Under Darkness [AU]

[GamesMaster]

"Okay. Then I'm going to go get the tonic, the mint-cider-lemon tonic, and you're going to keep breathing, alright Merrill? Can you do that for me? Breathe deeply, then let it out. Keep doing that, okay?" 

Slowly, gently, he attempts to extricate himself from her grip. 

[Tethras Clan]

Not unless he stips his robe off. And given the way she's acting, she'll probably go for his small clothes if he does. "Pleasedon'tgo," she blurts out, eyes flying open to stare at him piteously. "I'll do better, pleasedon'tleaveme."

[GamesMaster]

"I'm not going to leave you, Merrill. I just need my healer's kit so I can get you your tonic." He keeps his voice soothing. "I'll be right here as soon as that's done."

[Tethras Clan]

Merril shakes her head, indeed not even waiting for him to finish before she starts. After a moment, Silence grunts softly and trots over to the side of the room to.. heh. Good girl. Returning to Anders, she offers him the medical kit with soft, worried eyes.

[GamesMaster]

"Alright, thank you Silence, I've got the kit now. I need my hand. Merrill, can you grab the side of my robe instead, so I can use both hands?" When she complies, he reaches into the kit, pulling out a small vial with a stopper, which he shakes and then offers to her. 

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill obediently opens her mouth and sticks her tongue out, eyes watching him warily.

[GamesMaster]

Anders pops the cork off the bottle, raising it to her lips. "And down the hatch it goes," he comments, tipping the liquid into her mouth. "You should feel better any moment now."

[Tethras Clan]

She meekly drinks the potion, then sighs. "...I scared you, didn't I?" she asks softly after it kicks in.

[GamesMaster]

"Yes," he admits. "But you were also very brave. I think that's the best you've held yourself together through one of these attacks yet."

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill offers a timid smile. "I think I'm pleased to hear that," she informs him, then frowns. "I should ask now while I can..." she says to herself, then nods. "Can I see your penis? Or feel it?"

[GamesMaster]

Anders starts. "What? No!" He takes a deep breath, shaking his head. Get a grip! This is Merrill, she says strange things all the time. "No, that's inappropriate for a healer and patient."

[Tethras Clan]

"Please?" She asks, steadily looking him in the eye. "I want to be... I want to be absolutely sure it's not metal. Or sharp. I'm pretty sure, but... it would help to know."

[GamesMaster]

"Merrill... why would my penis be metal or sharp?" A sick dread churns in his gut. He knows what the answer will be. But... 

[Tethras Clan]

"They didn't have penises, so they used... tools. Never worn them, always in hand." Merrill replies. Not toys. Not like with Hawke or Zevran. Toys are fun. That wasn't fun. Never fun.Even through the potion, she looks... pained as she stares over his shoulder. "It hurt... every time, it hurt. Even after being healed, I could still.."

[GamesMaster]

Anders closes his eyes, swallows. Ciren have mercy. Ciren isn't his god, not by a long shot, but we're talking about metal spikes used to rape someone, someone as delicate as Merrill, so he thinks Ciren might need to know about that one. "Alright," he says, his voice catching in his throat. "Alright. If-- if it will help you trust me, I-- I can show you." 

He takes a deep breath, then holds his arms out to either side. "Would it... help if you undressed me?" Under his robes, he knows, his smallclothes are the only barrier between the offending member and his patient. His patient, damn him, for which his traitorous member should definitely not be halfway roused.