The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Marian Hawke]

She winces. "Right. Him. I... He's going to be furious. I'll have to deal with that sooner or later I guess."

[NPCs]

"Eventually, yeah. So... you want to deal with him first? Or you want me to distract him so you can talk to your lady friend now?"

[Marian Hawke]

She sighs. "Best to take my lickings sooner I guess. Get it over with." She hesitates, then adds, "Don't tell him why I'm up here?"

[NPCs]

"What's wrong with seeking the peace of the Oak and chat with your father's old friend?"the bard asks innocently.

[Marian Hawke]

She nods. "Thanks."

A few long minutes later, she's still not sure how to begin the conversation -- but as she's fast approaching Varric, who ceases pretending to be a bush when he spies her coming, she needs to figure something out. I'm sure as soon as I get close he's going to yell, she decides. Best to look remorseful, take my lickings, hang my head and mutter an apology. If I can seem convincing, maybe he'll go easy on me. 

Already tense, she swallows as she approaches, glances at the ground. "Hi," she begins, hesitant, tucking some hair behind her ear. Start apologizing now? No, give him a chance to get his anger out first.

[Varric]

"First things first- how are you doing?" the dwarf asks softly, eyes flicking to the tree behind them. The very tall tree, and the tallest thing within at least fifty miles, maybe more. His eyes are guarded, his body language tense and his voice soft and worried.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian freezes, her breath catching in her lungs for a moment. How am I... what?

"I... alright," she says, slowly. Maybe it's a trap?

[Varric]

"You don't sound too certain of that," he observes, tone and posture not changing. "Matter of fact, you sound like you're expecting to be struck by a fireball at any moment."

[Marian Hawke]

"I-- you're not going to shout at me?" she asks, blinking a few times.

[Varric]

"Gave it some serious thought," Varric allows. "But after you bolted... between Shiny and Seeks fretting and worrying, I went from having time and space to brood and marinate in my annoyance to having to soothe and plan. Got my brain engaged again. Still want to talk about what happened but the bulk of my temper is gone." He shrugs a bit. 

[Marian Hawke]

"H-helene?" she stammers, blinking furiously. "Fretting?"

[Varric]

Varric raises an eyebrow. "Surprised? Yeah, if Roland hadn't gone after you when you didn't come back, ne was about to. Did some divination instead, turned out sending me was the best option. Ne tries, ne really does, but ne... well, ne struggles to talk about academics, much less intense emotional things."

[Marian Hawke]

"I didn't think..."

Her cheeks burn a bit, and she averts her gaze. "I didn't think anyone would... miss me, I guess," she mutters. "I was surprised to see you here, but then I remembered you're angry with me."

[Varric]

"For such a brilliant person, you can have the daftest ideas sometimes."

[Marian Hawke]

Her eyes dart to his face, then away. "I guess," she mumbles.