Hazelnuts and plaid

[GamesMaster]

Scotty tilts his head. "For a comrade, I might have some texts Joni left behind you could borrow. What's this friend's name?"

[Varric]

"Milian Nychka was the start," he supplies, picking the name of someone related and supportive of Humans First but not a full member. "She-- Well, you probably know she moved to Sweetwater a few years back but she keeps in touch with a few people here so when I mentioned I was heading through Nyra, she gave me a few names of good people. One of them mentioned you and your brother and here I am."

[GamesMaster]

"Nychka, Nychka... I don't think I know a Nychka," he says slowly, turning the name over in his mouth. 

[Varric]

"No?" Damn. "Huh. She moved a few years back, like I said, just after that Cider Ghoul curse plague or whatever it was. She got into... things... by way of her uncle? Devon Nychka? He was a baker by trade, though his, ah, passion was in the community watch program he helped out in. Not a fighter himself, but as Milian tells it, he probably fed the lot of them three days out of seven." That sounds like a way people would describe 'nearly forty percent of all his profits were funneled into supplying a terrorist group' if they were (idiots) also supporters, right?

[GamesMaster]

"Mm," says Scotty, comprehension dawning in his eyes. "You mean Jevan's group. The patrols and whatnot. You were with them. Well, I can't say as Joni or I are involved in anything quite like that. We just have a few ideas about how to improve things around here for the little guy. Less... violence." 

[Varric]

"With is a bit strong," Varric says firmly, holding up a hand. "I'm more in line with what you just said; my, uh, I guess you could say focus? is in shared investment organization. Go to example is a pool. I know, I know; bit random there, what? But see, swimming isn't just healthy exercise, it's a lot of fun. Plus it can be a real boon during the peak month of summer. But your average family can't afford to have a pool, right? But a neighborhood? Easily! Everyone in the neighborhood chips in a copper or two a week and that all combines into more than enough to buy and maintain the pool. Even pay a teen or three to hang around the pool to teach kiddies to swim or just make sure they're not turning tribal, yeah? Same sort of thing can apply to basically any large bit of equipment or expensive tool that your common man can't afford." Thank you Anders.

[GamesMaster]

Scotty sits back on his heels. "Hu-uh," he says again, thoughtfully. "You ever listen to the Lord Hand speak? You know the speech, I'm sure, if you're civic-minded at all. The shining city on a hillside?"

[Varric]

"Never in person; something also catches fire when I thought I'd be able to attend," Varric replies regretfully-- and truthfully, amusingly enough. "But I've heard some on an Echostone. I particularly like the one he gave just before the first wardstone was laid in. The Coalside fire ward? That bit about how people look down on the ground, to the point that we insult people with names for it. But that without it, we'd very literally have nothing to stand firm on, no place to build our homes and cities. That just because dirt and stone are common and plentiful doesn't mean they lack value or shouldn't be taken care of."

[GamesMaster]

"That how you see yourself, friend? Common, but useful? It's not a bad viewpoint, I suppose. Me, I like to think everything Astea created was created for a reason. Everything that lives has a particular role to play."

[Varric]

Varric chuckles a little. "Well, I'll freely confess to a bit o' pride. I'm at least a good seam of durable granite," he says, half joking. "Maybe a bit rarer, a bit more useful and valuable, but still part of the ground. Still willing and happy to do my part of that, I guess. Heh, metaphors only have so much slack before they snap but I think you get me."

[GamesMaster]

"No, no, I getcha. Tell you what, how about you detail your brewing trouble in a letter and I'll run it down to Joni's place after I get done the weeding. Leave your address, we'll be sure to be in touch. I think you and I could do a lot of good work together, comrade, and I'd hate to let this chance meeting go to waste."

[Varric]

Yeah, true enough. If this really is just a (coven of Anders) socialism group, then wouldn't hurt to (guide) help out. If it's Humanity First the Second... "Sure, sounds good," Varric agrees with a nod. "It's mostly a theoretical thing; using a particular brew as a data point to refine a particular technique. I just-- sorry, sorry, I'll stop rambling and write it down," he says, grinning at himself. Not as helpful as I'd hoped but it seems I need to look into Joni some more...

[GamesMaster]

As he's returning to Voice, it seems the others are awake, gathering themselves to head back uptown to where it's time to try and reclaim Merrill's body yet again. As Rosalie tries to get her son to eat his applesauce instead of tipping it over and throwing it all over everywhere, the new girl, Kiki, a tortie-furred catfolk, leans across the bar. "You know, I'm off tonight, I can watch him if you want to be part of this thing the boss is up to."

[Tethras Clan]

"Thank you but it's fine," Rosalie says with a grateful smile. "This is..." She hesitates, then shrugs a little. "This is too personal for me to feel comfortable going with them tonight." Groaning, she grabs the washcloth to wipe her cheek off. "Brave and nice of you to offer though."

[GamesMaster]

Damn. Another time, then. Hopefully soon, Kiki thinks as she smiles. "Oh, it's no trouble. I love kids." Damn brats.