driftfleet | Wintersend party! + closed

Entry tags:

Wintersend party! + closed

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!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"She understands what I say." Justice narrows his eyes at the cat in question, even as Riona takes Loyalty into her arms. "She simply does not pay heed."

Loyalty flops in Riona's arms, purring up a storm like she either doesn't understand the threat or doesn't take it seriously, rubbing her head against Riona's neck.

"Cats can pick up on tone of voice, as can dogs, but she doesn't know your words." Riona scratches the cat's ears, huffing out a laugh as she rubs against her. "Oh, you're a very cute little kitty, even if you're rather naughty." She glances up at Justice. "Take my word for it: talk to Anders about how to handle cats. He loves them and has a whole herd back home. If anyone knows how to get her to behave better, it'd be him."

"She knows exactly what she is doing," Justice says, narrowing his eyes as the kitten starts purring louder at the ear scritches. "She has a manipulative side. Do not let her fool you."

At the mention of Anders, the corners of Justice's mouth tighten, the equivalent of a grimace. "I am uncertain if he would welcome my company at the moment." Justice wants to talk to Anders. He wants to know more about what happened, to clear the air, to talk about what happens now... but he also has no idea how to navigate the feelings of anxiety that gives him, and he's noticed how thoroughly Anders has been avoiding him at this party. Perhaps he's been mistaken, and Anders doesn't wish to spend time with him any longer after everything that happened. Justice wouldn't blame him for it.

Okay, at some point they're going to need to sit down and properly talk about how animals function. Which is very different from mortals. But now's not the time for that. "Cats can be sneaky little creatures, it's true, but they can be very sweet, too. And she's very much one." Riona's well aware the cat's sucking up to her and playing innocent for the earlier meat incidents. But it's hard to resist that purr, so she obliges.

...that's not what she was hoping to hear, but it does confirm her suspicions. Riona sighs. "That's why he's been sulking, then. Justice, I can promise you, he wants to talk to you. But he likely doesn't know how, or if you want to." Anders can be an emotional blockhead at times, and she knows Justice has been struggling, at best, with dealing with all of this. "When there's a - this is oversimplifying it, but let's call it a disagreement. You got upset and angry. When that happens, often times the other party in a disagreement waits for the person who was angry to come to them first, as they're not sure if that person is still angry and needs more time." As she says this, she plans on talking to Anders and giving him a swift proverbial kick in the rear to get him going.

Justice squints at Loyalty. He's onto her game, even if Riona is taken by her wiles.

But Anders is a much more important topic of discussion, one that Justice doesn't know what to do with. It's important to talk about, but it's painful too, and he's not used to the necessary thing hurting so much.

"He has been avoiding me. If he is waiting to see if I am ready to speak to him, why is he taking pains so that I do not speak to him?" He can understand that Anders might be waiting for him to make the first move--after all, he'd said that he would tell Anders of his ultimate decision--but he doesn't understand why Anders seems to be doing his best to keep from speaking with him. Unless, of course, Anders doesn't want to talk to him.

Because it's Anders, she wants to say, and he avoids confronting his emotions and what's upsetting him at all costs, even to the point of self-sabotage. But that's a bit hard to parse to a spirit still learning the ins and outs of mortals and their emotions.

"Some people - like Anders - find it difficult to properly confront what they're feeling. It's painful, and so they avoid it, even if they shouldn't." Too many people do it. Even herself, at times. "Plus, I know he feels immensely guilty about what happened to you. Ten to one, he feels like he doesn't deserve your friendship and that you're better off without him around." While Anders had matured a lot in the intervening years, so much of his confidence dissolved. Now, there's just a pit of self doubt and loathing. Riona's not quite sure how to deal with it, sometimes.

Justice frowns at the ground, trying to process what she's telling him. Anders had spoken of his guilt when he revealed their future, but Justice hadn't really taken the time to process that with all the other information he was learning.

"He has nothing to be guilty for. He is mortal, and mortals feel rage. If I could not endure that without corruption, that was my failing, not his."

Justice doesn't understand why Anders would feel guilty for what happened to Justice. It's horrible, but it happened because Justice was weak, not because Anders wronged him.

He can tentatively understand avoiding sources of pain. He doesn't understand why Anders feels guilty, though.

Riona shakes her head. "His anger influenced you, corrupted you. While it's not entirely his fault, it's not all on you, either." Like she's said before, they're both to blame, and both equally the victim as well. "You merged with him to save his life, and I think he feels like he dragged you down with him."

She sighs. "But this is really a conversation you need to be having with him. I don't want to speak entirely for him."

Justice shakes his head, still not quite understanding but realizing how ineffective it is to try arguing with Riona against Anders' perspective.

"I do not know what to say."

Justice promised Anders an answer to a question that Justice is beginning to think he may never have an answer to. It seems unfair to hurt him more after hurting him so much, and Justice doesn't know how to talk to him without hurting him more. He still wonders if he may have hurt Riona more by talking to her.

"I do not wish to harm him more than I have already."

"There's nothing you can say to me, because I'm not the one you need to be talking to." They had their talk, and they found their own way to move forward with their friendship and start to hopefully heal from the damage inflicted. Now Justice and Anders need to figure that out for their own relationship.

"Silence will only hurt him. And yes, there's a chance words will as well, but at least it's an attempt at progress. Saying nothing to each other won't help anything." Better to at least try than to do nothing. She sincerely hopes he feels the same way, too.

She makes sound points. Justice stares at the ground, frowning as he thinks. A part of him feels ashamed to even try talking to Anders after everything he's done--or will do, as the case may be. He doesn't deserve to speak to Anders.

But logical or not, his silence may be hurting Anders, and if that's the case, he owes it to Anders to try to talk to him. He just... doesn't know what to say.

"I will think on it." Justice's eyes dart around the room. "But I do not wish to have this conversation with him here." Justice isn't comfortable here. He half expects Fenris to attack him if he gets too close, and while he and Wolfe may have made strides in understanding, he still doesn't want Wolfe around while Justice and Anders work this out. Frankly, Justice would prefer if no one else were around while they work it out.

At least she's got him considering it. For now, that'll have to be enough. If she can get Anders to agree to it, then she's confident they'll talk it out. Of course, Anders is as stubborn as anyone, so it might be quite an uphill battle.

"No, not here. When you've had time to think on it, and have privacy." Even she would have no right to eavesdrop, as much as a part of her wants to. To ensure it goes okay, of course. ...and maybe curiosity, but can you blame her? "A party's not meant for such serious conversations anyway. It's supposed to be for fun and mingling with good company." She elbows him gently. "And speaking of... Leilani and I were chatting earlier..." Will he get what she's hinting at? Probably not, but worth a shot.

Justice's thoughts are still lingering on Anders, wondering at what he'd even say or do when he's already apologized and apologies have proven wholly inadequate, but Riona changes the topic and he puts effort into following her line of thought. He wants things to get better between them. He wants to go back to some semblance of normalcy.

"Oh?" He doesn't actually know why Riona would bring up Leilani, unless Leilani had said something significant. "Did she say something you wish to share?"

...Someone doesn't realize exactly how rude it is to not tell his friends about juicy developments in his sex life.

Siiiigh. Should have moved up the Romance 101 lessons. If she had any idea he'd be kissing women and getting to second base so soon, she would have.

"Oh, just the little fact that you two kissed and got a bit handsy with each other." She whaps him lightly on the arm. "Justice! Why didn't you tell me? You had your first kiss! That's huge!"

Wait, that's what she's worked up about? Justice is a little surprised that Riona cares, but he's given up on accurately predicting what humans care about.

"Is it?" He's not sure if it feels huge or not. It's definitely something new, something he's not sure how to deal with, but he does not have the emotional energy right now to agonize over it. "I did not tell you because it did not occur to me that you would wish to know. I was under the impression that mortals are embarrassed by discussions of sexuality."

After all, Anders nearly had a stroke at the thought that he might possibly need to explain sex to Justice. Any time Justice brings it up incidentally, mortals seem to cringe and try to change the topic. When Justice interrupts sex, even to warn the couple in question about an asteroid coming to destroy their planet, he's rebuked and told to be more careful. He was trying to be tactful.

But he's been wishing to talk to someone about this since it happened, so maybe it's for the best she brought it up.

"Mortals tend to be embarrassed by talking about the act of sex explicitly. Kissing, not so much. That's not necessarily a part of sex. And it's something of a milestone! Everyone remembers their first kiss, good or bad."

She beams, nudging him again. "So, tell me. What did you think? What led up to it? I want details~"

Justice isn't even certain that this was his first kiss, considering how much he's forgotten in the past, but he chooses not to say that. He thinks that Riona doesn't like it when he mentions forgetting.

"I thought it was... soft. I did not expect that." Maybe not the word most people would use, but that was the first thing he noticed. "I had accompanied her while she was receiving her tattoo, and she was recovering. She was going to put a shirt on for my benefit, but it would have risked damaging the tattoo. I told her that I do not care about a mortal's state of dress, so she elected to leave it off."

It has occurred to Justice since that she may have considered this an intimate gesture. Mortals are sensitive about nakedness, and Justice still sometimes forgets that that sensitivity extends to him.

"She seemed upset by something, but I could not divine what and it seemed to embarrass her when I asked." Justice still hasn't figured that one out.

She smiles as she listens. Now she regrets not talking to him about romance and physical intimacy sooner, but she never expected it would crop up so soon. Though, they DID make him ridiculously attractive. Their plan worked almost too well, it seems.

"Lips are soft, yes, and so is a woman in certain places." Cue cheeky grin. It's almost funny to think about Justice in a room alone with a half naked Leilani, because Riona can easily imagine his tone and how indifferent he would be to her being naked.

...ahhhh.

"Do you remember exactly what you said to her, when she tried to get dressed?"

"Yes, I noticed that breasts are quite soft as well."

Justice says is absently as an afterthought, and he has to think for a moment to remember exactly what he said to her. "She asked me if I would be uncomfortable, and I said no, and asked if I was supposed to be. She said that some people might be, but not me. She wished to lie down, and I asked if she wished me to leave, and she said no. She said that she would not mind my company and suggested we lie together on the bed, and I agreed. She was displeased by something, but she was flustered when I asked why."

"Oh, did you kiss those, too?" It's tempting to tease him and call him naughty playfully, but he'd take it literally, and then she'd have to backtrack and explain that as well. Not worth it, in the end.

"I take it you didn't have much of a reaction to her being naked?" This is mostly guesswork, but Riona's not sure what else would have made her upset. "Logically, I'm sure Leilani understood why you weren't all that... fazed by the sight of her naked. Emotionally, though, it might have felt a bit... deflating. When you're naked with someone like that, in such an intimate way, people can get a little self-conscious about their naked appearance. We hope the other person finds us attractive. Usually people will have a visible reaction if they do find the naked person attractive. Perhaps she maybe hoped you'd have such a reaction." She shrugs a little. "I'll admit, it's conjecture, but it's my best guess."

"No, only touched." Riona knows him well. He would absolutely take it literally.

Justice considers what Riona tells him with a frown. Leilani might have been unhappy because he hadn't visibly reacted to her nakedness? It doesn't really make sense to Justice, but he knows that a lot of important mortal things don't make sense to him.

"I expected her to look like a naked female elf without her clothes. She did. I did not see anything in particular to react to. It is not bodies that I am attracted to." It's not naked breasts or hips he finds alluring. It's the nobility with which people conduct themselves, the kindness they extend, and the presence that they exude with their mere existence.

Although he supposes he does like the unique color of Leilani's eyes to be considered 'attracted.' "Am I meant to behave differently than I did?"

"If you feel comfortable with it next time, try kissing them. Some free advice from a woman." Breasts are grand fun.

"You're not 'meant' to do anything. Most mortals find the naked form attractive, though it can vary. Some are more attracted to skinnier physiques, while others like curvier bodies." Justice may very well never find the naked form attractive. Understandable, but kind of a shame. The mortal body's a beautiful thing. "Like I said, it's conjecture. Maybe in time you can bring it up again and ask, when she's less self-conscious."

Justice nods, frowning in thought. "Very well. I shall keep that in mind. Thank you." He thinks he'd enjoy kissing them, and any advice is welcome.

Justice considers what Riona tells him. Perhaps it would be worth bringing up later, though he's uncertain if he has the ability to do so without embarrassing Leilani again. It might be worth the effort regardless.

"She stopped me, though she wished for more. I am uncertain if she will choose to pursue any further physical activity with me." Maybe it was because Justice didn't react enough? She said he hadn't done anything wrong, and she was honest, but Justice is still confused about why Leilani stopped them.

...ah, that. Now that Riona has a fair bit more solid insight into. "If she chooses to, I couldn't say, but I don't think it'll have anything to do with why she didn't let things continue." She's really glad Leilani stopped things from going much further. Sex isn't something one should hurtle themselves at, and especially when one is emotionally vulnerable and fraught. "Being intimate with someone, especially what is your first time - or in your case the first time you can remember - should be taken slowly." And this is one of those pesky mortal things that's a bit hard to explain. "Take it from someone who rushed into it in her younger years. I wish I hadn't, looking back." A pause. "And no, I don't mean Alistair. He wasn't the first person I was intimate with."

"Why not?"

Justice is listening carefully, both to what she says and what she thinks, but he still doesn't quite understand the reasoning.

"Many mortals rush into sex. Why would being slower about it be better?" It's an honest question. Sex is a very fundamental process for mortals, nearly as fundamental as sleeping and eating, and yet there are not as many unspoken factors to eating or sleeping as there seems to be with sex.

Wintersend party! + closed

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