Under Darkness [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

"How can they not see it? Your cheekbones are amazing, and your freckles are the cutest thing I've ever seen. Very delicate and feminine." 

[Isabela]

"Don't forget the tits," adds the saucy sea-wench. 

[Marian Hawke]

"Well, yes, those are lovely too."

[Tethras Clan]

"Full plate," Aveline says tersely. "And my jaw is square and strong, my hands far too big, my build muscular and wide- not just at the hips and bust either- my shoulders broad, I'm a scant inch shy of six and a half feet, my-"

[Marian Hawke]

"Hey, hey," says Hawke, sliding an arm around her. "You're human. You're just built that way."

[Isabela]

"Uh, about that," begins Isabela. 

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline tenses, looking over Hawke's shoulder towards Isabela. "What?" Damnit Aveline, no. Stop it. "Sorry."

[Isabela]

Isabela smiles. "Hey, I'm secure in my masculinity here," she jokes. "But seriously, human? Not merikos like the rest of us?"

[Tethras Clan]

"...yes?" Aveline says slowly. "What do you mean? Why... do you think I might be merikos?" she asks cautiously, as if worried she's walking into a joke. She says one word about me clearly being part orc for my built, elf for the stick up my ass or oread for having a stone heart and I'm going to hit her. Not hard but I will.

[Isabela]

Isabela gives her an odd look. "Aveline... you set things on fire when you're mad. That's not a human thing." 

[Tethras Clan]

The paladin flushes. "That's not- I mean, well, no, but my father had some fire magic, I figured I just had some talent I never looked into honing. It doesn't happen often anyway." Of course, I have to be... particularly upset for it to occur... and it only started after I met Hawke. I think..? Did... I recall some small fires growing up but that was just my father, wasn't it? Or a little girl trying to be like her Daddy?

[Isabela]

Isabela keeps staring for a moment, then shrugs. "Well, whatever. I suppose that's just as likely as being an ifrit imisy," she says, leaning back a bit to make herself more comfortable.

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline stares back a moment. "Do... do you really think..." she falters to a stop, then tries again. "Do you know much about ifrit then? Is there anything else they can do that..."

[Isabela]

Isabela shrugs. "I can swim like a fish, but I don't think ifrit get anything like that. Grab any hot pans lately? Stick your hand in a campfire, see if it burns you?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Well, no, they don't, but I'm also resistant to cold, lightning, sonic attacks and even acid and fell energies. Part of my paladin conditioning. Ifrit..." she finishes in a sort murmur. "I wonder if Varric know much about them. Or of a test."