The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Varric]

"I'll do my best," Varric assures her, eying what he has to work with. Might be shorter than nape but I should be able to get close... "Anyway. Regardless of what Bianca should have done back then... she's asked for my help now. And... and I can't not give it, if I can. If not for her, then for the friend that sat with me when my mother died." He clears his throat, needing a pause if he's going to avoid fucking Marian's hair up.

[Marian Hawke]

"People expect so much from each other. Why can't they ever be happy with who we are?" she asks, bitterly. "If it comes to it, I don't want anyone doing things for the sake of the person they wish I was or the person I used to be. I'd rather be myself and alone."

[Varric]

That gets a frown from Varric. "Are you not happy with who you are? Hence the whole Path thing? Besides, helping an old friend is who I am, even if she's changed into someone that I wouldn't be friends with now. If she didn't want my help it'd be another matter but..."

[Marian Hawke]

"When she doesn't turn back into the person you miss, are you going to be mad at her? Sad? Disgusted? hurt? She never promised she would -- you just want her to be someone she's not. And that's not fair."

[Varric]

"Ah. No. I know that's done and smelted." He sounds regretful but only that. "It could have been something, once, but even if she did change back- and outside of a miracle, I can't see how that could even start- I've changed too. No, when I said this was for... a memory, I was saying I feel I owe her a debt for past actions, past love, not that I expected things to... change back. Not every act of kindness is about manipulating people, Marian. Some, sure, even from well intentioned people. But sometimes people are just... kind. Maybe they hope it inspires you to pay that kindness forward to someone else, but... so what? As long as they don't hold their help over your head, then... well, so what? Tilt your head forward a little."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian hesitates a moment, trying to figure out the metaphorical implications of his last statement, before she remembers he's cutting her hair and tilts, with a bit of a blush. "You keep saying that but.. everyone expects something. I hate it. Tanna meets me where I'm at, just like Bela does. She doesn't try to manipulate me -- she pointed out a flaw and offered to help me fix it. And bright gods and dark did I need her help. I'm so much stronger than I was just yesterday. She's not afraid of where my Path will lead me like most of you are."

[Varric]

"There's expecting something and expecting something. I mean... you expect things from us," Varric points out. "Even now."

[Marian Hawke]

"Maybe. But you expect things from me."

[Varric]

"Spell them out," Varric requests. "No offense, but you're not the best at reading people- you've admitted as much yourself."

[Marian Hawke]

She sighs. "It doesn't matter. The point is I'm doing better now. Thinking I might stay with Tanna when all this is done."

[Varric]

Woah. That's... rapid, we've only been here a few days so... "Not an easy idea- it's damned hard to get long-term permission to stay in Orzammar unless you're a native. I can point you towards the forms and such but Merchant Marrick doesn't have anywhere near the connections and using my real name would just get us both arrested." He pauses, the only sound that of scissors for a few seconds- he must have had a pair on him. "Well. Tanna doesn't sound like a dwarven name, come to think of it, so it occurs to me that she might not be a resident anyway."

[Marian Hawke]

"She's an aasimar," says Marian, shrugging a little. "I  haven't asked what her plans are, I just know a good thing when I see it."

[Varric]

Just expecting her (aasimar? Damn that'll sting for Shiny to find out) to want you along? Well, nothing in Zanon's dogma against hypocrisy, I suppose. "Seems like a talk to have before too much longer I suppose. Are you still willing to help with... my quest? Any debt you might feel to me, consider it paid by simply coming this far already. I would like your help but..." He snorts lightly, tone turning faintly amused. "I have no right to expect it."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian's quiet for a moment, watching herself in the mirror. "To be honest, I didn't expect you to still want my help after yesterday."

[Varric]

"Mistakes happen," Varric says evenly. "I should have briefed you on our target. You tried to help, tried to clean it up. The only bit that... that's on you really is vanishing like you did. Can't blame you for thinking I was pissed at you, given how curt I was, but..." Just about done here... "Want me to get your bangs?"