Truth or Dare: The Imperial Court

[madame_de_fer]

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.

Comments

1

[gatheringstorm]

Upon catching sight of Sina while on the dance floor with either Araceli or friends (never random nobles), Korrin flashes a grin in return. She's delighted to see that her friend is well enough to attend, though her frailty is noted despite the color. Whenever Sina's not being pestered by people, the Vashoth mage will make her way over and smile warmly at the her angelic Dalish friend.

"Would you care to dance, milady? You won't need to exert yourself in any way, I promise."

[eolasemah]

Sina laughs, covering her mouth a little-- with all the beautifully put-together nobles around, she's becoming self-conscious, and only just seems to have realized how large her front teeth are.
"I don't know how," she says, smiling timidly, but nonetheless looking interested. "...and I'm not sure I should."

[gatheringstorm]

Sina's front teeth are part of her charm, but Korrin will refrain from focusing on them for now, not wanting her friend even more self-conscious.

"It'll be like at the garden, only this time I won't put you down. No need for fancy footwork...or whatever it is those nearby nobles are doing that ought to be making them full-on dizzy by now."

Simple dances she can manage, but some of those Orlesian styles are too ridiculous for words.

[eolasemah]

Sina has to consider, but, looking out at the crowd and feeling the excited atmosphere of the room, she can't help it. "All right," she decides, and smiles up at Korrin. "What do I do?"

[gatheringstorm]

That excitement is certainly infectious, one reason why Korrin had to make this attempt. She gets down on one knee so that Sina doesn't have to strain herself. "Put that arm around my shoulder -the non-armored one- and take my hand." Only when Sina is settled does she lift her up with the utmost care, and move them in time to the waltz being played.

[eolasemah]

Sina does as she's instructed, and is just as amused as the first time this happened. Perhaps even moreso now, because they're in a hall full of people, some of whom are now looking at them like it's the strangest thing they've ever seen.
"We're quite the pair," Sina observes with a giggle, shooting a grin over her shoulder at a small group of confused nobles who were just about to approach her chair in time for her to be whisked away.

[gatheringstorm]

At least the waltz is simple enough that Korrin can easily multitask; holding Sina, and moving in time to the music is no problem at all for her. Plus, now her dancing partner can have a higher vantage point. Darting a glance at the confused nobles, Korrin smirks. That confusion is payment enough for annoying her with endless questions (always in the most judgmental tone) and pointless stories. "They're just jealous I got to you first. Not that I can blame them, but they can go pester someone else for a while. We need some spare moments free of stupid human questions, right?"

[eolasemah]

Sina is enjoying the ride, dizzying though it may be. She quietly "aaah!"s every time they do a quick turn, giggling at herself as much as she is at the fun of it.
"I've had a lifetime free of them," she replies, still grinning, "so I don't mind handling it for one night." After several moments, she adds, her smile both sheepish and coy, "in theory."

[gatheringstorm]

For her part, Korrin will attempt a balance between keeping Sina from getting dizzy and keeping her entertained, since those giggles are a delight to hear. She's spent far too long cooped up in that tent with little to do beyond rest. It's time to have some fun. "In theory. But if they get to be a bigger hassle than you want to deal with, casually mention that you have a fearsome Qunari bodyguard. That might shut them up. Or you could try Beleth's tactic of pretending to understand only elven."

[eolasemah]

Sina hasn't seen Beleth in action, but gives a sudden loud laugh. She claps her hand over her mouth. "There isn't even enough remembered elvhen to hold a conversation," she whimpers, lowering her hand to reveal she's still grinning. "And anyway, I think it's too late, they've already heard me speak the common tongue."

[gatheringstorm]

That loud laugh is all Korrin could hope for and she laughs with her, holding her gently as she adds an extra spin. "Some of them...but not all, right? Trust me, the bar is set extremely low with them. Their jaws dropped when they realized I knew the steps to a dance and could name their Empress. So difficult." Because the Qunari are barely more than beasts, right? Everyone knows that.

[eolasemah]

"I suppose not," Sina concedes, looking out at the dance floor and smiling as Korrin whirls them around. "But I suppose I did offer to represent shard-bearers tonight, and I do take it seriously." Especially when there are so many others who could be affected by a bad impression.
"Still, I thank you for the reprieve."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin reluctantly nods to that, knowing it's important that their guests see shardbearers and in a good light. Given the tension coming from within, they don't need more stress from without. "Alright, fair enough. But I can still return to loom over anyone who's asking too many invasive questions. Being polite is one thing, but you shouldn't have to put up with that."

[eolasemah]

"You may loom any time you like," Sina agrees, beaming again, "but don't worry about me. I'll be Keeper someday, and I'll have to handle difficult social situations. Might as well get used to them now."

[gatheringstorm]

The thought of Sina being a Keeper...Korrin sincerely hopes it becomes true, for that would mean the shard in her chest doesn't kill her. Right now, that possibility seems so very distant, and that thought is what keeps her silent for a moment as she refuses to succumb to emotion here and now. Sina needs a good time and she won't be the one to ruin that. So she smiles and forces away such bleak thoughts. "With the experience you gain here, I'm sure you'll be one hell of a Keeper. If you can put up with all the insufferable people the Inquisition and their allies have to offer, practically nothing else will faze you."

[eolasemah]

Sina may be young, but she's quite perceptive, and she notices how Korrin's demeanor changes. Some of the color seems to go out of the party, the festive music and chatter becoming more of a racket. Sina looks away from Korrin's face, and finds that her senses are getting lost in the blur of color and motion.
"Of course," she says distantly, and though she looks back at Korrin with a smile, it's been drained of excitement. "I think I'd... probably better sit down again," she says gently.

[gatheringstorm]

"Of course." The shift in Sina's demeanor doesn't go unnoticed, though Korrin pins it more on exhaustion than realizing her own demeanor shift might be at fault. Korrin's done her best to keep the dance as steady and gentle as possible for Sina, but all this spinning around has to wear on her regardless. So she nods, bringing them back toward the abandoned seat. Once there, she'll set her down with utmost care. "Thank you for the dance, Sina. You were the perfect partner."

[eolasemah]

The dance has been fun, and now it is over, and Sina finds she isn't in the mood anymore. She smiles to Korrin at her gratitude, and inclines her head. "Thank you too," she says gently, "it was everything I hoped it'd be."