"Maker, no. I'll say this: Varric is an excellent storyteller. But the way he writes some of his stories... He knows his audience. He knows he can sell those book to every lonely man and woman in all of Kirkwall. He strings them along." She smirked. "But don't worry, I don't think he suspects you of being anything special so far. Hopefully."

She smiled as he drank, leaning back and making herself a little more comfortable. "Think nothing of it. Drinking alone is a sign of larger problems, or so I hear. Besides, it's a special enough occasion for it." He did get all of this together on his own. She wanted to repay him for that.

"And you're handling it well, too. Good for you," she teased lightly, leaning against his shoulder.