Under Darkness [AU]

[GamesMaster]

He laughs, a dark, bitter laugh. "I should never have come here. I should have known I wasn't well enough to pull this off. I'm only an apprentice, still. Only. I couldn't not."

[Tethras Clan]

"Oye, healer! Isn't that sort of talk we'd scold Merrill or Hawke about?" he says pointedly.

[GamesMaster]

"Everyone doubts themselves. And everyone has the capability to become a monster, if pushed far enough. I know my limits."

[Tethras Clan]

"Really now? So if someone had asked six months ago if you could see Hawke again, you would have said..?"

[GamesMaster]

"See? Yes. Date? No."

[Tethras Clan]

Varric rolls his eyes. "Look. Let's get you geased up and then see how the next week goes."

[GamesMaster]

He groans. "Alright. Alright. But I'm telling you, Varric, you're going to have to watch me."

[Tethras Clan]

Varric smiles coldly and leans in. "Anders? I already was. The only one I trust completely these days is Aveline." I don't even trust myself (coward) anymore.

[GamesMaster]

Anders lifts his head from his hands, studying Varric's expression. His shoulders slump. "Thank Astea," he mutters. "Alright. Alright. I'll stay. For a time."

[Tethras Clan]

And that's why I'm willing to let you. Well, technically most of you would stay in the scenario. "Alright. First geas, then we have a talk with Merrill."

[GamesMaster]

"Right. Alright. Okay." 

An hour later, the pair of them make their way to Merrill's place, where she's been left alone with Silence for most of the morning. Merrill's bad days are more predictable, and Silence better able to deal with them; if they tried this with Hawke, she might not survive it. Yet another way Merrill's coming along better than Hawke, though in this 'better' is always, always subjective. 

And anyway, Hawke has Aveline now, which is more or less the same thing.

"Merrill," says Anders tightly as he enters. 

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill looks up from the floor where she's been lazing with Silence. "We're playing doggo," she whispers to the two men. Then her eyes widen. "Oh! Right! I mean-" She barks, rather accurately, then looks at the mabari. Silence huffs softly, then yips. Once. Flatly.

"Just to check, you still can't turn into animals, right?" Varric asks carefully.

"I can turn into animals?" the elf asks excitedly.

"Errr, no, some druids can and... just asking, ignore that. Did you eat lunch yet?"

Merrill shakes her head.

[GamesMaster]

"Good, then I'll just nip off and heat you some soup while you visit with your Papa, then," Anders says, too rapidly, as he moves for the kitchen. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Coward," Varric sing-songs after him.

[GamesMaster]

He winces. "Alright, I suppose we can speak first," he mutters, turning back.