Ghost Story

[Varric]

"Seems like, yeah. Near as I can tell, he's made some admittedly admirable efforts to make up for what he did."

[Marian Hawke]

"I'm just..." 

Tears cloud her eyes, and she wipes at them with her sleeve. "I'm glad our family didn't end with him."

[Varric]

"There's a nephew too," he offers softly, not sure she'd caught that earlier, given her confusion. "Younger than Marianne by two years, but already taking his Second Levels for Object Enchanting. Marianne called him Cass, but I'm not sure if that's a nickname or his full name."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian nods. "I think... this is all so much. I think I need to meet them. My family. I need to see them for this all to feel real."

[Varric]

"That's entirely understandable," Varric allows with a faint chuckle.  "Wanna do some brewing for a few hours?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Muse, yes," she swears. "There's this potion I wanted to try brewing before I forgot about it -- it's meant to change hair color..."

[Varric]

"For fun, for you, or as a prank slash punishment for Carver?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I was wondering if I could change it to do highlights in some fun color, like maybe lime green, just to make me look more interesting."

[Varric]

Varric's eyes narrow as he thinks. "Maybe create a neutralizing agent to put in the areas you don't want colored?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I was thinking something based on Earth. Here, let me sketch..."

[GamesMaster]

When Marian creeps downstairs at last, more centered and grounded, Carver is standing at the window, his back to her. She hesitates at the bottom of the steps, unsure who this man is; Carver hears her cough, turns, and his face twists with painful recognition.

"Marian."

Her jaw drops, and her face pales as she takes him in. He's so tall now, and so... so old! Then she's running to him, leaping into his strong, safe arms, and the two embrace, tearfully.

The next hour is spent catching up on Carver's life, on what's happened without her. On apologies, and on tears. Finally, Aveline comes to interrupt and invite them to come eat something, which leads to the introduction:

"This is my older sister, Marian," says Carver, quietly. "Marian, this is my wife, Aveline."

[Aveline Vallen]

Aveline holds out her hand, tongue tripping over itself as she tries to work out what social formula is suitable here. Pleasure to met you? Nice to finally met you? Carver's told me so much about you? Caver's not said nearly enough about you? How are you? "You have the same eyes," is what finally falls from her mouth.

[Marian Hawke]

"So they say," agrees Marian. "Bethie had--" 

She takes a deep breath, lets it out, and continues: "the same eyes. Family trait."

[Carver Amell]

It's Carver who flinches, pulling his hands away from his sister. "Don't," he warns, in a low tone.

[Aveline Vallen]

"Carver," his wife says gently, half warning, half concerned question.