[Varric & Isabela; implied Varric/Bianca, hinted at Isabela/Bianca and Hawke is somewhere offscreen]
As was usual for a Monday evening - or any evening of the week, really - Varric was at the centre of attention, telling one of his epic stories. "No shit, there I was fighting darkspawn in the Deep Roads…"
All folks in the tavern were listening to an extent - some avidly, forgetting about their drinks, or to pay attention to their cards (which just made cheating them all the more satisfying, after all, fools deserve to be fooled); others heard every fifth word, though it usually didn't hinder their grasp of the plot; and some were just too drunk to hear anything beside their own snores, if that.
Smirking, Isabela sat next to him. The story had just reached its dramatic ending, and Varric brought his tankard to his lips. She caught his gaze.
"Varric, you're incredibly adorable," she said, then paused for affect. "In a sexy way."
Varric lowered the tankard. "Why, thank you, Rivaini. I know I'm irresistible." Despite his words, he blushed, obviously pleased with the compliment.
Isabela smiled. "But I think you should allow yourself to relax more often… Spend time with real… people, you know?" She made a special emphasis on 'real' and only stressed 'people' as if on afterthought.
Instead of replying, he decided to finally quenching his thirst.
As soon as Varric started to swallow, she continued, "I mean, your relationship with your crossbow? Not healthy, even by my standards." Lowering her voice to a husky whisper, she murmured, "Oh, and while you're busy with an actual woman, why don't you let me take care of Bianca? I will be gentle, I promise."
Grinning, Isabela made her way back to the bar. As entertaining as watching the dwarf sputter was, she had winnings to collect.
