Under Darkness [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

Of course, that just means it takes Varric two extra hours before he's hopping up into a chair across the room from Hawke. "You know, the housing market in this town is pathetic. Gonna have to have a place built. Thankfully, they have a lot of carpenters, so it shouldn't take more than a few months for the basics. We can add on later." And eat at the tavern because kitchens are harder. Zevran'll have to stay at the tavern for now... well. When he's around. Hopefully he... well, he's not making any choices today, that's for sure. Worried that the merikos would make a decision that he'll regret later, Varric had slipped some sedatives in his drink. He'll be out until the morning, given how shitty he's been sleeping of late.

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke looks up, startled by his entrance. I told Peli I didn't want to see him...

With good reason, too. She doesn't look like she slept much last night, the shock having worn off; while she's physically unharmed, there's an air about her, a timidity he hasn't seen since she first moved in with him. Varric could have gone his whole life without ever seeing that look in her eyes again. 

"...house?" Her voice is a rough whisper, her eyes puffy from crying. 

[Tethras Clan]

It takes real, almost painful effort to keep his voice even, conversational and light. "Yeah. Not going to be very grand, but it'll be a place to sleep. Figuring two bedrooms, one for Merrill, one for you. I can bunk in the living area slash everything else room. We'll have to eat out but not like that'll be anything new, right? And we can have it expanded if we want. Maybe have a cellar put in so I can craft."

[Marian Hawke]

...we? She swallows. "Varric, I... I'm not moving in with you."

[Tethras Clan]

"Actually, it's in all our names, so we'd be moving in together," he corrects her brightly. "Speaking of, any preference on what direction you'd like your bedroom window to face? Sunrise? Sunset? Neither?"

[Marian Hawke]

She looks down at her lap, hands shaking. "I'm not... I'm not going to live with you, Varric." Her voice is barely audible. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Well, maybe not yet, Granny Peli- nice lady, bit strange, but nice- seems to feel that you staying in the tree itself is the best thing for you right now," he admits freely. "But eventually you'll be ready to come outside and I'll be waiting to lead you home."

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke says nothing, simply shaking her head -- once.

[Tethras Clan]

"Rather just head back to Nyra right after you leave the Oak then? Fair enough. Worst to worst, maybe I can rent the place," Varric says with a shrug. "Hells, this town could use some fresh blood, get the market going, maybe I'll send a factor down to see what can be shook loose."

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke sighs, glancing at the wall opposite. He knows what I'm trying to say. Probably can guess why I'm saying it too. So.. so why won't he just accept it? Why can't he accept what I'm trying to give him? I guess I'll have to run away when he's not looking. Or...

But she can't put the darker thought into words. It looks like an image: the remains of a temple of Mileen, darkness closing in as her vision fades to grey. She knows what the image means, what it represents, and so she pushes it away, refuses to formulate it into language. 

I'll have to slip out when he's not looking.

[Tethras Clan]

"I mean, it's a pretty neat place, in it's... own very quaint way. Lots of hunters and wilderness experts in addition to those carpenters. There's a guy I met earlier today that can track a deer two days after it's passed. Up to a week if it's rained just before and not since," Varric continues. "Some interesting wildberry wines too, maybe we can try that out sometime soon. Plus there's always the local crafty stuff, that's usually a modest but solid profit."

[Marian Hawke]

She can't help herself. "You don't like any of that stuff." Her voice remains a whisper, as if she's ashamed of saying it, but she does speak, does tease. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Hey, I like profit," he protests, a faint smile forming. "And wine. Okay, sure, not my drink of choice, but I have to admit to being curious what thirty berry wine tastes like. Mostly because I didn't realize there were thirty kind of berries," he admits.

[Marian Hawke]

She sighs, the hint of smile fading from the corners of her lips as her eyes close. "Go home, Varric." she whispers. "I'll be fine."

[Tethras Clan]

He looks at her steadily. "I am home." Home is family.