"Did Varric just become stupid in Veilguard, that he'd walk up to Solas like that?"
No, I just think he knew. He's a 50-something year old rogue; he's lived in a sketchy tavern, fought all sorts of monsters, demons and abominations, witnessed all kinds of betrayal. He's seen it all, from Kirkwall to Ferelden and now Tevinter...you can't convince me he wasn't aware of what would most likely await him at the top of those stairs.
He knew, but he was tired. After losing Bartrand, Kirkwall, possibly Hawkeโbeing away from all his friends, who ended up dispersing all over Thedasโafter years of living with his regrets about the Deep Roads, about lyrium, about Biancaโabout Anders, whom he couldn't save. A friend whose mind he could not change, a haunting tale now mirrored in his elven companion.
What is there left for Varric Tethras? A broken city to govern, occasional letters from friends. Maybe, but he's so tired. So tired that his well-groomed stubble has now turned into a full bush across his sunken cheeks. His flashy earrings gone, his flamboyant chain and tunic replaced by a more sober outfit, now drained of the fiery, warm colours that used to adorn his wardrobe, his hair, his eyes. Almost in greyscale now, it'd be hard to know it's Varric if it wasn't for his steady sarcastic remarks.
No, Varric was not stupid. Not in 2, not in Inquisition, definitely not in Veilguard. He was just tired, and probably figured if it was time to go, the best way to do so would be to try and redeem himself for all his perceived past failures. A domino of disastrous events started by a lyrium instrument which caused the downfall of a Tethras, ending the same exact wayโexcept this time, it's one last sacrifice to try and break the cycle, to try and save a friend.
