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

[dalishious]

It's easy to pick up on what the song is about-- or in this case, whom. Merrick listens, a calm expression on his face, curiously serene until the song is done.

And then it is, and Merrick reaches out to snatch the lute from her hands and place it aside. Then he tugs her onto his lap, squeezing her tightly and pressing a firm kiss on her mouth.

[arlathvhen]

The calmness worries her a little. Did he not figure out who she was taking about? She's pretty sure he's not upset, because Merrick is rarely quiet about displeasure, but if she had to explain--And then her lute is gone and she's on his lap, and she's getting kissed, and any worry she had dissipates. This is, quite truthfully, an even better reaction than what she had hoped for.

The kiss is returned with enthusiasm, Beleth's arms wrapping tightly around Merrick's neck. She might fuss over this being in public later, but Merrick has her full attention for now. She pulls a few inches away, just to whisper to him. "It's true, you know. You're so wonderful, Merrick."

[dalishious]

Merrick nudges her nose with his, making a face. She knows by now that he adores praise, but doesn't react to it well.

He cuddles her close. "Glad you ditched that stuffy party, huh?"

[arlathvhen]

She gives a little huff when he nudges her, but is quite happy to return the cuddling. Beleth gives his face a few quick kisses, before relaxing her head on his shoulder. She gives a light laugh at the comment about the party, shrugging. "This is more like the parties at home. It's nice. But I have to get used to stuffy parties and irritating nobles, if I want to be a real bard."