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

[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.

[serpentis]

Commender Cullen, truly? Well, I suppose I cannot blame them. The Maker made a grave error the day he made him disinterested in men, but I suppose we all must have flaws.

[And he chuckles, amused. It was half a joke and half an observation that Cullen was an attractive man, not merely for his looks, but he was someone that Dorian could almost consider a friend, in some way. Discovering that Cullen enjoyed chess made Skyhold feel a bit more like home.

And it gave him someone else to talk to, from time to time. An excuse to leave the books he sifted through day in and day out.

Cullen was a good man, by Dorian's estimation.]

[dawnwillcome]

[With a grin, she nods.]

You aren't the only one to lament that fact, believe me. There was a man positioned near him all evening and one of the times I passed by, he made a move. Poor Cullen sounded absolutely shocked that anyone would ever think to grab his backside in public.

[serpentis]

[Dorian laughs at that, an honest laugh, and it takes him a few moments to recover.]

I ought not to be laughing at his misfortune, but the scene is definitely something.

[He looks around, looking past her into the ball room, and then looks back to her, his voice a little tight with worry.]

Have you seen Arhen, by chance? I...I had invited him, I was nearly certain he would be here...

[dawnwillcome]

I think he enjoyed the evening about as much as I did. Humans aren't very good at keeping their opinions to themselves.

[But then the mood is changing, and Jove's grin softens as she lays a hand on Dorian's arm.]

If he told you he'd be here, he will be. When the Herald of Andraste tells you to have faith, you had better listen to her.

[serpentis]

[Dorian gently pats the hand on his arm, and looks away, to distance himself from the closeness. It's odd, familial affection, and he feels something uncertain gnawing at this stomach. Odd, for a woman to be this close, to put her hand on him, and for it not to come with expectations.

Dorian looks back to her after a moment, scoffing.]

And here I'd thought you'd left that Herald business behind, Jove. Will you bring the teachings of Andraste to this moon, then?

[dawnwillcome]

[There are no expectations and there never will be. There had been flirting from the beginning, but once she had learned his preferences there had been no ill will between them even if she had teased him for leading her on. He was a friend, the dearest she had ever had, and he would remain that and only that. Even if there had been lingering feelings for him, they would have been entirely dashed once she learned exactly the lengths his father had once thought to go to change his son. The idea of being part of that, of somehow becoming the woman keeping Dorian screaming inside for the rest of his life, makes her sick.

She loves him, of course she does, but she loves him like she would if he were part of her clan. Perhaps it's that that brings out the elven term of endearment tonight.]

There are times it gives people hope, lethallin. Not wanting to bring it up and leaving it behind are two very different things.

[serpentis]

[He chuckles. If they're trading terms of endearment, and he's certain that is one (Jove speaks it so warmly), Dorian moves his arm, crooking hers around his, as he had for unfortunate girls his father wished him to court.

Only, this time, he meant it with fondness, and he gently reached out to touch her arm when it crooked in his.]

If only we all had your conviciton, consanguinea.

[dawnwillcome]

I don't mind sharing it, when I can.

[She covers Dorian's hand with her own, giving it a light squeeze.]

He'll be here. Maybe he just knows the anticipation will make everything sweeter when he does arrive.

[serpentis]

Ah, perhaps. Do the Dalish have a sense of what "fashionably late" is, or have I been teaching him my tricks, I wonder.

[Dorian takes her hand, giving a kiss to the back of it, and bowing hie head a bit. These were things he could never do with the women he father picked for him, but with Jove, affection was safe. She never asked for more of him than he could give, and truly, she was like the sister he'd never had.

Or, rather, if he had a sister, he could only hope she was like Jove.]

[dawnwillcome]

I'm aware of the meaning, so I would have to assume he is too.

[He looks so vulnerable like this, and while it's good that he's letting himself open up Jove can't help wishing it wasn't so difficult for him. She brings her free hand up to touch his cheek, leans her forehead against his.]

You're worrying too much, Dorian. Relax and just be yourself when he arrives, because he will.

[serpentis]

[Dorian closes his eyes, and he nods softly. Jove is always reassuring, and he kisses her forehead, chuckling softly.]

I don't suppose I could persuade you to have the room to myself tonight, could I?

[At least he asked. Well, it was less asking and more a forewarning.]

[dawnwillcome]

[Now she grins at him.]

Dorian, you're meeting a boy you like at a very fancy party and you've been all but courting him since he arrived. There's formal wear involved. I had no intention of going back to our room until well into tomorrow afternoon.

[serpentis]

[Dorian chuckles.]

You're far more wise than they give you credit for, Jove.

[dawnwillcome]

Whoever they are, they're in for a rude surprise.

[serpentis]

[He smiles.]

I look forward to more gossip with you when you return.