after all these years, you don't want to see me poppin' outta da cake?!

[wickedchase]

WHO: Twisted Fate & OPEN
WHAT: Everything is super serious and elves are in baby jail, so it's a good time to have your birthday party and have it be as loud as possible.
WHEN: 4th of Cloudreach
WHERE: Herald's Rest
NOTES: There might be nudity. Heinous!

♠ EARLY AFTERNOON.

So bees aside.

Yes, there was a bit of a bee problem a few days ago in the room that Twisted Fate had acquired while Sera was gone. As he said, all was fair among fellow thieves, and he really doesn't need the room, but it's such a good location he thought he'd... borrow it awhile, at least until it stopped being funny. He isn't even sure he managed to get all of the bees out, but he does need to eventually plan a little strike back to her.

Post-birthday, anyway.

For now, there are drinks, there is cake -- red velvet, thank you -- and little paper hats for you!

Socialize, be merry. Twisted Fate is around somewhere, no doubt.


♠ EARLY EVENING.

At this point, there are games to be had, as one might expect.

Wicked Grace and Diamondback are the popular choices, though Twisted Fate might encourage a few drinking games as well. Alternatively, perhaps you come up with your own game.

After all, he's never opposed to try something new.


♠ LATE, LATE, LATE.

Plenty of people, perhaps even yourself, has probably taken in so much drink by this point that nothing is quite even and thinking is hard. But it's all in good fun.

How are you feeling? Or is the party over?


♠ WILDCARD.

Choose your own adventure!

Comments

[arlathvhen]

Early evening (open)

Beleth appears, surprisingly, in the evening. Even she looks a little surprised by it, but she comes in and orders a drink. And she keeps her mug full through the evening, never drinking enough to get actually drunk, sipping on it occasionally as she attempted to figure out how to play cards, or joined people for drinking games.

After a few attempts to play Wicked Grace, Beleth invented a new card game that seems to involve the cards fighting each other while muttering 'pew pew!' under her breath. What the fuck.

Late late late

Thanks to self-control, Beleth is doing a lot better than most of the party goers. She's allowed herself to upgrade to a pleasant buzz. Just enough to help her feel a little more relaxed, confident, and not raise to any bait Twisted Fate may play for her. Once she's sure that most people are either insensate or gone, she approaches whatever table Twisted Fate has parked himself at, and pulls a little box out, sliding it over to him and sitting down.

"I trust that you follow the outside world's tendency towards presents." She said, then pursed her lips. That was an instigating remark. Try again, idiot. "...Because. I got you a present and I hope you like it?" Smooth.

[wickedchase]

The opening statement is very Beleth of her, and Twisted Fate snorts faintly in amusement -- at least until she's actually giving him something. He lifts his feet off of the table and sits upright, his eyes curious.

He's very suspicious.

"How very un-Dalish of you," he says wryly. "Very well. I'll see where this leads."

So, he will indeed open the box.

[arlathvhen]

"I thought it would suit you--" Ugh. "--The present, I mean." She's trying. She does watch, carefully, in way that says that she's definitely Up To Something, as he opens the box. And inside is a small dagger--the size of a letter opener, really, but sharp enough to do real damage. Something to tuck inside a boot or other hideaway.

However, what was really worthy of note was the material. A distinctive blue in color, Twisted Fate may be able to recognize Ironbark when he sees it. As if that's not Dalish enough, the handle is etched with twisting vines and flowers. It is, quite possibly, the most Dalish dagger that could have been wrought.

And Beleth watches his face with a careful expression.

[wickedchase]

In a matter of gifts, he certainly appreciates Nerva's rapier much more. It's elegant, beautiful, and something new to try. She wants to protect him, and ensure he remains so even if she isn't around. That's something he can appreciate.

This is a gift that he thinks Beleth is clearly attempting to dig at him. It's incredibly Dalish. On one hand, it is lovely in its own way, and not useless. That he can appreciate, but it's far from suiting him.

Twisted Fate simply smiles at her. It's difficult to read, but he takes the gift, which at least in itself is not a Dalish reaction.

"How generous of you, my dear," he says pleasantly. "I didn't think we had anyone skilled here to forge Ironbark."

[arlathvhen]

Beleth studies his face carefully for a few moments before speaking. Whether or not she's pleased with his response, she doesn't let her face show. Instead, she gives him a smile back, just as pleasant as his. "We don't," She replied cheerfully. "But I have connections, and--" Her lips twitch, just slightly. Say nice things. "--I thought that you could use something dependable, and easy to hide. The lightness of it means that you can put it just about anywhere without weighing you down."

She pauses for another moment, trying to decide if she really wants to go for this--and if she wouldn't just end up embarrassing herself. Creators give her strength. Perhaps she should be praying to Fen'Harel for this one.

"I have one other present for you, but...I thought I'd give it to you later." Beleth gives him a small smile that she's pretty sure is in no way seductive but it does look Highly Suspicious which is close enough, really.

[wickedchase]

"Connections indeed. Dalish, I'll bet," he says, his tone honey sweet. "But I certainly appreciate your thoughtfulness, and going outside tradition nonetheless. That is not something I would have anticipated."

Unless it was a means to her own ends.

The next few words and implications would be charming and fascinating coming from almost anyone else, but he is immediately placing this under High Suspicion. Just what is she up to? Sadly, he's far too curious to put an end to it or call her out.

So he can play along.

"My my, two presents? You're just full of surprises."

[arlathvhen]

"Me, using Dalish connections to secure Ironbark weapons?" Beleth's tone is as dry as the Hissing Wastes, calmly raising an eyebrow. "What a risky bet that would be." So much for playing it nice, but Beleth is but an elf. Besides, it had been a long shot that she could get Twisted Fate to buy it, particularly with their...rocky relationship.

What she can do, however, is challenge him. Dare him to figure out what she's up to.

So she smirks at him, raising her glass up to him, and taking a sip. "Clearly, you shouldn't be betting against me at all, should you. I thought that surprises were some kind of tradition for birthdays? So, I arranged a few. Just for you."

[wickedchase]

"I dare to imagine what description you gave to get the gift so right." Because it's completely wrong, but there was some mild effort, he supposes. There is a moment he debates giving it to someone else, but he's not going to squander it. A gift is a gift, even if it comes with an ulterior motive.

"Oh, I don't doubt you have surprises. But what sort they'll be, that's another question indeed."

Fate is going to bet that it's a surprise meant to frustrate him in some way, but what specifically is it, he isn't certain. Not knowing isn't an option.

"When should I anticipate your next lovely gift, my dear?"

[arlathvhen]

Hey, hey. Beleth put a lot of effort into getting a gift that was that wrong. That amount of wrongness doesn't just come naturally. She had to sit down and think of what kind of gift would be just that special kind of awful.

At least he hasn't told her to get lost. She gives him the sweetest, most saccharine smile she can manage, fluttering her eyelashes at him. She's pretty sure this is not even remotely seductive, but. Whatever. It's certainly a great deal more fun.

"Hmm. I'd prefer to give it to you in, ah. Private. Maybe your room, if you're free tonight?" She tapped her fingers on the table thoughtfully. "I'm sure it'll, ah. Leave you speechless."

[wickedchase]

No, it definitely rings all of the She is Up to Something bells, but Twisted Fate is ever curious and ever interested in seeing where this road is going to take him. Maybe he can flip it into a benefit of some kind.

Better yet, pull the rug out from under her feet.

So, for him, he leans in carefully, his fingertips sliding up her arm to rest over her hand. He whispers:

"I accept your gracious gift and implications, Beleth. Come find me upstairs tonight, then. When the tavern quiets itself."

[arlathvhen]

"Excellent." She isn't sure if she's more glad that it worked, or surprised. Either way, it worked, and that's what matters in the end. And she didn't even have to pretend to be nice or anything. Well, she didn't say anything mean, which is a step away from being nice.

She leans in as well, giving Twisted Fate a smile that didn't even bother to try to hide the mischief behind it, and turns her hand over to give his a firm squeeze that might have been some form of kind if it had been just a little less firm. Just how carefully that smile and that squeeze is measured out hints that she knows Twisted Fate is aware She is Up to Something. But that doesn't stop her.

"I can honestly say that I am looking forward to it." And with that matter settled, she stands. "I'll see you then."

Early Evening

[samahl]

"I'm almost certain that's not how you play that game, lethallan," Cyril says as he slides in next to her. Despite their earlier conversation about the birthday boy, he isn't smirking knowingly or anything. He's not about to tease her if she needs confidence. He still doesn't know if she has any mischievous plans for it.

[arlathvhen]

Beleth starts for a second, about to look embarrassed to be caught goofing around--but it's just Cyril, and she relaxes again, with a sheepish smile. "I like my version better. It doesn't have a lot of rules in it. Or money." But she still puts the cards down, and folds her hands neatly. "It makes me think of Sorrel. It's the kind of thing he'd come up with. But that's hardly here or there. How are you, lethallin? I hope you've been enjoying the party."

[samahl]

Cyril settles next to her. "I am, though now I'm reminded of how much I miss your brother," he says. He imagines that it's not a fraction of how much she misses him though. He knows how he'd feel without Merrick, and he and Merrick aren't twins and weren't together in the womb.

"How do you play your game? Maybe you could teach me."

[arlathvhen]

"...Yeah. I miss him too. But I suppose we'll see him soon as this Inquisition business settles." She twists her lips, because that is a mixed bag of emotions right there. She misses Sorrel so much, but the idea of leaving this place--well, that's a matter for another day. She gives a sheepish laugh when Cyril asks about the game, and slides some of the cards over to him.

"I don't know, it's silly. I was just goofing around. I'll tell you if I think of anything that's interesting though. Do you know much about the actual card games?"

[samahl]

"Zevran taught me a couple while he was recovering. We could try to play one of those?"

[arlathvhen]

"Alright."

She slides the pile of cards over to Cyril, tilting her head. "Please tell me we aren't betting money, though. I can get some pebbles or something."

[samahl]

"Pebbles sounds good to me," he says. "Do you mind getting them?" It's just the two of them, a friendly game sound fun.