Hazelnuts and plaid

[Varric]

"We're under wards," Zevran says, pressing the edge of his blades in tighter. "Say it or I banish you."

"Banish? Bah. Did you forget who I am? You really didn't do your research," Varric counters with a dark laugh. REaching into his belt pouch, he pulls out a walnut sized diamond that holds a shimmer of brass and silver light at the core. "Get a good look? Hope you like it, as it'll be your new home for the few thousand years. Well. Home, prison... something like that."

[Theta "T" Roidmet]

T only smirks an instant before lunging forward, thrusting her throat against the knife. Then she goes slack, the body going limp as the devil departs. 

[Zevran]

Lux bolts to his feet, a look of panic on his face as he tries to-- "Why aren't--"

"Merciful," Zevran says shortly, tucking the blades away. "There was a chance the attacker could be..." Marian's body, he doesn't say. "She will be fine in an hour or two," he adds, kneeling down to pick T's body up to deposit on the body next to Nox.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene shudders, swallowing and swallowing again. Ne breathes through nir nose, hands trembling. "I firmly dislike devils," ne says to nobody in particular, trying to control nir breathing. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Agreed."

"Yes."

Low growls.

"Most devoutly so."

[Aveline Vallen]

It had taken two hours-- which is about three hours longer than Aveline wanted-- but she'd been able to use a combination of her rank, her hero status and her temper (along with some unconcious weaponization of her pregnancy) to force the on duty Captain for the Lantern to call for a Special Quorum of Lights. . Captain Vashid is more a political appointee than a real guard, the human male wasting a lot of time stalling while he tried to ensure that this wouldn't blow back on him. On the other hand, much as she'd growl and glare at anyone saying it, the delay did serve a benefit in that it meant that by the time Lights start arriving, Varric had sent word that they'd confirmed Hawke is possessed; and that it had attacked and cursed Nox.  And she'd not been indle in between the clashes with the Captain, laying the groundwork with a few trusted officers for a city-wide Sage-hunt the moment the Quorum approves doing so. Or rather, approves doing so with the goal being 'rescue' instead of 'arrest' that is.

Settling into her seat again at Wylde's concerned whine-- the young guard is wise enough to pick her battles, not protesting when Aveline rises to pace every so often but only for so long each time-- Aveline drums her fingers against the armrest. Glad Isabela came along. As much as I'd hate to admit it out loud, her cunning and willingness to bend rules is a boon right now. I'd have done it myself and taken the loss, but having the deck stacked in our favor without having to do so is... very welcome. Absently, she reaches out and grips Isabela's upper arm in a supportive, appreciative gesture. John can be trusted to be himself, so that's a solid ally. Lady zi'Andorra isn't a friend, but she's not reactionary and is generally fair minded. Somewhat passive though; she'll listen to everyone else, then decide. The Lord Hand is... not someone I can influence really, not in this context. Same for Light zi'Aghayan. Not sure who the fifth Light is going to be so...

So the critical voice I need to convince is-- "Light La'Livingstong, thank you for agreeing to speak with me before the Quorum," Aveline says crisply that second he walks into the small meeting room she'd been able to secure for her use.  Not that it was all that hard to do so, given that the Bedrock guardhouse is massive and she is a high ranking officer.

[GamesMaster]

"Of course."

La'livingston wears a green vest, a sharply creased cravat, a long tailcoat, tight slacks. Everything about him is crisp and polished except his hair, which is artfully wavy, as if to suggest that he just got out of bed and looks this polished. He eyes all three of them, studying them for a moment, as if evaluating them carefully, then nods. moving to take a seat at the table. 

[Aveline Vallen]

"Given your history and reputation, I think it safe to assume you're more or less up to date with the state of unrest?"

[GamesMaster]

"Quite." The city is unstable, shaken to its core over one woman. I wonder what will happen if she is found guilty?

[Aveline Vallen]

"Have you been briefed-- or found out otherwise, I don't care-- about the particulars of Marian's case?" A slight beat and Aveline adds, "Hawke," as she belatedly recalls that a surprisingly large percentage of the city thinks that her beloved's name is Hawke Tethras.

[GamesMaster]

"Yes, I have reviewed the transcripts from the interviews and also done some investigation myself into the matter. It seems quite clear, and yet, something seems not quite right about the facts of the case."

[Aveline Vallen]

"Does learning that the toxin in question was made by a catfolk alchemist who happens to be roommates with an enchanter who is linked to Humans First change anything? Or that Hawke was teleported away from me an hour ago?" Aveline's voice is hard, clipped, but her hands are trembling on the armrests of her chair. "Or that she was then scryed upon and determined as being possessed?" 

Varric may have simplified and perhaps even glossed over the providence of some of his evidence.

[GamesMaster]

La'livingston stares at her a moment, mind whirling. "Indeterminate," he says slowly. "Of course, as a suspected accomplice, your word is suspect, and yet... it is not impossible for merikosi to be members of human supremacy movements, but there is little to connect your Hawke to such movements. Interesting."

[Aveline Vallen]

Aveline's jaw clenches a little at the slight to her honor but she fully understands; Hawke is known as her Astea to certain people, and La'Livingston is likely among those that've ferreted it out. "I swear on my Oaths and Duty as a paladin of Vangal that I personally witnessed Hawke being kidnapped by way of deception and teleportation. The rest of the evidence and claims I have presented were discovered by Varric Tethras and Seeker Helene-who-was-Dakesh so I cannot swear to them the same way." She pauses, then adds, "the specific movement in question is one that I personally headed the destruction of some five years ago. They were the group involved in the attack on Lady zi'Huntinghawk? Hawke's estranged brother was a member, their clean face, who turned evidence when he discovered their less savory plans."

[GamesMaster]

"And how is Varric handling this investigation? How much of it is he handling in person?" asks la'livingstone.