Stone's Throw

[Carver Amell]

"Nah, not really. Well -- there's this one kid, Skipper, who if I don't throttle him might make a decent guardsman."

[Varric Thedas]

"Throttle him?" Varric asks, sensing a possible opening for a tease.

[Carver Amell]

He nods. "Kid is infuriating. Never takes anything seriously."

[Varric]

"Oh? That's interesting... strangely familiar too. Huh."

[Carver Amell]

Carver rolls his eyes. "I take things serious. Sometimes too serious."

[Varric]

"Maybe you just haven't found what he takes seriously yet," Varric suggests, taking a quick drink to clear his throat. "Mmh, that reminds me of something actually. Kids taking things seriously, I mean."

[Carver Amell]

"Oh yeah?"

[Varric Thedas]

"Yeah, recently found some untapped genius in the family," Varric explains. "Early days yet to know how far it goes, but it looks pretty promising." A small pause. "One of yours: Silas."

[Carver Amell]

"He must get it from his mother," he says. 

[Varric]

"More like his Grandne; when I say genius, I mean he's doing maths his near of age cousins struggle with." The note of pride in his voice is clear and strong.

[Carver Amell]

Carver scowls. "Can't have come from me. Maybe he's not mine?"

[Varric]

Varric gives his son a withering stare. "You're mine, ain't'cha?" he retorts with firm heat.

[Carver Amell]

He waves a hand. "You know what I mean. There's no way I inherited your genius."

[Varric]

"Just be careful of saying that sort of thing around them, alright?" Varric reminds him gently. "Kids can take that sort of thing to heart, even if you explain later."

[Carver Amell]

He winces a little. "Well, yeah. Obviously. Sorry, I just -- look, I knew there was a chance he was Lovan's, but I didn't think... I didn't think I'd care. But I kind of liked the idea of having some piece of me around after I die. I guess it'll have to be my teaching the young guardsmen that lasts."