[NYE Party] happy new year and lots of fun

[nascensibility]

Who: EVERYONE, but especially you!
Where: Wonderland Ballroom
When: New Year's Eve
Rating: PG - PG13 (will change if applicable)
Summary: New Year's Eve Party
The Story:

[ Previously in the month all residents received an invitation to a formal event: a black tie affair to ring in the New Year. The ballroom and adjacent areas are decked out for the party starting at eight o'clock sharp, meticulously planned and executed, glittering décor to match the no doubt glittering attire as music pours into the halls from the dance floor.

Bars flank each side, service for all manner of alcohol unless a minor requests something, and the primary setting stage features an enormous clock for the countdown. ]




[ Where will you be when the clock strikes midnight? ]

Comments

[morework]

[ Cullen gives a quiet laugh. ]

I know.

[ He wore antlers. And shrunk. And really never should have experienced any of these effects at all, let alone twice. So, truthfully, he is hardly one to talk.

His smile lingers, all the same. ]

We can make up for it tonight.

[bloodmagics]

[Hawke continues to grumble silently, though it's quickly wiped away by the sound of Cullen's laugh and his smile. Maker, his smile.]

And we're going to. [A beat.] I know you don't... enjoy these, so thank you.

[morework]

[ At the back of his mind he still remembers the room full of eyes that see them, and only that stops him from pulling Garrett into a kiss right then and there. He reaches for his hand instead, and laces their fingers together. ]

I'm with you. I'm enjoying myself just fine.

[ His gaze finally wanders from Garrett, and he takes in the room's new decorations. His eyes stop at the bar, and he nods towards it. ]

A bottle of apple cider for us?

[bloodmagics]

[Garrett would have preferred the kiss, but he knows how Cullen feels about highly visible displays of affection, and squeezes his hand lightly in return.]

Good. But we can leave whenever you want.

[You have that out, Cullen. Don't be afraid to use it. He follows Cullen's eyes to the bar and swallows thickly.]

Y-yeah. That sounds good. I'll wait here.

[morework]

I'll keep it in mind.

[ Cullen is well this evening. He doubts that he will need to excuse himself anytime soon. Still, it bears saying, because the comfort of having the option means a lot. His thumb draws a slow circle on the back of Garrett's hand. Then he heads for the bar.

...and is soon relieved that Garrett stayed behind. It takes three attempts to make the bar believe that hard cider is not what they are after. Finally he succeeds, and takes the right bottle back to Garrett. Sets their glasses down on a nearby table and pours, thoughts wandering. ]

...Did you receive invitations to events like this a lot, in Kirkwall?

[ Surely he must have, even aside from being the Champion. He lived in Hightown. Maker, he was- is technically a noble. That always seems blissfully easy to forget. ]

[bloodmagics]

[He doesn't actually want Cullen to leave, even if only for a moment, but when he does, he turns his gaze to the rest of the party. He spots Ben and Caleb, and makes a note of it.

When Cullen returns, he smiles -- warm, genuine, so full of love and it immediately makes a face.]

As many as you'd expect from nobles who suddenly have a new neighbour. [He scratches his chin.] Should be more once I actually get to spend time being the Champion.

[Since Wonderland has a sense of humour and pulled him back with all his fresh injuries.]

[morework]

[ Cullen laughs. ]

I'm sure you can't wait.

[ He hands Garrett one of the glasses. ]

First toast of the evening, would you like the honour?

[bloodmagics]

I'll find a way to drag you along, if I have to.

[You know if anybody is gonna find a way, it's Hawke. He takes the glass and stares at its contents for a moment.]

Mm, no. I think it's your turn, babe.

[morework]

[ He opens his mouth to reply, almost makes light of it, too. That it would take a miracle to make Knight-Commander Meredith grant him leave for such an event. The wounds of that time are healed, though the scars never will, not when he remembers that Garrett still lives it. Never when he remembers that Garrett still lives it, with a man who could not give him this. Worse. A man he would not wish it from in the first place.

He swallows, and raises his glass. ]

To- to the chance Wonderland has given us to be together.

[bloodmagics]

[He notices the pause, the look that covers his face. How could he not? Hawke regrets, immediately, and opens his own mouth to say something when Cullen covers himself.

He raises his own glass instead, and grins, earnest and bright.]

To the chance we have.

[Not to Wonderland. Not now.]

[morework]

[ He finds a way, he always does. Be it to free a city from Qunari siege, or to assuage fears Cullen has carried on his back for too long. Maker, when Garrett looks at him like that, suddenly he can barely even imagine that it could be any different. ]

...Don't try too hard with the Knight-Captain, all right? I'm a bad enough dancer as it is, you don't deserve to have the same inflicted on you in ceremonial templar armor.

[ Cullen swallows dry, and quickly puts his glass to his lips. ]

[bloodmagics]

[Hawke, unfortunately, had been taking a sip when Cullen went and said that so he almost chokes on it. Because --]

Okay -- [A small cough.] but picture it, Cullen. You, in full ceremonial templar armour. Me, in full mage regalia with a staff strapped to my back, dancing right in the middle of the Gallows.

[morework]

[ Cullen chuckles. Watches Garrett's haphazard attempts at taking a drink with a grin. Cullen... closes his eyes, and pictures the words into reality. Pictures them dancing, unafraid, in a place and time they had every reason to be (for different reasons, mind, but all the same). Cullen opens his eyes, smiling still. Sadly. ]

Do you suppose there's a world where it happened? That-- (That Garrett could see past everything he was. That Cullen could shed his anger and fear, before it did more harm than good. That-- That things were simpler. Kinder. He doesn't know. ] That we were together?

[bloodmagics]

[Hawke can definitely see the sadness in that smile and it makes him frown. As he's about to ask what's up, Cullen answers the question before he can.]

I think, [he starts, cupping Cullen's cheek with his hand.] that there are a lot of worlds where it happened. Maybe even one where we met long before Kirkwall and I seduced you away from the Templars.