Ghost Story

[Bethany]

"Well duh," Bethie mutters with a masterfully overdone eyeroll. If she didn't goof that them she goofed how Car feels. Can't both be right. Thought priests were supposed to be all smart and stuff? Dummy.

[Carver Amell]

Car bites his lower lip hard, trying to drive away tears. I didn't realize Mommy would be in trouble if I said something about being a boy... adults are complicated.

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

"Don't you try that sort of nonsense with me, Bright Braidan. I'm not one of the ignorant natives of this town that you can overawe with a reference to Love's Glorious Light," Leandra scoffs. "There's nothing wrong with my daughter. Or son, if that's what this leads to."

[Carver Amell]

There's nothing wrong with me! Car smiles at Beth. I'm not in trouble.

[Bethany]

And gets a dazzling smile in return, one tinged with smug pride. Mom's bad at saying nice things when she's upset but I guess she's better when she's mad at other people that the people she should be being nice about saying things. Uh. What was I thinking about with this? Right! "Peeking is the best" she mumbles. "See? Told you mom would be okay with it."

[Carver Amell]

"You were right," he mumbles back with a grin.

[Bethany]

"'course I was," Bethie brags. "I'm your twin. Duh." Her eyes widen and she grabs her twin's arm. Without explanation, she bolts for the back of the temple.

The door to the office is pushed open with a sharp shove. "I suggest you remember whose donations pay for-- what are you two doing?"

"Racing!"

[Carver Amell]

Car lengthens his stride, clinging to Beth's hand as he tries to edge her out, just a little bit. Just enough to not embarrass himself. 

[Varric]

We gots scolded but only a litle. I think Mom was just happy we weren't breaking anything and that Car was smiling. He don't smile as much as he did when we were litle. I think anyway. Mom said that she and Dad oh! I just thought! Dad isn't our dad, he's a new dad 'cause our old Dad is a worthles no good waistil vaggabond who don't care a wit about what seeds he planted. Mom said anyway. I sorta remember someone telling stories? And I have you from him! It's the best jounal in the whole village cause it lasts fourever and when I spilled juice on you REALLY SORRY ABOUT THAT it didn't stain even a litle. Whups, time for sweets! Bye!

"Emma would never spill juice on a book, even when she was seven," Varric mutters, not noticing the pride in his voice as he says it. "And should probably spell better two years before you. One 't' in little? Really?" Shaking his head, he makes a note of the name of the Bright (though he doubts it's spelled Braid-on) as well as the fact that Bethie's mother married a local noble with at least three kids from a previous mate. Should give me some leads to start looking into.

[GamesMaster]

As Varric prepares to go into town, he briefly pauses to knock on Emma's door and let her know he is heading out. A growl stops him; it seems the Mabari takes offense to his bothering her person. Likely Emma is sleeping, then if-- wait.

[Varric]

"That's too fast for--" I haven't had a chance to write to Morgi. He scowls at the door, hand hovering a few inches away from the wood. "Emma?" he calls out, voice soothing and friendly.

[GamesMaster]

Another growl, but quieter this time, more annoyed than angry. As he peeks into the slightly open library door, he spies a large, fully-grown mabari laying on the floor near Emma's nest. The girl's fallen asleep over a book, and the mabari has a watchful expression, one that clearly reads as protective. 

[Varric]

Stone and Sage, mabari are bigger than you remember every time. Purebred too. "Hey there, guardian," he murmurs, trusting the canine's ears to catch it from across the room anyway. He takes out a scrap of paper and scribbles a quick note on it, careful to make sure the mabari can see the whole time. "Point this out to her when she wakes?" he requests as he sets the note on the ground.

[GamesMaster]

The Mabari gives a small, quiet "wuff" of affirmation, tsil wagging twice. 

[Varric]

He flicks a smile at the canine, keeping his teeth completely covered. "Good, uh, being." Why can't I recall the dog's (anything) name? Or gender? "Don't let her sleep too long or her back will seize up."