Hazelnuts and plaid

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one is not lying. I had to think it through." Ne shifts a little, looking ashamed. "This one is... not good with people sometimes. This one had to second-guess whether this one had missed some sign of displeasure on Zevran's behalf."

[Varric]

"What?" Varric looks at nem aghast. "No, I didn't-- I didn't think you were lying, you don't--" He groans, looking up for a few seconds. "I thought you just didn't want to discuss it, for whatever reason. Which you've every right to have, whatever they are. Hypothetically were? Whatever. I was trying to back away from prying, not accusing you of lying. You wouldn't do that."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods. "We engage in Questions weekly, and dates on a habitual basis as well. Things are good."

[Varric]

Varric chuckles softly. "Any other couple in this family and 'Questions' would be code for something lewd," he teases nem. 

[Helene Dakesh]

Ne... blushes. 

[Varric]

"Yeah, I know, they're all perverts," Varric says firmly, nodding, self-enforced delusion solidly in place. "Anyway, we need to get moving."

[Wylde]

Wylde slows the chair to a stop a block away from the bedrock guardhouse, frowning a little at the crowd out front. "Is it safe to cross that picket line?" she asks, hesitantly. "It looks like it's getting a bit... enthusiastic." Meaning rowdy. Meaning, they might lash out at a guard in uniform walking through them, let alone three such. 

[Aveline Vallen]

Aveline squints a little, reading the signs some of the crowd are holding. "May-- Isabela, can you get closer and confirm that those are saying what I think they are?" Varric mentioned protests and unrest but he didn't say it was over Marian being arrested!

[Isabela]

Isabela pulls a small spyglass from her belt and lifts it to one eye. "Free the Champion," she reads. "Hawkes should fly free."

[Aveline Vallen]

Despite everything, Aveline snorts with amusement. "Pirate wench," she says fondly. "Alright, I think we can get through easily enough then," she declares, hand pressing against her right thigh for a moment. Her guard uniform shifts into fullplate, then into a tastefully semi-formal dress Merrill designed for her years ago; one that just happens to have the Tethras crest on it. "If they're here for Hawke, then I hardly think they'll harm her pregnant w-- umm, lover."

[Isabela]

Still, Isabela pauses, turning the spyglass a little. "Across the road there, there's counter-protesters. Less of them, but they look rougher. We'll need to steer clear of them, lest we accidentally spark a fight between the two."

[Aveline Vallen]

"Good catch," Aveline says, irritation on her face at the notion of having to tiptoe around something like this. "Far edge of the pro-crowd?" she suggests.

[Wylde]

"Aye aye." Wylde begins rolling, seeing no objection from Isabela, and asks, "Why do you think they turned out like this? How did they even know about the case?"

[Aveline Vallen]

"They shouldn't," Aveline agrees, nodding. "Anything this... explosive should be kept quiet until the trial at least starts. Not even done the interviews and testing from what I understand. Just one of many questions I plan to ask."

[Isabela]

"Must have a leak somewhere. I heard there's worse down in Coalside, too."