faderift | Truth or Dare: The Imperial Court

Truth or Dare: The Imperial Court

WHO: Select Orlesian and Fereldan Nobility and the Inquisition
WHAT: Josephine and Vivienne have orchestrated a good-will soiree in response to this dastardly rumor.
WHEN: Drakonis 15, Evening
WHERE: Skyhold Great Hall
NOTES:
- A list of nobles in attendance can be found here. The list was provided by the mods but there will be no npc support for them. Play away.
- A secondary outside party is being held in the valley in the tent town for anyone who couldn't/wouldn't attend and/or behave in the fancy pansty party.
- The goal of the evening is to clear up a spurious rumor about Cassandra and Leliana, with secondary goals of establishing the Inquisition as a respectable presence in Thedas (and fish for more money). Any major disruptions that would Game Over the court approval should probably be brought to the advisors and/or mods.

To say that Josphine has far outdone herself with this little soiree would be the understatement of the year. The Lady Ambassador has pulled out all the stops in providing a festive and yet elegant stage for this political intervention. Because sometimes gossip can be more deadly than a sword.

The Great Hall of Skyhold has been converted into a grand receiving hall, glittering with hundreds of lights around the room, in addition to the repairs accomplished to the original chandeliers. Of course, there has been artful placement arranged so there are a few shadowy corners for rendezvous of the more suggestive nature. Just in case. The majority of the floor has been cleared for dancing, and a fine troupe of musicians have been installed for the bulk of the evening's entertainments. Some members of the Inquisition have plans to entice attendees with their own artistic performances in addition to the group of mages performing illusory tricks to oohs and aahs.

For those who feel their energy flagging, there are chairs set against the walls, with a few tables interspersed between. Servers hired for the evening circulate the crowds with wine, fine Orlesian and Nevarran reds as well as crisp whites from Antiva. Refreshments are set out on buffet tables, tasteful and extravagant nibbles, including imported cheeses, spicy saucisson, dried fruits and nuts, and the highly sought after deep mushroom and anise petits fours that are all the rage in Orlais.

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Glancing back at him as she picks up a napkin and moves to wrap one of the small pastries in it, Hermione smirks and asks, "You were a troublemaker? I never would have guessed." Not that that's true, of course. If even someone who looks as comparatively mild as Harry could be the ultimate troublemaker in Hogwarts, then just about anyone has a similar capacity. "I suppose I should be thankful you didn't slip salt in my drink, then, just to laugh at the faces I would have made."

Nodding, Kain sighs a little bit, knowing that some of his behavior wasn't always the most... upstanding. "I was somewhat of a bully, as a boy, too arrogant for my own good. I realize that now, of course, but back then..." Well he'd pick on Cecil any chance he got, until he finally grew out of it. Or Rosa got him to finally stop, really. "Believe me, my days of playing cruel tricks are far behind me. I'll leave that to the new generation." Palom could out-prank anyone.

"A bully? I'm surprised," Hermione remarks, turning back to face him after securing the pastry. "But then, we've all changed since we were children. Usually for the better, so perhaps it's best to start off on the lower rungs and work your way up, rather than the other way around.

"I changed a great deal from those days... but yes, back then I was far too arrogant for my own good..." He'd thought himself better than Cecil, and tried to prove it all too often. Usually by punching the other boy in the face. "I'm glad I grew out of it. My friend Cecil was always a better person because he started with nothing, no living family to speak of... so I think you're right about that."

Hermione falls silent at that for a moment, a small, vague smile at her lips. "He reminds me of my friend Harry," she finally murmurs. "He's an orphan, but so many people envied him because he's the only person to have ever survived a Killing Curse, and he'd done it as a baby. I rarely ever felt as though I was in any sort of competition with him - sometimes, I think our other best friend Ron might have felt that way - but the few times I did compete with him were frustrating. He seems to be so naturally talented, and I had to learn everything on my own."

Shrugging, she remarks, "But as I'd said, we all grow up a bit from when we were children, and we learn to appreciate those traits in our friends. That's how we know they're really friends."

"It's hard not to compete and compare yourself... even when it's a best friend." Though perhaps it's a male thing? Some sort of competitive spirit? Cecil never seemed as into the idea of being rivals the way Kain always has been though. The jealousy was all on Kain's side.

"At least we do grow out of it. I still envy Cecil in many ways, but I realize it's not right, and I realize now that I must do what I can to move past it."

"So long as envy doesn't get the better of you, there's nothing explicitly wrong with it," Hermione replies with a small shake of her head. "It feels a bit ugly, of course, but if nothing else, it does give you a goal to strive for. Especially when the person you want to emulate is a genuinely remarkable person."

Smiling at Kain, she adds, "Not that you aren't remarkable in your own right, of course."

"All too true. It's important not to go too far into... trying to become someone else. I'm only figuring some of that out now that I'm away from home..." All his life, he's looked up to others and tried to follow their footsteps. He's hardly ever just tried to do something simply for himself. It's time he made his own path though.

Not always that used to compliments, Kain takes a moment to find words. He's spent too much time distancing himself though, hasn't he? "...well... thank you for that. It means a great deal. I could say likewise."

Hermione hadn't meant her words to be overly complimentary so much as a statement of fact. From what Kain has told her, he is a remarkable person, and it bears saying. So she gently shakes her head at his response, remarking, "You could say it, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's true. I'm just glad I'm getting to know the real you and not someone you're trying to become. But then, I wouldn't really know one way or the other, but I'd like to think you've been genuine with me."

"I've attempted to, these days." He's only just finding out the fact that he needs to walk his own path, and not someone else's. That's hard to truly realize, to come to terms with. All along, he'd struggled so hard with who he was and where he was going... "It's not easy, but I know now that I must be my own person." Too bad he had to go through so much to find that out.

"It's very hard to be anyone else," Hermione remarks, voice just a bit dry. "Or, at least, it's much easier to just be yourself, and to be the best you that you can. No one else can do that." While she might have changed quite a bit over the years, Hermione at least has always been more or less true to who she really is, right down to her steadfast devotion to books and academia. She might have learned to trust in gut instincts and feelings too, but at her core, she's never changed.

"It truly is... or even just walking another's path. It never works for you yourself." It took a long time to figure that out, unfortunately, but at least he's somewhat improving on that regard. He's never trusted himself all that well, less so after certain events, so that also had to be worked on. "It's much better the way it is now."

Finishing off her wine, Hermione sets the glass down on the nearby snack table before turning her attention back to Kain, smiling gently. "Good. Getting to know new people is hard enough. Getting to know them when they're pretending to be someone else just seems needlessly complicated."

“So I’ve noticed… it’s hard enough dealing with such a foreign world, not to mention so many of us from other worlds beyond that…” Even after the gods’ war, it’s a lot to get used to. Kain is starting to become resigned to the fact that he might never return home. He glances around, finally feeling a little more at ease. “This hasn’t been terrible at all, as I’d feared it might be.”

"It's easier with pleasant company," Hermione notes, glancing around as well. Eventually returning her gaze to Kain once again, she tells him, "Thank you again. For keeping me company. I'd been a few minutes away from escaping into the library just to get away from all the gilded masks and off-putting stares."

"Likewise... I was going to find an elaborate escape route, but there was really no need. I appreciate that we could make this tolerable. Even in a room full of nobles." He's never found it easy to bear their sort of chatter, not at all interested in the same sort of things as they are. Yet, maybe connecting with other rifters like this is the real key to actually enjoying an event like this. It's something he'll have to keep in mind.

"I hardly think an elaborate escape route would have been necessary," Hermione replies dryly. "After all, there are doors. And unless you'd promised someone you'd be here the majority of the night, as I had, I don't think anyone would fault you for needing a breath of fresh air. Still, I'm glad I could make this easier for you. I wouldn't want you to get hurt jumping out a window, or some such thing."

Kain gives a definite amused expression to that. "I don't think I have anything to fear from jumping out a window. I've a habit of landing on my feet, as do all dragoons." Still, he knows she's right. As long as he's made an appearance, he's at least not obligated, the way he would have been back home. That's a good thing.

"A habit still isn't a certainty," Hermione points out. "Either way, you're safer walking, and that's what matters." Even if that means he chooses to walk out the front door and continue on with his evening. After all, there's no sense being at a party if one happens to be bored out of their mind.

"It is when it's your main power. Mostly a certainty." Though it would be pretty much a given he'd land on his feet in most situations, if there were heavy winds or some other weather issues, it may not always work out. "Still, I'm glad this turned out for the better overall."

"So am I," she muses. "Less of a chance of suffering from a fractured foot." But she knew they couldn't hide out together and talk all evening - if nothing else, that would likely make for some unfortunate gossip - and so Hermione adds, "I should go find Adelaide and see if there was anyone in particular she'd wanted me to talk to. If you find yourself in need of an escape route, feel free to follow me or find me."

Kain nods agreement, knowing that he may be able to leave soon enough. All in all it hasn't been so bad, though. "I'll keep that in mind... and thank you, for helping me to pass some of the time." It's been good conversation and he's been spared having to mingle with the various nobles here. All in all, a good thing.

"Anytime," Hermione tells him with a nod, beginning to step away. "Take care of yourself, Kain. You can always come look for me if you need to, both here and after the party."

"Thank you... and likewise." He nods back in response, glad to have had this conversation, already feeling much better about the event overall.

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Truth or Dare: The Imperial Court

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