Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

"How does that figure in? I know something about you that could damage you. You know something about me that's the same. It's just good sense to protect yourself."

[Varric]

"Are you sure you're Astean?" the dwarf asks tiredly. He sets the tea down, turning away from Marian. Damn. All this time, all this work and... damn.

[Marian Hawke]

"What do you mean am I Astean?!" she demands. "What are you even talking about? I don't understand you most of the time and I know it's not because you're smarter than me because you aren't, you're just bad at talking!" She seems to be working herself into quite a lather. 

[Varric]

"Because for someone that claims to worship Astea, head of the Bright Gods, Lady of Love, Life and such, you seem to jump right to unethical motivations real damn quick," he says tiredly, still not looking at her. "I get you've had a hard life, but I thought that maybe we'd..."

[Marian Hawke]

She sighs, then, some of the fight going out of her. "Look if you're not.... if you're not trying to blackmail me, so much the better. But don't you tell me I'm not Astean when I'll give up everything -- everything -- for my family. My future, my education, my... even the only friend I have left."

[Varric]

Varric considers that a moment, then shrugs. "Limited but... yeah, I guess that's love," he admits. He frowns, then finally turns to face her. "...only friend?" he asks quietly.

[Marian Hawke]

"I-- I mean--" she begins, blushing faintly. "Nobody from school even talks to me anymore. They all heard I got expelled and, well, and it's not like anyone was that close with me to begin with, so it's just... easier to... a-anyway, don't read too much into it," she mutters, turning redder and redder as she goes. 

[Varric]

Kids, though for once, the word is thought fondly. "Right, well... why do you have to walk?" he says after clearing his throat.

[Marian Hawke]

"Because." She starts counting on her fingers as she talks, finding herself on much more solid ground. Index finger: "There's been rumors about Bethany for years." Middle finger: "She's been getting bullied since forever because of just rumors." Ring finger: "You don't plan to hide your magic, and you won't be convinced to." Pinkie finger: "If I stay around you, and you're known as a maleficarum, then they'll think the rumors are true and you're training my family." Thumb: "So we can't be around you. It's your magic or us."

[Varric]

"One, if there've been that rumors, persistant rumors about her for this long, then you already have a problem. Two, if she's already getting bullied, at age twelve, then it's going to get worse. Not really a judge of such things, but based on how you look and such, then I'd suspect she's going to be a looker in a handful of years. If they already don't think of her as a person, if people are already used to looking away when she's being... harassed, then..." Varric winces, looking a bit disquieted at the mere idea.

"Three, there's a big difference between not being ashamed of my magic and flying down to the market to get some milk. Four, I plan to work to start countering that kind of shit, getting contingencies in place in case of emergency or uncontrolled reveals. I've no intention of just outing myself on a whim now that I understand the context. Finally, calm down. Learn about compromise."

[Marian Hawke]

Wait, is he implying I'm a looker? "Humans aren't interested in me," she says, frowning. "Bethany probably won't have that problem. And Carver thinks of her as a person. Carver won't leave her alone to get bullied. If she can just keep a lid on it, the rumors will die off. As for three and four, you're not perfect, you're going to get caught, and I don't know how you explain that away. What sort of compromise are you thinking of?"

[Varric]

"So... Bethany- and you- can not get caught, but I can't?" Varric asks dryly. "And humans are plenty interested in your looks, you just don't notice them watching you because they're afraid you'll punch them if you notice them checking you out. Carver can't be around her all the time. Again, I don't plan on telling anyone until I have good reason to know it'll go in my favor. Start small, by trying to bring up education on the matter. Arrange for new textbooks to come in, minstrels, travellers and such. Maybe see if I can pull in a Seeker. Start small, maybe reveal it to sympathetic people in ones and twos, small groups."

[Marian Hawke]

She gives him a dark look. "We're not going to get caught because we're not going to be using magic. At all. I don't even know how to cast a spell, not on purpose. Carver can so be around her all the time, they're twins, it's fine. And you can't change the whole town, Varric. You'll just get killed."

[Varric]

Honestly, I could probably take the town. Not in pitched battle, sure, but- invalid plan, move along. "Your talents are innate, you won't have a choice. High emotions, stress or danger can all force the magic from you. Carver wasn't around when Joey broke her nose. Wasn't around yesterday when she came over to make lunch." He shrugs. "Not fair to him, or her, to chain them together anyway. As for not changing the town? Why not? Towns and cultures change all the time. I'll go slow and make sure I have back-up plans in place. Hells, I'd be willing to grab you and yours on my way out of town if it came to it."

[Marian Hawke]

"Because that's exactly what the witches did!" she snaps.