How do you get Varric to hug you? [SOLVED]

It might be connected if you took Varric with you to the Fade or not. At least, looking at youtube videos, the ones who did not have the hug option had the option to say "She/he said goodbye to you". (Which I assume means that the Quizzy didn't take Varric with them.)
But not 100% on that.

It must be approval based. I only left Hawke behind once and Varric wasn't with me. We had a hug and I felt so bad about it that I reloaded and sacrificed Stroud, yet again. It might have been different if it was Alistair but I really couldn't see the point in letting Hawke die when Stroud doesn't even bother staying around to help rebuild the Wardens even if you let them stay.

Note that Varric's approval depends on if he's in the party when you destroy red lyrium. He Slightly Approves when absent and Approves when present.

I don't think it is approval based. Or at least, I got the hug without trying at all to improve Varric's approval.

Did not know about this. Good ol' expendable Stroud always takes one for the team in my playthroughs