Shalini considers herself and Vivienne as different as night and day, yet a strong friendship has formed between the two women, and it's not often one of them is seen without the other.

Especially now, when the ball at the Winter Palace is closing in, and Vivienne uses whatever means necessary to turn Shalini into a woman worthy of awe.

Cloths are purchased from Val Royeaux, measurements are taken, jewellery is tried on.

Shalini has never felt more like a doll in her life.

oOo

"Rich emerald green. Low cut. Corset, to bring about your features. Gold accessories!" Vivienne walks in circles around the Inquisitor, a finger over her mouth as she contemplates their options. "Or perhaps that lovely red silk, goes well with your markings. Long sleeves, a full drape."
In the meantime, all the Herald does is sitting on the bed, looking absolutely lost.

Shalini really should dress better, Vivienne thinks. It's all about making impressions, to make people look and notice. And yet her friend insists on keep walking around in those rags she calls clothes and, she shudders, barefoot.

This ball is her chance.

"You're putting a lot of thought into this." Shalini remarks and shifts uncertainly. "Is it really necessary? Won't I wear the same as the others?

"The same as the others?" Vivienne repeats slowly, before she smiles viciously. "My dear, you're just not any other. You are the Inquisitor! The crown! You will enter the ballroom and turn heads!" She takes Shalini's hands and pulls her up. "Now, your hair."

oOo

When the fateful evening at last arrives, both Josephine and Vivienne is by the Inquisitor's side, flocking around her like a pair of hens. Pulling there, adjusting here.

Josephine is pretty sure that their leader never wants to attend another ball after this one.

"You look lovely, your Grace." She smiles and gives Shalini's hand a firm squeeze.

"Of course she does, my dear." Vivienne remarks and takes her other hand to spin her around. "Everyone will want to get to know you, you should expect quite many dances."

Shalini only grunts at that, her fingers fumbling once she has control over her balance again. Josephine puts a hand on her shoulder and gestures for the door.

"Shall we?"

They lead her down to the main hall, both holding her arms. She's never walked in heels before, she says, and so they bring her own shoes just in case.

The walk into the hall and Vivienne puts on a proud smile when she brings forth Shalini.

"Behold." She says and spins her around again. "Your Inquisitor."

The commander and the spymaster are both there, as well as Seeker Pentaghast. Both she and Cullen gives her an appreciative nod, while Leliana hides a warm smile behind her hand.

But it's Iron Bull's reaction that Josephine notices the most. The usually so talkative mercenary leader seems to be completely at a loss for words, simply staring, his mouth a little slack.

Shalini stares back at him, and the moment seems to drag on forever until Vivienne clears her throat and Bull finally seems to snap out of it. He gives her a grin and folds his arms.

"Looking good, Kadan." He rumbles and gives her a nod, the grin never fading. She smiles back warmly and looks down at her dress, dark red silk with thick golden gauntlets around her wrists and neck, with a black corset. Low cut, just like Vivienne said.

"Thank you." She says and then walks over to him, slowly dragging a hand over his clad chest. "You don't look too bad either."

Then she takes a hold of his arm and proudly heads for the door.

oOo

"You look absolutely stunning, darling." Vivienne says when Shalini makes her way over to her by the small tables. "Truly, what would you do without me?"

"Walk around in rags?" Shalini playfully replies, which earns her a triumphant smile.

"Indeed." She muses and wraps her arm around her own. "Let's walk together, it's unbelievably dreary standing on the same spot for too long."

Shalini can't really say anything against it, as she simply gets dragged along. They stride out to the main hall, some of the people there bowing, mumbling "Madame de Fer" and "Inquisitor." Vivienne vaguely nods back but pays them no further mind, while Shalini desperately tries to greet all of them back. A group of younger ones eyes her approvingly and the Grand Enchanter tugs her along when she notices her discomfort.

"I would not be surprised if almost every noble here asks you to dance tonight, my dear." She says when they enter another room. "You do remember the steps I hope?"

A heavy exhaustion claims the Herald's mind, and she tilts her head to the side and grunts lightly.

"Will I really have time to dance?" She asks.

"Why, of course!" Vivienne looks absolutely alarmed. "This is an ample opportunity! It would be foolish to waste it."

Shalini only sighs at that, and nods.. Vivienne gives her a long look, before she sighs too and pats her arm.

"At least one dance, alright?" She asks, a small smile on her lips. "Promise me that, darling."

oOo

"Any interest in a dance?"

Iron Bull looks at her for a long time before a chuckle escapes him.

"Oh, shit. The nobles would love that!" He laughs. "Can you imagine Josephine's face, trying to explain that we were..." His words die out quickly when he sees Shalini staring at him, her face a quiet and cracked mask. "Wait, were you serious?"

Before she can give him her affirmative, he straightens up and seems at once a lot more nervous than before, a sort of eagerness clouding his voice.

"Because if so, then yeah! Absolutely." He clears his throat. "I mean, once we stop the assassins and all that..."

His awkwardness awakens a warmth in her chest, and she smiles up at him.

"Good, I'll hold you to that." She discreetly takes his hand and gives it an affectionate squeeze, her eyes never leaving his. "I'll talk to you later Bull."

"Yeah." His playful demeanour is back in place and he gives her a confident nod. "I'll just stay here and eat."

oOo

If Vivienne had known that Shalini would have had to run around and fight at the end of the night, she's still pretty sure that the Grand Enchanter would have insisted on her wearing a dress.

As of now, running and fighting in one isn't quite as hard as she had first thought. Though the reason for that may be because she so far hasn't had to engage in close combat...and maybe because she's not wearing heels anymore.

Then the enemy escapes and the only way after is through the window and down.

"Great." Shalini says and gathers up the long cloth around her. "Here we go..."

oOo

Shalini doesn't think that she has been more relieved than now when she hears Bull walk out beside her after Morrigan's departure. She vaguely hears what he has to say about the cheesedip, and smiles faintly when he leans down next to her.

"How ya doing, Kadan?" He asks and gently bumps her shoulder. She smiles again and shrugs.

"Just tired." She says. "Tonight has been...very long."

He hums and leans back a bit.

"Least we got to the end of it alive. That's more than some can say."

"True." She gives him a bitter chuckle and smiles lightly, picking at her gauntlets. He smirks back and bumps her shoulder again.

"Never thought I would get to see someone in a dress beat the shit out of someone." He leans in and presses his face against her neck. "Made my blood pumping."

That brings her out of it a bit and she snorts and punches him in the chest.

"What, you want to lift up my skirts and bend me over?" She asks, her voice sultry and playful.

"Something like that." He breathes up her neck and jaw, earning him a pleased sigh.

"I'm pretty sure they would throw us out and never let us return." She whispers. "Even if we did save the Empress."

He laughs at that and leaves her neck alone, much to her disappointment, even if she knows she's right.

"We can't have that, can we?" He muses. "We always have your room later..."

"That we have." She smirks. "Just promise to be careful with the dress, and I'll let you do whatever you want once we're back..."

Bull only smiles at that, but the look he's giving her shows a hunger she knows all too well. The urge to head home suddenly increases tenfold.

"Cullen's giving orders now." He says and smirks. "We're just about good here."
An almost childlike glee fills her and she's just about to straighten up and head for the door in when he stops her.

"But first-" He starts and she stops and leans back, a questioning look on her face. "The music's finally got enough of a beat to dance to." He bows a little and holds up his arm. "I did promise you, Kadan."

Right, the dance. Shalini's heart skips a beat and she can feel her cheeks heat up. In the rush of things, she'd completely forgotten all about it. But he hadn't. Filled with a glowing warmth, she gives him a broad smile and adjusts her gauntlets before taking his arm.

"I'd love to."