Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

"And about your trip to Raplin's Oak," Bethany says brightly. "Maybe not why, exactly, but what you did there would be good. And... and we could maybe talk about Malcolm? Current day, I mean?"

[Varric]

"...maybe, yeah. Probably not for the first week or so but... not a bad topic, maybe. Want to make sure they're feeling secure in this family," Varric explains slowly.

[Carver Amell]

He nods. "What about Cindy? Anything I shouldn't talk about with her?"

[Varric]

"Try not to pry, girl's got some serious trust issues." Varric hesitates, then adds, "near as I can tell, both of her parents were... worse than yours in nearly every way. And more than that, the father at least never loved at all, even shallowly. So. Really avoid asking about her family. And... right now, your sister is... very dependant on Cindy." He winces a little. "...not unlike how Merrill can be with Carver. Not thrilled with it but for now, it's helping."

[Bethany]

"But- that's- what if Marian-"

[Varric]

"I know. I know. This time, we know what to look for. And they're both under watch. I hope to... give your sister her independence back as soon as I can, but for right now, she'd crack without that support. Sometimes you have to risk the future for the present in order to have a future," Varric says wearily.

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "The best thing we can do is to give her support, so she doesn't feel like Cindy's her only family. So that if something happens she has somewhere to go."

[Bethany]

Bethany blinks, then leans over to hug her twin tightly. "Exactly, ma'win. Exactly that," she says tearfully.

[Carver Amell]

He embraces her, rubbing her back gently. "Never again. I will never let someone feel that alone and rejected again."

[Varric]

"Including yourself," Varric says firmly, smiling at them from across the table. Not wanting him to feel left out (and without any ulterior motive at all, really), Hunter shoves his head into the dwarf's lap.

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods, slowly. Including... me. How am I like Merrill? he wonders, but he puts it aside, wanting to take the time to pick over that at his leisure. 

"Anything else we need to know?"

[Varric]

Varric thinks a moment as he pets Hunter absently. "...she was trapped for a long time, in a magical gem. Her... awareness, I mean. So she doesn't do well if she's trapped, even by people she can trust. So make sure she has a way out of a room- don't block doors or windows, that sort of thing. And the gem was red, which was all she could see while she was... in it." He takes a deep breath. "That's what... the demon could... force her out of her body and into the gem, then control her body and... Well. Demon. Evil things were done with her flesh, and to it. Not her fault, not at all, but... probably hard to remember that."

[Bethany]

Bethany makes a soft whining noise in her throat and buries her face into Carver's shoulder. "Gods. Gods."

[Carver Amell]

Caver swallows, tightening his grip on his twin. "Has she been looked at? No lingering effects? The demon couldn't... didn't... do lasting harm?"

[Varric]

"Some... physical... scars," Varric says, voice tight. "But her soul is clean of influence- I had three different clerics check them both while they were out after the Double Delve."