[closed] you cannot have me, I own myself

[eolasemah]

WHO: Sina, Nari, Beleth, Korrin, Araceli, Thranduil, others as specified in Notes
WHAT: The bonding ceremony of the Firsts of Clans Dahlasanor and Ashara (Siuona and Sorrellean, respectively)
WHEN: mid-Bloomingtide
WHERE: the Planasene Forest
NOTES: Usually only Dalish would be allowed, but amnesty is being granted to close, trusted friends of the bride, including outclan Ashara and Sabrae, should they choose to accept it. Upon the insistence of Clan Dahlasanor, unaffiliated city elves will also be welcomed as long as they aren't disruptive. (OOC note: if you're unsure and your dude wants to go, PM me)

The day starts out rainy and grey, never a promising sight for an outdoor ceremony. But the Dalish do most things outside, and everyone will likely be too busy partying to care about it after the bonding ritual itself, so the festivities are set to begin right on schedule.

A clearing has been chosen by Keeper Thalia of Clan Dahlasanor, and the words are to be spoken right at the edge of the forest, under the shelter of trees but still fully incorporating the flowers of the field. This is a place of some significance to Sina's clan, a symbol of their flight from the plains to the forest, and of their new, strengthening relationship to Clan Ashara.

The clearing and surrounding forest are otherwise littered with aravels and tents, a gathering of clans
one of which eagerly anticipates their joining. Keeper Thalia, an active participant in preparations,
has made it clear that she will be officiating the ceremony alongside Deheune; Dahlasanor is being welcomed, not absorbed.

Sina has been quietly nervous for the entirety of the journey from Kirkwall, but as is her tendency, she comports herself with poise and says little on the upcoming nuptials. She's not unhappy. It's her duty, she's proud to do it, and more than anything she's intensely excited to see her clan again.

And let's be real, the party afterward is going to be a rager.

Comments

[foxsays]

"I was trying to make a good impression," from her tone it's debatable if Araceli's sure she accomplished that or not but she shakes her hair back and away from her face, taking Korrin's hand instead. "Glad I didn't water my rum as much as I usually do either but I've eaten now or you might have spun me right off my feet."

No, she wouldn't have managed that. Araceli seldom gets that drunk and never in the company of people she doesn't know well or trust but she can pretend for the sake of pretending.

[gatheringstorm]

"'Trying', nothing. You're radiant, kadan. You always make a hell of an impression wherever you go." Maybe it's bias talking, but considering Araceli's silver tongue and infectious smile, Korrin doesn't think it a stretch at all. Araceli's force of personality will carry her far, and Korrin's already as besotted as she can possibly get.

As for spinning, that grin lingers. "You know I don't need much convincing to spin you around, if your stomach can handle it. You're so bloody light, I almost can't resist." She nearly does so now, but given the size disparity she's always careful about ensuring that Araceli is comfortable and consenting, in or out of bed.

[foxsays]

Araceli pulls a face, hidden from the view of onlookers by Korrin thankfully. Getting away from Kirkwall had been a better idea in theory. "Impressions go many ways," she settles on in the end because she doesn't want to spoil it. Maybe the move and all the work going along with it trying to make sure the best foot is put forward is wearing on her now.

"Well there's not much risk of a scandal in this dress." A little more modest than the usual fare but well considering what she prefers? Safest option. "Did Beleth tell you about where to go if we get carried away?" She asks, arm around Korrin as she relaxes, happy to let her take the lead.

[gatheringstorm]

"You say that like we can't conjure scandal out of thin air, just by existing." A human from beyond and an 'oxman'? The gossipmongers must love them. That face doesn't go unnoticed, of course. If anything, it has Korrin all the more determined to help Araceli relax for a while. She can't change the amount of work her kadan must endure back in Kirkwall, but that's all the more incentive to make this moment count. Feeling her kadan begin to relax, the Vashoth woman smiles as she spins them around.

"'If'? And no, but I assume you do and that's good enough for me. Even if I sweep you up in my arms, all you have to do is point the way." It's a tempting thought, and when they're done showing off here, she's ready to make that happen.

[foxsays]

Easy just to rest her head against Korrin's shoulder or as near as she can a moment. Korrin has all that comes with being looked upon as a Qunari no matter what she might say; how you define yourself tends to get lost when the mob howls.

The beat of the dance isn't familiar but Araceli's a veteran of taverns, she picks it up as she nods as best she can in the direction of one such corner. "Sweep me and you'll probably ruin yourself in Beleth's eyes, she didn't have a high opinion of people not controlling themselves." So do you want to let your shem girlfriend do the corrupting and drag you off into a dark corner where friends might see them sneaking away? Araceli probably has less to lose in Beleth's eyes.

[gatheringstorm]

"Pfft, Beleth's hardly one to talk about self-control when I've played Vashoth transport for her drunken ass time and again at the Herald's Rest." Korrin keeps her voice from carrying, not wanting to get her elven friend in trouble with her kin. But seriously, she's lost count of the times when Beleth has had one too many and needed a pair of strong shoulders to support her on the way back. Korrin herself isn't one to judge a little overindulging, but nor is she going to put up with hypocrisy either.

She flashes a smile as they find their rhythm, always enjoying how easily they fall into sync with each other. "But if you're that worried about my good name, I'm open to suggestions."

[foxsays]

The dance requires Araceli to lean in close, spin away then back again which lends itself to a particularly dramatic roll of the eyes. "Were it only the drinking then it wouldn't be such an issue. What else do people go off to dark corners to do? That's the whole point of a wedding like this in the end: making babies, celebrating a new union. That's the closest thing to a marriage most of my people have." If you don't have titles then most don't see the pressing need for any of it. The sea moves through them and the sea is witness to all.

However, this is a party and one where one or both of them aren't working. There are ideas in her head with the beat of the music only likely to swell. "How quiet do you think you can be? There's more noise than Kirkwall after all."

[gatheringstorm]

That dramatic eyeroll just causes that grin to reemerge; Korrin can't help it if she's in a trolling mood. Just slightly, though; she's not in the mood to sleep alone tonight. Not when there are ideas in her head as well, that won't go away thanks to what Araceli's doing to her with those legs and hips. Even as she's mesmerized, though, the Vashoth woman doesn't miss a beat. "Yeah, I know. It's the closest thing most of my people have, too. Far be it for me to go against tradition." As far as she's aware, her parents never did anything official but they never saw the need. They were together, and that's that. It's an example she's proud to follow.

"Hm...no armor, no staff getting in the way...I think I can manage quiet, just for you." True, Korrin's no rogue, but the noise from the celebration alone ought to provide an effective distraction. And she has plenty of incentive to make it work.

[foxsays]

Korrin did you know that Araceli basically encouraged Sina, on the day of her wedding, to agree to have a baby at some point then follow her heart (or her loins, whatever, you do you and do who you actually want to do.) The bad influence rifter shem leading the First away with wine then with her terrible ways. So why not complete the picture by perhaps getting caught at the wedding by someone patrolling or just 'passing by' because that's bound to happen. Not that Araceli cares. "There's an argumet to be made in a way that my parents are only partly my parents, since they were married to their duty and allowed the sea to move through them but that makes things more complicated and messy. Wouldn't be hilarious if it was Beleth's mother walking by?" Not so hilarious if someone gets hit with a spell or an arrow or something but Araceli has a less than stellar opinion of the Keeper.

"You're making it into a challenge, I've had a lot of practice sneaking around Castileos in and out of bedrooms and elsewhere." Really they'll both win, Araceli's smirk and low voice confirm that, but their neighbours back in Kirkwall will hate them if Araceli's tossed gauntlet is accepted.

[gatheringstorm]

Damn, Araceli. That comment about Beleth's mother nearly has Korrin messing up their rhythm, a burst of laughter escaping her as she draws her kadan in close again. "The woman with the stick up her arse? Either she'd try to pretend it never happened or we'd uninvited in a heartbeat and have to make a run for it. I bet none of them have seen a bare qunari ass before."

Hopefully, her magic is faster than their arrows, as she's rather fond of it.

"And I'm not hearing that as a complaint. Care to put all that practice to use, then?" Yeah, she sees that smirk and responds in kind.

[foxsays]

"I did speak with her, it was only polite to do so when I was allowed to attend and when both my mother and father raised me to greet my hosts." Araceli isn't going to let it be said she's impolite. (And even if she doesn't count herself a rifter, actions have consequences and she cannot escape how the world will see her, so making an at least decent impression here might one day impart a good impression for the rest.) "Help or no help, getting back into this dress doesn't happen in a hurry, if I'm the first rifter woman then that's another first for them. Two." Really, she would rather not be ejected from the wedding if only so she perhaps doesn't need to run unsupported, it's not a comfortable experience for a busty girl.

"Do we need to decide the stakes of the wager?"

[gatheringstorm]

No one ever accused Korrin of being overly polite, and she'd just as not have Deheune assume that she was trying to be intimidating with her height as sometimes happens. So until or unless the woman is right in front of her, the Vashoth is content to skip mutual acknowledgment. Besides, nothing will pull her away from Araceli's side now, not when she's becoming more distracted with every passing moment.

That question prompts a grin as she spins Araceli around. "If we're caught, I'll get you a replacement corset? Not like you'd have to twist my arm for that to happen, anyway."

[foxsays]

"Are there any seamstresses of note in Kirkwall?" Araceli has her doubts, shaking some of her hair out of her face since she left it down and loose for the most part today. Anything else seemed too fussy or it's the legacy of the parties she wears that sort of her to talking. If she misses Orlais for anything, it's the abundance of shops with good reputations as far as quality tailoring goes, and their willingness to serve members of the Inquisition.

"But that always seems like incentive to you, why do you think I unlace myself?"

[gatheringstorm]

"There have to be, right? Not everything those fancy noble ladies get can be from Orlais, they'd need some local stuff. But we could always make a trip to Val Royeaux, if that's what you want." Korrin likes Val Royeaux as much as she does Winter Palace soirees, which is to say not at all. That said, Araceli's desires have the power to send her even there.

"What's incentive to you, then? If you've something in mind, say it."

[foxsays]

"I have your measurements written down somewhere but at least three seamstresses in Val Royeaux and another one in Halamshiral have them too," Araceli replies smartly because she can't help it, she likes clothes and she understands the power in dressing a certain way. The measurements will turn up too, tucked inside one of the books or things she hasn't actually unpacked because she doesn't have anywhere to actually put things without them getting in the way.

Spinning and moving easily into a dip low enough her hair almost brushes the ground, she considers it. "I won't say anything once we have a place of our own for a whole week if you leave things wherever you like. One whole week."

[gatheringstorm]

Mention of her own measurements has Korrin letting out an amused huff; she doesn't protest the idea, exactly, but staying still for so long is usually torture to her. That and snooty seamstresses like before, but that's almost worth experiencing again, just to watch Araceli threaten them. It's a sight that still makes Korrin's heart skip a beat, just remembering it.

Korrin lets the dip linger long enough to slip in a kiss, just because she can. And that suggestion prompts her to raise an eyebrow. "A full week without even an eyeroll? You have yourself a deal, kadan." Because she likes uncluttered floors in theory, but sometimes you're bone-tired after fighting yet more horrors and only have energy to collapse on the bed. And sometimes there are other outlets for that energy, and then cleaning up can wait....

[foxsays]

Araceli deepens the kiss, nips Korrin's bottom lip before she pulls away because they're going to be slipping off sooner rather than later.

Life with her mother with space at a premium, trips on her father's ship then living in the small space she had until the palace with Lux likely to steal or chew if she didn't explicitly tell him not to, and Araceli will still take the time to tidy. To fold her clothes or hang them so they continue to sit right. "The only reminder are laces, you know Lux can't resist them but that's the only thing I'll say because he's a menace."