Under Darkness [AU]

[Isabela]

"We can wait for you," she says, squeezing Zevran's shoulder.

[Carver Amell]

Carver was not pleased when he heard about Seli and Andy breaking up. His expression had darkened, upon hearing Andy's condition; when he heard that this had started with Lovan's death, before  Memento Mori, his face had gone so grim Zevran worried he might stab someone. Then he'd grabbed one of the letters and charged off into the evening, Hunter at his side.

Isabela's knock had been firm; Carver's was thundrous, as though he intended to break the door down.

[Tethras Clan]

Despite this, there's no answer. In fact, even after another flurry of pounding, there's no answer- well, not from Andy. Carver does note a glance or two coming from a window in the house next door. At his feet, Hunter seems to become agitated, his posture shifting to signal that something is worrying, but not dangerous, yet. A glance down reveals the mabari's ears are perked up and his nose sniffing furiously.

[Carver Amell]

"Find him, boy," Carver barks, turning his attention to the mabari.

[Tethras Clan]

Hunter immediately paws at the door, then trots over to the nearest window and whines. So... inside for sure. As Carver watches, the mabari shuffles a little, nose still sniffing rapidly- he's picked up some scent that's bothering him a lot. For Hunter, that either means blood or a larger predator.

[Carver Amell]

"What's it?" he asks, softly, reaching for his sword. Remembering it's peacebound, he reaches instead for his utility dagger, at his belt. 

[Tethras Clan]

Hunter hesitates a moment, then returns to Carver. Lifting his head, he makes a low whining noise as if hurt, then shakes himself to show he's not. That done, he moves back over to the window and paws at the wall beneath it.

[Carver Amell]

"Right. Breaking in it is." He turns the dagger, using the hilt of it and his cloak to break the glass quickly and efficiently; old habits die hard. Using the blade to clear out shards from the windowframe, he then climbs in, looking around in the dark.

[Tethras Clan]

It's pretty dark in the room, so it's another sense that tips him off first. The place is horrid, the air filled with competing odors of stale sweat, rotting food, alcohol and old smoke. Underneath all that, however, is a more immediately worrying one- blood. As Carver's eyes adjust to the dark, he can hear faint breathing. Somewhere a little further in but not far. Behind that long shape he's pretty sure is a couch? He can also see the outline of a wall lamp to his right if he wants light more than he wants to rush to whatever is there behind the sofa.

[Carver Amell]

Carver reaches into his belt pouch, pulling out a small, glowing stone; the stone floats up to circle his head, providing light while staying out of his eyes. He moves to couch, looking for a living figure. Please don't be dead, he thinks, reaching for a vial in his pouch. 

[Tethras Clan]

Good thing he'd got a light source- as he rounds the sofa, he notices that the rug there is bunched up nearly perfectly to trip someone. Which is exactly what had happened to the figure in front of him, like as not. Although... given the stench of booze coming off the fallen figure, it wasn't entirely the rugs fault. Still breathing, thankfully, but there's a smear of blood on his head, across the right temple and a matching stain on the armrest of the chair nearby. For just a second, Carver thinks the worst as he notices the wide pool of crimson liquid underneath the man, but the wine bottle resting on the edge of the red is strangely reassuring. At least about that detail.

[Carver Amell]

He stares for a moment at the bottle, the rug. Idiot. Stupid-- 

Cursing him silently, Carver marches to the man, squatting to scoop him up and get him off the floor. I'll kick his ass when he's conscious. For now, bandages.

[Tethras Clan]

Andy is alarmingly light, even for someone with his slight frame. He should weigh around a hundred fifty pounds. Carver would be surprised if he weights a hundred and twenty and that's with robes sodden with wine. It's not hard to find the bedroom but given that he almost gags just standing in the doorway, Carver quickly returns to the living room to put Andy down on the sofa.

Once he has the tiefling- oh. Even like this, even in this condition, wounded, near starving, and passed out drunk, Andy is... beautiful. His hair is a soft pink, skin a soft ivory color with just a hint of tan, his feature fine and delicate despite the uneven stubble covering his lower face and neck.

[Carver Amell]

Carver hesitates, his fingertips inches from Andy's peach skin. He looks... soft. Like a girl. But too thin. He's not been eating. 

He shakes his head, snapping out of it as he moves to bandage Andy's head. He should be okay, but I'd better keep an eye on him in the morning. Once he's sure the tiefling is taken care of, he goes to let Hunter in, instructing him to guard Andy and alert if his condition changes. 

Then he rolls up his sleeves and resigns himself to a long night cleaning. 

[Tethras Clan]

A long night indeed. Even after putting in almost five solid hours before trying to get some rest, Carver was only able to bring the living room and most of the kitchen up to livable. Not great, but solidly livable. Worryingly, Andy still isn't awake by ninth bell when Hunter wakes Carver up so he can go out and use the yard. On the other hand, his breathing is still steady and regular. And as far as Carver can tell, so is his pulse.

After letting Hunter back in and checking for food- there's a bag of rice, some spices, a handful of withered carrots and dried beans in the pantry, but bizarrely the cold box is not only still filled with ice but also has a dozen or so pre-made casseroles and meat pies- Carver is faced with some decisions to make...