The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[GamesMaster]

"That's where the Invisible Hand of the Market comes into play. People won't pay more than they have to -- so if you try to raise the price, they jump ship to the competitor. Prices go down as soon as you get a new competitor who wants into the market, but they don't go back up unless there's a supply-side disruption -- and that hits everyone equally. It's a perfect system!"

[Varric]

"Well, it's workable anyway," Varric allows. "Nothing's perfect- businesses could collude together and drive prices up after all."

[GamesMaster]

 "But all it takes is one self-interested party to disrupt the established order -- and bam, prices drop again. It's nearly impossible to collude perfectly."

[Marian Hawke]

"At a hunch, I'd imagine it's possible," mutters Marian, thinking of the stories she's read of the founding of the Clan system. "Where are we headed anyway?"

[GamesMaster]

"Ah, right. Well, down here in the Lower Market, there's a number of upscale cafes. Assuming you have coin -- foreign will do -- we can have a nice light lunch. And if there happens to be a private balcony where a certain lady is dining within eyesight of my favorite table at my favorite lunch spot, well, so much the better."

[Varric]

And it's not hard for big, powerful groups to... discourage newcomers. "Well done, Danders," Varric murmurs. "Thank you for this."

[GamesMaster]

"Anything for an old friend," he says cheerfully. The ten gold in my pocket isn't a downside neither. 

[Varric]

"Well, a-" nope, not apprentice, "bit of lunch sounds great, doesn't it Mary?" Varric smiles, eyes not quite matching the expression. "What kind of cafe is it?" he asks idly as they walk.

[GamesMaster]

"A new place, very trendy. Elven cuisine."

Marian looks elated -- and then just as quickly glances at Varric. 

[Varric]

"..." Varric sighs. "Do they at least know what fire is?"

[GamesMaster]

"I'm sure they do. Theoretically," says Dandy, grinning. 

[Varric]

"Fruit salad and regrets it is," he says mournfully.

[GamesMaster]

Ten minutes later, the four of them -- Varric, Helene, Marian, and Dandy -- are seated on a patio table, which Marian declares is the strangest thing ever when you're underground, it's not like there's any sun to even take in, why is there a patio. 

Just as their server is handing out their suspiciously meat-free meals, Dandy coughs, catching Varric's eye and jerking his head across the road near them. 

Across the road, at a much more expensive restaurant, a server is laying out a fresh tablecloth on a table in a private balcony. This restaurant Varric knows well, at least on paper: the Tethras clan owns a third of it, and those shares come with a private balcony where they can do their business while being seen doing it, making rumors of alliances when it suits them. Today, a place is set for only one, back to the door so she can people-watch. 

The server steps aside, ushering a young Dwarven woman out to the balcony. At first, Varric's eyes dismiss her -- this must be the person Bianca is here to meet. After all, this person is hugely pregnant, waddling to her place with both hands on her belly, tired after the brief exertion of getting here to her table.

Then his eyes lift to her face, and it's her. Bianca. Large nose, slightly-gapped teeth, freckles. She doesn't seem to have aged a day; she wears a fine gown, the symbol of Clan Tethras visible at her throat, big chunky bangles of finely-worked metals at her wrists; she looks strange dressed so, instead of in the simple work uniform she preferred in their workshop together. And stranger still with her belly so huge she has to sit sideways at the table. But her face, he could never ever forget. Not even in his worst nightmares. 

[Varric]

A moment or two later, Varric hisses softly and relaxes the punishing grip he has on Helene's arm. Unable to look away- though thankfully, his head isn't facing Bianca, just his eyes- he thinks he manages to mumble an apology to the samsaran.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene takes advantage of nir newfound freedom to place nir hand gently on his leg, trying for silent support.