pause. "Don't get me wrong. It's hot on you." It'd be hotter off, though.

[notathreat]

Ellie quiets her laughter as Clarisse flops down next to her, but it's still in her face and eyes when she looks up.

"Maybe not all night," she hedges, raising her eyebrows.

Pretty clear question there.

[laruetheday]

Clarisse raises her eyebrows right back, and gives her a little smile. Yes, good.

She starts undoing the buttons on her own coat—she might as well, right, if she's going to be here a while. Underneath, she hasn't dressed up for Satinalia at all, and is wearing a boxy blouse in dark gray. (Gwen did tell her she could ignore the holiday, more or less, so...)

She stops before the coat's completely off. "This is, um. Okay, right?"

[notathreat]

[cont. here due to spice.]