And We Danced (Masquerade Overflow!)

[thespaceopera]

The Captcha is upon us, but the party isn't over! Feel free to continue your threads here, start new ones, and continue the dance party!

- Original Mingle
- OOC Post

[[OOC: Wait for Sections! Sections are up! Feel free to use the section prompts or make your own! We'd also advise against just linking back to your original mingle post for the sake of players with slower computers.]]

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[merchantprince]

[His lip curls.]

My lady. Is that a dare?

[He places both hands on her shoulders, though not in a controlling or rough way. He's always gentle, especially now. Lior needs a guiding hand-- not an aggressive one.]

I've weathered assassins, violent critics, the Merchant's Guild, demons, darkspawn, dragons, ancient deathtraps, invasions, and my own lyrium-crazed brother trying to kill me. I think I can handle whatever comes from associating with you.

[He leans in just a little.]

Never bet against a dwarf.

[invigorates]

A dare? Surely not. [ that question had been completely serious, and she looks just as serious as her tone implies right until she feels his hands on her shoulders. she turns to face him fully once more, eyes darting to his lips when she catches sight of that grin.

she expected a reaction — but from her wide-eyed stare and flickering lines, this was surely not what she had in mind. he's accepting it, seemingly anticipating whatever danger her terrible luck could potentially bring him. varric will never cease to amaze her.

there's so many things she wants to ask now — most of which pertain to the colorful list of things he just named, things that he supposedly faced down and still managed to get back up and be who he is now. but her focus remains solely on the closeness, on the last words he speaks. the elf finally breaks her own mask of sadness and uncertainty and laughs, embarrassed. ]

I should have learned that lesson when I played those card games with you, hm? [ she smiles a smile more genuine than many others she had worn before, both hands resting on either of varric's arms, she leans in just as close so their foreheads touch. ] If you are willing to see this through together, then so am I.

[merchantprince]

Yeah, you should have.

[He looks down, unavoidable when their foreheads are touching, and has to coach himself to meet her eyes. He's not a fifteen year old boy going on a date for the first time. He's forty. Still, the way his heart jumps around in his chest certainly makes him feel twenty years younger.]

Wherever it takes us.

[It's so easy to tilt his head beneath hers and press their lips together, and he marvels at how natural it feels. Maker, when was the last time he kissed a girl? Why didn't he do this sooner? It seems so stupid in hindsight.]

[invigorates]

[ if it makes him feel any better, she is five hundred years old and she feels like a schoolgirl confessing to her crush — butterflies in her stomach and all. but it's nice to feel it, she thinks, nice to not fear the emotions that well inside her as she relishes in the sensation of being so close to him.

the kiss comes as only a very mild surprise now, and only the faintest hesitation. a tilt of her own head, a hand on his cheek and the other on his shoulder as she closes her eyes and returns it. ]

[merchantprince]

[She's soft and warm, just like he imagined, but he's wary of lingering too long. He breaks the kiss-- smoothly, without any nose-bumping-- and looks at her.]

It's been a while since I did that. Far longer than I'd like to admit.

[Something in his heart is eased with the resolution of their tension, though that will surely give rise to ten thousand other worries in a little while.]

[invigorates]

[ she leans back with an almost wistful sigh, relishing in warmth that lingers on her lips. ]

I fear I must admit the same. I hope I did not disappoint. [ she laughs, rubbing her thumb over varric's cheek before she finally lets it fall down and away from him. now, she dares to ask: ]

Should we return to the ball, or...? [ she's... not sure what to do now, honestly. ]