Wintersend party! + closed

[bryces_pup]

Who: The DA cast and whoever they dragged along to this shingding
Broadcast: Nooooope
Action: Yuuuuuup
When: Tonight!

It's Wintersend! (Or roughly around the equivalent of when it would be back in Thedas. [Actually it's a bit late but whatever CLOSE ENOUGH]) Time to party! Riona found a small party hall to rent on Duotera, in an area that's a bit more reminiscent of early spring.

There are decorations everywhere. Don't worry guys, this isn't meant to be formal. This is just what happens when Riona gets to decorate unsupervised.

There are, of course, plenty of food and drinks. The food is mostly finger snacks, but there are also sandwiches and the like. As for the drinks: yes, they are mostly alcoholic, she knows how you folks roll.

As Wintersend is theater season, Riona compromises for the lack of actual theater with a rigged projector playing movies on the far wall. With a variety of genres running, there'll hopefully be something for everyone, and serves as a place for the more introverted to get away from the party for a bit.

And because it's Wintersend, that means presents. There's a separate table off to the side away from the food where people can place their presents for each other.

The goal is to have something for everyone, and to encourage everyone to have fun. Eat, drink, be merry and all that jazz!

((OOC: Separate starters for food table, present table, etc will be below!))

Comments

[whatisright]

Leilani is the sort of company he can handle. He offers her a slight softening at the corners of his eyes--the equivalent of a smile for him--when she sits down. He barely notices that she's painted her face with something and dressed in something fancy. He's never been one to pay attention to that sort of thing, regardless.

"Should I not be asking you that question?" he says. If he's recalling correctly, she's the one who was in a particularly bad state last they met. He was too, but he's been in a bad state for over a month, so he's not really counting last time as especially bad for him.

It doesn't escape him that she calls him lethallen, which he doesn't think she's ever done before, but then again, she also hasn't broken down crying on him before either. She's probably just feeling closer to him.

[veilstrike]

She settles beside him with ease, calm and comforted by being beside him. There’s something about his company that makes it easy to be near Justice no matter how shaken up she is with all the news she’s been given so suddenly, and despite his kindness she still feels some tickling regret. Leilani hadn’t really wanted to burden him with something so drastic, but... He had been there for her, and she wasn’t going to forget that, no more than she was going to forget their kisses.

“Not necessarily. I’m feeling much better now.” She’s not had any alcohol, for one, and she’s burying her feelings with an awkward kind of desperation. It’s much easier to focus on her fledgling feelings for Justice, the way she wants to reach out and hold him, be the one to take care of him instead of the reverse. Justice looks so sad, so lost, and she wants to kiss that away. “So how are you?”

Carefully, she reaches for his hand, offering her own palm up. Whatever he might need, she’s ready to offer it. If he wants to talk then she’ll listen to him. If he needs someone to kiss his blues away then she can do that too. While she might not be ready to dive nose first into romance, holding him and showing him affection is well within her limits.

[whatisright]

It's for the best. Justice isn't ready for anything romantic either, though for different reasons. Not that it would occur to him that her interest is anything less than friendly, with perhaps a small amount of sexual.

"I am pleased that you feel better." Justice doesn't know how to reach out for affection, but that's okay because she does the reaching for him. He takes her hand, squeezing it and letting the feeling of the Fade rush over him. He won't say that he's fine, because that would be a lie, but he's also not comfortable explaining his fragile state in public. He's all too aware of the presence of people in this party who would be pleased to see him gone.

"I have not been to a mortal holiday celebration before," Justice says instead, focusing on her hand.

[veilstrike]

What is clear is that they're both more interested in their friendship than anything else, and that's familiar waters for Leilani. She settles comfortably against Justice because there are few people she isn't comfortable with - and if there wasn't he would still be near the top of the list. Physicality has been something she has yearned for in the wake of being here alone, reaching for Dorian and hoping he'd reach back, and she finds comfort here, now.

"Sometimes you have a bad night, but it always gets better in the end." It's a messy situation, but there's no need to drag Justice down into it any more than she had already. There are clearly more important things for him to worry about and while she might not be able to get to the bottom of them she can be there to hold his hand, to offer support in a way that few other people might be comfortable with.

Humming, she smiles softly.

"There were are few at Skyhold. Nothing as comfortable as this, because we had to show our power, but a few. I think this is much better."

[whatisright]

When she leans against him, Justice wraps an arm around her shoulders, comfortable enough in his understanding of what she likes that he can dare that amount of affection.

It's cozy here, her leaning against him with people milling around them. It's not as comfortable as privacy, and Justice still isn't sure he wants to be here, but at least he's among friends.

"Do they always?" It's an honest question. Do things always get better? Justice isn't so sure.

"The grand balls that many people attend last longer in the Fade. They linger longer in more people's memories. I do not know if I would like them in reality, but I like this sort of party." Minus, of course, the awkwardness with Anders and the ever-present sense that there's a 50% chance of Fenris trying to kill him every time they get within twenty feet of each other.

[veilstrike]

Theres a part of her that worries about other people peeking in on them - seeing her, curled up with Justice, wondering about it, perhaps even questioning him - but the stronger part of herself doesn't care. She's never been shy with her affection and most of the people who know her here on the fleet are aware of that; anyone else doesn't matter as far as she's concerned. Let them look - let them see how contented she is.

They don't need to worry about idle conversation or filling in the silences, at least. They're comfortable with each other, and the words come naturally, even if Leilani pauses and tilts her head up, curious. She doesn't know the depth of what Justice has been going through, of course not, but it doesn't make her any less careful with him, any less concerned for his feelings.

"It takes a long time, in some cases," she admits, careful and soft. "And some days you wake up and wonder if you've ever healed at all. But it comes. Slowly, and surely." She smiles, though, reaching for his hand, wanting to trace his fingers with her own, an instinct borne of giving him the Fade.

"I like this party too. The ball at the Winter Palace was a wonderful occasion, but it would have been more fun with less formality and less people trying to murder each other, I think." She tilts her head, glancing up at Justice. "You might have enjoyed listening in. There was all sorts of gossip and feeling."

[whatisright]

She knows how to soothe him, and he's grateful. The Fade is a balm in a newly frightening and foreign world, and her words offer hope. Maybe forgetting isn't the only way to make pain go away. Maybe things will be better eventually. He doesn't know, but the mortal who can't forget her pain likely knows more about coping than he does.

"I hope you are right." He hopes that he will regain his certainty, one way or another. He hopes he doesn't always feel like this. He nestles his face in her hair, taking a breath only to breathe her in, all the comfort and affection she has for him. She doesn't make everything better, but she is a respite.

He thinks he would like to kiss her again right now, but he's noticed how weird mortals can get about public displays of intimacy. He doesn't want to overstep himself, especially when isn't sure if those kisses weren't a one-time thing.

"I believe I would have found much to do. I always seem to in the memories of these grand parties. Much injustice is bred beneath masks and in the whispers of nobility." He considers for a moment. "I doubt your Inquisition would have enjoyed having me there." They could kiss any kind of politics or deception they wanted to use goodbye with Justice running through the ball.

[veilstrike]

One of the issues she has, of course, is that one day her hand is going to be done. She doesn't know how long the Atroma can keep her going for, but she knows that Solas is going to rip the Anchor away from her and take her arm with it - will Justice still want to be around her? Will he hold her other hand as easily as he holds this one? She's not sure how willing she is to ask; she's afraid to know the answer. She trusts him, of course she does, but her own fear and uncertainty rules her more than she'd ever be comfortable admitting.

"I'd like to think so. If Cole was here he might be able to help a little more, but you'll just have to make do with me." But then Justice is leaning close, pressing her face against her, and she softens. Leilani wishes she was better at helping him, better with her words rather than the actions that come easy to her, but she's not. She's just not good enough.

Turning her head, she smiles, soft and fond. Anyone looking could probably see that she cares about him, but she doesn't care at all. Let people see how unique Justice is, how special he is, how brave and wonderful, coming here even when something is hanging over his shoulders.

"Just a little bit. I'll admit that I was busy trying to make sure that certain people weren't assassinated, but..." She scoffs, shaking her head and shifting, pushing herself up so she can look at Justice. "I'd have liked to have you there. I don't always care what the rest of the Inquisition thinks about my choices."

[whatisright]

Compassion may have been able to help. Any spirit inclined towards empathy may have been able to help. But Justice is the only spirit of his kind here, and he'd never thought he'd wish for the company of his own kind so much.

But he has Leilani, and he'd never take her company for granted. It doesn't occur to him to be embarrassed by her plain and open affection. He likes her, and she is good to him. What is there to be embarrassed of? "Do not speak of yourself as though you are a consolation prize."

Because she's not that to him, and he doesn't like to hear her spoken of like that.

At the way she looks at him, one corner of his mouth softens, an almost almost-smile. "I believe I would have enjoyed it if you were there. There would be work for me to do, and I know that your work would have been just as well."

[veilstrike]

As difficult as her relationship with Cole had been sometimes, he had also been a beacon. Their merry band was interchangeable, depending on what she needed, but it was always an event having Cole with her; he could see things she couldn't, and sometimes his conversations with the others were more than a little enlightening. Otherwise, it was Dorian and Iron Bull... And someone else who doesn't bear thinking of.

It makes her blink, though, her eyes flickering over him before she breathes out a soft noise and shifts, making herself more comfortable. It's tempting to lift her legs up and wrap her arms around him, to cuddle close and pretend as though they're something more than they are, but that wouldn't be fair on either of them. It's unjust, she thinks, to ask for more than he is willing or able to give.

"I wasn't saying that," it's offhand and soft, shaking her head. She doesn't feel like second best, not really, but she's also aware of the fact that she can't do the things that everyone else can. She's not capable, she's not completely aware of everything, but she tries; it's more than can be said for some people.

Leaning up, she nudges her head against him gently. "Of course. I'd never drag you to some place where you wouldn't have fun... Other than Crestwood. No one likes Crestwood."

[whatisright]

Justice nods slowly, eased by the fact she didn't mean it that way. No, maybe she won't be able to understand him the way that another spirit can, but he'll work with that. He can't expect any mortal to understand him like a spirit can, and he has accepted that that's just something he has to deal with outside of the Fade.

That doesn't mean he doesn't value his mortal friends. Far from it. They try, and that's more important than the effortless understanding another spirit can give.

"What makes Crestwood not fun?" He's imagining somewhere like the Blackmarsh, where the Veil is so sundered that not even mortals will live in the area anymore.

[veilstrike]

Leilani is well aware of her mortal failings - it's something that's been brought up time and time again, by Corypheus, by the Chantry, by her Clan... So many people had reminded her of the times she had failed, the times she had struggled, the times she had made a choice they entirely disagreed with, and she's learned to accept it. She cannot do everything and please everyone, no matter how much she might want to.

Breathing out, she finally relaxes, just a little, resting properly against him. She's learning to find what happiness she can here -- with Dorian, with Justice, with the others, making a space for herself here despite the ties that are calling her home.

"The Undead and the Mayor that drowned half the townsfolk. And it was raining constantly."

[whatisright]

Justice hums. It's that hum he makes when he's displeased by something, but he fully recognizes he can't do anything about it at the moment. "I hope the mayor was dealt justice. That seems like the sort of thing I would have occupied myself with." Possibly to the point where he wouldn't have paid much attention to the initial reason he was sent there.

He leans his face against her hair, keeping his arm snug around her. Her relaxation rubs off on him, and it's a nice feeling. He sees why mortals like physical contact so much.

"I enjoy rain, but rain was not kind to Kristoff's body. It was not pleasant for anyone when I was trapped in the rain for an extended period of time." After all, soggy rotting corpse smells even worse than regular rotting corpse.

[veilstrike]

"I put him on trial - if that counts as having justice dealt. It seemed like dealing justice to all kinds of people became my job, even if there was probably a king or something that might be better suited to doing it." Leilani shrugs, absently, considering the choices she made; the mayor was only one of them, and she never really felt comfortable. "I exiled him. I had limited options - give him to the Wardens, kill him, imprison him... I wasn't sure what the best choice was."

At least she has Justice now, and it's a hilarious thought. She had never been comfortable with being in charge of it in Skyhold, being the leader, but she was glad to meet a spirit of it here. He's a good person, beyond his virtue, and she respects who he is and how he's growing and shaping himself here on the fleet.

... And he makes her laugh, which helps, her nose wrinkling.

"I don't think anyone being trapped anywhere smells particularly good." Leaning up, she smiles, gentle and soft. "You should smell the Iron Bull after a week traipsing around the world. He reeked."

[whatisright]

Justice hums again in consideration. He doesn't know the full details about the case, so he can't say whether exile was harsh enough, but exile is undeniably a punishment. It's not as though he was allowed to get away with his crimes. "I trust your judgment. Sometimes there are many options for punishment, and one simply must do what they think is best."

Justice still has no idea how he makes her laugh, but he does, apparently. He should really try to figure that one out, because he likes it when she laughs, and it would be ideal to help her do it more often.

"Was the Iron Bull in a dead body?" One never knows, with how strange adventures in Thedas get.

[veilstrike]

"I'm glad someone does." Leilani scoffs quietly, settling down again. She loves her friends, dearly, but the amount that they sometimes complain or suggest when it comes to her choices and decisions about what to do with people and things can sometimes grate. She's meant to be the leader, the Inquisitor, and she respects their opinion and their advice, but... Sometimes it hurts, to think that maybe they don't trust her as much as they say.

Eyes closed, she breathes out, letting herself enjoy the comfort of being wrapped up with Justice. She doesn't care who sees or what they think; all that she can think about is how comfortable and happy she is.

"No, but he was a Qunari that was about seven feet taller and twice as wide as I am. When he smelled bad he smelled really bad."