Imprints in Stone [AU]

[GamesMaster]

Ari shrugs. "I enjoy a lot of things," she demures. "You sound better."

[Bethany]

What? Oh. Right. I... "Yeah," she says quietly. "Thanks. You doing okay?"

[GamesMaster]

"Of course. I was not the one injured." she gives her an appraising look. "Are you planning to go back out there?"

[Bethany]

"Uh, yeah? I can't stay here forever, Carver would- oh. You mean... oh." BEthany takes a deep breath. "I... I kind of blanked out a bit, after... after he cut me." She reaches up to touch her face and winces. The ice has mostly melted by now and slides off at the light touch. Underneath, her face is perfectly healed. The only sign of the attack, aside from the ice melt, is a faint white line across the left side of the tip of her nose. It's faint enough that hopefully no-one notices but it can be seen without much effort.

"What... happened, exactly?" After the probing of her face, Bethany resumes petting, realizing this is probably going to be hard to hear.

[GamesMaster]

Ari glances away. "I didn't see, exactly. I was getting into position to take him out when you... There was an ice storm. Indoors. Looks like you hit him with an icicle, I don't know if... I assume he's down for the count."

[Bethany]

Oh. I... I... "Is... I'm don't..." Swallowing hard, Bethany's gaze fixates on an unseen spot over Ari's shoulder and her hands slow to a stop. Down for the count. She assumes... she means... I killed... a person. I.... killed someone. I'm a murderer. No, he attacked first. He was going to take me, rape me. But I killed him. Is that worse? Does what he planned justify... I'm supposed to be a healer and... I'm a pimp, maybe soon a whore and now a murderer.

What am I doing, Mar? I'm broken and lost without you.

[GamesMaster]

"... how about I take you home," says Ari slowly. "Get you to bed."

[Bethany]

That... that sounds like it might... no, if I run away now, I might not come back to work. And I can't do that, people depend on me. To whore them. Gods. "N-no. Just... just give me a few more minutes and we can head to the next tavern. We need at least two more solid bites to stay on target."

[GamesMaster]

Ari's ears twitch, but her voice is gentler when she says, "Alright, then. Let's do this."

[NPCs]

It had taken a good, long, while but the twins are finally at the guard station to walk Varric home. The investigation had been completed in regards to Golden Shores, the guard managing to track the original summons to a house that was very much not Varric's. There were some additional complications, tentative almost-charges made, but none of them had solidified into anything and Varric had finally been able to force the investigator, one Sgt. Vixis, a merikos varana bucking for a promotion to lieutenant. Staked a fair bit of his reputation on Varric being guilty, enough that he's like as not just missed this chance, but damaged his chances going forward. 

Not that the twins- or Varric to be honest- really cares. No, they're just glad to be minutes away from reuniting. As they wait in the visitor area, Bethany mutters darkly, then says something about needing to step into the restroom real fast before hurrying off so she's back in time for Varric's arrival. A minute or so later, Carver hears an entirely different voice calling across the room. 

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

"Sgt. Vixiis! What's this I hear about that monster being set free?" Gods above, that's Leandra. And she sounds livid.  A quick glance around would reveal the human just inside the office area, at the desk of a really hairy, hunched over looking man with a dark scowl on his face.

[Carver Amell]

Carver leaps to his feet, heading towards the sound of his mother's voice on instinct. Mother. For all the Bright Gods, don't fuck this up for Bethany. Please.

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

"Ma'am, my hands are-"

"Don't you try and brush me off young man! You're sworn to protect and my sweet boy is in danger! It's been over a month now and that stone-faced Vallen bitch is still telling me I don't have the right to take care of my own children! My own blood!"

Yeah, she's totally causing a scene. A big one, half the room is outright staring, and most of the rest are just more discreet about it.

[Carver Amell]

Carver crosses his arms, growling out, "Mother! You're making a scene," from a few feet behind her. 

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

Whirling around, Leandra stares for a second, eyes welling up, before she nearly leaps over to embrace Carver. "Oh it's so good to see you Carver!" Sniffling, she pulls him tightly close. "You're getting so tall!"