Masquerade Mingle

[thespaceopera]

[The night has finally come--the Gravity Rush is nearly upon us! What normally serves as a large performance hall has been gutted, emptied of its boring furniture and rigged up into a fantastical mismatch of technology and old culture. No matter where you go tonight, you're encouraged to move around, dance, play games, whatever helps you sleep in late tomorrow morning.

If you aren't one for scurrying around a ballroom all night, there's always plenty of people-watching to do. After all, so many people are wearing extravagant costumes and elaborate masks. How can you even tell who is who? Get lost in a crowd of sequins, chatter with a sun and a moon, or try to beat the guy in the monster-mask at a game of cards. Meet your friends or make some new ones--this masquerade party has begun!]


[[ooc: All sections are up now, have fun! A related ooc post is HERE for any questions or plotting you'd like to do.]]

Comments

[bryces_pup]

Few cheeses are. Even those overrated, stinky Orlesian ones.

[She clasps her hands behind her back, looking all too innocent. Run, Alistair!]

Have you gotten to do much dancing? Work of all that cheese?

[theirinurpants]

Work it off? Do I look like I need to work it off?

[ He glances down at himself in a dramatic sort of gesture. ]

You don't want to dance with me.

[bryces_pup]

Not at all, but without all the usual running about Ferelden and the fighting, you don't have as much means of keeping your figure.

[She sighs softly, giving him a gently stern look.]

And why wouldn't I want to dance with you?

[theirinurpants]

Because I'll probably step all over your toes? I don't know the first thing about dancing!

[bryces_pup]

I know. [She smiles.] Dancing is not so hard as you make it out to be. I'll even lead, if it helps. [She holds out a hand to him expectantly.]

[theirinurpants]

Well... all right, but I warned you!

[ With more than a hint of reluctance, he takes her hand, and allows her to lead him to the dance floor. Hopefully the song isn't terribly complicated. ]

[bryces_pup]

[Fortunately, it's not. It's a slower tempo, and it doesn't seem anything terribly involved.

Riona fights to squeeze his hand, an old habit she didn't expect to come back in such force. The thought is pushed from her mind; she's not dwelling on that now.

After maneuvering around the other dancing pairs, she finds them a decent spot. She turns and assumes the proper dancing pose, ready to help Alistair if needed.]

[theirinurpants]

[ Mostly he lets her lead, trying not to look as awkward as he feels, and giving her a shy sort of smile at that. Everything about her is just too confusing - she's kind, and beautiful, and apparently in another life he fell in love with her.

He can see why, and it discomfits him a little. But he pushes that aside, and nods at her. ]

I was going to ask where you learned, but - that's a stupid question, huh.

[bryces_pup]

[She shakes her head.]

No. I learned in a number of ways. It's something best learned with practice. Of course I started out with lessons from an instructor. My father and brother helped. Their toes were stomped on quite a few times before I got the hang of it.

[Riona, after making sure postures were right, begins to lead them, taking small steps and going slow.]

But I learned in Highever. And Amaranthine. And Ostwick. And the Bannorn. I impressed some. But I also made a laughingstock of myself a few times, too.

[theirinurpants]

[ Once she starts moving, he has to concentrate on that, mostly, but he also wants to listen to what she's saying, so between those two things, it doesn't leave much room for him to respond to her. ]

You? A laughingstock? Impossible.

[bryces_pup]

[And under her breath, without even realizing it at first, she's counting out the steps. "1..2..3. 1..2..3."]

Impossible how? I am just as capable of making an idiot of myself as anyone."

[theirinurpants]

Yeah, but -

[ He pauses, trying to follow her and not step on her toes and also think of a suitable reply. Oops. He just stepped on her toes. ]

Sorry! Sorry.

I just mean, you're - well, you know all about this stuff, and you grew up in a noble family to learn it, and you're kind and pretty.

[bryces_pup]

It's okay. [It stings but she'll live.] Try not to think about it overly much. Feel the music and follow it.

[Aaaaand FUCK she's blushing.]

You think so?

[theirinurpants]

Well... yeah?

[ Who wouldn't think she's kind and gentle and beautiful? ]

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything.

[ After all, she's married, and he's engaged. ]

[bryces_pup]

[She can't fight the smile that comes. At least until he says the last part. That's enough for her to look up, her expression more serious.]

Why? I was just... surprised to hear it.

[theirinurpants]

Well... I mean...

You're, you know. And I'm - you know.

[ He's pretty sure it's bad form to call another man's wife beautiful. Even if the "other man" in question is... technically... you? ]

[bryces_pup]

[DETAILS.]

...ah.

[That's a... good point. She supposes. Maybe.]

Well, it's not terrible to think someone else attractive or what have you. It's just being honest. Being married or engaged doesn't mean you stop noticing other people.

[theirinurpants]

[ He knows it's a good point. Unfortunately. ]

I... suppose? But I mean, I still shouldn't go around saying so! To married women! Even if their husbands aren't around, it's still rude.

[bryces_pup]

Well, sort of not around. Ish.

[I mean, he has to count for something.]

...but while that's debatable, Anora not being around isn't. I... I am sorry. I never meant to make you feel uncomfortable or go too far.

[She let her feelings get in the way. Something she said she definitely would not do.]

If you rather I not...

[theirinurpants]

You shouldn't apologize. It's - I mean... it's not like she'd care, probably.

[ Wait, that's maybe not right. ]

I mean, she might care, just - well, it's not like she likes me, but I did promise to marry her, and -

[ And he steps on her toes again. ]

Maker's breath, I'm sorry, Riona.

[bryces_pup]

[There are a few scathing remarks about her that come to mind. But she keeps them to herself. They'd be mostly unfair, anyway.

She jumps a little this time when he steps on her toes. Mostly because she hadn't been paying attention as much.]

I'm fine. Sorry. This is a bit of an...engaged conversation to be having while dancing.

Would Anora like it? Probably not entirely. But quite frankly... I don't know. She shouldn't begrudge you complimenting someone, at the very least.

[theirinurpants]

[ She can say that again. ]

I think she loved him, you know. Cailan. She loved him, and he - wasn't faithful. And my father, he -

[ He makes a face. She knows what he's talking about. ]

Can we go somewhere else? Somewhere quieter, maybe?

[bryces_pup]

[She knows. All too well.]

Of course. [This was no place to be having this conversation. And she didn't feel much like dancing too much now.

Her instinct is the balcony, but they would need masks. Instead, she thinks of that green museum place. She beckons for him to follow, guiding them out of the ballroom.

A few people are milling around, but no one she recognizes. And it's quiet.]

Better?

[theirinurpants]

[ It's definitely much quieter here, and with fewer people, Alistair doesn't feel quite so much like he has to act a certain way. He takes off the mask, even, because his face is a little flushed and he needs to feel cool air on his skin. ]

If Morrigan was telling the truth, I've already fathered a bastard.

[ That's the first time he's ever said that aloud, since it happened. He says it, and sounds rather defeated. He has no idea if Riona knows this - if it happened in her world like it did in his. ]

[bryces_pup]

[Oh. That.

She's a mixed bag of emotions on this. Of course she hates the thought of him having been with her and that a child came of it, especially since she cannot have any. But she conceded to it, and that child is the reason she is alive.

More than anything, it fills her with guilt. For what Alistair had to do, and with what he now has to live with.]

I know. But it isn't like Maric. You didn't get a say in whether or not you'd be in the child's life. Morrigan made her terms clear. And not to mention there were... unusual circumstances involved.