Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

Marian shakes her head again. "Look after Bethany. I have to stop them talking to Mother." And she's already turning to leave, assured as she can be that Bethany's in good hands. 

[Varric]

Right. Missus Hawke. Leanne or whatever. I should really figure out a way to introduce myself to her at some point... "Alright..." As Marian heads off, she can hear Varric continue, "you're a bit tall, but you can borrow a shirt while we wash that one, after your face is..."

[Marian Hawke]

"Ah, there you are!"

As Marian slips into the classroom to check on Carver, she finds things decidedly not as expected. For one thing, Carver is gone. Whether he's finished cleaning the classroom or he's just been sent home is unclear, but he's not cleaning erasers like she hoped.

For another, Leandra is standing right there talking to the teacher, and they've both seen her as she entered. I have to learn how to move quieter, she bemoans, but she keeps her face neutral, giving a quick bow of deference to the teacher as she is spotted.

"Yes sir," she mumbles, causing her teacher's frown to lessen only slightly as the man turns back to Leandra.

"As I was saying, I simply cannot have a troublemaker of this caliber in my classroom. What if she had seriously hurt the Mendez boy? No, she's big enough now that I can't handle her single-handedly. There's nothing for it."

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

"But surely she can just... serve some extra detentions or... " Leandra scowls deeply, turning to glare at Marian. "What do you have to say for yourself?" Unspoken is the demand that Marian justify this, explain it away so that it doesn't end with her daughter being expelled for all the village to hear about.

[Marian Hawke]

"Joseph Mendez is a bully and I'm glad I hit him," she says bluntly. The teacher looks unimpressed. 

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

"Marian," her mother hisses, sounding mortified. And pissed. "Apologize to Mister Mendeis right this instance."

[Marian Hawke]

"Instant. You want instant. Not instance." Marian's voice is flat once more. "I won't apologize because it's true."

"I think the solution here is clear," replies Mr Mendeis in a firm voice. "Marian Hawke, you are hereby expelled."

Marian turns wide, shocked eyes on her teacher. "Wait, what?!"

"You heard me. Get your things and leave my classroom immediately."

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

"Mr. Mendeis, please, surely she can just... do a suspension, perhaps some service work," Leandra says, trying to play on his sympathies. "I know she can be... a bit of a handful, but she's a good girl at heart. And only a few more months until graduation..."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian takes a step back, eyes filling with tears. No more school. What am I going to do? I'm not ready to graduate, I was going to wait until I was actually fifteen, take some advanced courses...

Mr Mendeis shakes his head. "I've half a mind to expell that sister of hers as well. They're both troublemakers."

"No!" protests Marian. "Bethany had nothing to do with this, it was all me."

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

"Absolutely not," Leandra snaps, her own Amell temper flaring. "My Bethany is an absolute sweetheart." Her eyes narrow. "And where were you when all of this was happening, come to think of it? How did a known bully like Joey get my little girl off by herself on school grounds?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Doing my job. Your son asked me about his homework, I was obligated to respond -- despite now knowing that it was likely a smokescreen for his sisters."

"It was not!" protests Marian. "I took advantage of your back being turned to pick a fight. It was my fault. The twins were blameless."

"Then I suggest you think hard about your character flaws. I can only pray for your redemption. I will work to keep your sister from following in your footsteps, but I cannot do all," he adds, with a meaningful glance to Leandra. "Perhaps some deep thought should be given to how Marian ended up down this path."

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

Leandra sniffs disdainfully, then turns away from the teacher. "If that is your final thoughts, then so be it. Her future hardships..." She shrugs a little. "I suppose it's no care of yours," she adds as she walks towards the door. "Come along, Mairan. We need to talk."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian, her stomach dropping, tags after her mother. When they're out of earshot of the teacher, she begins: "I'm sorry, Mother, I didn't think--"

[Leandra Hawke ne Amell]

"Not. Here," Leandra hisses savagely. "You think over what you've done, what you've done to our family, until were home." And behind closed doors. "Now be silent."

[Marian Hawke]

What I've done to our family. Her stomach keeps dropping, and she hangs her head. "I-- I left Bethany at Mr Tethras' house," she says, her voice small. "Where she'd be safe."