Under Darkness [AU]

[GamesMaster]

"A... shovel speech?" asks Anders, amused. 

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill nods. "When a friend or family member gets a new suitor you don't know, you tell them if they hurt Ha- her, then you'll kill them and bury them in unmarked grave. And you dig with a shovel So. Shovel speech. But I'm the suitor giving it to the new family member so it's flipped." She frowns. "I should have a shovel. To show him. Can I-"

[GamesMaster]

"You could ask to borrow Bianca. That's quite effective. From personal experience." He smiles. 

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill frowns. "You can't dig with a crossbow," she says patiently, giving him a worried look. "I thought you worked on a farm?"

[GamesMaster]

"Usually the killing part is the effective threat, not the shovel part," he explains. "Once someone's dead they don't much care what you do with their remains." 

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill's frown deepens. "Then why do people always get weirded out by necromancy? I always thought skeletons were very practical. Zombies are icky though."

[GamesMaster]

"Living people care what happens to their loved ones' remains," he explains patiently. Right. Merrill is... unique. "But the dead do not much care what you do with their own remains." 

[Tethras Clan]

"Oh. Okay, that makes sense," Merrill says with a nod, the matter settled. "Ask first." Or... not? "But do I look okay? Am I formidable?"

[GamesMaster]

No. You're lovely. "I think you'll do." He smiles.

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill beams at Anders and does a little spin. "Okay. Then I'm ready." A pause. "Go first?" she asks in a timid voice.

[Carver Amell]

Anders leads the way into Merrill's sitting room, holding Merrill's hand the whole way once she grabs it. In the sitting room, Carver has two tired pups with him; Hunter sprawls in his lap, protectively, while Silence sits beside the couch, patiently tolerating his patting. This neatly occupies both his hands, and leaves him unable to make any sudden moves to boot. So instead, he gives a warm smile to the pair as they enter. 

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill's hand tightens almost painfully on Anders and she stops dead in her tracks to stare at Carver.

"...Merril?" Varric asks gently after a moment.

"What?" the elf says, jumping a little, eyes still locked on Carver.

[Carver Amell]

"Hello,"  Carver ventures, as Anders squeezes Merrill's hand reassuringly. 

[Tethras Clan]

"You have the same smile," she says in a tiny voice.

Varric glances at Carver, really looking this time. "...hells, he does. Hair's the same too.

Merrill nods, then takes a deep breath. "Umm. Hello."

[Carver Amell]

Said smile fades into a confused look, then a frown. "I see. I hope that's not too confusing for you." This was a mistake.