An Episode of Wasting Time With Varric
Ysmere flinched as an unexpected finger jabbed him in the ribs, he looked down to see Varric retracting one stubby finger from the small gap in his leather armour just under his arm.
“Soo, Ginger... You and the Seeker, huh?” The dwarf gave him a sly look.
“... What?” Ysmere paused, his feet sinking in the ruddy sands of the Approach.
“Oh c’mon... I’ve seen the way you look at her.” Varric grinned.
“Is there something I should know?” Dorian teased, arching an eyebrow at him.
“Apparently I’m leaving you for Cassandra.” Ysmere replied with an airy wave of his hand.
Dorian grabbed his chest, theatrically stricken. “No! Whatever shall I do?! Please, please, tell me it isn’t true, Amatus!”
“I’m afraid so, ma’lath.” The Inquisitor said gravely. “If Varric said so, then clearly, it must be true. Fare thee well, ma’Enlea! May you find someone more worthy of your affections than this loathsome and wanton elf.” He swept his brow dramatically with the back of his wrist as he finished.
“Alright, alright, I get it-” Varric raised his hands in submission.
“Seriously though, where have you been for the past, what, Six, seven months, Varric?” Iron Bull put in, shaking his head. “I thought you said you were an observer.”
“Apparently my observational skills aren’t entirely infallible and I, very occasionally, miss some small details.” Varric shrugged.
“Right... Like the dancing at Halamshiral...?” Ysmere smirked, bumping shoulders playfully with Dorian.
“I just thought you two were probably drunk-”
“Oh, we were. Very drunk.” Dorian put in, amused.
“and wanting to stir up some shit at the Winter Palace.”
“Varric, I had just knifed the Empress’ cousin, in front of the entire court, not three hours before-”
“Not one of your more politic moves there, Boss...”
“Dorian and I could have danced naked and it would still have been one of the lesser scandals of the night.”
“There was a great deal of naked dancing that night, if I recall...” Dorian smiled.
“Wait. There was naked dancing, and I missed it?” Bull seemed almost offended.
“It was private invitation only, I’m afraid.” Ysmere said loftily, sharing in Dorian’s smile.
“Yes, you’ll have to forward ahead if you wish an invitation to the Inquisitor’s next Nudists Ball. It’s all very exclusive.” The mage’s haughty tone was betrayed by the sparkle in his eyes and the mirth tugging at the corners of his lips. Ysmere’s shoulders shook with silent laughter, while Bull’s laugh was loud and raucous. Varric shook his head and started walking.
“Damn, That’s a ball I woul-” Bull was cut off by the shattering roar of a massive dragon dragging her claws briefly over the sandstone arch over the ravine up ahead.
“Shit.” Varric swore shortly.
“Would you look! Magnificent! Tell me we’re going to fight her, Boss!” Bull was wild-eyed as he watched the dragon fly directly overhead.
“I’d say there’s a fair-to-decent chance.” Ysmere replied blandly, though his eyes betrayed his excitement.
“Vishante kaffas...” Dorian murmured tightly, looking an altogether different sort of wild-eyed as he saw the look on the Inquisitor’s face.
So, this bit of random dialogue with Varric has come up in multiple play throughs, every time I was not romancing Cassandra. I just had to do something about it. So you can blame Varric’s apparently terrible observational skills for this bit of silliness.
The title is taken from a running joke in an episode of Cowboy Bebop. “So ends another episode of wasting time with Fay.”