Under Darkness [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah, sure," he says casually, moving to get the knife. "So... you know Seli and Andy, I assume? Marian's friends?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Andy more than Seli- solid guard for the most part. Little weak on the combat side but dutiful, moral and conscientious at his work- I'd take that in a recruit any day and twice on Caeladay," Aveline replies as she fills a pot to boil. "Got some shit for his race but handled it fairly well. Never started fights over it, but finished a few. Never went further than needed though." She tilts her head thoughtfully. "I think I recall him taking some bereavement leave shortly before... before Mori."

[Carver Amell]

"His husband, well, their husband," he says, and there's a faint hint of bewildered disgust creeping into his voice that he firmly ignores, "passed. They were at this Memento Mori cult when... when." He finishes the sentence awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. "Apparently, it all went to shit after that. I've brought him here, because I'm trying to kick some sense into his head and I don't want to leave Marian to do it. He's a drunk, I've told him he's not to touch a drop of the stuff from now on. He almost hurt his kids, being drunk while watching him. Lost his job." 

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline stills a moment. Takes a deep breath. "I... I see. Do... do you know anything about how or why he lost his job? Or... or about his kids?" she asks carefully.

[Carver Amell]

"Kid had a fever. Pretty bad. Could have been worse if Seli didn't come home when she did." He takes a deep breath. "Drink changes a man."

[Tethras Clan]

"I've seen many a criminal that started with a weakness for drink," Aveline agrees somberly. So not abusive at least. Ignoring your child for such a petty reason is bad enough but... that'd have been worse.

[Carver Amell]

"When I found him..." He shakes his head. "He'd fallen and hit his head, bleeding everywhere. I got him cleaned up, got the house in shape, threw out all the booze, dragged him along to the Oak. He's in my room at the inn, I plan to drag him to a healer tomorrow to get him looked over and talking to someone about all this. I refuse to let him go the way my mother did." There's a glint in Carver's eye as he tilts his chin up, one she's not seen there before -- but a familiar one, all the same. 

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline pauses a moment in her kitchen work to reach over and grasp his shoulder in an age-old show of support. "Good man. You'll want to ask for Granny Peli- she might not be the one best to help him, but she'll be able to find who that is. Older gnome woman, most often with a badger close by." She coughs slightly. "Fair warning, she's... well, she's the type of elder that's decided they've lived long enough they don't have to care much about... not shocking people," she finally settles on.

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "Alright, I can handle that." I can handle anything, after this month. "There's, ah, there's more. Well. Not more, exactly. Something else."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline glances over and nods at him. "Go on," she encourages him. It's... it's not worth the cost but at least what's happened has brought out the best side of Carver. This has been such a shock to him that it's cut through all the bad blood between him and his sister. Well, most of it anyway.

[Carver Amell]

"I, uh." 

Faced with saying it out loud, with telling someone for whose approval he still desperately longs, it takes him a moment to get up the courage. Coward. Just tell her. She can probably help -- she knows people here, she can tell you who to talk to. What's the big deal?

"So, remember the whole thing where Marian has magic and I don't?" Oh yeah, real smooth.

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline frowns a little. What is he leading up... oh. "I... gather you discovered something on the trip?" she asks, carefully keeping tone the same casual but attentive she's been using this entire time.

[Carver Amell]

"Just a bit," he says, his throat a bit tight. He clears it, shaking his head. "It's weird. I'm hoping the druids can tell me more about it."

[Tethras Clan]

"Primal magic then?" Aveline guesses with a nod. "Yeah, the druids would be your best bet- Granny Peli could probably nudge you in the right direction. Mind if I ask what you did?"

[Carver Amell]

In response, Carver holds up a hand -- and it sprouts claws and dark brown fur.