Under Darkness [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"...today is... not a great day. Not a bad day but... close. She's.... she, uh, she's... meek today. She.." Varric takes a deep breath. "One of her... coping methods, for bad days, is to... let go. Take on the.. role of a... Being meek. Obedient. Eager to please. She might not... react that way with you, she doesn't do it with Zevran or Isabela, rarely with Aveline, but... she might. Just... be careful how you phrase things."

[Carver Amell]

"Be... Be careful how? I.. what do I not say?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Don't give orders. Ask her what she wants, don't suggest options unless she really starts to struggle to come up with an opinion. And if you do have to do that, then make sure the options are actually options and that you're not projecting your own preferences on her." The dwarf drains his chava, then stares into the mug. "Make sure you address her as Hawke. Or... sister for you I guess, but don't use generic endearments or the like. Nothing... that reduces her identity."

[Carver Amell]

"...Marian? Is Marian okay?" His voice is soft, but his eyes are earnest. 

[Tethras Clan]

Varric pauses a moment. "You know, I can't recall the last time someone called her that yet to be honest. Hells, I don't think anyone uses her first name really. I... had a habit of nicknaming people and Hawke works for Hawke surprisingly well. And it just... kind of stuck." The dwarf sounds a bit introspective, not really ever having thought about it overmuch.

[Carver Amell]

"We were all Hawke in school," he points out. "There was only one Bethany, but there was an Elizabeth, so neither of them dared to shorten it. And obviously I'm the only sucker to get named Carver as a given name in the entire history of Aldis, so there's that." 

[Tethras Clan]

Varric blinks. "Maurevar Carver, a paladin of Naugrix. He was your... great-great-great...maybe one more great- grand-father's best friend and companion. Maurever rescued your ancestor Dovain from.. a goblin tribe that captured him while out hunting with some friends. Dovain went on to adventure with the Bright for several years. Dovain became a Light- Speaker- after settling down and getting married. Maurevar adventured for a while after, but when he retired, he did so in Nyra with his best friend. Dovain named his son after him, but went with his last name instead of first because Maurevar had confessed that he was sad that his family name would vanish with his death." He coughs a little, realizing that had... been more detailed than he'd meant to go for.

[Carver Amell]

Carver stares at him for a minute. "How do you--" he wonders, then shakes his head, a rueful smile on his face. "It's... a family name?" he asks softly, his tone wondering. "I... I'm named for an adventurer?" 

[Tethras Clan]

"Yeah, it is. Two other sons and daughter besides you, from what I could dig up," Varric confirms with a smile. "Can't recall what the sons did but the daughter was noted in one book as being an alchemist. Mentioned she'd worked for the guard. Or contracted to them, it wasn't entirely clear. Made alchemist's fire and tanglefoot bags during the skirmishes with Razorwood, got a medal for it. That's what the book was about," he adds.

[Carver Amell]

"Alchemists? Really? I come from alchemists?" He rakes a hand through his hair, astonished. "Mayhap that's what I should have done. Much more respectable than magic." 

[Tethras Clan]

Still got that hangup, huh? "It's a skill that's done me pretty well," Varric allows, giving him a thoughtful look.

[Carver Amell]

"You're an alchemist?" He sounds mildly impressed, eyebrows raising. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Regular and magically enhanced," Varric confirms. "Member in good standing of the Nyra Alchemical Guild and everything. Mostly go for toxins and medical aides, but I can make a mean smoke bomb."

[Carver Amell]

Medical aids. He lowers his voice conspiratorially. "Can you make, ah... I could use a sleep aid."

[Tethras Clan]

Varric snorts. "You really are her brother," he mutters to himself. "Yeah, I keep a vat of that brewing pretty much constantly these days. You... you seemed pretty... enthused about learning about your bloodline's history," he adds carefully.