Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"No idea," he grits out. "I'm not magic. I don't know these things."

[Varric]

"You can guess, right? Doesn't matter. Take a deep breath, then try and drinks some water." So saying, he continues to rub Carver's back while reaching with his other hand to get the water glass so Carver doesn't have to reach.

[Carver Amell]

Carver takes it, gulping down water for a few moments. "I'm okay," he says, at last.

[Varric]

"Good lad. Want some more?" 

[Carver Amell]

He shakes his head, wincing. "Sorry."

[Varric]

"...did more drinking during that... trip than I have in decades," Varric says in a low voice. "It was rough. No shame in admitting that."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "It's all gone wrong. It really, really has."

[Varric]

"Not everything. Need to keep reminding yourself that. You're alive. That's the first step to every plan really. Be alive. So's Beth. And me. Made it somewhere safe, somewhere you can recover and grow. That's good too. It can build from that."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods again. "I'm alive. Beth's alive. You're alive. I... I have a plan, something like a plan. Get a tutor, learn one-on-one. Maybe I take vows and maybe I don't." 

[Varric]

"Good. And maybe we... make this a thing. Us talking. Working through things," Varric offers. "If nothing else, have a tumbler of whisky every night will help build up your tolerances. Just the one though and don't drink otherwise. Falling to drink is easy and climbing out is a hell of a thing."

[Carver Amell]

"What does that mean? Like Joey's dad?" 

[NPCs]

Joey's... ah. Right, the town drunk, as if there's only ever one. "Yeah, that's one kind of drunk. Drink... as often as not, it strips away the good parts of a person. Leaves just the sullen wretch, the violent brute, the loud asshole, the creepy pervert... Mind you, that's just if you overindulge. Drink is a privilege, a luxury and if you abuse it, you'll abuse others."

[Carver Amell]

Carver glances at his water glass again. "I don't need drink to be that."

[Varric]

"Well, the worst parts are there, just... normally overshadowed by the good. But grief and hurt can bring them out too," Varric explains.

[Carver Amell]

"Grief," Carver latches onto that word. "This is grieving?"