Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Varric]

"I mean... further back." Varric shakes his head, realizing he's dancing around this and making a muddle of it. "Why did you think I'd do that to you and Beth? Why did you... assume so quickly that I'd... betray you both?"

[Carver Amell]

"She was alive," he whispers. "It took so long just to... To get past that. And then it was a lie the whole time. And you... We talked about .. not finding a body. And... She said you, you promised not to tell."

[Varric]

"...that does paint a pretty grim picture," Varric admits, trying to push past the hurt of it. "But... Why? Why would I do that to you two? No, more importantly, why wouldn't you... why just assume and not talk to... if not me, then Beth or Merrill? They didn't do anything wrong."

[Carver Amell]

"I.. you know family is the most important thing to me. I... It hurt. I just, I went to Miki to talk it out and he offered, we drink sometimes..."

[Varric]

"Why go to the hideout instead of coming back here to Merrill and Beth?" Varric probes.

[Carver Amell]

"I... I didn't... I just kind of ran for safety," he admits.

[Varric]

Probably considers this more my house than his or even the girls'. Which... does make a bit of sense. I wonder... Something to think on later. "You mentioned that you drink with Miki- when? I mean, what reasons and occasions have you done so before?"

[Carver Amell]

He shifts a bit tmore. "Just... For fun, sometimes."

[Varric]

"So you've never used it as a... coping means before?" Varric smiles a bit to try and put Carver at ease.

[Carver Amell]

"Not... Really. Not like that. A few drinks on a hard day maybe. Not like, jugs."

[Varric]

Jugs? Ancient's Folly boy... "Yeah, that was... not a great plan. You... do you realize you could have died?"

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah," he says quietly. "I... Kind of wish I had."

[Varric]

Not... something I wanted to be right about. "I... I suspected a part of you does. I hope you realize why that's wrong?"

[Carver Amell]

He shrugs a shoulder.

[Varric]

"Say it out loud."