Hazelnuts and plaid

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke takes Aveline's hand to stop her. "Aveline, deep breath? It's okay."

[Aveline Vallen]

"What? Why are you--" Aveline looks at Hawke, then stills briefly as she sees her eyes. She falls silent and takes a deep breath. "What's wrong? What did I..?"

[Marian Hawke]

"You're getting angry. I think everyone's a little fragile right now, yelling isn't going to help."

[Isabela]

Isabela studies Hawke a moment, then leans over and kisses her fiercely. "It's good to have you back. Really back, not this half-hearted shell you've become."

[Aveline Vallen]

"I'm not--" Aveline cuts off at Isabel's kiss, eyes wide and face flushed. After far too long to be polite (by non-Clan standards), she jerks her eyes away. "Is--" all of our healers are... "Helene, can you--  Do you have any, umm, medical divinations? I think-- Me, not the babes, I don't feel anything bad like that!" she rushes to say at people's reactions. "Just-- Umm. That is-- I feel..."

When she flounders, looking more and more awkwardly stumped, Varric earns some grace by offering, "unusual mood swings and increased drives?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"This is common in early pregnancy," confirms Helene. "Mood swings are caused by chemicals called hormones that the body secretes in order to regulate one's periodic cycle and, in the case of pregnancy, to prepare the womb to host life as well as ensuring that it continues on schedule. Many women report feeling increased or decreased sex drive during portions of their cycle, and will report an intensified effect during pregnancy."

[Aveline Vallen]

"Increase this much?" Aveline protests shrilly, then flushes even darker. The red of her hair seems to dance subtly as she takes a deep, calming breath. "Is-- is there a way to check? This is-- a lot. I don't--" She grimaces, looking around at the very full kitchen. But she tightens her grip on Hawke's hand, squares her shoulders, and soldiers on instead of cutting people out. "I don't normally react anything at all like this much on my cycle. Is... is this just how my pregnancies are?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"For some, yes," agrees Helene. "This one can recommend Madam Zevvy's tutoring if Bright's Vallen requires assistance in learning to, ah, sate one's biological needs quickly and efficiently."

[Aveline Vallen]

Zevran presses his face against the curve of Isabela's neck, mouth tight against her skin. Despite his efforts there, muffled laughter still reaches everyone in the kitchen. Even Varric, normally disinterested in sexual humor (when he's not faking it), is grinning at the expression on Aveline's face. 

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene glances around, frowning slightly. "Has this one erred?"

[Aveline Vallen]

"Aveline prefers to not discuss matters of a priv-- of a sexual nature unless it's one-on-one," Varric explains as neutrally as he can, eyes on his food. 

"It's fine," Aveline finally manages. "Just, umm, wasn't-- wasn't expecting that answer. At all. Thank you, by the way, I just-- Hawke does just fin--" She coughs loudly. "We should be eating!"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods. "This one can give you his professional rates as of the last time he spoke at the Temple of Ciren, so that proper compensation is assured."

[Zevran]

"Ah, I do not charge Clan," Zevran mumbles from his hiding spot against Isabela. His still being there is only due to emotional reasons. Nothing at all to do with how he can see most of Person and a lesser but still pleasing amount of Charm from his position. And it's certainly not related to how soft her skin is, how comforting her scent, how heavy his head and eyelids are...

[Aveline Vallen]

"I'll... keep that in mind," Aveline says tightly, then glancing down. She stares just a second, then snorts with amusement at how Silence has migrated over so her head is resting on both their thighs. And is now staring up at them pleadingly, though whether she wants table food or attention. 

(Of course she wants both).

[Helene Dakesh]

"Madam Zevvy must be paid the proper amount for his labor," protests Helene. "Labor is labor. Compensation is how we demonstrate value." A synopsis from one of Varric's recent letters about how many discounts Helene has been giving out.