Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

"There's a wayang on the council, so it's not all skins," Bethany offers quickly. "Oh! And dad's a Light. So you'd have one ally for sure. And the Lord Hand was Speaker for Coalside, he's very well known for supporting the lower classes so that's a big help."

[GamesMaster]

His tail lashes. "Do you... think I'm the same kind of man as your father?" he asks, his voice trembling. 

[Bethany]

"Well, you're much cut-" Bethany cuts off, face flushing a little. "You're both intelligent, strong-willed, and ethical men that could do a great deal of good with their talent, skills and positions," she says firmly.

[GamesMaster]

"I..." 

He stares at her, speechless. "I think that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said about me," he whispers. A moment later, he buries his face in his paws and groans. "They're going to eat me alive." 

A moment after that, he lifts his face, cutting off her response with "but think of what I could accomplish!"

[Bethany]

"Yeah..." Bethany whispers, lips curing in a proud smile. "It'll be... complicated. Difficult. Maybe dangerous. But having a Light speaking for the tribe... speaking for Coalside in general... gods." Unable to help herself, she leans forward and brushes her lips against his. Jerking back, she winces. "Ah, yeah. You could do a lot of good. For- for a lot of people. Nyra too really- they could use the fresh blood in the Lantern."

[GamesMaster]

Don hangs back, swallowing hard. "Beth... if I do this... it'll be like being Keeper. I can't..."

[Bethany]

Bethany averts her gaze. "...I know, I just... Slipped. Still lesbian and... eventually you'd want to... take your pants off." gods, I hate myself for that. I don't even know why dicks gross me out so much. he's nearly perfect otherwise, but I just... I wonder if... Bri used to say that being buzzed could... No, he still couldn't... 

[GamesMaster]

"Beth," he says gently. "People already talk. I'd have to.. pull back for a bit. Focus on my people." He takes a deep breath, then adds, "It's not like we'd never see each other, but... we can't be like this anymore."

[Bethany]

Beth flinches a little, ducking her head. "Oh. I had thought... no, that does make sense for the beginning. Eventually you'd need some clear signs you're not just about catfolk in order to get things done in the Lantern- you'll need general Coalside support, I suspect- but..." She takes a deep breath. "Would... would our sibs be enough of... of a buffer to avoid..?"

[GamesMaster]

He reaches out, gently stroking her cheek with the backs of his fingers. "I-- yes. I won't give you up forever, Beth. I'll send you messages through Ari if I have to. I'll figure this out, I'll make this work. I promise. Okay? Will you wait for me?"

[Bethany]

Gods Don, you don't make this easy being so... uggggh! A queer look ripples across Beth's face and a stubborn glint slips into her eyes. "Yes. Not just wait either. I'm no damsel after all. I'll still be helping you, even if we have to... do it a few steps apart. And I'll be working on me too," she adds a touch cryptically. "Anyway. We should focus on..." She gestures at the journal. "Helene and dad would know what to do on the official front but... what's your first step?"

[GamesMaster]

"I have to tell Ari. Let's get her and talk to your Seeker -- they were the one digging this up, right? They'll know what to do next, and they're not already a Light."

[NPCs]

Ari had, rather understandably, been simultaneous amused at the shear unlikeness of this, proud of Don's reaction, confused by what this will mean for her, him and the Tribe and just... weirded out by the fact that her brother is a sodding Light! Well, probably a Light, that needs to be confirmed and, despite Beth's assurances that the other Founder Lines won't allow Don to be blocked out of simple self-interest, both cats are worried about how this is going to work out. The seat is currently held in stasis, but had just last generation been held by a rather... conservative and elitist sort. So the seat going to a catfolk commoner with no magic and little if any recognized education will be a major upset to the balance of culture in the Lantern.

The actual confirmation of Don as being the heir to the Light Founder's seat was... honestly rather anticlimactic. Helene performed a few divinations and promptly declared him to be the proper heir. The next four hours are spent with Don alternating between being comforted by Beth, Ari and Carver and coached by Varric and Helene on what happens next. Merrill made dinner. Of course, the actual first step, even before approaching Bedrock to start the paperwork clockworks in motion... is Don explaining all this to his father the Keeper. Which is going to be great fun, he's sure...

[Marian Hawke]

Seeking peace and busywork, Varric spends the next day in his office, letting Helene handle the Don situation. After all, there's business to be done -- as always, though he has less and less time to look over contracts himself now that he's got Light work, three kids, and Helene's research to occupy his time as well.

It's almost irritating, then, when a stranger knocks on the door to his office. The man at the door is a dwarf he's never seen before, with dark brown hair, dark eyes, and a bit of stubble over his chin -- not a traditional avii beard, but neither is he clean-shaven like a sarii or some of the surfacers who abandoned the distinction altogether. A very interesting choice of fashion for a young adult dwarf male. His clothing marks him lower-class, but he carries himself upright, proudly, like an adventurer.

(Sodding hells, is there an adventurer at his door?!)

"Good morning," he says, and his voice is tight with nerves, his hands twitching faintly. "I was told-- let me begin again. Are you Varric Tethras, owner of the Golden Shores Mine?"

[Varric]

Warier now, but keeping any hint of that off his face, Varric nods agreeably. "Sole owner as of about half a year ago, yes. Who might you be?"