Truth or Dare: Side Party for Servants and Scoundrels

[faderifting]

WHO: Anyone!
WHAT: A party for people who might scare the nobility, are deathly afraid of chandeliers, or fled the soiree with cheeses hidden in their clothes and need to make a clean getaway.
WHEN: During (and after) the soiree.
WHERE: The valley beyond Skyhold.
NOTES: Drinking, revelry. People might make out or something. We're not responsible for your actions.

The soiree might be fun, if you're into that sort of thing, but that isn't what it's for. It's for impressing the powerful and opening their pockets—and, necessarily, some people aren't invited. In some cases that's personal. In others, it's just understood. When they're done helping to set up, most of the servants and workers who aren't needed to serve make themselves scarce. The usual trickle of refugees to and from the fortress slows. Some people used to sleeping in the stables may find their "beds" occupied by nobles' horses or the rooms they had been squatting in cleaned and prepared for someone else to stay in.

There's no resentment. (Or at least very little.) That's how these things go. And in the valley outside the fortress' walls, there are foot soldiers and refugees and a number of miscellaneous exiles who welcome the company with large fires, cheap but freely flowing alcohol, and whatever music can be wrung out of instruments exposed to such low temperatures. The crowd thins and dwindles as the night wears on, but even after the last person has left the Great Hall in Skyhold, there's still a sizable gathering near the river with no intention of going to sleep before sunrise.

No masks allowed.

Comments

[justice_is_blond]

There's something faintly amusing about a Templar choosing to use Detlef over Anders, as well as something a little powerful. He may never have his own name back, but Alayre is letting him have a chosen one rather than what he'd been given as the Order tried to strip him of personhood.

"I can pledge to fight Corypheus, to aid in that struggle. I cannot honestly promise to aid Templars in everything. Nor can I promise to heal every Templar who is injured that I come across." There's too much history, too much baggage. "However, if they're not someone known to me as an abuser, if they're working with the Inquisition on something that is not hurting mages or Grey Wardens, I will help them. I wish I could offer more, but I cannot."

He hopes Alayre understands. He thinks the man does, but it's hard to know. Anders is an abomination; the limitations he faces with Justice's drive that has a habit of edging into Vengeance are not always easily grasped.

[equanimiti]

Alayre is quite aware of the empowering undertones here. He's subtly placing himself upon the same level as Anders now in hopes of breaking the invisible wall that hinders their friendship. That wall being the very hierarchy between Templar and Mage. Unlike others who feel the need to play that sort of game, Alayre sees no reason why he should do the same.

Especially with one he once deems as a friend.

"I accept your offer as it is, Detlef." He states with a vague smile. "And I wouldn't dare ask of you to offer more than you are willing to give." Perhaps Alayre will live to regret his words but as of now, he's content with the Grey Warden's pledge enough to offer the same in return.

[justice_is_blond]

"Thank you." There's a little surprise in his voice, and a lot of gratitude. Finding a Templar who isn't obsessed with keeping mages down, or following their strict definition of Andraste's words, is rare. Finding someone who will treat a mage as a person is even more rare, and Anders is touched that Alayre is one of them. He'd lied directly to this man about his name. He'd come to the Inquisition at his invitation. Alayre had much he could have resented, and he's chosen not to.

"I... I look forward to working with you in the future, Alayre."