Hazelnuts and plaid

[Isabela]

"We can't, Varric, the testimony. We wanted to get there a few minutes early and check on Hawke." She takes a deep breath, focusing. "Okay. Rosie, can you get the scrolls, while I get Aveline's information, and Varric can go to the testimony?"

[Varric]

Varric stills, collecting himself. Dammit, what's taking Zev-- oh you dumbass. Husband of both victim and accused shows up after being missing since yesterday? "Right. Right. Will they let you-- right, stupid question, you're guard adjacent these days."  He pauses, momentarily distracted. "Wait, are you more respectable than me now? Nevermind, that sounds fine. Rose?"

"Yes sir?" the young woman asks, eyes a trifle wide at all the things she's been hearing today. They widen more at the weight of the bag Varric tosses to her.

"Those are emeralds, not jade or agate, and worth two grand each. So don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Get four scrolls of Teleport without Error-- not just plain teleport, make sure it's 'without error' before you shake-- as well as four Greater Restoration and four Break Curse. Make sure they're from a Bright deity. Got it?"

Roselie gapes at him, the weight in her hand suddenly feeling a million times heavier. 

"And get two of the house guards to come with you," he remembers to add a second or two later.

[Isabela]

Isabela plants a kiss on Rosalie's cheek. "Thank you," she says, her voice holding enough gratitude for two. "I'll meet you back here. Hopefully I'll run into Zev on the way."


Without Isabela, Varric can't get into the jail with enough time before the testimony, so that means he's headed to the Lantern, where they plan to use one of the meeting rooms to conduct the Truthing. Helene is present and waiting, sipping on some tea with Avato at nir heels, meaning the ritual must be over. Good thing, too, as Helene can cast the truthing and keep it in Clan. 

"Good... afternoon? Morning?" ne asks, frowning, as ne tries to recall what time it is.

[Varric]

Helene. Keeping the bland, friendly smile on his face, Varric offers a bow, careful to keep the lines of his well-made but study travel robe in neat lines as he does so. "Afternoon, yes," he replies with a faint elven accent. Rural elven, though not overly so. "I gather you have had a long day already?" He glances at Avato but doesn't comment, as he shouldn't realize the being is, well, a being and not a construct or magical beast. 

[Helene Dakesh]

"Quite. This one is Helene Dakesh, and this is Avato. This one will be performing the spellwork for this investigation. Is that one from the guard?"

[Varric]

"Guard?" The elf-- no, merikos elf, given how broad their shoulders are and, well, not every elf is closer to six feet than five but the number of them within a finger's span of four is vanishingly small-- seems amused at the very idea. "No, hardly so, Honored Seeker. I am Ergile Evide; I was tasked by Missus, ah, Missus Siren's Echo," he coughs awkwardly, "to provide legal and political advise on her wife's behalf." None of which is technically a lie (sorry Helene). 

[Helene Dakesh]

"Oh," says Helene, seeming startled. "Understood. Then we are awaiting the Lord Hand and the representative from the guard, as well as the persons to be questioned."

[Varric]

"I see, I see. If I may ask, and being aware of the sensitivity of the subject, might I know how the ritual went? Did--" he has to swallow the lump in his throat. "Did the twins make it? Is Captain Vallen adjusting within tolerable margins? Physically, that is?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"Yes," says Helene, with an exhausted, pleased smile. "More cannot be said at this time, but yes."

[Varric]

Varric can't help the naked relief that covers his face. "Ah, that is-- that is wonderful to hear," he manages, then continues on in an attempt to explain his reaction. "I am not a father," I'm a Papa, "but a member of my own family is pregnant at the moment and-- well. It has not been a pregnancy without complication and that worry is one I've held for some time. It is very good to hear that things are going well."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Understood," says Helene gently. "This was... as terrifying as it was to this one's own self, this was also the least this one could to do help out this one's family. This one's loved ones have endured much suffering as of late, and this one strives to ease it where this one can. Thus, this Truthing, wherein this one, despite lacking sleep, may hopefully serve some small--"

The door opens, and Helene cuts off, turning toward the door as two strangers enter, followed by the Lord Hand. The first stranger is an ratfolk, wearing a guard uniform; unusual to see a ratfolk in this position, but not as unusual as it once was thanks to Aveline's progressive hiring ethics. The other is a merikos gnome, with deep red skin and bright red-orange hair the color of a candle flame. The gnome has a small goatee but also budding breasts, and their eyebrows are as artfully sculpted as their facial hair, implying they spend a good amount of time and coin on their looks. They wear a scholar's tabard over leggings, with a schoolboy's satchel at their hip. 

"Lord Hand. Guardsman. And this is the first witness?" asks Helene, giving a bow. 

[Panis zi’Ulthlis]

Guess that explains where Joni Davis was, Varric notes absently as he swiftly retrieves a scribe's palette with paper already laid out. He attaches an inkpot, dips the quill clipped to the side and focuses on the newcomers. The most impressive and attention grabbing of which is the Lord Hand, made more so by the dark expression on his face. He says nothing, just rakes the room with a heated glare before stalking over to the judge's seat. Instead of sitting on the bench, however, he perches atop the railing separating it from the rest of the room.

The guard doesn't react over much to this, instead guiding the merikos gnome to the center of the room where a plain wooden chair awaits. "Sit please," he says in a gravelly voice. Once the witness complies, he turns to Helene. "Seeker. Give your oaths and cast."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene goes about giving the standard full introduction, explanation, and oaths, asking thrice in the formal manner if ne may cast upon the witness before doing so. "The spell has taken," they declare. "The witness is now prepared. Please state your full name for the record."

"My name is Joni Mae Davis, and my pronouns are ey/em/eirs."

[NPCs]

"I am Captain Vosang of Colony Deepseek, presiding over the questioning of the first witness in the investigation for the trial name redacted, file number 35487," the guard announces, pitching his voice loud and wide to ensure the glowing amethyst  absorbing all sounds made in the room picks him up clearly. "Citizen Davis, you are currently a student at Her Lady's Sacred Spectacles, correct, as a freshman?"

"Yes."

"Do you know another student by the name of Mary Amell? If so, please describe the origin and nature of your relationship with that person?"

[GamesMaster]

"Mary is one of my classmates, and a member of my social group. I suppose you could call her my friend, but she always held herself a little apart from the group." Joni gives a sad smile, rubbing the back of eir neck. "I'm not sure she was really good friends with any of us."