The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Varric]

Varric had set some wheels in motion to get a copy of the cafe's floorplan smuggled to him right after getting back from seeing Bianca. But that would take time, so he'd busied himself with trying to get a feel for the city's tempo- focusing on Clan Tethras, of course, and more specifically Bianca and Bartrand. Rumors abound about Bianca, in the right crowds, as she's become more and more reclusive since her marriage. Some speak of a secret lover (or lovers, though the most common is another lady whom she had studied with at university). Other speak of secret projects being done for the king. Still more whisper about her conversion to Ere'lyn- or worse. Strangely, rumors about mistreatment by Bartrand are rare. Too rare for it to be natural, Varric's paranoia points out slyly. The morning of the third day, two days after he got his first glimpse of Bianca in almost two years, Varric takes Marian along with him to a meeting with a very, very fussy dwarf that works for the royal Clan. 

Way, way down on the rungs of power, but still royal Clan. 

The junior scribe, Perely, is part of the Detritus Department- those dwarves responsible for getting rid of the useless rock and dirt that mining produces as a matter of course. Varric- or rather, mister Teegan- is attempting to bid for a contract to haul away said debris. It's a bit of a long-shot, given that there are already several Clans that perform this task but... it would be just about perfect for Varric's needs. He'd probably have to burn this cover identity later, given he'd not be able to actually follow through with the job for long but... His best angle is that Perely is young and hunger to prove himself. If he can convince the kid to take a risk on a cheaper group, to be able to come in under budget for the season... 

And that he's not yet hardened his liver, Varric thinks with a purely mental smirk. He sips his whisky again, enjoying the bite of it after so long drinking surface whiskeys. Even the ones dwarves sell aren't quite the same up there... "See, the trick is that I have a much wider pool of hires- specifically, I have a a dozen merikos orcs working for me. All city-raised, mind you, perfectly safe. But they're strong, hardy and hardworking- and willing to accept a much lower wage than any self-respecting dwarf would be willing to take," Varric says, watching Perely nod slowly as the younger dwarf tries to not show the slight fog three shots have put over his thinking. Varric had instructed Marian earlier to sip, not drink, and he's well tempered but this young buck...

[Marian Hawke]

Marian is enjoying herself, mostly. She's remembering to sip, but it's rare that she's had anything alcoholic, let alone as strong as this. Still, she's determined to be helpful, to prove herself, to be useful to Varric. Wouldn't it be great if I found the key to cracking this open? she thinks to herself. Won't it be great when we rescue Bianca and Varric stops fretting so much? ("I'm proud of you") If I can just get this guy to help, push him a little in the right ways, we'll be down on the lower levels and able to get some real intel for once, not just little bits and pieces and rumors we have to fit together ourselves. (I would give my life for a stranger!) 

She takes another pull off her mug, trying to force her brain to focus, to think clearly. What's the secret? How do I get him to...

[NPCs]

"Merikos orcs?" Perely says slowly, frowning. "Well behaved or not, many dwarves would be uneasy with allowing them into the city at all, much less as deeply as would be needed." Still, he doesn't turn down the idea...

[Varric]

"Well, not all of my workers are merikos orcs," Varric says smoothly.

[Marian Hawke]

"No," agrees Marian, seeing her chance. "Some of them are merikos dwarves -- a bit more flexible than dwarves are, longer reach, but most of the hardiness you'd expect from pure Dwarven stock."

[Varric]

Varric lets out a soft hiss. "Of course, none of them wi-"

[NPCs]

Perely surges to his feet. "Mixed bloods?" he demands. "You would bring tainted stone into the very heart of Orzammar!"

[Marian Hawke]

"uh," she says, blinking, before trying to recover. "Of course not, we would--"

[NPCs]

"I was willing to humor your use of exotics but to employ those of tainted blood? To encourage and support them? No! By stone and ore, no! I shall not be a part of your depravity!" The junior scribe's not yet robust tolerance to alcohol is clearly working against them now, inflaming his bigotry and anger. "Get out! Both of you, out!"

[Marian Hawke]

Marian scrambles back, bowing in her haste to get away. "We're very sorry, sir!" she squeaks, as she heads for the exit. 

[Varric]

Varric tries for another few moments, but eventually follows her out of the room. In the hall, he doesn't slow as he goes by her. "Follow," he snaps, voice hard. "Silently."

[Marian Hawke]

She jumps as he snaps, falling into step behind him. "I'm really sorry," she begins.

[Varric]

"Silence." this time the word isn't an order, it's a warning. He never looks back at her, just continues to stride out of the building as quickly as he can without running.

[Marian Hawke]

She swallows, following him, her gut churning in misery. I did my best -- who would have thought he'd be so... so racist? it's not like I said Drow or anything, it's-- honestly, whoever heard of being racist against your own kinfolk, that's just--

She can't quite shake the feeling she's fucked up, bad, that he'll never forgive her, but she does her best to hide the feeling even from herself, burying it in justifications and righteous anger at being spoken to that way, who does he think he is, it's not like he was getting anywhere either!

She hears the chimes as they cross the street ,out of the building but not out of the public eye, and realizes how little time she has. I was almost late over this! She doesn't say a word, not after how he shouted; she just turns to walk away from him, letting him go off on his own. 

[Varric]

Thank gods, we got out of there- I was worried he was going to call the guard on- Varric pulls up short, looking around as he realizes he can't hear Marian's footsteps behind him. Panic spikes, cold rushing into his veins, until he sees her stalking off. "Damnit," he mutters, realizing how his behavior must have read. Damnit, damnit, damnit. I was annoyed (pissed) but I didn't- should I... no. Let her cool off a bit (nowhere to jump), I'll get plants (or better, fruit) for dinner. Maybe grab a new alchemy book or some rarer ingredients (maybe a pinch of phoenix ash? Or feather) to play with as an apology. In the meantime... I need to do damage control...