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

[paperwing]

Close, but not all the time; there's always a delight when they play their separate parts and converse with others, dance with others, do anything else, but come together again. It's like many nights in the tavern rolled into one, lots of little moments. She enjoys it.

She does not see, nor sense his presence, until he is right next to her - her attention fixed on the music, the wine in her hand, the noble she's speaking to, whichever it is this time - but as with every time she turns and a smile lights up her face, surprising warmth from skin so pale. The lights from the candles flicker across his face, his outfit; he is very beautiful, she thinks. And he is asking her to dance.

"I would." She looks from him to his offered hand. "Who would I be to deny you such things?" It's then she moves, placing her hand securely in his. "But it is one of my favourites, too. As you are." She stumbles through the last few words, but recovers well, feeling no discomfort - he has that effect on her. He accepts her as she is, despite her often not knowing what to say.

[bunko]

He doesn't so much as blink over that little stumble--if anything, his smile tugs upward that much more, fond. When she accepts, and places her hand in his, his smile tugs up once more, as he hadn't expected her to say yes, as if every agreement from her is both a blessing and a surprise.

In part, this is true. Scipio is used to people liking him, because people generally do. But there is something lovely about it meaning just a little more, as it seems to now. He should be warier of that. He isn't. He warms to it instead, takes her hand in his and leads her away from the noble who had been speaking to her. Cut off in mid-conversation, the man looks after them with some affront, but what does it matter? They're to the dance floor by now, and Scipio bows over Sabriel's hand before he pulls her into the dance--and away they go, across the floor.

He is, of course, a good dancer, good enough that he can keep up light conversation the whole time. So does he now, with a smile. "Is this really a favorite song of yours?"