Hawke isn't about to warn him that Varric rarely likes to her of omission either. In letters, absolutely, because who knows what eyes might see it. It's when the nicknames he came up with really came in handy. But when they caught up in person, he told her most of what he knew. She still prefers making her own mind up on people though. She grins at him. "But not complicated? Don't tell me you're secretly a simple innocent thing, what would be the fun in that?" She does agree he's handsome, no doubt about that, but she also doesn't have to confirm it.

She is quiet, uncharacteristically, when he talks about his powers. It does seem like he's figured out he doesn't have them, but confirming solidly one way or the other seems an intense choice. Still. Hawke sighs and has a seat across from him. "They took everyone's powers away, Dorian. Whoever it is that has us here, still no answers on that. No one has their original powers. And I don't think they've gotten them back." And it's been years, so that's saying something. She's saying it as kindly as she can, because she knows the mages in her life would be devastated by something so drastic.

"It is written that some people displayed new abilities here that they never had before, but I haven't seen any myself." But there was some hope? Maybe? "There's also this machine that gives people powers, but sometimes it's broken I guess, or it doesn't really do what someone expects." Still, at least he now knows there's two vague options that don't make him completely powerless. Just ... not ideal ones.