The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Helene Dakesh]

One of the reasons the twins are both inside is that it's pouring rain -- has been all day, and part of yesterday. This means everyone's cooped up inside -- everyone except Varric, who has bought three umbrellas and assembled them into a canopy over his brewing station on the porch, ignoring the damp and chill using an extract brewed to make it more comfortable. As Marian finishes making dinner, Helene slips out to the porch to fetch Varric-- attempts one and two to tug him inside earlier having been brushed off entirely. 

[Varric]

"Mmmh?" Varric asks absently, not looking away from his work. Just about ready for the minced wild carrot (purple coloration, new subspecies). Very eager to see how this affects the brew. He barely takes note of the cold and damp by this point, at least in how it affects him personally. His only real allowance for it is to apply Hinderkin's atmospheric variance adjustment, 5-C, to his brewing. Try a 30/70 mix, then 50/50, then 70/30 next (then prep methods? Cut vs mince vs crush?)

[Helene Dakesh]

"Dinner is ready," says a small voice he hasn't heard in nearly a week. "Get Varric."

[Varric]

"Yeah, sure Helene," Varric mumbles, not looking over. Any second now it should turn yellow (that was Helene) and- His head snaps around, eyes wide. "'lene?" 

[Helene Dakesh]

"Varric," ne says, voice even, cool. By contrast, nir eyes are worried, nir body tense. 

[Varric]

Varric stiffens, eyes darting around them, checking above them twice. "What's wrong?" he asks tensely.

[Helene Dakesh]

"Varric," ne says, with increased emphasis. "Food is available. Reminders to sleep. Reminders that someone cares."

[Varric]

Varric stares, the words tickling something, a memory, in the back of his head. "I... I'm fine," he says slowly, eyes flicking towards the door. He doesn't notice how he shifts, just a little, towards the open air. "Got rations out here with me."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene shakes nir head, then, mouth pressing into a stubborn line. "Understood," ne says, but it sure doesn't sound like ne's accepting it. Ne steps forward, crossing nir arms, and has a seat next to his workstation, clearly not planning to go back inside.

[Varric]

"Helene, what're you doing?" he asks, frowning at nem.

[Helene Dakesh]

"I'm fine," ne says, stubbornly. "Get Varric."

[Varric]

"I... I'm right here," he says slowly. "What's this about?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"Reminders that someone cares," ne says, firmly. There's a pause, Helene's brows knit in concentration, before ne manages, "Worried." Which, given the repetition in their conversation previously, given the pause, must have taken more effort than echoing phrases back does.

[Varric]

Reminders that- "Helene," he says softly, eyes widening. "That's- I'm f-" He breaks off. This one's apprentice lies. (But- oh sod it. You're a Truthist, aren't you? Alright. I can... start taking that into account.). His mouth works for a few seconds, but nothing truthful can get past his denial and pride.

[Helene Dakesh]

"Someone cares," says Helene again, gentler this time. Ne reaches a hand out and grips his ankle loosely -- not holding him in place, but making it clear ne is with him, worried about him.