Hazelnuts and plaid

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke grins for a moment before kissing Aveline deeply. 

[Zevran]

As little as any of the Clan can really care right now, life does continue on around them despite the tears and pain they're all going through. It might have started with people clashing over 'the fucked-up way the Champion of Coalside is being treated like trash' but the tension has unearthed other grievances as well. The catfolk, never satisfied with the scraps and glares given to them by far too many of the populace, have taken to the streets to protest. Hundreds of other citizens and adventurers both lodge complaints, rant in taverns and bars, and some have even formed a rally outside the Lantern in support of Hawke. Of course, not everyone is on that side of the fence, with just as many attempting to counter them. Very few of them are against Hawke personally; most simply believe the rumors of her murdering her wife, some are eager to cast down any noble or hero and still others see in this an opportunity for themselves.

There's not yet any widespread violence, thanks in large part to a very unfortunate guard who made the mistake of trying to arrest a group of catfolk women attempting to patronize a concert hall in Lily and Oak. Normally this wouldn't have been a problem but one of said catfolk happened to have invited a friend of hers from the Adrift, an officer in fact, who had taken offence to the guard's obvious bigotry. The dwarf had been the one to end up in jail, but only after beating three guards unconcious and covering the escape of her friends. Stung, the Adrift have mobilized in force, sending out patrols through Coalside from their complex to Catown-- and making it very damn clear that any attempt to start a Purge or even widespread arrests will be met with eager violence.

Unfortunately for Zevran, Voice happens to be located in that conflict zone. He refuses to close down, reasonably pointing out that between the wards and the guards he has on staff, any fighting too great to handle will be too great to avoid with a 'closed' sign. Instead, he declares tonight and the following week to be the first annual 'Fanciable Festival of Family Fun.'  The first floor is designated as 'hosting only entertainment fit for an Astean grandmother' and a bouncer stationed at the bottom and top of the stairs leading to the private rooms. He also contacts the nearest Bastion temple and offers them the use of his front garden and law to set up an aid station, just in case it becomes needed. Within hours, the small aid station is surpassed by the surge of locals setting up first aid stations, stalls offering free herbal tea, fried dough and other cheap, filling foods, and vigil services. 

And an impromptu daycare center lead by some random nobleman's maid that Isabela knows somehow. Zevran doesn't bother to ask; he's thrown himself into all of this to stay busy, to do something good, something that Merrill would approve of doing, but he's still just limping along emotionally.

When dawn comes and goes, the sun no longer peeking above the horizon but instead climbing the arc of the sky, he, Helene and Isabela make their way to Aveline's, where Varric had informed them last night that Hawke is at currently. 

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke looks tired and sad. It's not a common look for her; when things are this bad, she usually looks determined, busy, eager to fix the problem. But now she sits, poking at a bowl of porridge, bags under her eyes from lack of sleep (Aveline had had to distract her more than once overnight) and mouth drawn down by general circumstance. 

"Good morning," she says as the pair arrive, gesturing to the bowl of porridge she's prevented Varric from burning. "There's breakfast."

[Zevran]

Scowling, Varric offers a half-hearted wave from where he's finishing up with his own tiny little pot of porridge, his beloved daughter's compromise. Spotting Helene, his scowl, surface level as it is in the first place, softens and he adds a nod in nir direction.

"We have brought more," Zevran says softly from where he's frozen in the doorway. Thankfully he'd been in the rear, so the other two were able to get into the kitchen first. He belatedly lifts the small basket he's carrying, which is the most likely source for the scent of baked cinnamon and sugar the room is slowly filling with. 

[Marian Hawke]

"Oh, good," she says, raking a hand through her hair. A moment later she glances up, giving Zevran a wan smile. "Been a while since we've all been together like this," she admits in a soft voice. 

[Aveline Vallen]

His eyes flick to Varric briefly and he nods, but doesn't otherwise reply. Thankfully, before the quiet could stretch on too long, a pair of mabari come thundering into the room to greet the newly arrived Clan members-- and their baked goods. Beka goes right for Zevran, butt planting on the ground so her front paws are within an inch of two feet from him and she stares up at him adoringly. Silence, though her nose is working madly, heads for Hawke and plops her head in her person's lap. The back door closes and Aveline's voice calls out, "be there in a minute!" then there's the faint sound of grumbling.

[Marian Hawke]

"hey, best girl," coos Hawke, rubbing Silence's head. "Sorry, they've been a bit on edge since I was gone last night. They know it wasn't the ordinary sort of gone. I don't think they quite understand all of what's going on, but enough of it to be worried." 

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene moves to sit near Varric quietly, giving him a return smile. 

[Isabela]

"No new problems overnight ,then?" asks Isabela, getting a headshake from Hawke. 

"No, you?"

[Aveline Vallen]

"Nightmares," Aveline puts in, easing down in a chair next to Hawke. She tries to ignore the way Zevran is staring at her stomach; she can't blame him, given the circumstances. "We talked through some of it already," she adds, giving Hawke a warm, grateful smile.

[Varric]

"Hey," Varric says quietly to Helene. "You look better. Rested."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods, offering a hand to Varric under the table. "Yes. Sleep was had, though not as much as this one would prefer. This one has stationed Avato at Voice in the Dark to ensure that this one can be reached in an emergency."

[Marian Hawke]

"Zev," says Hawke gently. "Come sit?" Please?

[Zevran]

"What?" The merikos drow jolts slightly, gaze snapping to Hawke.

[Marian Hawke]

"Come, sit, eat. Be part of the family." She gives a wan smile.