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

[issala]

"I get it, I get it!" He laughs, and damn if his stomach wasn't hurting from the strain. "Korrin told me about your bird! It's amazing!"

Chuckling still, the teen grins at Kain. "It's saying 'I'll bring myself sexual pleasure later, thinking of this with great respect'." It's funny as hell, but damn if he can't say it without blushing a little bit.

[dragoon_pride]

"An amazing pain in the ass." Of course, when Kain says this, the bird makes a chuckling sound and carries on repeating "Pain in the ass! Pain in the ass!" Kain simply rolls his eyes to his feathered friend, who flutters his wings with amusement.

Kain stares at Kas afterward, expression overall incredulous. The Qunari have an entire phrase just to say that? Just when he thought he'd heard everything... "That's what it means? Hmmph, no wonder Korrin wouldn't say..."

[issala]

"Never seen a parrot with a sense of humor before..." The teen holds up a piece of bread to the bird to try to get on its good side. "It looks like it really likes you, though."

That look Kain gives him is met by a little roll of blue eyes. "It's just a saying for when you really enjoy something. Like dragon killing or whatever."

[dragoon_pride]

"Unfortunately, it seems he does." Kain sighs a little bit, but by now he's resigned to living with the bird. He even seems to vaguely admire the parrot as he watches it spreads its wings and then chuckle, before leaning in to chomp on the bread with its beak.

Ah, that makes more sense of the phrase, Kain supposes. Somewhat. Ish. "I had no idea your expressions were so... colorful." But it's very descriptive, he has to admit.

[issala]

"You have no idea, Qunlat is great like that." Kas happily feeds the bird bread, beaming a little at the fact that he's accepted by the screeching thing. Apparently he really likes loud, rude things.

Turning to Kain, the teen grins again. "You should bring him into battle, making him swear at all the enemies and catch them off guard."

[dragoon_pride]

“Maker’s ass! Maker’s ass!” The bird’s tone is pleased, though, so Kain figures he’s enjoying the bread, at the very least. And against all sanity, it also appears that the rude creature has made a friend.

“A stunning battle tactic,” he remarks dryly, though he has to admit it’s not entirely a terrible idea. There’s something to be said for intimidating or otherwise throwing your enemy off, it’s why augments like Cry are so useful back home. “And sure to be highly effective, considering it would be so unexpected…”

[issala]

Oh no, he's laughing again. It was just too damn funny, imagining the parrot on the battlefield, cursing people out like that. No idea if it was effective or not, but it sure would be a surprise.

"You should try it, really. It would be great."

[dragoon_pride]

Kain sighs and shakes his head, watching the excitable parrot stretch out his wings and make pleased bird-sounds. This literal bastard of a bird is really enjoying himself, and to make matters worse, Kain is actually starting to get used to him. Attached even.

“They would never see it coming. I’ll… keep it in mind, anyway, the next time I go off for a battle. I’ve a feeling he would enjoy it all too well himself.”

[issala]

There's another amused snort from the teen, and he nods. "If you ever do it you gotta tell me all about it!"

He takes another sip of his drink, unable to stop the drunken smile. "I'm Kas. Did I say that already?"

[dragoon_pride]

“I’ll be sure to give you the full details.” Kain sighs, shakes his head, but in the end, he’s starting to get used to his literal Bastard of a bird. He’s almost getting affection for him, something he’d sworn he wouldn’t do. Yet look where he is now.

Anyway. “No, I don’t believe you have. I’m Kain Highwind, and of course, you’ve already met Bastard… It’s good to meet you, Kas.”