Ghost Story

[GamesMaster]

Emma's hair looks great cut short; her skin is clammy, probably from the agitation from earlier, but he manages to cut her hair into a cute bob and she loves the way it looks and how light it feels. Together, they do some research into men's fashion, a good way to pass a few hours without deep conversation or messy emotions. 

That evening, he takes another watchful potion, preparing the ritual room for something special at sunrise. After all, when he's not sleeping he isn't dreaming -- meaning he has to prepare a ritual if he wants to see another death. 

The dream, perfectly lucid, puts him in the house once more. He's just entering the home when he sees a woman, in her late thirties or early forties, step forward to berate him: "Well? Where's my Bethie? Did you save her or not?"

[Varric]

The fuck is-- This must be (Bitch Mom) Leandra. Which makes me Marian. Weird. Well, I mostly know (I do?) how this played out. "I talked to the sheriff and he promised to let her go." That much he's sure is on script, but he can't help but add, "what've you done to help?"

[GamesMaster]

"Don't you dare sass me, young lady," snaps Leandra. "This is your fault in the first place. When is she coming home?'

[Varric]

My fault? You're the one that stayed in Zealous Fuckers that Love Burning People-ville with (at least) two magical children. Dumb bitch (Dumb Bitch). "He said they have to make a little show, keep her overnight to prove they questioned her," Varric replies, mouth twisting. The fuck is that taste? 

[GamesMaster]

"Overnight? Oh, my poor baby, all alone in that cold, dark cell," moans Leandra, dropping heavily into a chair in the parlor.

Behind her, a young man stands in the doorway, knife in one hand and a fire in his eyes. "Let me at them. I'll get her free."

[Varric]

Wow. He's even dumber in real life (wouldn't you have done the same for Bianca at his age? Well, smarter approach but same passion?) than via written word. "Carver, no! You'll just get arrested too. Think of how Bethie would feel, knowing you got arrested and hung."

[Carver Amell]

"Fuck you, coward," snarls Carver. "You're the one who left her to rot overnight. She should be home, dammit!"

Leandra presses her hand to her brow, sighing dramatically. "Oh, poor, poor Bethie!"

[Varric]

"Coward?" Varric snarls. "I want her home too and I did what I could to get her here! It's not my responsibility!" He shifts his glare to Leandra. "You're the Lady of the village, why can't you get her out? Hire some adventures to break her out!"

[GamesMaster]

"I've paid almost fifty gold in bribes," she snaps. "It's done no good at all. I was able to visit her and smuggle her a blanket, but that's the limit. It's all that awful Paladin's fault." 

[Varric]

"Then hire adventurers!" Varric repeats, strangely at ease with suggesting that they attack and possibly kill the guards. "Declare martial law, whatever you need to do! Bethie is your daughter, make it happen! Spend every coin, burn every favor, bleed yourself dry; you're our mother, fix this!"

[Carver Amell]

"And what are you doing?" demands Carver. "Sneaking off to see your boyfriend again? Mother gave you twenty whole gold for the sheriff and you couldn't make it happen -- did you even try or did you just spend the money and piss off?"

[Varric]

Varric gives him a disdainful look. "Right, I was able to spend twenty fucking gold in this little shithole of a town," he sneers at her brother. Sorry, what? My (her) what? "No, Carver, I used the gold to bribe my way to him and to sweeten things for him as well."

[Carver Amell]

"But you let him keep her. Who knows what he could be doing to her in that jail cell!"

[Varric]

"I didn't let him keep her, Carver. He's a trained combatant, I can't make him do a damn thing." Varric glares at Carver. "Unless you want two dead sisters? Is that it?"

[Carver Amell]

"Better you than Beth!" Carver knows the sentiment is terrible, regrets saying it as soon as it leaves his mouth. But neither does he feel he can back down, can take back what he said. So instead he takes a deep breath, shaking his head. "Whatever. I'm going to get her back."