Ghost Story

[Varric]

"I've been standing on my own for almost a decade now. I manage."

[GamesMaster]

"You're a ghost, too," says Bethie softly. 

[Varric]

A ghost too, huh? "More vampire or lich," Varric replies blandly, hand tightly clenched at his side. 

[GamesMaster]

"You're not sucking the life out of anyone. You're not immortal. You're dead inside, hoping someone else can bring you back into yourself."

[Varric]

"I walk, I act, I think. i don't need hope, I don't need help. I'm surviving just fine." Varric rolls over, away from Bethie. "That's enough for now. Maybe I'll change my mind later, but that's my choice. Not yours, not the gods. Mine."

[GamesMaster]

"You only have until Teseline's day," she replies, sadly. "I'm sorry. I wish it wasn't true. But we're so tired. We've been waiting so long."

[Varric]

The stubborn, contrary part of Varric growls softly at the deadline (pun intended). "Then I get you more time. Kill the phobophage before then, make an offering to bolster you. I can fine-tune the details ongoing." His voice is certain, confident, but he's aware underneath that his words are bravado. Not as much as most would be saying it, but still not as absolute as he'd prefer. 

[GamesMaster]

"You're nearly awake. Please. Remember. Open your heart. Solve yourself. Save me. Please."

That's the last thing he remembers until morning.

[GamesMaster]

Emma sleeps in the next day; Varric oversleeps a little as well, and there's a hurried knock on his front door as he's just finishing up breakfast. Of all the people in town to expect, he didn't expect Rhea; he spies Emma drifting down the hall toward the door as he pulls it open, clearly having just woken up. 

[Varric]

"Rhea!" Varric calls out loudly as he pulls the door open.  He pitches his voice to carry down the hall, though he's careful not to be so loud as to tip Rhea off that he's trying to tip someone else off about her. "What brings you this far from town?"

[GamesMaster]

"It's Mark," she says, with a hiccuping sob. 

[Varric]

Marc-- "Your son?" A beat. "They took him, didn't they?"

[GamesMaster]

Rhea nods, taking a deep, shuddering breath. "I can pay you. If you help him escape."

[Varric]

"What are they accusing him of?"Varric asks, waving that off.

[GamesMaster]

"Nothing yet, they just took him for questioning."