THE GALA ON ADSUM (Mingle Log)

[serpentis]

Who: Anyone and Everyone!
Broadcast: Nope!
Action: A ballroom on Adsum
When: 2/21, Evening-Night



[And the night has arrived! Dorian put out an open invitation, and anyone who is interested is welcome to dress up and meet up for a night of dancing and fawning over each other. Make sure to wear your best, everyone! It's a very special episode of Drift Fleet!]

((OOC: There was an open invitiation, but even if your character never replied or has had personal contact with Dorian, feel free to assume he's let them come along or be dragged along by someone else! I'll be tagging some threads, but if you want a thread to be closed, please just say so in the header.))

Comments

Dorian / Open

[serpentis]

[Dorian is very at home in some way, among the crowd. It reminds him of Tevinter- of balls and galas but without the blood sacrifices and assassination.

It's fun, and he finds himself relaxing a bit, but it brings the familiar pang of homesickness. Despite wandering, and no matter where he was- Tevinter was home.

Dorian floats about, striking up conversation where he can. Tonight's ensemble are black and gold robes, printed in gold ink with a serpent coiling around him and resting its head over his heart. Black gloves, boots, and a gold chain with a blood red stone at his collar finished it. He looked almost a caricature of an evil Magister, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

If someone manages to catch him, it's either sitting at a table resting for a moment, or he's vanished from the ballroom and can be found on a balcony overlooking a garden.]

[ino]

[ she's approaching with an amused grin ]

Dorian, you're looking a bit scary tonight.

[serpentis]

Am I, truly? I didn't notice.

[He turns, looking himself over, and then smiles at her.]

At least I don't have my staff. Could you imagine? I'd send everyone into a proper fright.

[ino]

[ she grins ]

Well, we wouldn't want that, would we? Nobody would ever look to you for an invitation again.

[serpentis]

How dreadful! Where would I be if I could not rope others into frippery and nonsense?

[He chuckles, looking her over.]

You look absolutely charming tonight, Ino. Though that is hardly a change from ever. I'm certain you could wear sackcloth and still outshine most.

[ino]

Absolutely nowhere, of course.

[ TEASING. obviously. But she can't help preening a little when he compliments her look ]

Garak made the outfit for me. I think he did a wonderful job, don't you?

[serpentis]

He did, it does suit you very nicely.

[He bows to her a little.]

If you've a care for it, Captain, do save me a dance, won't you?

[dawnwillcome]

[It doesn't take long for Jove to find Dorian once he's gone outside, and when she joins him she makes her presence known by resting her hand on his back as she leans her hip against the railing of the balcony.]

You've been enjoying yourself, I hope.

[serpentis]

[He chuckles softly, nodding and turning a bit to face her. He had seen the outfit, but...looking her over now, he felt almost a pang of homesickness, but he would never tell her.

He doubted that she would take kindly to it.

So instead he smiled a bit, gesturing with a hand with red-painted nails that matched her own.]

I always was one for dressing up and parading about. There's less intrigue than Tevinter galas, but...I suppose I will learn to survive without the political machinations.

[dawnwillcome]

[If you only knew what the Winter Palace has in store, Dorian. If you only knew.]

Something tells me this won't be the last grand event you attend, Dorian. We'll just cross our fingers and hope for someone wearing shoes from last season to be ripped apart for their egregious mistakes, it's bound to happen.

[And she isn't fooled by his lack of mentioning where their outfits would fit perfectly. She had allowed him to pick and choose what they wore, and it only made sense he would pick Tevinter fashion. It isn't something she would have agreed to were they actually in Tevinter, to avoid drawing undo attention there, but here? She'll wear colors to honor a place he loves, just as he's found a dress that honors her own people.

They're a bit of a strange pair, but it would be even stranger if they didn't match.]

[serpentis]

Oh, now you've intrigued me.

[He chuckles softly.]

I'll have you know that I am not Varric. He shrinks from having a story ruined for him. Myself? I regard any information about the future as a boon, something that can be used for good.

As they say, knowledge is a weapon. That is, ah, a Tevene saying, roughly translated.

[dawnwillcome]

I'm sure no one else has ever said it, either.

[What's a little gentle teasing between friends? Typical, really. And she is tempted to tell him, because if there's anyone who understands the burden of knowing the future, it's absolutely the man who did exactly that with her. His ability to keep calm, to see the full picture and find a way out of the mess they were in, it had kept her grounded at the time.

After they had escaped, the horrors of what could be in store for them had had the positive effect of bringing them closer, let them bond over how important their mission was. Now is really no different.]

I'd hate to spoil all the surprise, but I will tell you this: it involves assassination attempts, incredibly surprising twists of allegiances, and Cullen fighting off hordes of interested suitors.

[cabbagedetective]

[Adachi will spy Dorian heading out onto a balcony. Good, quiet. He hated having to talk over crowds of people. It'll be easier to just swing in quickly and thank him for the invitation out here. He approaches Dorian, offering a wave and a smile.]

Hey there. So, uh, great party!

[serpentis]

[Dorian gives him hlaf a bow, with a smile.]

I'm pleased for the turnout. I was a bit concerned that some might pass over the opportunity to strut about and show off...it heartens me to see that there are others in the Fleet half as vain as I am.

[cabbagedetective]

[Ho boy, this guy is just as Adachi remembers him from that bar on Accendo. He had thought that Dorian was just drunk when they first met, but he was starting to realize that this might just be how he acts ALL the time.]

Ah heh, well, I imagine occasions like this probably don't come around all that often when you're cruising aimlessly through space.

[serpentis]

I'd imagine not. Quite unfortunate, to be honest. The galaxies could use a bit more frippery and nonsense.

[And he chuckles softly.]

We're only missing a political assassination, and I might nearly mistake it for home.

[cabbagedetective]

[Well that was quite the change in tone. Adachi is actually rather shocked. He hadn't exactly pegged Dorian for the dark humor type, just the typical vain pretty-boy. He almost drops his drink.]

A po- political assassination?!

[heresyandlace]

[oh, isn't he looking sharp. he'd expected Dorian to show up looking grand, but he's really outdone himself tonight.

color the dragon impressed.

when he spots him, he lifts his chin in acknowledgement, and gives him a little wave.]

[serpentis]

[Dorian floats over, making himself appear every part a coiled serpent. It was safety, in the act, an act others rarely saw through.

He saunters over, a smirk on his lips.]

Well, I'm heartened to see that everyone decided to give their appearance an effort tonight, but you, you look nearly as good as I do.

[heresyandlace]

[oh, and Tek gives him all the silent attention he might want. an appreciative glance goes up and down as Dorian approaches--as much for how he moves and holds himself as anything else.

and the dragon is one to assume that everything is an act... but he really doesn't see the benefit in spoiling the illusion at the moment. what fun would there be in that? Dorian can be as serpentine and invincible as he wants, and Tek will bask in the glow.]

Only nearly? Please forgive me, then. Times have been tough, after all... I've been working with what I can.

[noherald]

[Of course Arhen wouldn't come find him in the ballroom first, it's far too public-- but he does join Dorian on the balcony at some point in the night, slipping into place beside him without warning, just as he tends to do. This time, though, he isn't shy about getting close, slipping an arm around him right from the start. Dorian's presence is a practically magnetic thing, and he isn't sure he could keep his distance if he wanted to.]

I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long, ma vhenan.

[serpentis]

[Arhen is entirely silent when he wishes to be, and Dorian nearly startles at the hand slipping around his waist. He looks over, ready to give a witty retort, but Arhen's appearance and voice take his breath away for just a moment.

His heart skips a beat, and then two, and he turns to face him, resting his hip against the balcony railing and smiling.]

You look wonderful tonight, amatus.

[He looked him over, trying to keep the fond smile from settling on his face, but looking at him, his heart felt so full. He placed a hand under his chin, gently tilting his face up, and kissed him.]

[noherald]

[Arhen wraps both arms around him the moment he leans in, practically melting into the kiss. The Winter Palace is still fairly fresh in his memories of home, and it feels like it really hasn't been so long since the last time Dorian kissed him on a balcony, or the last time they'd danced. He can almost forget anything has changed at all.]

-as do you, though I think I've already made that clear.

[He murmurs it against Dorian's lips, reaching up to comb his fingers through his hair-- oh, it'll mess up the styling a little, he's sure, but Arhen prefers it that way. No one really looks their best when everything is perfectly in place, all the honesty smoothed over.]

I hope no one expects you back soon.

[serpentis]

If they do, I suppose they will survive without me.

[He nearly reaches up to preen his hair back into place, but he stops himself, chuckling softly. It was just like Arhen to put things out of sorts in a fond sort of way.

It's just one other thing he's put into disarray, along with Dorian's own heart.]

I do hope you're not expecting to flit away now- I don't have a mind to let you escape me tonight.

[He leans close, murmuring into his ear.]

You can leave in the morning, but tonight, I'd like to see every last bit of you that you'll let me.

[noherald]

[He can't quite suppress the shiver that murmur sends through him; Arhen tries to, he really does, but there's no hiding anything from him right now. Whatever had been more alluring about him when they spoke over the network, it's an even stronger draw up close, and even if he managed to keep his composure he'd be given away by how he just can't seem to let go.]

I came here for you, Dorian, and I didn't go to all this trouble to decide to play the scared halla now.

[He does manage to lean back enough to flash Dorian a grin, one that's decidedly wicked.]

Careful, though, or I may have to take that as a challenge. Hasn't anyone told you not to tell an elf that you fancy yourself a better hunter?