Hazelnuts and plaid

[Varric]

"I saw the protests," Varric allows, nodding slightly. "Didn't hear what they were about."

[Nikolaos "Niko" Kingfisher]

"Skin supremacy, what else. They're saying something about the Champion and somehow it's a cat's fault. I didn't stick around to listen."

[Varric]

Gods dance in a line, what (I was busy for like five hours!) the hells? "Awkward," he says for lack of anything else to offer in his confusion. "Did Nori have any kin or friends in the city?" he asks abruptly.

[Nikolaos "Niko" Kingfisher]

"Sure, sure." Niko shrugs.

[Varric]

Varric waits a few seconds. "Names?" he presses wryly.

[Nikolaos "Niko" Kingfisher]

"...I think she mentioned a sister once?" hazards Niko. 

[Varric]

"...did she talk with any of your other employees more than absolutely needed?" he asks with forced patience. 

[Nikolaos "Niko" Kingfisher]

"I can poll the shopgirls if they don't all die in this riot," he growls. "What's going on here? No bullshit?"

[Varric]

"I thought you didn't care?"

[Nikolaos "Niko" Kingfisher]

"You're making it my problem. Can't work the problem if I don't have the formula. So either fess up or piss off." His tail lashes a bit as he puts the top on the crate they've been packing, then moves to shove it deep under the sales desk. 

[Varric]

Varric clicks his tongue. "Gave you the ingredient list, do I really need to spell out each step? My identity, toxins, rat killing, a certain brewer, riots..."

[Nikolaos "Niko" Kingfisher]

Niko gives him a flat, displeased look, ears going back. "You think Nori poisoned the Champion. From prison."

[Varric]

"Close but no," Varric allows. "Produced the toxin, didn't deliver it. Not directly."

[Nikolaos "Niko" Kingfisher]

"Makes more sense at least," he mutters, thinking. "Possible. But not from this shop, she didn't. She was on leave, and we don't sell poisons."

[Varric]

"Would she have? Produced it, knowing it'd be used to kill a mortal?"