At first, Ari hadn’t recognized her friend. The dress (definitely closer to pink than almost any other shade the bard could think of) was one thing, but what really threw her was…
The baby. In the tophat. And the bowtie.
It took a moment of confused blinking before she had to admit that yes, the woman in the mostly-pink dress was definitely Chloë. The baby, well… Ari had no idea (she was beginning to suspect that she had not caught up with some of her friends in far too long), but perhaps that was a mystery easily solved. Approaching the machinist, Ari said, “If I didn’t ask, I’d make up all sorts of improbable stories, so really, it’s in your best interest to answer. Have I missed something…” she eyed the baby warily, “significant?”
---
Zevran made a gurgling sound and then rested again on Chloë. She smiled to Ari when the other woman came up and then flashed a grin as asked what happened. "I'm just babysitting him for a friend," Chloë said, "and this party gave me an excuse to put him in a hat, so what more could I want?" If Ari didn't know the child was Rhys's already, then it wasn't Chloë's place to tell her.
"I love the hat," she said with an amused grin on her face and then turned to show the baby's face to look at Ari, "Say hello to Zevran. Zevran, this is Ari. If you're lucky, she may one day sing you a lullaby."
---
“If he fusses, you know I will,” the bard said. Fortunately, the baby seemed content to stare at her for now. It wasn’t that she… disliked children. She mostly just didn’t find herself exposed to them very often. This one seemed fine enough. Cute, in his way. Reminiscent of someone, maybe, but she couldn’t quite figure out who...
“Aren’t you accommodating?” Ari said. “I don’t think any of my friends could pay me enough, but it seems like you’re quite content to do it free of charge. Whose is it?” She went quickly though their female friends, dismissed each. She would have noticed. Her eyes lit with sudden curiosity. “Don’t tell me one of our gentleman friends has been thus gifted? Oh, that’s rich. Who is it?”
She peered at the child again, trying to work out whether any of the features on the tiny face would point her to the right answer.
---
Chloë wasn't really all that accommodating, and Ari must have known that. Normally, Chloë did this for money, and she'd actually volunteered to take him to the party. Rhys by now knew that Chloë absolutely adored Zevran.
"Can't say, sworn to secrecy," Chloë said and would've made an x-shape over her heart but the baby was currently there, "My lips are sealed, Arielle dearest, and I can neither confirm nor deny any guesses, so do not attempt." Keeping secrets weren't necessarily Chloë's forte, but Rhys had been rather thorough in his instructions. No one was to know unless he told them.
She smiled mysteriously, "I guess you'll find out when the person is ready to share." It was sort of fun knowing something before someone else. Chloë could get used to this.