"So this is Dorian," Anais pointed to the clearly high strung man trying to maintain order in the restaurant. He made a face and carefully put the tray he was carrying down onto the table they were all seated around, before taking the chair beside the gigantic man beside him. "His husband, Ben." Anais' hand moved an inch to gesture next to Dorian. "You might recognize him as The Iron Bull from late night pro wrestling." He crossed his bulky arms proudly, with a grin.
"Used to be. I'm retired now. Gotta settle down some time."
"I'm not much for TV," Thom mumbled, as he eyed Ben worriedly.
"That right there's my boy, Krem." Ben nodded toward the young man who seemed to be sulking. "He's not getting involved. Too dangerous."
"You'll have a chance at meeting the others later. I'm sure you'll get along fine." Anais flashed a toothy smile Rainier's direction and he grumbled under his breath.
"Viv's usually not part of our little group." Ben added, with a look across the table. "She's just rooting for us underdogs, am I right?"
"Ms. DeFer, if you please." Dorian's mentor was sipping delicately from a small tumbler of a cloudy liquid over ice. The dark woman had a steely set to her shoulders that commanded authority.
"Yes, ma'am."
Dorian shot him a look and leaned back comfortably against his husband's arm.
"And you could say that. There is a certain charm to helping out those less fortunate. Even if they're criminals." Her lip curled at the thought of it, and she took a long drink to wash away the taste. "Why else would one become a lawyer?"
"For the cash." Aclassi muttered, looking into his drink.
"The kid's got a point." Anais drummed her fingers on the table top, impatient to get started. "Now, the plan is we stakeout the hotel Fius is staying at and as soon as we get a chance we strike."
"And you think this is going to work, how? What is your plan once you get him where you want him?" Vivienne coolly asked, setting her empty glass down.
"We can out the corruption. Tethras can run it in the newspapers, let the people do the rest." Thom added, still thinking on his feet.
"Do you think he would?"
"I mean, the guy's a skeezeball but he's got a heart of gold, you have to admit. But…" The redheaded dwarf poured herself a drink and tossed it back. "That might work but we need something substantial. Like another lab site in a warehouse or something."
A hush fell over the table. "The Chargers can probably infiltrate, housekeeping and stuff." Ben murmured, his hand to his chin in thought. "We can get some info there and try and track down some other place."
"That's where you come in, Captain. Can you get any information on Fius, files and stuff?"
Thom shook his head. He had the sneaking suspicion Bethany would be more than willing to help out. Some dark part of him took pleasure in the idea that it would make Cadash jealous as well. "I can try to make some calls but no promises."
"Fuck.." Tethras rolled over, his head beginning to throb already. Beside him the bed was empty. He sat up with a start, clutching at his skull to calm the roiling in his head. The Pentaghast woman was already awake, looking pensive as she surveyed his desk. Papers were scattered messily about, and she seemed to be organizing them.
"Hey! Don't- Don't mess with those."
Cassandra paused, a stack of files in her hands, the one on top already open. "Your research is extensive."
"It's a living." He managed to find his balance, slipping into the discarded jeans on the floor by the bed. His thick fingers threaded through his hair as he brushed it from his face, still distracted. "To be honest, I thought you'd be gone by now."
Varric heard the sound of a page turning and a soft gasp came from the tall woman in front of him exactly as the papers hit the desk with a muted thump. He looked up at her, as she peered back at him over her shoulder.
"You have an entire folder dedicated to me." It wasn't a question, but a statement. Well, at least she wasn't horrified.
"Not you, just.. just your family." Varric admitted, backing up a little, his words sheepish as he stuffed his hands in his pockets with a little shrug. "I'm a bit of an amateur expert on the case, in certain circles."
She picked up an instant polaroid paperclipped to an old newspaper article. "How did you get this picture? I thought there were no copies…"
"Because it's not a copy. I, ah.. Pulled some strings, cashed in a few favors. It was one of the photos your uncle gave the police at the beginning of the case."
The photograph was a shot of the Pentaghast family at the beach, all of whom were deceased or missing beside the woman standing beside him. It had to have been at least ten years old. Useless in the case.
Pentaghast's expression curdled and when she took her next breath, it was shaky.
"I can understand why you're mad." The dwarf began, reaching out to touch her shoulder. She didn't flinch back, and he wasn't sure if that was a good or bad sign.
"I have no photographs of Anthony of my own." Cassandra did not betray any emotion with her words despite her shoulders shaking. "My uncle threw them away."
Oh. Shit.
"Keep it. I don't really have a reason for it."
Cassandra's fingers curled around the picture and she pulled it closer to her chest. She bit her lip to keep from making a sound.
Varric felt he was intruding on something private, and he averted his gaze, giving her a moment to pick herself up as he threw on a shirt lying around, leaving the top few buttons open. "C'mon, let's get out of here and get some breakfast, what do you say?"
Pentaghast wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, tucking the photograph into her dress trouser pocket. "Trying to get rid of me so quickly?"
"I never said that, Seeker." Varric gave her a wink and she couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. His words sounded sincere, and a part of her ached at that. This wasn't even a date; just some meaningless sex. 'Slumming' as he called it.
"When we get back, I can see if I have any more pictures of your brother too."
"You don't have to do that."
"I want to." And that was that.