AN: Disclaimer for those on this story is meant to be a rivalmance of sorts but you've got a long wait. Also, I see Solas as the kinky sort in this story obviously but... Nope no warnings for you. Have fun.
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The return to Val Royeaux was complete with staying at a hotel, masks and attire for each of the party members which was essentially just green and with a leaf motif half masks that were very light weight for everyone and a green belt that went over their usual attire.
Except for Cassandra who had the green mask, a green chain link looking belt, and a dress of the deepest grays that was such a severe cut on anyone else it would have seemed austere. As it was with Cassandra's lean lines it made her look like she was still entirely capable of swinging a sword and there were fashionable boots to go with it, the dress only going to just below her knees in front. The boots looked armored but not -they were just with fabric over them- and the same with gloves to set off the loose bat wing style sleeves and showing a generous amount of collarbone, not cleavage.
She seemed rather smug at the rendering of Varric speechless.
"Where's shady lady bits?" Asked Sera who was entirely in black, also courtesy of Josephine, but all of it skin tight and with tiny little green bee's that Din'ara had embroidered along the side on the carriage ride over because the lady Montilyet was not risking losing the herald.
"Dorian is helping to get her ready."
"Pfft. Probably a good thing. I don't know about tyin all those laces." Sera agreed and Solas blinked as he looked over. "Laces?"
"Laces." Sera nodded again. "I really thought that Josie was gonna play up the outfit like Cassandra's an make em all matchy but it isn't bad. It's just..odd. Perfect for fruit bat."
"I think it's brilliant." Dorian exclaimed as he sauntered out in his usual style of garment only several times flashier. Literal flashes of light being magically wasted to enhance the garment. "Uncouth savage and fantasy for all those sordid little nobles. I wonder who her tailor is.."
Din'ara didn't make an entrance, or stomp, she just walked out with her usual bored expression before sighing soundlessly and at Sera's cackle, obediently turned around to show off..nothing and everything.
"Laces!" Sera hooted again because skin tight exact flesh tone fabric hugged Din'ara's skin but over it was embroidered leaves and vines looking haphazardly tied on so that unless you were within touching distance it seemed as if she was essentially, a good turn away from losing the foliage covering her. "Oh come off it, you're amused!" Sera accused and Din'ara's feral grin showed. Since her mask had the addition of the bottom looking like so many teeth, it made her grin venture into nightmarish territory. Josie had been healed just as swiftly as Din'ara had bruised her ribs in the ensuing hug. Despite all the stress she caused the Antivan understood her humor.
"Yes."
"...I feel like I should be scandalized but I know you aren't actually just in leaves tied on and naked beneath." Cassandra admitted, Varric though was snickering.
"You're gonna turn heads all right. Some may spin so fast they snap off."
Din'ara's response was a drawled "Can only hope."
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They invaded, was the best way to put it. Dorian was escorting Cassandra and his snide remarks had her actually holding back laughter as he was poking fun at the Orleisan frippery. Varric was walking next to Sera and positively glowering at Dorian's back as he waxed on about the many ways Cassandra could probably kill someone with her belt.
"Yer face is gonna sticks that way." Sera said with a grin, winking down at Varric. "He likes em with the dangly bits. Look he stares at the guys."
After that Varric was a little less prickly and back to his suave self. He may even have somehow blackmailed three people into sending coin to the inquisition.
Perhaps the most entertaining though was how entirely tight lipped Solas was, he had clearly not approved of the 'Dalish savage' that the group was playing up with Din'ara. Din'ara though if anything seemed to be having fun. If the endlessly feral grin and silent laughing was any indication. The nobles were entirely taken in, tittering about as she stalked with a warrior's movements and bared teeth more than smiled.
"You're supposed to be charming. You know, as an escort Solas." Dorian chided and then with a sigh had Din'ara's fingers wrapped around his own arm before the elven apostate knew what was happening. "Truly. Try not to bore the lovely Cassandra while we go be snarky and destroy a few reputations, sully ideas.."
"And how is that going to help matters?" Solas's tone was not pleased.
Of course this is when the Marquis attempted to cause a scene. Well, there was assuredly one but not as he planned. The moment he got too close Din'ara freed her hand from Dorian and stepped into the Marquis's personal space, trailed her fingers over his jaw, and the man dropped.
So did all conversation.
"Well my dear, while I completely applaud your making an entrance.." came the voice from the stairway.
"Seems you're the one planning an entrance." Din'ara's voice was fully healed when she replied, and Sera was snickering softly having seen Solas start. Really, she'd heard the herald threatening to talk since he expected otherwise back in Redcliffe. Why didn't anyone expect her to do things she said she would? Sera thought it was hilarious that people were given warnings and no one listened! That was entirely her sort of humor.
"Perhaps. It is my party." Vivienne crooned as she walked over. "Still, a corpse on my doorstep?"
"He is alive." Din'ara said and then tilted her head back, eyes wide behind the mask not in shock but an almost dangerous eagerness. A warrior about ready to strike. "Paralyzed. Helpless until I reverse it..but alive."
Cassandra's form stiffened even as Dorian mumbled under his breath. "How..not a flicker of mana.."
"Bold claim.." Vivienne reached out as if to adjust Din'ara's hair, having been left loose as it was striking enough in it's appearance but the elfess wasn't done setting rumors. She pretended to go as if to bite at Vivienne's fingers. "So wild!" But there was a smirk beneath the full lips as the enchantress nodded. "Danger and intrigue.."
"I bite." Din'ara smirked, her arms out suddenly with a controlled rippling of her muscles that drew attention to the false leaves, in a way that spoke time practicing with Josephine. "Both those who think they've lured me into traps, and allies who are too close for my benefit." A warning. A blatant one and her voice was shifting to a lower rougher tone, how swiftly her throat returned to it's 'natural' state but it only made the exotic wild nature of her statements all the more powerful. "Those who think me harmless learn otherwise. If too late for them."
"Indeed. How precious." Vivienne's lips were in a controlled smile of her own. "Well do return the Marquis to his..sniveling..state..shall you?" A challenge.
Not even a move of muscle from the herald and the man was scrambling up. "What foul magic was that!?"
Madame de Fer whirled though and with clever insults and demeanor that would shadow Kings once more stole the show. Din'ara watched in annoyance at all the pointless talking, the subtlety of the insults lost to her. Solas was at her side, looking straight at her for the first time since she'd come out in attire he could hardly approve of, demeaning to the parody of elves as it were. "What did you do?"
"Paralyzed him." She shrugged.
"You can only heal." Solas reminded her, and those eyes locked on his own, the feral grin directed at him.
"Healers know how and where to strike."
And damn it if that warning didn't make his ears pink.