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

arhen lavellan (open and stuff!)

[noherald]

[This is really not his sort of thing, as he'd told Dorian when he was invited... but he'd also promised Dorian he would come, and so Arhen's followed through (with perhaps a bit more excitement than he'd ever admit to, and certainly more effort.)

Anyone who's met the elf before will probably recognize him without much effort, given his small stature and bright red hair, but he's dressed like a completely different person in comparison to the practical Dalish clothing he's clung to. His robes are green and gold fabric wrapped and layered in a semi-Greek fashion, his hair's been pulled into a nicer up-do than the usual ponytail he wears-- his ears are even decorated with delicate chained jewelry. In true personal fashion, though, he's found a way to forgo wearing shoes: they've been substituted with similar jewelry to the pieces adorning his ears, which is close enough to barefoot for his comfort.

And despite his apprehension, he actually seems... well, a little excited about the whole thing, green eyes bright and quick to smile. It's an almost unnaturally good mood, really, but he hardly feels like complaining; instead he'll be found all over the place, eager enough to catch up after arriving fashionably late to the party.]

I had no idea these could actually be something close to pleasant, did you? The Orlesians could learn a thing or two, nothing I saw back in Thedas was quite like this...

[parricida]

Not a fan of parties, hm? Or have you simply had some rather dire experiences with them?

[Arhen looks fantastic, dressed in greens and gold. This gala isn't his cup of tea, not at all-- but at least it looks good, thanks to his and Dorian's combined efforts.]

[noherald]

You could say that, yes.

[His nose wrinkles at the thought, but his expression is quick to smooth out. Thank you, malfunctions, sometimes you're a little helpful.]

My introduction to this sort of event wasn't too enjoyable, but if this had been the first one... keeping human politics out of it does much to improve it, I think.

[parricida]

Well, that can be said for almost anything. Politics is such a dreary business, I should think.

[He gestures out towards the floor.]

Going to dance?

[noherald]

It's a mess, if nothing else.

[Really, there should've been some sort of better system worked out by now- but nothing is perfect, is it.

Arhen's brows rise slightly at that gesture, and his smile widens just a bit.]

I may have considered it. Is that a question, or an invitation?

[parricida]

[He laughs softly.]

I wouldn't dare force a middle-aged man like myself on you.

[noherald]

[Well, now he's getting a slightly incredulous look in return.]

And how young do you think I am?

[...in all fairness, Arhen is still a young adult- but he is more than mature enough for that not to be an inappropriate offer, he's sure. Not that he intends to allow much more than that (he's here for Dorian's sake, after all), but he would rather like a bit of practice. Just to make sure he actually remembers those dancing lessons as well as he thinks he does.]

[parricida]

[A baby, really, compared to a fifty-odd year old man. Garak smirks and shakes his head.]

Oh, mid-twenties, I should imagine.

[noherald]

That's too young for you, is it.

[His tone is heavily skeptical, and he has to swallow the urge to be too defensive in response.]

I assure you, I have found time in twenty-four-odd years to learn how dancing works, if that's your concern.

[parricida]

Oh, hardly. I simply don't wish to sully your good reputation. But if you insist . . .

[He gives a short bow and offers a hand.]

[noherald]

[He can't help a short, bright laugh at that, shaking his head as he accepts that offered hand.]

My reputation is nothing to worry about, I promise you. I'm elven and a mage, it can't get any worse than that.

[Perhaps the same standards don't exist here, but they're what he's grown up with-- and they don't bother him too much, anyway.]

[parricida]

Oh, I don't know about that, my dear.

[He sets his hands carefully on his hip, along his shoulder, taking the lead.]

Now: tell me more about being a mage.

[noherald]

[Arhen follows easily enough-- he's every bit as graceful as the usual stereotypes about elves suggest, light on his feet and moving almost completely silently, save for the occasional faint jingle of jewelry.]

What do you want to know? It's a broad subject, I'm not sure I'd know where to begin.

[dawnwillcome]

[Guess who is all kinds of relieved to see Arhen here? It's definitely Jove, and it shows in her smile as she approaches and reaches out to put a friendly hand on his elbow.]

I knew you would come. Don't tell Dorian I told you, but he was quite worried he'd miss seeing you tonight.

[noherald]

He should know I wouldn't break that sort of promise.

[Should, but he knows well enough how Dorian had seen his chances when they first decided to be together; at home, he hadn't been fully aware until later, but at least now he knows to try to be more reassuring about it. Perhaps that's something he should work on more?..

Arhen manages a smile in return, though, placing his own hand on top of hers in a brief little gesture.]

...I'll admit, though, if it weren't for that? I might not have come. And wouldn't that have been a shame, this is so much nicer than the way Orlais does things.

[dawnwillcome]

Of course he should, but when does that ever actually stop him?

[And it's funny, in a way, that they're both here primarily for Dorian and wouldn't be under any other circumstances. Jove grins and settles in next to him, glad to finally have someone to talk to who will understand what a mess things in Halamshiral had been.]

If I never go to another Orlesian party, I'll die a happy elf. I'll never understand how people can live that way.