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

[gatheringstorm]

"...she is, isn't she." Yep, Korrin has that unbearably sappy grin on her lips, the one she tries not show to a sober Kas because she's sure he'd roll his eyes at her. But right now, that's less of an issue and his absolutely right about Araceli.

"It makes me think more and more that I kept that dragon's tooth for a reason."

[issala]

He would definitely roll his eyes so much at her when he was sober, but right now he was just smiling dumbly. Maybe a little jealous, too. He wanted that kind of happiness.

...or just a damn kiss, really.

Korrin's next sentence makes his eyes widen, though, and he gasps. "Mom told me that story! Are you gonna give her one?"

[gatheringstorm]

"Oh, she did? Good, I wasn't sure how well-known that was." Korrin knew about it almost right away, because her parents had done just that. "You don't think it's too soon, then?"

Not that such really matters to Korrin in the end. Love is love, whether it's had months or years or decades to blossom. But the slightly insecure part of her that she usually ignores wonders what Araceli will think.

[issala]

"I dunno," he says, honestly. "I mean, if you love her you love her. That's good enough." There's a small shrug from the teen. Live in the now, Korrin. He's not sure they'll even beat Corypheus, so why not be happy while she could?

"Think she'll understand the signif...signo... meaning?"

[gatheringstorm]

"Unless Taas or you told her, I don't know. I've never brought it up before, but maybe she overheard it from someone else. But you're right, that should be good enough. Waiting for too long when we're likely to get another hole in the sky seems silly, you know?" Korrin leans over and ruffles his hair, just because she can and he's probably not sober enough to stop her in time. "You have a good head on your shoulders, Kas."

[issala]

He smiles drunkenly, allowing that hair ruffle and just feeling really good and relaxed. He was supposed to take it easy, according to Sam, and he was definitely feeling quite relaxed right now.

Drunk off his ass might not be the best way to chill, but still.

"I didn't say nothing but I dunno about the deaf guy." He shrugs a bit. "I got a good head, don't I? The best."

[gatheringstorm]

"And don't let anyone tell you different." Korrin nods firmly, then takes another swig. "It hasn't given you more problems, has it? If you need that ice trick again, let me know."

[issala]

"M'fine," he says with a little shrug. "It went away after a few days after I talked to you and Sam." At least the worst of it.

"Maybe tomorrow, cuz I had a lot."