Under Darkness [AU]

[Carver Amell]

Carver walks in silence for a long moment before asking, "What's it like? Loving a man." 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran considers this a moment. "Do you mean the... physical aspect or...?"

[Carver Amell]

"Any of it."

[Tethras Clan]

"Well... I cannot speak of what it is like to love a man with whom you have sex with. The only males I have loved were my fathers- blood and Varric- and neither were that sort of relationship. But I can speak of what it is like to have sex with a male and to date them," Zevran offers slowly. "The sex part is... rather simple to be honest. Aside from the bits involved, it's the same as sex with a woman. Instead of your partner having different bits, they have the same as yourself. Obviously, this leads to some differences in what you can do, but a man's mouth, hands or arse can be just as pleasing as a woman's."

[Carver Amell]

"I'm sure," he says darkly. It's no different than masturbation, really. Touching a man's bits and receiving pleasure from that.

[Tethras Clan]

"Carver," Zevran says firmly, coming to a stop. "I have lain with both men and women, you have not. I know more about the matter than you so perhaps you could at least try and give my words some consideration, rather than dismiss them out of hand?"

[Carver Amell]

He sighs. "You're not Astean. You don't have--" morals. "You don't care so much what people think, or whether something is right or wrong as long as it feels good. So while I do believe your experience, I'm going to keep applying my own values to it. Otherwise what's the point?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Hawke is Astean," Zevran replies idly. "And I'll point out that Ciren, who I love and respect deeply, is also a good deity. Pleasure must be mutual if it is to be truly pleasurable. There is very much right and wrong in the bedroom, I assure you. I have been... wronged in such places far too often to ever forget that."

[Carver Amell]

"Marian isn't very Astean. She gave that up when--" Reign it in, Carver. She didn't abandon you, she just needed to look after herself. "Nevermind. Just, she's not the most dutiful Astean ever, is all. I never see her at temple."

[Tethras Clan]

"Not everyone feels the need to be in a temple to pray," Zevran says with a shrug. "Hawke focuses on the love and life aspects, not the art, so what need has she of a grand edifice? Can she not reach Her anywhere there is life? Can she not pray with every act of love?" He gives the human a look. "And no, I do not mean sex. Love and sex are, ah, intertwined, yes, but they are not the same thing, we are both aware of this."

[Carver Amell]

"Well, you're Cirenite," he says, almost dismissively. "But, yes, it's not strictly necessary. I guess what I mean is, she's not big on being Astean, but she's big on Astea. If that makes sense."

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran frowns. "And what is wrong with being a Cirenite?" he asks a touch testily. "What is so evil about comfort, joy, passion and children?"

[Carver Amell]

"I just mean, you're a Cirenite. Everything comes back to sex in the end for them. Lots of Astean/Cirenite couples: the Astean loves, and the Cirenite lusts, and they learn the other half from each other. The Cirenite learns to love instead of just fuck, and the Astean learns to fuck instead of pining from afar." 

[Tethras Clan]

"...I meant to be s-serious but I need-" Zevran turns around and bursts into wild laughter.

[Carver Amell]

Carver stares at him, wounded. Without a word, he turns and starts walking again, double time. Stupid. Stupid. Now he thinks you're an idiot. Gods, what did I even say?