Under Darkness [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

Andy's gaze snaps back around, turning worried. "Are you alright?" he ask, taking a few steps forward. What happened? Why he is... all of a sudden, why is he running off? Did I do something? Did he just think of something?

[Carver Amell]

"I-- yes. I have-- I have to go." Breathe, Carver. don't fuck this up, don't be a coward. "It's not you, I just... realized something."

[Tethras Clan]

It's not me? Why would- unless it is about me and he just doesn't... "Right... of course," Andy says softly, gaze lowering to the ground.

[Carver Amell]

"Don't--" He takes a deep breath. "Hunter, guard," he orders his mabari, then bolts for the cabin, for the restroom where he can get some privacy. 

[Tethras Clan]

Andy stares a moment, then looks at Hunter, bewildered. "Did he just order you to- did he just-"

[Carver Amell]

Carver slams the door, sitting on the edge of the toilet, bent nearly double, clutching at his hair, struggling to breathe. He rocks back and forth for the better part of ten minutes, trying to get calm. Just don't think about it. Don't open that door ever again. Don't ever think about this again.

[Tethras Clan]

Andy runs a hand through his hair, then sighs. "Well... if he's going to be... doing whatever he's doing, how about we work on cleaning up our sparring area, yeah?" he says to Hunter. And hopefully he'll be back by then... guess I could gather some firewood after that if I have to. Not like we need a lot of it but...

[Carver Amell]

As Carver slips back out of the cabin, he spies Hunter and Andy, busy cleaning up. Okay. I'm just going to-- not bother them. Quietly, using the skills Peli taught him, he slips into the woods, creeping toward Raplin's Oak -- toward Aveline, not that he lets himself think too hard about it -- rapidly but without a trace.

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline is, as always, within a stone throw of his sister. It's a little different this time, however, as Hawke, Zevran, Aveline, and Isabela are playing cards of some kind but it's Zevran sitting in the paladin's lap while Hawke is snuggled up to Isabela. This could just be part of a wager, but Aveline doesn't seem bothered by it in the least and is in fact holding Zevran around the waist with one arm.  Before he can cross the street to the cafe they're at, he hears Varric from just behind him. "You alright there Carver? You seem... a bit out of it. And by bit, I mean a lot."

[Carver Amell]

Carver jumps, turning to face Varric. "Tethras! I mean. Hi." 

Seeing the dwarf does nothing to calm his nerves; they've been getting along in the past six months, but Carver's still waiting for that one moment where he fucks up and gets shot. Thankfully, he hasn't yet. Between his schedule and Marian's, their relationship is still very tentative, but he's been on his best behavior every visit, and so has she. It's healing, slowly, but surely. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Deep breath," Varric says automatically to the sight of a flustered person. He shakes his head a little then. This isn't Hawke or Merrill. Or Andy for that matter, he's... actually... "You alight Carver? You look a bit... bothered by something."

[Carver Amell]

Carver shakes his head. "I was looking for Aveline but..." Think, Hawke. How were you going to get her away from your sister? Or did you want to spook her? "Maybe you can help?"

[Tethras Clan]

"More often than not, thank the Bright Gods," Varric says with a smirk. "Tavern, forest or Hawke's place? They won't be back for at least an hour."

[Carver Amell]

"Forest," he says automatically. Privacy will be essential, but the woods... he feels at home more there than he ever used to before he gave up his metal weapons. 

[Tethras Clan]

Of course forest, the urban dwarf thinks with a sigh. Of course the sodding woods. Oh well. "Sure," he says aloud, gesturing in the fastest direction out of town. "Lead on, shifter."