Author's Note:
1. Sorry, sorry, sorry about the huge gap between these two chapters. I ended a relationship, finished my first college degree, moved across the country (thankfully into a warmer climate), and am still unpacking. It has been a rough 3 months. But my story, like this one, is far from over. I'm hoping to get a solid 50-60 chapters out of this story.
2. I have hit an iceberg named Writer's Block. This story, and the shorts that I've been working on but have not yet posted, are going to be effected. I'm hoping a bottle of cheap wine and a few hours of music and relaxation will do the trick.
Hawke's POV
I love Kirkwall University. I love the atmosphere; young minds coming together to quench their desire for knowledge and culture. I love the athletics; the best and brightest meeting on the battlefield for the glory of the game. I love the changing seasons; the sunset hues of the leaves in the fall, the pillowy blanket of white in the winter, and the vibrant colors of the flowers in the spring. Most of all, I love the intellectual challenge. But in my two weeks with Isabela, I had learned things that my formal education would never cover.
First, sex is not the answer. It is, in fact, the question, and the answer is almost always yes. Second, hard liquor may taste like rancid fruit and turpentine, but it'll give you some serious warm-fuzzies. Third, when given a beautiful car or a gorgeous woman, drive it like you stole it. Let there be no confusion. I am a proper motorist; courteous and respectful of the law. But when Ms. Rivaini handed me the keys to the '66 Shelby and shot me her signature smirk, it was game on. It would not at all be presumptuous to say that I took full advantage of both invitations. Fourth, hair-pulling is not just for little girls.
Those thoughts aside, I think Isabela was starting to really enjoy our little arrangement. She now had someone whom she could train early and shape into a loyal companion, lover, and jester. She was beginning to trust me. Our little adventure with her car proved that much, in conjunction with our shared bath earlier that morning. Logically speaking, I knew that she was simply being practical. But I'd take what I could get.
So, with the sun beaming down upon the four post bed, I was doing my best to show my appreciation. What had been intended as a simple wake-up kiss turned into a mid-morning make-out session, which was only cut short by my girlfriend's insistence that I de-glitter myself before I could 'inspire Stephenie Meyer's next novel'. Of course she acted disgusted by my mussed hair and general body odor, but it was I who got the last laugh. By the way, telling the Pirate Queen that she's lost her land-legs as she staggers out of bed is a surefire way to start a wrestling match.
Lesson number five: the safe word is 'siren'.
It was Isabela's idea to stop by my dorm room to check on Merrill and possibly invite her to join us for lunch with Varric. After hearing of Aveline's daring rescue, she half expected to see the two in bed together. Luckily, nothing of the sort had occurred and my precious sanity was to be left untainted with the images of my best friends entwined. No, that disease of the mind did not onset until some time later.
As I quietly unlocked my door and stepped inside, we found Daisy sprawled out on her bunk, halfway out of the covers and still wearing her clothes from last night. She was even snoring, although it sounded more like an obese cat's purr. It was actually kind of adorable. And on the floor by her head was a wastebasket. She was obviously too disheveled to have put it there herself. Aveline: always looking out for number two.
My girlfriend took a seat on my bunk as I hung up my jacket. I rubbed my hands anxiously, preparing myself for a hungover Kitten. I would be the first to encounter the beast and I wasn't sure what to expect. My tan companion found my restlessness amusing, evident by her lopsided grin. "Would you like me to wake Sleepy McDrunky-Pants?" She joked as I flattened back my hair.
"I appreciate the offer, but I should do it. She's my roommate, after all." I noted calmly. I leaned against the foot of Merrill's bed, trying to decide how best to rouse the inebriated woman without scaring her. Silently, I walked around to her side. "Merrill?" I whispered softly. She didn't so much as shift. "Merrill?" I called a little louder and she sunk her face deeper into her pile of pillows. The movement wafted her scent into my nose. The excess alcohol in her body was escaping through her sweat and mingling with her natural aroma of flowers. Honestly, she stank. Slightly exasperated, I placed a hand on her shoulder and lightly shook her. "Rise and shine, Daisy!" I chimed sarcastically.
She gave a high-pitched whine and mumbled, "Too… early." Isabela and I both chuckled as she buried herself under her blanket, blocking both us and the sun completely out.
"I know its Sunday, buddy, but I've never seen you sleep past 10." I commented coolly.
My roommate nearly threw off the covers, quickly wrenching her head upwards to address me. "Why didn't you wake me earlier?" She asked, frustration obvious in her somewhat raspy voice. I just rolled my eyes as she turned over and attempted to sit up. "Oh, my aching-"
"Head?" I asked sardonically as she rubbed her brow.
"Yes." She replied, blinking her big green eyes a few times. "And everything is all-"
"Blurry?" I assumed again, remembering my hangover just 24 hours prior. Merrill simply groaned, shutting her eyes and shifting her body. She sat quietly on the edge of her bed with her legs dangling and her face hidden in her hands. Her jeans were wrinkled, the straps of her tank top had slid off of her shoulders, her hair was going every which way, and what I could see of her face was covered in drool.
Isabela was the only one brave enough to say anything. "You look like shit, Kitten." She observed bluntly. Although I agreed on a logical level, I shot my girlfriend a dirty look, warning her of her lacking tactfulness.
Daisy cracked one eye open, gazing over at her friend. "Isabela?"
"In the flesh." She remarked confidently, smoothing the hem of her dress. "How are you feeling, girly?"
The young woman tried to rub the sleep from her eyes. "Is the world spinning?"
I chuckled to myself as I reached down to pick up the wastebasket. "Technically, the Earth rotates at over 1600 kilometers an hour. But I think it's the booze making you ill." I teased her, placing the receptacle on her lap in case she felt the sudden need to vomit. She's so green that she matches her outfit, I noted with minor amusement.
Merrill hugged the object tightly to her chest. "How much did I drink? I wasn't a bother, was I?" She asked worriedly, a twinge of embarrassment in her voice.
"How much do you remember about last night, Kitten?" Isabela asked apprehensively. I sat beside my roommate on her bunk, waiting patiently while she closed her eyes and searched her memories.
"We went to dinner. I had trouble using the chopsticks… Then we went to a club. You gave me a drink. The two of you started dancing… There were some blonde women… Music…," she recalled hazily. She blinked up at my girlfriend, her head tilted curiously. "Did someone carry me back here?"
I couldn't hold back a snicker as I remembered Man-Hands throwing Merrill over her shoulder and hulkishly lugging her off to a patrol car. My little friend turned to me, probably wondering what the laughter was about. I just shook my head. "All you need to know is that you got a little too drunk and Aveline saved you before you did anything silly," I remarked with a pat to her shoulder.
"Oh. I suppose I should thank her, then." She muttered softly. I pretended not to notice the blush on her cheeks at the mere mention of our mutual friend. Isabela quickly cleared her throat, shooting her Kitten a polite smile.
"Maybe later, sweet thing. For now, let's get you cleaned up." She asserted as she slid from my bed, her voice maternal, with just the slightest hint of its usual seductive tone.
The idea of her 'mothering' stretched my lips into a nerdy smile and I retrieved the wastebasket from Merrill's lap, helping her onto wobbly feet. "Straight to the shower with you, Daisy. I'd hate for you to wilt away."
I allowed my girlfriend to lead her to the shower room while I gathered her soap caddy. I prefer my soap without crushed rose petals inside, thank you. Once my roommate was safely behind the first curtain, I stood guard just outside. I let her fall on the tile and Big Girl will kill me for sure. Isabela gave me a quick wink and slid behind the curtain as well, apparently to help Merrill get undressed. I whistled anxiously as the rustling and giggling continued behind me, finally comforted when my girlfriend emerged with an armful of laundry. She pinched my behind as she walked past, whispering into my ear. "No peeking." The comment was coated in sarcasm and I tried not to roll my eyes too much, lest she think I was insulting her friend. But still, Merrill? The idea was completely ridiculous to me. She's like a sister, or maybe a cousin. I heard the second curtain close and the water begin to flow. As the older woman retreated, I breathed a sigh of relief. At least she doesn't need help bathing.
I was halfway through What Do You Do With a Drunk Sailor when Daisy spoke up from within the shower. "Do you think Aveline would accept a batch of cookies? You know, for coming to my rescue?" She called above the sound of the stream.
"From you? Without question." I answered seriously. I could hear a thoughtful hum as a reply. Once I was sure that she no longer needed supervision, I went to find Isabela. She was sitting comfortably in my desk chair, her back to me and her legs propped up. She was flipping through one of my Harley Quinn comic books. I chuckled quietly as she held a page up on its side, whistling theatrically. I cleared my throat and she turned her head to me, revealing a completely innocent bit of artwork. I shook my head, accepting the little joke. "'Bela, if you're not too busy, do you mind throwing some fresh clothing together for Merrill?" I teased.
She set my comic down and turned the chair around slowly, grinning playfully at me. "Don't want to dig through your roommate's closet, Hawke? Afraid you'll find something… intriguing?" She asked with her eyebrow lifted and her arms crossed.
"There are some things I just don't want to know about my friends, 'Bela; the contents of their underwear drawer being number one." I informed her sincerely, trying despite myself to maintain eye-contact. It was increasingly difficult, considering the way her cream-colored dress fit so snugly, barely containing her breasts.
"You've seen my undergarments numerous times. Are you telling me that we're not friends, Cassandra?" Ms. Rivaini feigned insult, her face gripped in mock surprise. But it was a little overacted, her posture was a little too sexual, and her use of my first name was a little too obvious. I smiled mischievously as I slowly waltzed up to her, rolling the chair backwards and placing my hands on the desk behind her shoulders, leaving our faces just an inch apart. She looked up at me with the devil in her eyes as she licked her bottom lip.
That was all the permission I needed. I quickly captured her lips, kissing her with all of the passion she had come to expect from me, zealously worshipping her mouth with my own. She replied by hooking her fingers into the belt-loops of my jeans and holding me in place. The moment her tongue demanded entrance, I broke the embrace, smirking audaciously. "Mm. I don't think friends do that. But they do help each other find an outfit," I reminded her, tilting my head toward Merrill's closet.
Isabela sighed, combing some stray hairs behind her ears. "Alright, alright. But if I find anything interesting, don't expect me to keep the news to myself." I stood up straight, simply nodding in affirmation. There was no point arguing with her; I knew that much. As my girlfriend stood (smoothing out her dress and looking oh so smug) I heard Daisy call me from down the hall. I quickly exited, somewhat grateful for the interruption. The last thing I needed was to get all riled up before spending a few hours without privacy.
I was hardly three steps out of the doorway before I heard the Pirate Queen's excited squeal. "Ooo, look at these!" My head hung in a mix of awkward embarrassment and disgust, I went about my duties. The things I do for my friends…
The drive to the café felt like a journey of a hundred years. An awkward hundred years, at that. I hadn't heard a peep out of Merrill since Isabela and I corralled her into the car. When my hungover roommate had called me back to the bathroom earlier, she had asked me to relay anything I remembered from last night. She seemed to be forgetting something important, but I didn't know what. And when I told her everything I could recall (the Rose, Jess and Peggy, Aveline's daring rescue), she seemed unfulfilled. She had chatted with my girlfriend casually enough as she dressed, though. Isabela picked out a pretty nice outfit for her; tall brown boots (which I'd never seen her wear before), jeans, a green knitted sweater, and another scarf identical to the yellow-green one she had misplaced at the club. She seemed comfortable in the back seat. Just… eerily quiet.
The Pirate Queen looked back at our friend in the rear-view mirror. "I think you'll feel much better after a good meal." She advised our friend politely, speaking from her numerous experiences with excessive alcohol consumption.
I didn't expect Merrill to actually reply. It was kind of a rhetorical statement. But she sighed, finally averting her gaze from the view outside her window. Out of the side mirror, I caught her eyes wandering momentarily around the vehicle. Her expression was that of a wanderer lost in a fog. It was as if she only just realized where she was and by whom she was being addressed. She blinked her big green eyes as she pushed a few misplaced hairs away from her temples. "I hope you're right, Isabela. I've got such a headache…" She groaned.
"Can't say Varric will help that any." I admitted, turning in my seat to face my roommate. "The man sure does love the sound of his own voice."
"Is he a singer?" Merrill asked sweetly, her head tilted in curiosity.
"Um… not that I know of. I believe Hawke was referring to his loquaciousness, actually." Isabela interjected from the driver's seat, her tone entirely informative.
The geek in me was highly pleased and impressed with my girlfriend's expansive vocabulary. I couldn't help but to turn my head to grin cheesily at her. I held up a finger, drawing a tally in the air. "Gold star for your proper use of the word 'loquacious'. Keep racking those up and you'll be head of the class in no time." I asserted sarcastically, winking none-too-subtlely at my elfish little friend. Merrill covered her mouth and giggled lightly. After last night's misadventures, this morning's misery, and the last few days of relative isolation, I was relieved at the sound. That's my Daisy!
Isabela rolled her eyes, shook her head, and even threw me a mildly amused smirk for good measure. I could tell she was thinking something along the lines of 'how many gold stars have I earned for all of the sex we've been having?' But she said nothing, instead focusing on the road ahead.
As we rounded the final turn, we caught sight of the tiny brick café. Our little dark-haired companion leaned in toward the window, taking in the architecture. Well, probably just the purple morning glories that decorated the front entrance. "Is this where we're having lunch?" She asked politely.
"It's a bit late for breakfast, and a tad early for dinner…" Bela's voice was dripping in derision as she pulled into the parking lot. Meanwhile Daisy just blinked up at her, lost in the mockery.
"Ignore the peanut gallery, Merrill." Our driver gave a shrug, not proffering any condolences for her sarcasm. Isabela and snark are like forests and trees; It comes with the territory. I slid out of the car, propping the door open for our passenger. When she didn't make an effort to exit, I held out my hand. "Come on."
With a light groan and a fair bit of uncoordination on her part, she was up and out. She kept looking up at the sky, closing her eyes and scrunching her face in discomfort. "When did the sun become so bright? Or was it always like this?" Light sensitivity, as well? My, you're a fun drunk.
"It's much more comfortable inside, I promise." Isabela remarked, leading us graciously through the doors. Daisy didn't seem to mind the low lighting and she continued to scan the interior of the café as we made our way to Varric's table. It was a pretty slow day, I noticed. There were only 3 other customers, and a chef and what looked like a manager of some sort (I assume, as he was dressed in a suit) sat together at a table looking at paint samples and various printouts. It didn't faze me; remodels are a normal part of business.
Both Merrill and Isabela were distracted by the large dessert display and had to be physically pressured into walking the final 10 feet to Varric, who sat behind his tablet with a Bluetooth in one ear. It took my girlfriend clearing her throat to get his attention. He nearly hopped out of his seat, removing the device immediately from his ear and recovering his senses.
"Ladies! How nice to see you again!" The dwarf greeted us enthusiastically. "And… you've brought a friend." He noted, his voice a little more friendly than usual.
My elfish companion just stared curiously at him for a moment. Attempting to break the awkwardness, I stood alongside her, gesturing between the two. "This is my roommate, Merrill MacDougal. Merrill, this is-" The small man shuffled from his chair, cutting me off with a bow and a grin.
"Varric Tethras, at your service." He quickly reached for her hand, pecking regally at its back. Ok, that's definitely flirtatious.
Isabela must have noticed the same. She gently patted his shoulder when she passed, whispering "down boy" as she took her seat. Only the three of us must have heard, because Daisy immediately gave her best curtsy. She may be a fool with chopsticks, but she curtsies like a pro.
"It's very nice to meet you Mr. Tethras." She said innocently, her cheeks a little pinker than earlier and a small smile playing on her lips.
The two rose to stand normally, so I moved each toward a spot at the table, planting myself between my girlfriend and our host. As we got situated, he continued to chat with Merrill. "Please, just call me Varric."
"I suppose that's shorter," she replied nonchalantly. I couldn't help but bring my hand to cover my face. Here we go… Isabela chuckled lightly into her fingertips. Varric just sat silently at the comment. "Oh, that sounded offensive, didn't it? I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-" She sputtered frantically, her dainty arms flailing every which way. But just when I thought our welcome had run out and Varric would call for an order of insensitive bitch with a side of 'fuck you', the scruffy blonde started laughing.
"I'll have to remember that one!" He continued to chortle throatily as he began to work on his tablet. "I think I need a new set of business cards! 'Varric. It's Shorter.' Hmm… That would save some ink, come to think of it." The dwarf continued his typing whilst everyone else overcame the near-disastrous embarrassment.
"That sounds very green." Merrill noted, the flush finally starting to fade from her face. "And you can call me Daisy, if you'd like. That's what all my friends call me."
"I think I'll do that." Varric replied in turn, smiling brightly as he packed away his electronics, clearing the table for food.
The two continued to yak idly about the relative size of their relatives and where they were from. I'll be honest, I was a little too tired to listen intently. Isabela seemed wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, however. After a time, she leaned toward me, propping her face in one hand. "Look at them bonding. Isn't it adorable?" She whispered against my cheek. I had to admit, it was kind of cute. Unlike the noise that erupted from my hungry stomach. I quickly cleared my throat, catching the attention of our fun-sized counterparts.
"Anyway… What about some lunch? Perhaps a cure-all meal? Isabela decided to take us both to the Rose last night, and it got a little out of hand. Daisy's got a bit of a hangover." I informed our host, gesturing to my roommate with a tilt of the head.
The dwarf seemed to consider it for a moment. He tapped one plump finger against his chin, looking up in some search for inspiration. "Hmm… How do you feel about waffles?" He turned his head toward his new friend, smirking as if he had just discovered the cure to AIDS. He might as well have.
"I love waffles!" Daisy chirped enthusiastically, sitting straight up in her seat. Then she shifted her eyes, scanning the room suspiciously. I watched as she leaned toward him, asking under her breath, "do they have… chocolate chips? And real maple syrup?"
"Of course! Anything you want, sweetness." Isabela answered for him, her smile genuine. That made Merrill happy for about half a second, but then her head drooped.
"How much is it? I have-" she said as she reached for the wallet in her back pocket. Considering how broke I was and that we both were in a similar financial situation (paying for tuition, room, and board), her wallet was probably just as empty as mine. And that's saying something. I found a moth in mine once. A live one, in fact. It had probably been feeding on my hopes and dreams.
Varric stopped her short, placing a stubby hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about it. I never let a lady pay." He assured her charmingly.
Isabela seemed to take offense to the comment, immediately righting her posture. "You make me pay all the time!" She retorted, her pride wounded.
Her long-time friend simply turned his head to her, his voice calm and calculating. "My point exactly." He said with a vicious grin.
"Ouch…" I felt a bit hurt for her. But she sat back down and shrugged.
"It's a fair cop." She admitted evenly. Given her track record with multiple sexual partners, it was a bit warranted. But still… Merrill didn't say anything, probably confused at our banter. My girlfriend shifted toward me, gesturing to the chalkboard menu above the cash register. "Pick your poison, Hawke."
I quickly scanned it, finding precisely what I was looking for. "Quiche Lorraine, s'il vous plait." I requested in my best Quebecoise accent.
My well-traveled companion grinned devilishly at me as she gracefully rose from her seat. "Avec plaisir," she replied, her more Parisian dialect sounding far more seductive than my own. The kiss I received helped, too.
"Red! I didn't know you spoke French!" Merrill chimed in upon Isabela's absence, her voice shrill with surprise.
"What can't she do?" Varric chuckled as I adjusted my jacket. "She's also fluent in cunnig- Oof!" I caught him just in the nick of time, kicking him none-too-lightly in the shin. I gestured toward my roommate, clearing my throat loudly. She sat quietly, her big green eyes blinking in a daze. Varric responded with a few nods of his head. "Right, right. 'No sex talk'. Loud and clear, Hawke." I silently thanked him, hoping she wouldn't catch onto the comment. I liked her just the way she was: innocent.
"Sex talk?" She asked with another curious tilt of the head. There goes the neighborhood. Good job short-stuff.
I sucked in my cheeks, considering how much to divulge. I knew that she was an adult, that she was mature… But she was still Merrill. I spoke calmly, but indirectly. "Varric lives in the apartment above Isabela's. And he gets a kick out of reminding me of how much he can hear through the ceiling."
"What can he- OH." Her green eyes widened suddenly. Then her expressions turned serious. "Is it usually quite noisy?"
I held up one finger, mouth agape with surprise. I was probably looking for a response of some sort, but my mind was completely blank. I am a very clinical and logical person, but I was completely taken aback by my roommate's insistent (and perhaps a little too invested) curiosity. But before I could blow her off and tell her to google it, 'Bela came to the rescue. She snuck up behind me, running a hand through my short hair and resting it there. "It depends on who you're with, Kitten." I knew there was a wink thrown in there based on the blush on Merrill's cheeks. Varric, of course, just rubbed his scruffy jaw, sitting as a silent audience to our female drama. The Pirate Queen shrugged off our awkwardness, gliding gracefully into her seat beside me. "What? It's an honest question." She said with a little smirk on her voluptuous lips.
I nearly made a comeback, but I saw the waiter approach with our lunch. Right on cue! I rubbed my palms together, all too eager for the distraction. "Let's eat, shall we?" The group seemed to agree. Well, mostly.
Isabela crossed her legs, addressing Daisy directly. "If you have any other questions, Kitten, I'm your gal." I ignored the comment, focusing on the meal coming my way. I was in the process of laying my napkin across my lap when my girlfriend shifted in her chair. She began leaning heavily against me. Her breasts pressed against my upper arm and I gulped hard. "I've got all sorts of books and diagrams for you if you need a little… inspiration." Her breath was hot against my neck and I could feel my pupils dilating. This has got to be payback for last week! God, I'm glad I'm not a man. This table would have an extra leg holding it up!
"So… when am I going to meet this other friend of yours? Ave- Avenue? Vaseline?" Varric interrupted us just as she was about to go in for the kill, her lips ghosting over my pulsating carotid artery. I sat up a little straighter, resting an awkward arm over my girlfriend's shoulders and clearing my throat.
"Aveline." I corrected him politely. "I'm not sure, exactly. She took Merrill home last night, but that's the most I've seen of her in a while. She's not exactly Isabela's biggest fan, so she's been avoiding me since… well, the night you and I met." I informed him.
"'Not my biggest fan?' I think that's a bit of an understatement." My tan companion noted, not seeming at all interested in her snack platter or wine. Merrill seemed similarly preoccupied, the butter melting atop her waffles as she stared blankly.
Our token male took one bite out of his sandwich before addressing us all, lifting a wide and weathered hand in my roommate's direction. "Well, if she's even half as pretty as this young lady, then I would love to meet her."
That's when things got a little strange.
Merrill's eyes grew three sizes that day as she suddenly clasped her hands over her mouth. She looked as if she had just run over someone's puppy. We sat with lips agape as she began to chant, "Oh dear… Oh dear…"
Varric was the first one to inquire about the sudden mood swing. "Merrill? Are you feeling sick?" He asked courteously, his brown eyes searching her countenance for clues.
"Oh no, no, no!" She continued to mumble under her dainty fingers, her head shaking violently.
Isabela hopped up in her seat, scooting her chair closer to our mutual friend. "Kitten, what's wrong?" She asked, her voice somewhat harsh with concern.
"I did something terrible! Aveline will never speak to me again!" Her face began to furrow with some unknown pain. She began to rock on her toes in her chair, like a child whose toy was taken away. It hurt me to watch her.
"Why? What did you do?" I asked frantically, hoping it was something silly; something genuinely Merrill. She probably made some slip about Aveline looking good in uniform or something. She was pretty touchy about it last night. "This is my uniform. I was at work. An unfamiliar concept, I know!"
With those inconsequential ideas in mind, I was dumbstruck by the real reason for my friend's sudden outburst. "I-I… kissed her." She confessed, her palms covering her bright red cheeks. A silence befell the table. I was surprised that she held those feelings, Isabela was surprised at her boldness, and Varric was just confused. The quiet didn't stop her rambling. "And… I think she liked it. I think I liked it!" She squeaked as her blush continued to spread, her eyes intensifying in color as well.
Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle… I was the first one to realize the ramifications of her actions. Aveline is still sailing the ship Denial and Daisy just scuttled her on the reef. I leaned into the table, motioning in a downward direction. "Alright, alright. Just slow down. Why did you kiss Aveline?" I asked calmly. I couldn't imagine it being some random act.
"She called me pretty. So I kissed her. A lot, I think." Merrill answered from behind her hands, sounding a bit shocked at herself. I can honestly say that my skin tone was beginning to match her crimson.
"And she let you?" My girlfriend chimed in, flabbergasted. When she received a series of frantic head nods, she began to chuckle. She gestured for our companion to continue, a pervy smirk on her lips. "Keep going. I'm all ears now."
The elfish woman cleared her throat, looking slightly calmer. "Well… then… I-I blew chunks. In the sink. And she carried me to bed…" She regaled us, though she kept looking down. Her memories were probably still fuzzy.
"This is going to be good." Varric noted, rubbing his palms together.
"Shush!" I commanded with a sharp expression. Nothing but gutter-minds at this table. I turned back to my roommate, tilting my head graciously. "Ignore him."
We sat pensive for the remainder of the story. That's when things got really interesting. Daisy's expression contorted into panic and she buried her face in her hands. "…And she told me to forget it ever happened. T-That it didn't matter!" And then the waterworks ensued.
"Kitten, Kitten. Don't cry, sweetness!" Isabela practically begged, wrapping herself around the young woman and holding her reddened face to her chest. Merrill continued to cry, her body wracked in emotional pain. My lover turned to me, malice in her amber eyes. "That's it! Aveline is a marked woman!" She hissed, holding her charge ever tighter. Varric seemed to agree as he slowly cracked the knuckle of one hand whilst placing the other sympathetically on his new friend's shoulder.
I'll admit, I was confused. They kissed, they liked it, but then Aveline threw a fit? It didn't seem to make sense. "Now, wait a minute!" I addressed them. "Man-Hands is a lot of things. Snarky, judgmental, maybe a little cold. But cruel? That's not like her at all. And considering Daisy's alcohol-induced amnesia, I think we should get her side of the story before we sharpen our pitchforks." I tried to deflate the situation. Varric responded accordingly, sinking back down in his seat.
"I know I'm kind of a fourth wheel here, but can I help any?" He asked, glancing between Isabela and I.
My girlfriend continued to rock and soothe our mutual friend, petting her hair comfortingly. "Hey Kitten, I have a great idea. How's about Varric and I take you back to my apartment? I can show you around, then we can watch movies. I've got a really big TV. Does that sound good, sweet thing?" She cooed tenderly. I could see a hint of a nod against her tan chest. The woman is a bona fide genius. A bus boy happened to pass by then and Isabela gestured to our practically untouched meals. "Wrap all this up to go, will ya?" The man nodded and scurried away dutifully.
"What about Red?" I heard Merrill mumble, her tears beginning to slow.
I leaned closer, wrapping one arm around my female companions. "I'll meet up with you guys later. I'm going to go talk to Aveline." I informed her sweetly.
"Don't fight with her. It's not her fault…" She sputtered, attempting to wipe the snot and saline from her face. The Pirate Queen removed the napkin from her lap and used it to clean her up a bit, still holding her close.
I sighed. I had a bone to pick with my best friend and teammate. But my newfound cohorts were here to help. I pressed a small kiss to Isabela's temple, thanking her for the assist. Then I reached down to lift Merrill's chin, speaking to her directly. "The kiss may not be. But as for the rest, she has some explaining to do."