One extremely early morning in Skyhold, the Inquisitor's inner circle and advisors gathered in the war room.
Dorian: does someone mind telling me why we are congregated here before the sun is even up? I'm ruined without my standard 8 hours of beauty sleep.
Vivienne: darling please, it take more than sleep to maintain beauty. In your case finding the right beholder.
Dorian: that....that was rather uncalled for....
Varric: (light laughter) relax, Sparkler, I think our Iron Lady here just isn't a morning person.
Sera: right and how are you so holly jolly and shite this early? Staying up late is all good, but once you've already load your head down and closed your eyes getting back up while the sun's still down just just getting up too early.
Cassandra: ugh, please. I think we are all agreed that it is too early for such petty squabbling.
Josephine: I didn't think our best people would be such sorry morning people. But I promise - I will try not to keep you all long.
Iron Bull: thank you, I've left two of the server girls hanging high and dry....I doubt they're happy about it.
Blackwall: ugh....we'll isn't that an interesting picture...one I could do without.
Solas: (enters the war room) alright, Seeker, the Inquisitor's still fast asleep. I think, for a while yet. I've enlisted some spirits of mischief to keep them busy in thier dreams.
Cole: (appears near the war table) they were dreaming of rabbits before. I thought that dream was better.
Sera: eeeh! No, you thing! Don't do that Poof "here I am out of nothing" thing. I am not awake enough and its too dark for you to be errie!
Josephine: (rubs timples)
Lelieana: speak now Josie or this will go nowhere fast.
Cullen: (rushes in) makers breath....I over slept, did I miss anything?
Varric: just our endearing banter. (Turns to Josephine) go on Ruffles. You have the floor.
Josephine: I don't want to keep everyone. So I will get right to it. The Inquisitor's birthday is with a few days. They've done so much, I think we should work together and do something special for them.
Solas: a worthy enough cause, but I am sure the Inquisitor doesn't require anything at all.
Sera: really? I'm up for that? Phffft! Ha right! Inky doesn't need anythin' like super spectacular. Cookies. I'm making Inky cookies.
Vivienne: poison, then.
Sera: no! Shows you, Inky likes cookies, even with gross raisins.
Iron Bull: I was thinking a nice, rough massage. Take out all those knots in the shoulders, there was a treatment the tamassrans used with steamed stones and wacking bushes of elfroot to the skin... works wonders for stress relief. And warming oil...
Cole: what does the oil do?
Iron Bull: it looks hot...
Cassandra: ugh. You're mind is only ever in one place...
Vivienne: down the latrines. I am gifting our dear Inquisitor a reservation at Orlais' best spa and a table for two at this new restaurant that has the best Ghislan wine.
Cullen: I've never seen the Inquisitor do anything so....fancy. I think a new set of armor would do nicely.
Blackwall: I agree, and new weapon couldn't hurt either. Something that feels nice in the hand and natural to weild.
Dorian: are you serious? That's not a gift, it's a reminder of "Oh look work. Work related things on my birthday" its awful.
Solas: this is going nowhere, it would seem.
Sera: shut it, Droopy Ears, I don't hear you offering up any ideas.
Iron Bull: she has a point...
Solas: (folds arms) I just feel the Inquisitor may be above material gifts. As it is, they ant for nothing.
Josephine: (sighs) I was thinking a nice party with those among the inquisition the Herald considers a friend. Food, drink and games.
Iron Bull: putting them in the spotlight, I think the Boss sees enough of that as it is. Something quieter is better suited.
Dorian: Bull might have been onto something. While not as....suggestive, a day of pampering might do our leader some good. But I agree - they don't strike me as one for a spa day. (Looks to Vivienne) with everything for two, it seems the day is more set up for yourself.
Vivienne: (glares towards Dorian)
Dorian: (raises hands defensively) it was merely an observation.
Lelieana: it would seem we are posed with a hard riddle to solve. What do you get the person who has or could have anything their heart desired?
Varric: (leaning casually against the wall.)
Cassandra: you are awfully quiet over there Varric. You're not helping much.
Varric: hm? Oh me? See I've already figured out what I am getting the Inquisitor, personally. I'm just here to help as a whole.
Dorian: and what exactly is it you are getting?
Varric: something I thought up with Chuckles. Odd, yes I know.
Sera: what? No fair! Smarties conspiring to out gift us.
Solas: not at all, that is why we are here helping with the group gift that Lady Ambassador wanted to try and arrange.
[Solas and Varric share a glance at each other, mischief in their eyes]
Josephine: maybe this was a poorly planned idea. I had a dream about planning the Herald's gift and thought it'd be a fun activity for everyone....
Lelieana: it is still a good idea, just would have been better if executed sooner than within a few days of the Inquisitor's actual birthday.
Cullen: (rubs his eyes and looks out the widow) the sun is out and rather high up... have we been at this that long?
Iron Bull: there's no way those servant girls have any feeling left in their wrists...
Vivienne: (delicately yawns) pardon me. But fine, fine and party it is. Seems the easiest. We make it small and not a big to do.
Blackwall: yes. Food, drink, good stories and a game of cards?
Sera: and we all sing happy birthday, yeah?
Varric: let's not put our beloved Inquisitor through that horror Sunshine.
Sera: fine suck out the fun.
Josephine: I'll make a cake, an old Antivan recipie. It's less flashy than ordering one from Val Royeaux.
Varric: great, leave the games to me. But - do we clear out the tavern or hold it else where?
Cole: (chuckles) they are dreaming of a game of wicked grace with two large nugs sitting at the table.
Solas: perhaps the tavern is best. It is away from the living quaters so the noise will not bother anyone. Easy enough to lock down. However - it will be sorely missed during the day.
Sera: you can't take away the little people's booze.
Cassandra: easy enough, we host the party at night.
Dorian: (yawns) good, good. May we go now? Dawn or not I intend to get a mite more sleep.
Cullen: I..should get to work actually.
Josephine: yes, meeting adjourned. Thank you everyone. Sorry for the poor timing...
Varric: I mean, not that I would know as I don't dream. But I'm pretty sure there is nothing wrong with listening to them - your dreams I mean.
Solas: indeed, dreams can be rather helpful in nature.
[ everyone leaves the War Room ]
Cole: (standing between Varric and Solas) that was a nice gift.
Solas: what do you get the person who could have anything their heart desires?
Varric: (chuckles) the one thing they forgot they needed.
Cole: a chance to sleep in.
Varric: (sighs) now we just need time diversions for three more days.
Solas: I think we "smarties" can manage.