Hazelnuts and plaid

[Zevran]

"N'bilets," Zevran mumbles, then nuzzles against Isabela with his eyes closed.

"No.... Noble Ents? No, noble..."

[Varric]

"No debts," Varric supplies quietly, Aveline going quiet as he solves the riddle. "You can't owe family, not debts, not obligations. You do what you can, what you wish to offer. And not just about service either, though that's a big one." He gives nem a pointed look, though he's smiling sincerely. "How much did you charge me for that scrying yesterday? Hawke, what's my retainer for my legal services?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene frowns, but nods. "Understood. This one merely has concerns about Zevran being underpaid when doing education in the community."

[Aveline Vallen]

"Your concern for a loved one speaks well of you," Aveline says warmly, her lips curved in a smile despite the dampness around her eyes. I am not going to cry. I am not going to cry. I am not going to cry. She clears her throat.

"Zevran is clearly going to be napping; he can stay here, that's not a problem, far from it honestly. Hawke and I will be trying to repair my poor, neglected garden and play with the girls." There's a pleased chuffing noise and the soft tocking of tail hitting table leg gently from under the table. "What do you three have planned?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene glances to Varric. "This one suspects this one's talents will be once again required, and is happy to assist."

[Isabela]

"Same," says Isabela. "I want to get Anders moved here, so we can keep a close eye on him."

[Varric]

"Anders and the za'Franes, once they get back. By purest chance, the caravan they were traveling with just happened to cross paths with a... gaggle of Vangalite paladins heading to Nyra to restock and so forth," Varric puts in. 

"Gaggle?"

"Flock? Wing? Pack?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Flight," suggests Marian, as in, a flight of dragons. 

[Varric]

"How about just a 'group' of paladins," Aveline says with a frown that is waging a fighting retreat to not be a pout.

"A group of flying Vangalite paladins then," Varric says brightly, enjoying the steam-kettle noise Aveline makes. "But regardless, the two of them plus kids are all on their way back to Nyra at speed. Evidently one of them knows or knows of Aveline so they barely had to ask before they got invited along."

[Marian Hawke]

"See, love?" says Marian, kissing Aveline's cheek. "Vangal's clearly not upset with you, and neither am I. I know you all did the best you could. The fault lies with me."

[Isabela]

"At least you realize it and are making changes," says Isabela. You better be making changes anyway.

[Varric]

"Not a one of us came through this without doing something we should be feeling some shame or regret for," Varric cuts in, fighting the urge to snap at Isabela for cutting at Marian when she's already so hurt and broken. "Not all equally, granted and agreed; Marian and I are topping the list by a fair margin. The bulk of it all between us, honesty be a diamond." Hmm. No, 'if truth be valued' sounds much better in common (dwarven is tricky for translating idioms) now than I've said it out loud (going to switch back, I think).

[Aveline Vallen]

"Doesn't matter anyway," Aveline says with a shrug, shifting over to lean her head against Mairan's. "Fault and blame isn't really going to help. We just all need to come together and-- and do better, I guess."

[Marian Hawke]

"Some more than others," Hawke points out. "Helene didn't do anything wrong, for one," she adds. "Though speaking of which, Helene, can I speak to you for a moment in private? I have a few questions."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene looks startled. "Ah. Of course. Perhaps Captain Isabela will wish to show Madam Zevvy to a proper bed while we talk?"