Politics. It has been one thing to hack at them and mediate, moderate discussions within the Mage Council for the Inquisition, to stand as someone for other mages to come to with their concerns and to address said concerns- another entirely to present herself as such to Orlesian and Fereldan nobility. Lessons three decades old are of little help here when it is not a toe she dips into the lake, but the whole of her. At least Vivienne has been kind enough to offer instruction where she has felt a lack of skill. At least she has armor in the form of pale silk light and fine, cold against the tiles, hair pulled back and pinned high, glittering with strands of silver wire beaded with what appear to be frosted crystals woven throughout- though closer inspection would show those and similar strands draped about her bodice and throat to be actual ice, prevented from melting with a lasting enchantment.
A - Mingling & Magic
At least she does not wade into this alone, Martel dark and tall and trimmed in silver upon her arm as they enter. There is a tense set to her shoulders that does not loosen throughout the night, though she manages to be civil if not warm throughout the night. She needn't work too hard to charm- her family name does half the work for her. Actual questions that have thought rather than needless gossip do the rest, she answers as best she can with all the grace she can manage between dances and sips of wine. At a request after her gown she does make brief demonstration of ice sculpting near the windows, small towers and creatures coiling into life under her careful guidance.
B - Dancing
One of the few things that sets her at ease is the dancing. This she knows well enough to handle with a good deal of grace, her dance card quite full between her name, her position, and Vivienne's meddling- but this is comfortable enough for her to take joy in each song.
C - A moment of peace
When it becomes too much pressure and stress to bear she slips away for a few moments in one of those secluded alcoves to breathe. To shore up her tolerance for these people and their expectations. It does not take long for her to pull back on a more civil mask and slip back out to mingle, to dance, to make polite conversation.
no subject
A - Mingling & Magic
At least she does not wade into this alone, Martel dark and tall and trimmed in silver upon her arm as they enter. There is a tense set to her shoulders that does not loosen throughout the night, though she manages to be civil if not warm throughout the night. She needn't work too hard to charm- her family name does half the work for her. Actual questions that have thought rather than needless gossip do the rest, she answers as best she can with all the grace she can manage between dances and sips of wine. At a request after her gown she does make brief demonstration of ice sculpting near the windows, small towers and creatures coiling into life under her careful guidance.
B - Dancing
One of the few things that sets her at ease is the dancing. This she knows well enough to handle with a good deal of grace, her dance card quite full between her name, her position, and Vivienne's meddling- but this is comfortable enough for her to take joy in each song.
C - A moment of peace
When it becomes too much pressure and stress to bear she slips away for a few moments in one of those secluded alcoves to breathe. To shore up her tolerance for these people and their expectations. It does not take long for her to pull back on a more civil mask and slip back out to mingle, to dance, to make polite conversation.
D - WILDCARD