Stone's Throw

[Garret Tethras]

"That seems wise," Garrett agreed after a moment's thought. "Speaking from the point of being Andreas's advocate, gaining a full understanding of your options is for the best. Going the route of Nyran justice seems promising with the current information, but it remains to be seen how the Catfolk tribe's route will be. And, still to be calculated is the willingness of the alleged victim to accede to a plea deal in the first place."

[Carver Amell]

"I reckon that's why Keeper Miki's upstairs," sighs Carver. "Because he wants you to choose his route."

[Andreas Amell]

"That makes-- what." A moment's beat. "Right, he-- I thought he'd left."

[Carver Amell]

Carver shakes his head. "How many of us do you want there when you talk to him?"

[Andreas Amell]

Well, I think I need Garrett. Evidently. I knew he liked talking law and stuff with Grandpa but... Anyway. I'd love to have you here, but... And she offered to hide bodies. Umm. "Well... Garrett is sorta my unofficial lawyer right now," he hedged, not sure how to ask 'if you stay, will you not threaten or scowl like a dirge bard at Miki?'

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah but Miki and I go way back, I know his tricks."

[Andreas Amell]

"Wouldn't that mean he knows all of yours?" Andreas wondered. 

[Carver Amell]

"But he won't know Garrett's. We can keep him off balance. Ooh, maybe play good guard bad guard."

[Marian Hawke]

"Carver..."

[Andreas Amell]

"This isn't a game! This isn't about-- about how much you hate the catfolk or my-- Adonis for leaving mom!" Andreas shouted suddenly, catching no-one off guard more than himself. He almost instantly crumpled back into himself, looking like he's only still in his seat because his body can't decide whether to run or puke first.

[Carver Amell]

"I don't hate them, I just--"

"Carver." Marian's voice is lower, but he shuts right up. "Take a few deep breaths. Both of you."

[Andreas Amell]

Tears began to creep down Andreas's face as he nodded silently.

[Carver Amell]

"It was his fault," says Carver, in a low voice, when he's gotten ahold of himself. "Maybe he couldn't have done anything about your sibs, but he sure as hell should have been there for your mother. That's what it means to be in a relationship, to have kids together. I get that he was... broken, by what happened to him. But so was Beth, by what happened to the babes. They should have had each other. Instead I had to take care of your mother and yourself, and he crawled back to his father to sulk alone. If he'd been there, if he'd stayed in your life, none of this would have happened. You'd have been prepared for your heat, you'd have known the signs to look for, you'd have-- you deserved better than what he gave you and I'm sorry your blood father is such a shitbag."

[Andreas Amell]

"Why?" Andreas asked in a broken whisper. "Why did he leave? Why did he..?"

[Carver Amell]

"The torture. It's gotta be that. He was all ready to make a life with Beth, raise kits with her, and then... afterwards he was never the same. He saw himself as a miserable failure of a man, someone who can't protect his kits. When he failed to protect your brother and sister, well...." Carver's considerably more eloquent about the situation now than in the past -- in the past he's said things like 'you'll understand when you're older' or some such. Guess he's older, now.