faderift | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh. So that's just what a spirit healer is. He wouldn't be hurting Adelaide by saying oh yeah she helps people because of a blue spirit magic spirit thing in her. "Okay, hold on. I thought people generally didn't approve of the whole...having a spirit hanging out in you business. I thought that's generally accompanied with, I don't know, some swordy dude lopping off heads. Do you really...I mean. This thing. You want to be it. But it sounds um...it sounds more complicated than just a career choice. You're not just saying like, oh I want to be a doctor, you're saying I want to be a doctor backed by a supernatural entity that might get me killed in a lot of ways, specifically that kind."

"They do not. That is not what a Spirit Healer does. Or shouldn't do." Anders. "The spirit stays on their side of the Fade. It is their energy they pass through the healer. But mages have been tricked before once in the Fade, by demons who wish to escape through them." She frowns. "I must be careful when seeking out a spirit, and resist making any deals that are not worded carefully. But it is complicated, yes. That's why I wished for you to know before I did it."

"And you're sure you want to risk dying for this? I mean, rhetorical question, obviously you're sure. Um." He pinches at the bridge of his nose, thinking for a second. This...doesn't seem fair. To either of them. It's not like they're a thing, but they're almost kind of a thing?

"Okay. I mean. Yeah. Okay. Thanks for that, though, cuz it would suck if something...happened and I didn't know anything about it. Do um...do you know what you're looking for?"

"I risked dying during my Harrowing," she points out. "And my choices then were do it or be made Tranquil. This is my choice, and this is what I want."

Christine watches him carefully, and is honestly a little surprised that he seems so affected. It gives her pause. Perhaps despite all the jokes and goofiness, there is far more to him than what's on the surface. That he's worrying about this is touching.

"Yes and no. I have studied all I can in preparation. I've read accounts of others' journeys in the Fade. But every single experience is different, and mine will be too."

Don't suggest that to him. OBVIOUSLY there is NOTHING ELSE to him than what's on the surface. Just jokes and dumbassery and crudeness. Yep!

"But you're...prepared. So...you've...got a pretty good chance then! You'll be in and out in no time and be able to call on spirit power to heal people up. And you'll be fine. Better than fine."

"That is the plan." And all she can do is stay strong and determined. No matter how much confidence she has, she worries she'll falter, and that something will throw her expectations into chaos.

Which is why she hopes for one night of fun before she does this.

"But I was thinking, since this can be dangerous and there is no way of knowing the result... if perhaps we could spend the night together."

He looks down at their hands and around at the ball and blinks a little lost. "We are spending the night. That's kind of what this is. We're spending the night together. Rrrrright?"

Christine purses her lips and looks away. Perhaps this isn't the best idea after all. If he can't even get what she's insinuating... But no. He is from a different world. She should give him another chance. After all, wasn't his version of flirting asking her to go take a bath?

"No, I mean spend the night together afterwards. Intimately."

"...Oh. ......Oh. You mean--together together." He laughs at himself and gives her a boyish grin, all big and lopsided and there's probably a half-decent reason she wants to sleep with this stupid lug after all huh? "My place or yours, sweetcheeks? Or wherever we can get a little privacy?"

Sweetcheeks? Christine gives him a quizzical look at that, but lets it go to focus on the specifics.

"That would depend where it is you sleep. I have a tent. Not the most private spot, but it could work for our needs."

"A tent's still way more private. And cozy. We'll just have to hang a do not disturb sign over the flaps or something..." Whatever the equivalent of a sock on the door is. Better than hiding behind a rock. "You know, we could always skip the business, go right to the pleasure." Still grinning, he leans in to kiss.

"People know not to disturb me in there." Her tent is her own little space, her inner sanctum. Anyone who comes up to the flaps better be alerting her to a dying patient or else.

Well, she can't fault him for enthusiasm. If she was some high, noble born lady, she probably wouldn't let him kiss her right in the Great Hall, but she's just a mage, so she sets a hand on his chest and says, "Just one," before pressing her lips to his.

He'll take one. Call it a tease for later. Because she totally won't die and then they can laugh about this later about how worried and doofy he was and how she got him all worked up.

It's. nice. It's nice, it is, don't get him wrong. There's just also a part of him that thinks maybe this isn't right. Just a niggling thought that definitely needs to shut up because certain people are either dead or not here or both. So it's just nice and nothing else.

"There'll be more later. If there's anything else serious you need to tell me, now would be a pretty good time."

"Hmm, let me think," she says, gaze lifting in pretend thought. It's a good way to take a moment to consider all of this and what it means. And what he might think it means. Because she doesn't know how he handles things of this nature. Her gut tells her the answer would be in the most awkward way possible.

"I suppose we should discuss things so we are clear on what we want, but that is not a conversation for a party. That is for in my tent." Behind closed doors, except she doesn't have any doors.

"Sounds like your tent is gonna be the real party place." Shit, is he starting to sound like Tucker? It's like he can almost hear a 'bow chicka bow wow' from somewhere, but it's his imagination instead.

"Promise I'll try to keep my big trap shut and let you do your work. I'll eat food and...schmooze." Please do not schmooze.

Christine has never heard the word 'schmooze' before, and yet from the context she has an idea she knows what it means. Right, he really should not do that. Patting his arm, she pauses to look around the room.

"I shall not be long. Maybe you can just stay by the food? It will be easier for me to find you." And hopefully no schmoozing will occur.

Truth or Dare: The Imperial Court

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