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

[judgemewhole]

Well there you have it. Sam was clearly shiny all the time. Which should terrify him and Norrington was just going to be over here with his pallid gleam and be thankful for it. "Sam, of course I trust you. But every single time I have heard 'fancy magic' these days, something has gone horribly wrong because of the tears of the Veil. Just ... be cognizant, please?"

He looked back at Sam, before he clapped his hand on his shoulder. "I will be fine, Sam. I will simply be more cautious in the future where I put my true affections."

[el_tybs]

James it's terrible - maybe, guess it depends on who it is. Apparently it's been happening just by grabbing a book from a high shelf or picking something up from the ground. He cannot just stop doing that or helping. "Huh, I was more thinking like a bit of smoke as a distraction, but I see your point. And I'm always cognizant. Not like Fortitude if I do anything too rash."

He takes a deep breath at that, nodding a bit. "I know you will be James. Things just never seem to be any simpler."

[judgemewhole]

Sam, most people would be considerably happy that people wanted to grab them just because they were fairly attractive in a physical sense. Of course Norrington was not one of those people, but still. "Smoke is acceptable. Firestorms the size of armies are not." A pause, "So you have your spirit at last, do you?"

He looked over at Sam, before he smiled knowingly, "Life never is. That is why you must take happiness where you find it."

[el_tybs]

Well for him he's only recently starting to get that is the case, and he's getting used to it. Not like there was much positive reinforcement about these kind of things back at Ostwick. "I don't think I can make a firestorm that big..." Well he hasn't tried, but still. "Yes, I do. I had Burns and a couple of the others come for the ritual - just in case. I'm slowly getting the hang of it."

He sighs. "Ain't that the truth," he says a bit sadly, but also with a smile, holding up his glass for James to bring up his own for a small cheers.

[judgemewhole]

That is true. Positive reinforcement wasn't something either one of them was familiar with in this particular aspect of their lives. "... I would appreciate it if you wouldn't try." Is his dry response, before he nods, "I'm glad Burns was willing to work with you, on that. He stated he's glad to volunteer for whatever templar assignments there are with the mages -- but I digress. How is your healing?"

He smirked sadly in kind, clinking his glass against Sam's. "We are still young. There is still time."

[el_tybs]

He shrugs some with a small smile at the response, more as a way to tease James than anything. It wasn't like he was actually looking to try and do something like that. As for the question, Sam takes another sip of his wine, with less of a frown this time, thoughtful. "It's... different, and not? I've been practicing with Fortitude so that we both can get used to working with each other, which has been leaving me more sleepy than normal. I don't plan on using it too much though, only when necessary."

At the sad smirk, Sam gives one in kind. "Perhaps. It isn't something I'm going to try and force."

[judgemewhole]

James smirked in kind. It came down to small moments like this - knowing he could trust Sam not to do anything to put people in danger. Not all Templars were going to rake all mages over the coals. Not all mages were dangerous. Sam was ... so through and so thoughtful. "Very good. Fortitude - interesting choice, but not an unsurprising one."

"Neither am I ... so let us raise a glass to being on our own."

[el_tybs]

"Well I didn't exactly pick it, not like that. Fortitude found me and gave me a trial. Once I passed I had the choice, of course, to partner up. I suppose Fortitude was attracted to the likeness we share." He supposed the type of spirit wasn't surprising in the least. It felt... different, but he didn't much more so than he normally was, there was just something watching all the time in a way.

"Do we really wanna toast on that?" He gives James an amused look, but still raises his glass anyways.

[judgemewhole]

He nodded is head slowly. "I'm still not surprised, all things considered. I'm pleased though ... that you are still finding your way, Sam. I'm proud of you, and the progress you've shown, the strength you've displayed."

He paused, then tilted his head, "Good point. Perhaps ... perhaps the toast should be something slightly more positive?"

[el_tybs]

"Thanks, James. That means a lot." He had finally achieved what had been set out for him at the beginning, but in the end it had been what he wanted. Now? He had to learn how to use it and find another goal to reach towards.

"To being young and still having time?" he offers with some amusement as he gives a shrug.

[judgemewhole]

"You're quite welcome, Sam." James dipped his head into a bow, before he exhaled a soft laugh.

"Still having time, and being young enough to enjoy it." He lifted his glass to that salute.

[el_tybs]

"'Young enough'. Well now I'm just worried. I'm not that old yet," he teases with a chuckle, lifting his glass then taking a drink from it.

"Think you'll try settling down after all this, James?"

[judgemewhole]

"That is true. You are still something of an infant." Says the man who cannot be more than five or six years older than him. He takes a sip, swallows, and looks pensive.

"... Honestly Sam, I am having serious doubts of being able to settle down with anyone. I do not think I have what women want."

[el_tybs]

"Alright, I'm not that young either." There's a small huff as he reaches over and shoves James' arm a bit. Right, you aren't much older than him James.

"Sure you do. You just need to find... the right woman. That's how it works right?"

[judgemewhole]

"Yes, but neither are you that old, either." James said with a completely straight face, even as he is shoved and doesn't flinch.

"Yes, but who will honestly think me the right man? I have my doubts of my appeal."

[el_tybs]

"You know I ask myself the same things..." It was hard to see your own appeal when you were on your own. He's had several people point out that he had it, but it seemed rather... empty considering recent events.

"Well you must have some since the ladies over there keep looking at you," Sam points out from behind a glass.

[judgemewhole]

"You shouldn't. But I suppose it would be hypocritical of me to compliment you and not accept the same in kind about myself ... " He frowned, then half-turned. "I beg your pardon?"

[el_tybs]

Yes, James, if you start listing off appealing features about him he's certainly going to do the same. Not the mention it might get overheard and start something.

"Yeah, the two over there," he points out with a tip of head and subtle point of his finger. The past couple minutes he's seen them edging closer as they talked.

[judgemewhole]

Well, all things considered, this was the last thing either one of them needed.

A frown slipped over his face, but he didn't turn to make it obvious. Instead, he murmured, "Is it those odd twins again?"

[el_tybs]

Twins? Sam blinks at the question, eyes shifting to the slow approaching figures for a moment then back to James.

"... How can you tell?" Their clothes looked alike, yes, as did the masks, but how could you actually tell they were twins?

[judgemewhole]

He looked back at Sam, and then cleared his throat. Clearly, this is one of the advantages of being a warrior. "The way they move is very ... synchronized. As if they have been in step since, well, birth. Their hands are also identical."

[el_tybs]

"Their hands... are identical?" Sam raises a brow at that. How did he know that they were identical? "The synchronization isn't from being performers?" he asks, watching the ladies a bit more closely now that James was pointing out this stuff.

[judgemewhole]

"Yes. They have the same tapering fingers - you can see when they are waving them about as if they are having convulsions." Norrington stated simply. "And no, their clothes are far too fine for performer clothing."

[el_tybs]

"I've been seeing some Bards in rather fine clothing," he points out - there were many kinds of performers out there he's been learning. "Ah huh..." Honestly he still doesn't see it, but perhaps it's because he can't see their hands. "Well we perhaps shouldn't stick around and found out?"

[judgemewhole]

"Hmmm, I think you are perhaps correct, Sam. Shall we vacate the premises?" Before they were set upon by wolves in fine clothing, at any rate. "And the Bards have a very particular cut to their clothes. I believe it is to have more pockets to fit in more documents of an embarrassing nature. Or ... weapons."