Hazelnuts and plaid

[Aveline Vallen]

"Worse than my period," Aveline grumbles, washing her hands. "But I'm at least skipping the prime morning sickness... span?" She shrugs, accepting the word as good enough, then gives her lover a teasing but warm smile. "Thank you for taking that missle for us."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian doesn't smile back, just nodding. "Of course."

[Aveline Vallen]

Smile shifting to a wince, Aveline steps closer to Hawke, reaching out with both hands. "Dammit, I'm sorry."

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke takes them, pressing one to her cheek. "I know. Let's just... let's just keep moving forward. One step at a time."

[Aveline Vallen]

"Of course," Aveline agrees. "But first..." Leaning in-- carefully-- she kisses Hawke, soft and sweet. "There. Now we can go." Stepping back, she heads for the door in as brisk a stride as she can manage, hoping that Hawke doesn't remember--

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke smiles, then clears her throat, indicating her head just a bit toward the chair as Aveline turns to glance back. 

[Aveline Vallen]

Aveline looks at the chair, then at Hawke. Smiles tentatively, hopefully. Sags a little, looks back at the chair. Looks at her wife, lower lip sticking out just a touch, eyes big and pleading. 

[Marian Hawke]

"Think of the babes," sighs Marian, with a small smile. "I always found my restrictions easier to bear by thinking of them."

[Aveline Vallen]

Abandoning her rare pout, Aveline sighs. "I know, I just-- I feel fine. I mean, bloated, horny, emotional and really hungry-- Shield and Oath, I feel like I could eat half my weight in fried pork belly right now-- but fine. Very walk... walk-able. Capable of walking." Despite what she's saying, she's already sitting in the wheelchair before she's half done, arms folding around her stomach in an adorable sulk.

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke plants a kiss on her cheek. "Then let's get to this ritual so you can go get some food, shall we?"

[NPCs]

With three minutes of their allotted ten remaining, they head for the Lantern. The walk is uneventful, and Panis swiftly shows them to a small, bare stone-- a very familiar matte black stone, Hawke notes absently-- chamber that is typically used for ritualists to meditate immediately prior to a ritual. Politely asking them to remain inside, the Lord Hand closes the door to fetch Marian's legal advisor.

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke plops down at Aveline's feet, closing her eyes to take a few moments and breathe for herself. Alright. Papa needs me to center him as best I can, then we'll be doing this. 

[Aveline Vallen]

As soon as she's sitting, Marian feels Aveline shift in her seat, then warm fingers start combing through her hair. Not something the pair have done often, if ever really. Aveline isn't one of her lovers that enjoys submission play and she prefers to have Hawke pressed against the length of her, not just her legs. But perhaps that will change, given how nice it feels. Relaxing. Soothing. Marian almost doesn't notice Varric slipping into the room. Might not have at all if he hadn't stayed right in the center of her field of view.

[Marian Hawke]

"Papa," she sighs, and opens her arms for a hug without getting up. 

[Varric]

"Daughter mine," he replies, the words spoken in dwarven out of instinct. He moves to her, kneeling and dropping the illusion at the same time and pulls her close. Aveline sits back in her chair, heart conflicted but silent for now.