"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Dorian asked nervously. He wasn't often nervous, and letting such nervousness show was an even rarer event, but this was the Inquisitor. They'd had their differences, naturally, but the man was a rock and Dorian knew it.

"Relax, will you?" Arkaan Adaar said as he adjusted a few of the odds and ends of Dorian's outfit. "It's not like you two haven't been sneaking around for a while, anyway."

A rock with an attitude, Dorian reminded himself silently. "That is an entirely different affair and you know it. Don't snicker like that!" Dorian added, glaring up at the man in front of him.

Arkaan grinned. "Hey, you were the one who said the word affair. I didn't. Just saying."

Dorian groaned. "You are being of absolutely no help here, Inquisitor."

"True," Arkaan admitted as he moved around to stand behind Dorian to continue adjusting the outfit. "I just came here to taunt you and make sure you look absolutely perfect for your man. Because even if it's not a first impression, it's still a pretty important one, and I know you well enough to know that you want to make it a special one."

Dorian's mouth worked silently for a few moments, knowing just how well the man had nailed him, then tried to turn and glare at Arkaan anyway. "Fine. Just… don't tell anyone."

"Of course not," the Tal-Vashoth murmured.

"I do have a reputation to maintain, after all," Dorian insisted.

"Mhmm."

"As the best-dressed member of the Inquisition, naturally."

"I know of at least one person who might object to that statement, but tell you what - I'll reserve judgment on that until tomorrow," Arkaan replied blandly.

Suddenly suspicious, Dorian said, "What do you mean?" His eyes widened as a truly dreadful notion occurred to him. "Wait a minute… If you're in here with me… Who's helping Cullen?"

"This is the most ridiculous frippery I have ever worn," Cullen muttered as he looked down at himself.

"Trust me, Commander, there are far more ridiculous outfits in Orlais than could ever fill the ocean," Vivienne said in an amused tone. "You, however, are not wearing one of those outfits. You approached me because you wished to make a strong impression on the man, did you not?"

"Well, yes, but–"

"And I think we can agree that between the two of us, it is rather obvious who, in fact, understands how to make an impression through the adornment upon one's body, can we not?" she continued relentlessly.

Cullen sighed and nodded, though his fingers still itched with the urge to tug at a few dangling bits on the outfit. "I concede the point, my Lady," he said ruefully. "And I did come to you for a reason."

"Very good, my dear." Vivienne stepped forward and made a few adjustments to his outfit, then leaned back and looked up at his hair. "Normally I might suggest a slight alteration in your hair's styling," she smiled when Cullen looked a bit panicked, "but in this case, I think it lends a certain air of continuity from your standard manner of dress." She reached up and patted his cheek. "Now sit down, my dear. It's time for the makeup."

"The WHAT?" Cullen spluttered.

"Come on, Dorian, it's not that bad," Arkaan pointed out as the mage groaned.

"I thought I could rely on you, Inquisitor," Dorian scolded the man. "And yet you trusted Vivienne with this?"

"No, Cullen did. And I told her very firmly this was not the time to let Sera, Varric, or Iron Bull make any suggestions or get anywhere near the two of you."

"Thank the Maker for small blessings," Dorian muttered, then leaned closer to the mirror so he could carefully scrutinize his mustache - again. "And I request that you never tell her I said that."

"Naturally," Arkaan said with a grin. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Straightening, Dorian twisted and turned in front of the mirror. "This is ridiculous," he muttered. "I'm behaving as if I've never been out on a date before."

Arkaan's eyebrows rose. Given what he knew of the mage's history… "You mean you have?"

That gave Dorian pause. Had he? Certainly having a bit of fun in bed could hardly be considered a proper date, if Arkaan's courting of Cassandra were any indication to go by. Of course, Rielinus… He quashed that thought and looked at Arkaan. "No, you're right. I haven't. I've had a lot of sex, but half the time I never even knew their names."

A large hand landed on his shoulder, and he looked up into Arkaan's eyes. "Just like it was for me," Arkaan reminded him. "You'll do fine. Just remember the compliment him and treat him well. Oh, and don't forget the gift."

Dorian suddenly felt even more nervous, turning to look at himself in the mirror again to make sure none of it showed. "I hope he likes it."

"I am sure he will appreciate anything that you give him," Cassandra assured Cullen. "If for no other reason than it is from you." She had arrived only a minute ago to see how the preparations were proceeding, and now stood watching Vivienne perform the last of her ministrations on Cullen.

Cullen smiled, though he dared not look at Cassandra and risk Vivienne's rebuke for moving his head. Not after the last one. His hand roamed up to touch the little bulge of Dorian's present beneath his rather elaborate jacket. "Is that how it is with you and Adaar?"

There was a moment before Cassandra responded, but when she did, Cullen could hear the smile in her voice. "Yes and no. Yes, I adore what he gives me, but no, he is adept enough at selecting suitable tokens that it has never been a matter of appreciation only."

"He is a man of unexpected depth," Vivienne noted as she lightly brushed something along the length of Cullen's eyelid in small strokes. She'd been doing innumerable little strokes around his eyes and nose and forehead with any number of small brushes and powders for a while now, and Cullen was starting to get nervous. "For your sake, Cassandra dear, I am glad he understands the importance of keeping his job separate from his self." Before Cassandra could respond, Vivienne straightened and took Cullen's chin in her hand, tilting his head this way and that as she admired her handiwork. "There we are, my dear." She reached out and patted his cheek lightly. "Good luck."

"Thank you," Cullen replied. He itched to reach up and touch his face, but restrained himself as Vivienne smiled at him and walked out of Cullen's office.

Once they were alone, he stood and went to Cassandra. "I don't look bad, do I?"

Cassandra smiled widely. "You look perfectly handsome, Commander. I think it enough of a change that Dorian will find it particularly intriguing."

"Of all the times not to have a mirror..." Cullen muttered, then cast a speculative look at his breastplate, shining prettily on his armor stand, and wondered if it would be able to serve as a mirror. After a moment's further consideration, he dismissed the thought and turned back to Cassandra. "Is everything ready?"

Cassandra nodded. "On the northern ramparts, just as I told you. You asked me to help, and I have." Putting her hand on his arm, she turned him and began to propel him towards the door. "Have I ever given you any reason to doubt me?"

"Plenty of times," Dorian pointed out sternly. "You left me hanging in Redcliffe, went gallivanting into the Fade, and that doesn't even begin to touch what happened at the Ball. You really disappointed me there."

"Sorry," Arkaan said, sounding completely unapologetic.

"I mean, honestly, would it have been that difficult to find me some silk scarves? I was most stridently put out with you," Dorian added with a sniff.

"You going to stand there complaining, or finish getting ready?" the Inquisitor asked in a mild tone. "After all, he should be here any minute."

"I don't see why he has to come get me," Dorian complained with just a slight hint of peevishness.

"He asked you out. It's tradition. Now shut up and go get the present."

Clamping his mouth shut, he gave Arkaan a dark glare and went to fetch the present from where he'd laid it on the Inquisitor's desk. As his hand closed around the small bundle, a knock came at the door. Dorian spun around, trying to convince himself that his heart had not just sped up at the sound.

"Time for me to leave," Arkaan grinned, ignoring the fact that it was, in fact, his own suite that they were using. "Have fun, and I'd better not see either of you before dawn." With that, he marched down the steps and out of sight.

Dorian quickly slipped the gift into one of the many pockets which were a trademark of his sense of fashion no matter the occasion, and took a deep breath. He heard voices, Arkaan's deep bass and Cullen's smooth baritone, and licked his lips. Yes, he would know that voice anywhere, even across the main hall of Skyhold or the entire courtyard. Now if only he could...

He frowned slightly, brows drawing together. Could what? He wanted the evening to be perfect, wanted to be perfect for the man who he'd ever so slowly come to admit he perhaps liked quite a bit. Despite Arkaan's teasing, the affair really had been a long, gradual process of chess games, friendly philosophical debates, and a flirting that had never been rejected, even if it hadn't been returned until that first, utterly charming and completely unexpected kiss.

Raising his fingers to flutter along his lips at the memory, Dorian smiled. Their first kiss had been so spontaneously delightful that he could still feel the flutter in his heart, an indication of the quiet joy he'd felt. Surely a man like Cullen hadn't actually meant to kiss someone like him.

And then the kiss had happened again, and then again. Hidden in tucked away corners, or in moments during their chess matches when he could catch Dorian off-guard, the kisses grew bolder, and Cullen's smile grew less shy as his manner became more certain. It was a courtship unlike anything Dorian had ever experienced, and tonight... well... He took a breath as he heard footsteps climb the stairs.

Tonight he wanted to show Cullen what he had never experienced.