[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 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.