Varric rubbed sleep from his tired eyes as he slogged out of bed. He yawned impressively, before standing up and approaching the mirror.
He looked himself over, before smirking and singing a short song. The song itself was some ancient thing by the elves about change and accepting it, and Varric's incredible voice carried it through the tavern and out the window.
While this may have had a positive affect on whoever was listening, more importantly, it activated Varric's magic. Flower petals whipped about him, altering his appearance. His chest flattened, and his face became slightly less feminine.
He smiled at his appearance now, before getting dressed.
He'd had such an amazing time last night. After he had subtly tripped Guinevere with a small vine using his magic(AND SHE HAD ACCIDENTALLY BUSTED THE CHICKEN COOP! Varric was so proud!), he had decided to go on a bit of a prank spree. The chaos he'd spread through the town was incredible, and he looked forward to seeing it as he went about his day.
Seriously, he had started on a high note with the chicken coop, then went on to relabel all of the baker's measuring implements, and had used illusion magic to make the blacksmith's hammer invisible! And that was just the small stuff.
He grinned, remembering it all. He couldn't wait to skip town and just see where the road went, but in the mean time, he had some pretty nice adventures here.
Varric went about his morning routine, washing and making himself presentable. He wore a fanciful green garb with a feather cap, and strapped his Lute to his back. He looked at himself in the mirror, and grinned.
Yep, it was the start to a great day, and there was no way karma would effect him. All he had to do was turn around and leave his room.
He did the former, then looked at his bed. He blinked once, twice, then let out a noise somewhere between a groan and a curse.
Sitting on his pillow, was a flower yet to bloom.
Varric panicked. If that was what he thought it was, his life could be ruined. He picked up the flower, and felt something stir in his soul.
Dammit.
In a week, it would bloom, and Varric would be tied to someone.
He gritted his teeth, fighting back tears. He had been planning his leaving for adventure for years now. It was all he'd wanted. He wanted to do great deeds and save maidens and slay dragons and take a string of lovers and make his mark on history. Like his mom.
He looked up to her. His early years involved a lot of riding in a little baby carrier on her back as she adventured. He witnessed her doing incredible things, and knew early on that was what he wanted to do. Whenever her companions talked to him, they asked if he would follow in his mom's foot steps. He always responded with a resounding YES.
Now...That could all be over.
He tucked the flower into a pocket inside his jacket. He had to talk to Guinevere about this, see what she thought. He went downstairs.
His mother had just finished regailing a bar maid with a tale. Varric smiled as he saw his mother. If there was ever the right parent for Varric, it was her. Most people would try to tame Varric's wildness. Marion nurtured it. Even when she "forbid" him from adventuring, Varric for the feeling she was just trying to get him to rebel.
"Varric! Good morning. I was just regailing Nanda with the tale of the flowers!"
Varric blinked.
"Ah, the great gift, and yet punishment as well, inflicted by the great Stag on the Prince Parius, for witnessing his brother's careless destruction of the Stag's flowers," Varric said dramatically, "Many a maiden awaits this gift, the flower that binds two souls forever. Mostly, they're hoping I get the matching flower, no doubt. And yet, some dread it's coming, waking up to find the unbloomed bud and wishing to curse the heavens for it!"
Marion looked at Varric strangely.
"But surely any buds of this kind would be for the best. After all, flowers, like adventures, meals and beds, are best when shared," Marion said with a smile, "And should any issues come up with my son's 'blooming', I'd hope he could talk to me."
Varric smiled, "But you know us youths. We think we know everything."
And with that, he left.
He made his way through the town in the early morning. He saw one of his pranks come to fruition before his eyes, as the cabbage salesman pushed his cart and one of the sides of the cart fell off, spilling cabbages everywhere.
"My cabbages!" The salesman cried.
Varric eventually made his way toward the Mayor's house. He saw a strange sight as he arrived. He heard the deer insulting the Ranger in the Mayor's voice, and couldn't help but chuckle.
He just HAD to figure out how to do that himself some time.
He raised his hand as he approached, grinning. He then unslung his Lute from his back, and called out to the Ranger.
"Need any help, fair Farrest? Surely a man of your wild beauty would not mind a bit of help from one who can wield the wilds that you know so well?"
He, in truth, wanted to show off to the Mayor a bit. Varric was a known trouble maker, and the Mayor's daughter Guinevere was his closest friend. It was best to show that he could be useful.
"And fair Guinevere, the radiant sun of my soul! After we rangle this slanderous sunflower scourge, there is a matter I must discuss with a lady of your acumen!"