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

[wickedchase]

"I thought it would be general amusement all around? The joke is that you and I did not come together." In part, he thinks that probably would have been impossible due to varying complications -- something Nerva has no approval for.

There's a pause and he notes the sourness in her voice. Well, despite the jest, she doesn't find it particularly amusing.

"It wasn't a joke at your expense. I thought it was generally amusing since we simply didn't." And wouldn't have, he assumes.

[keeperofmagi]

She frowns and looks back to the party. "I see." She doesn't, but unlike with others, she's willing to accept that Twisted Fate wasn't deliberately mocking her. If only to help shove down that unexpected sliver of hurt that had come with it.

"Would it have been so strange, if we had?" She asked after a moment. "Strange enough that others would find it... amusing."

[wickedchase]

Clearly, she doesn't understand, but Twisted Fate doesn't feel like he can fault her for it. It felt like he's done something wrong, actually, and that's... not a feeling he likes to dwell on.

"Strange? Perhaps. But..." Twisted Fate sighs and removes his hat as he addresses her. "Quite honestly, I presumed that if I had offered you would have declined me."

[keeperofmagi]

She thinks about that for a moment, a heart beat too long, perhaps, for what was social and proper, but she always thought through questions she didn't have an immediate answer to, regardless of who was waiting for an answer. She prefered to make them wait, than to give a dishonest answer.

"No." She decided eventually, her voice measured and thoughtful, though she was still looking out at the party rather than meeting his eyes. It was easier, somehow, that way. "I - enjoy your company. I accepted Dorian's offer mainly to keep him out of trouble. Orlais... It has different rules, to gatherings like this, and he is a target more than most. But I am sure I could have made sure he was safe, and still gone with you."

She turned then, finally, to catch his gaze.

"Whether or not others found it amusing."

[wickedchase]

The period of silence is not helpful to this uncertainty. Usually, Twisted Fate felt comfortable and confident in every outcome, but this right now is not one of those moments. This is territory that he isn't should how far to touch, and it is far too delicate for him to manage properly

But she answers, truthful as she always is, and he can count on that.

"Well. I'm very flattered to hear that," he answers softly. "I don't doubt that Dorian benefited from your escort. It was good of you to consider him."

Despite his mixed feelings on the Tevinter mage, he respects what Nerva had done and why.

"I, ah. Apologize if my jest was in poor taste. I considered it relatively harmless, but if you did not, then it wasn't worth it."

[keeperofmagi]

"Thank you." There were many things Nerva couldn't forgive, but this wasn't one of them. Not when he spoke in such a soft tone, his usual mask of glib smugness gone.

The magic... That she had a harder time of forgiving. Forgiving wasn't even the word, as the usual crimes that bred with magic did not seem to appear, in him. Acceptance, was the word.

Acceptance of a fear that even she herself could not see or acknowledge.

"Next time, lie more fully to Zevran," she said, her voice impassive as she picked up two glasses of wine from a tray as it passed, holding one out for Fate. Her tone so flat that she may as well have been discussing the weather.

"I think he is attempting to ascertain my sexual preferences, and I would hate to make it easy for him. A hidden Qunari wife, perhaps."