Imprints in Stone [AU]

[GamesMaster]

It had started with a little thing, really. Varric had overslept one day and lost a big trading deal -- something that hurt his finances much more than he'd liked to admit. Kicking himself, he'd gone after a few riskier deals, and lost more than he wanted; it wasn't enough to really put him in a pinch, but it was enough that he was starting to worry about his ability to invest in the future if his luck didn't turn soon. Before going for another deal, he'd gone to the Temple of Alydra to pray for guidance.

Someone else was praying in the temple that day: a blue-skinned child who turned out to be an Oracle, fully grown after all. They'd struck up a conversation and, after getting to know each other a little better, had struck up a business arrangement: he'd pay them on the regular for financial advice, and they would get the advantage of his advice on dealing with people from time to time.

When they'd advised him to purchase a mine in nearby Golden Shores, he hadn't argued much; the news that he ought to travel there to personally manage it for a time sat a little less easily, but he was long-lived, what was a couple years in the sticks, right? They had houses and stuff in the sticks, right?

(Helene assures him that yes, they have very nice houses in Golden Shores.)

And so, the grumpy city dwarf finds himself moving to a rural protectorate. Setting himself up to succeed from this remote location was a challenge, one that required his utmost attention. And it's not as though he cares about any of his neighbors or anything. No, the more he knuckles down and perfects this deal, the sooner he can return to the comforts of city living. Away from the barking dogs, the wide open skies, the bizarre smells, the whatever the heck it was making so much noise out in the street in front of his house, the sound of breaking glass....

The sound of breaking glass?

[Varric]

Used to dogs barking, but there's no echo (less enclosure for rebounds). And they sound weird. All... excited (happy) and shit. It's weird. Don't worry about it, focus on unpacking (so much shit). Which is gonna take for-gods-be-damned-ever. Not sure what I could have left behind (two boxes clothes, desk, five boxes whiskey, four boxes paper and texts, two boxes writing and drafting materials, two boxes rum and brandy, one box wine, five boxes alchemical supplies, two boxes alchemical tools, one box miscellaneous tools, four casks of ale, and two boxes odds and ends) really.

"Maybe I should have paid extra to get up unpacking," he mutters grumpily. "I'll set some stew to warm, then get back to-" He head snaps around as the sound of breaking glasses disrupts his focus enough to really register. Taking a single step back, Varric grabs Bianca and heads for the source, footsteps not making a noise.

[Carver Amell]

Ooooh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit oh shit. I heard the new neighbor is cranky as hell. There's no way I'm getting that.

Carver Hawke steps back a couple steps, reflexively, hearing his friends rush off down the street. At least his twin suck around. They were still alike as two peas, at least physically: she cut her hair a bit short, and he wore his a bit long, making them both gawky kids with shoulder-length brunette hair and big brown eyes. Today, Bethany wore hers in braids, while he wore his back in a warrior's tail behind him (staunchly refusing to call it a ponytail). 

For a moment, he considers running too. If he rushes home, he's sure he can pretend they just lost the ball, no harm done...

And Marian will go get it back. It was starting to chafe at him how often he needed his older sister to protect him. Shouldn't he be big enough now to knock anyone down who bullied his sister without relying on a girl for help? Glancing at Bethany, he squares his shoulders. No. I'm getting that ball back myself.

[Bethany]

Bethany is staring down the road, just short of a glare. I can't believe that... uuuuggh! Yes I do. Of course Carver's stupid friends ran off. Stupid boys. All of them are stupid, stupid idiots. Even Carver. She sighs, glancing at her twin. Not all of the time, I guess. At least he didn't run off to. Maybe dad will visit and get us a new...

She can't even finish the sentence in her own mind.

She opens her mouth, about to start gently coaxing him into just going home.

[Varric]

"So... what're we looking at?" A soft, almost lilting voice asks from just a few feet behind them both.

[Carver Amell]

Carver spins, lifting the branch he was using as a bat protectively. "S-sir!" He squeaks, instantly hating himself for not being more grown-up, not being able to protect his twin. 

[Varric]

"Eh, you're a kid, Varric is fine," replies a red haired dwarf. He glances at the branch, eyebrow rising a bit. "I know this is the sticks and all, but... you don't have to be quite so on the nose."

[Bethany]

"We're sorry sir- I mean- Varric sir, but you see, we were playing and-" Bethany doesn't get out much more than that before her twin cuts her off.

[Carver Amell]

"It was my fault, I hit the ball!" he blurts, carefully positioning himself between Bethany and Varric. And, will wonders never cease? There's actually a glare in his eyes, as he lowers the branch protectively, playing at it being a sword. 

[Varric]

"Choke your hand- the left one- down about an inch. And don't grip so tight. If you leave just a touch of flex in your grip it helps keep it from being jarred out of your hands if you hit something," Varric advises him. I know their kids but... how old are they? Like... halfway to people? Look human so of age is seventeen...

[Carver Amell]

Carver adjusts his hand without thinking, before he blinks. "H-hey! I-- you leave my sister alone," he argues, ready to defend against the inevitably onslaught of insults. Nobody had ever raised a hand to her... yet. But he wasn't going to let things go that far if he could help it. 

[Bethany]

"Carver," said sister hisses. "Thank you for, ummm... teaching my brother to hit people?" Bethany blinks a bunch, very confused by this.

[Varric]

Varric shrugs a little. "Looking after his clan, isn't he? Family rather, for a human. Be a shame if he broke his thumb or smacked himself in the face if his weapon rebounds on something."

[Carver Amell]

Carver blinks, frowning at the man. "...Are you an adult?" he asks, sizing up his height, weighing it against his flippant demeanour and his chest hair.

[Bethany]

Bethany sighs softly. Carver....