Ghost Story

[Varric]

"Captain Aveline Vallen," Varric says abruptly, closing his eyes. "Out-of-context blindness is a bitch. Of course." How the fuck did Carver end up with her (must be a hells of a story)?

[GamesMaster]

"That's the one!" chirps Mari, swallowing her grape. "Bet she'd help if you ask nice-like."

[Varric]

Varric considers that for a moment, then begins to snicker. Seconds later he's outright laughing.

[GamesMaster]

Mari glances at him, slightly wounded. "What?"

[Varric]

He waves a hand as he fights to stop his laughter. "Not-- no, sorry-- Not you. Just--" He loses it for a moment, then manages, "picturing John's face!"

[GamesMaster]

"Huh?" ask both Mari and Marian at the same time, in much the same tone. 

[Varric]

Varric smirks at them both, amused at the resemblance. Even accounting for age, they look more like siblings than Marian and Carver do. Interesting (means something perhaps). "Guard Captain Vallen, Searing Shield of Nyra, Grand Knight of Valor, Dis Bane and Hero of Lamdea for slaying the beholder Dranxa'nu'lissss and nir band of trolls; here, in his little chickenshite town?" He grins, mood clearly much buoyed by the scene playing out in his head.

[GamesMaster]

Mari blinks. "I mean, she's just Mom, you know? I guess all that shit's true, or whatever, but..." 

[Marian Hawke]

"..but she outranks the local paladin by about a hundred to one," says Marian, a slow grin forming. "So if she says Varric's innocent..."

[Varric]

Varric clicks his tongue and gestures towards Marian with the knife still in his hand. Winking, he turns back to his slicing with a great deal more vigor. "Guess you don't think of her much in that way. Makes sense."

[GamesMaster]

"Yeah, I mean, to me she's just Mom, ya know?" says Mari, sliding meat into the coldbox. "I guess she's famous or whatever but who cares, right?"

[Marian Hawke]

She talks so strangely, thinks Marian, frowning a little. I guess I missed fifty years of slang. Or maybe it's a city thing.

[Varric]

"Bright's Johnny Boy," Varric says promptly. "And thus me."

[GamesMaster]

Mari chuckles. "Point to the geezer."

[Varric]

"Geezer?" Varric asks mildly, not sounding at all offended. "Kind of you to notice."