Open: Party Preparations

[madame_de_fer]

WHO: Josephine, Vivienne, OPEN
WHAT: Preparing the Inquisition for the Soiree
WHEN: 15 Guardian to 14 Drakonis (about a month's span before the event)
WHERE: Skyhold, varies
NOTES: * Josephine is the hostess of the shindig. Matters regarding invitations, guest lists, admittance, entertainment, food, or general complaints/suggestions should be directed to her.
* Vivienne has personally invited three tailors from Val Royeaux to assist with clothes making for the attendees. She is available to assist with design selections and/or advice on how to behave.
* YOU are open and invited to grab your nearest and dearest CR to complain about the party, ask for a date to he event, complain you have nothing to wear.
* Belinda Darrow has donated from her own private purse to the cost of clothing which people could otherwise not afford.

The Orlesian tailors arrived in great state, bringing with them a cadre of servants, workers, and snotty attitudes. They hate everything. It is cold in Skyhold. It is damp. Everything smells of wet dog. The working conditions are abysmal. The food is criminal. There's not a damned thing they don't complain about, except for the piles of coin they stand to make from this soiree. Yes, they are more than content to build a fortune with exclusive work that will be seen by some of the aristocracy's finest.

Harritt apparently doesn't much like them either. They've taken over his Undercroft with their fabrics and threads, designs and opinions. Oh they have opinions. He stays to one corner, attending his work, and grumbling under his breath about the poncy cheesesniffers.

Comments

[fightingale]

Cassandra is no rogue, and certainly no bard. Leliana's gaze slides to where the Right Hand stood scant moments before, and trails easily to the most plausible exit.

"A moment longer," she suggests, tone so very grave. "Allow her hopes to raise a little higher before we crush them."

They are both players of the Game, after all, and some habits die hard. A look back to Vivienne, and she nods when it is time to pursue, Leliana setting down the little nug coat with a quiet word to the tailor (there maybe also be a whisper about a matching mask) and they nod their understanding before Leliana leads the way in their hunt.

Quite how long it takes depends entirely on how committed Cassandra is to her escape, but precious few can escape the Nightingale, and her tone is calm and even when she finally steps out in front of Cassandra, tsking her quiet disapproval.

"Is this the conduct of the Hero of Orlais? Shirking her responsibilities?" The look she gives Vivienne is significant.

[stabsbooks]

For a few glorious moments, it all seems to be going well. She backs away noiselessly, the glares she shoots at the servants or seamstresses enough to keep any of them from saying a word. Vivienne and Leliana are still, apparently, in deep discussion when she reaches the end of the room. She backs carefully out the door - and then she turns and all but flees down the stairs, as quickly as she can go without actually running, not daring to look behind her.

Freedom, she is so close to freedom, to leather pants and heavy boots and swinging her sword in the mud of the practice yard -

She turns a corner, and to her credit she does not yelp when Leliana suddenly appears. She does gasp, stumbling backwards, turning her head quickly to see Vivienne behind her, solemn and waiting.

"I - shirking?" She shakes her head, straightening, doing her best to look dignified. "I was not shirking. You were - otherwise engaged. I did not wish to - to waste time, time that could be used to complete other important work." All true, if not entirely complete.

[madame_de_fer]

Clearly, Leliana and Vivienne have managed to create a pincher move on Cassandra, leaving her absolutely nowhere to flee to. It is (perhaps) a touch naughty to toy with the Seeker like this, but it does help drive home the fact that she is cornered in this situation and cannot escape attendance. If sternness were not demanded in the moment, the First Enchanter would be nursing a private smirk for how well they've managed to trap their quarry.

Right. A frown. For effect. But not too deep because it ages the face.

"Cassandra." Again with the tone. Neither woman is fooled by that pitiful excuse and the Seeker has to know as much. "I must say, it's unkind of you to imply we were being frivolous by leaving for 'important' work. Terribly disappointing." She returns Leliana's look in turn. Both women know what they're about.

It's a good thing Leliana isn't dramatic or anything

[fightingale]

"Quite. It would seem our whimsical plan to ensure the Inquisition's reputation is less than essential." Looking to Vivienne again is needless, her gaze steadily meeting Cassandra's, focused, as Cassandra were a whetstone and Leliana's gaze something to be sharpened on it.

"Perhaps I will return to my frivolous engagements, then. I trust you can stoop to indulging us, Cassandra?"

It's teasing, fond, but also how very dare you.

[stabsbooks]

"I - I did not say -"

They are misunderstanding her. Everyone always misunderstands her. But she glances from one to the other, catches the significant look that Vivienne levels at Leliana before looking to the Nightingale herself and sliding her own gaze guiltily away from her piercing expression.

"I would not - " She pushes out a harsh breath, frustrated. "I would never downplay the importance of your work. Either of you." She simply hates that such work is necessary in the first place.