Ghost Story

[Carver Amell]

"it will be--"

"I'd prefer separate." Marianne cuts in.

"Safer together. Let's move it."

[Aveline Vallen]

"Marianne..." Aveline sighs softly. "I'll be standing Vigil all night."

[GamesMaster]

"I don't care, I don't want to sleep in the same room as a kinslayer," she snaps. 

[Carver Amell]

Carver flinches. "We'll talk."

[Varric]

"Tell you three what. I'm going to go in and get the guest room freshened up. You three have a nice family chat." With smooth haste, the dwarf gets the fuck out of there.

[GamesMaster]

The ensuing conversation quickly devolves into a shouting match; at the end of it, Marianne is no less disgusted with her father's lies, his actions, or his decision to conceal them from her, but Carver's worn out and looks to have aged a decade. Marianne decides to sleep on the couch in the living room, refusing to share a room, and Aveline decides to sit vigil in the living room as well, to protect her.

The next morning, after breakfast, Varric finds his way to the ritual room once more...

[Varric]

Although he suspects he could skip a lot of the normal requirements, the traditional forms and, well, ritual of a summoning given his intended subject, Varric does no such thing. He had skipped dinner and breakfast to show dedication to a goal. He had washed himself with cold water and salt to show purity of purpose. He had clothed himself in a cotton robe he had harvested, spun and woven himself (though not without guidance from an expert) to show a willingness to work. Careful lines and angles for diligence and care. Expensive candles, rich with sacred herbs, for an offering of respect and service.

A handful of his own blood, shed with the edge of fine parchment, to show sacrifice. 

"This-One-Has-Questions," he finishes with badly controlled anticipation, amused despite himself at how perfect ne's name is as the finale for the summoning of an Alydrean tulwath.

[Helene Dakesh]

A flash of light, a handful of blue sparkles, and This-One-Has-Questions-Who-Was-Helene appears, grinning broadly. Ne rushes up to the edge of the circle, waiting for him to break the circle before embracing Varric with a bold, assertive kiss. "Missed you."

[Varric]

Blinking and a touch dazed by the kiss, Varric stares down at nem. "You're more assertive," he blurts out.

[Helene Dakesh]

"I am more myself. You have no idea what it's like. It is as though the missing pieces are fulfilled now." Helene smiles, a touch more shyly. "Is it bad?"

[Varric]

"Different. New." He smirks a little at nem. "Been on a big 'different' kick of late." Without warning, he lifts Helene up by nir waist and kisses nem soundly.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene giggles as ne pulls back, blushing a little in shades of cerulean. "So. What didst thou need of me?"

[Varric]

Moving towards a chair he'd set nearby, he sits down. Of course, he doesn't set nem down first, so Helene ends up on his lap. "Marian," he says, tone sobering quickly.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods. "You did good work with that one."

[Varric]

"Work isn't done."