Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Varric]

"No, they summoned demons and cursed people," Varric counters. "I'd not be doing either of those things. I'd also be sure to get the backing of at least a Seeker, if not a Bright or two. Shouldn't be all that hard to arrange for a Vangalite paladin to swing through town."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian shakes her head. "You'll never stop, will you?" she asks, and there's a bitterness in her tone. "The elders are right. Outsiders won't ever belong here. You'd be happier heading somewhere else."

[Varric]

"I never planned to stay. Five to ten years, tops, then I'm back to Nyra," Varric replies. "I've never made any effort to hide that. Nor do I see why I shouldn't try to affect change when I think what's being done is wrong, just because that's 'the way things are done' in a place."

[Marian Hawke]

He never planned to stay. He never did hide that, either. I knew that's why he wanted me to be trained to be his factor. Still, with her nerves so raw, it hurts anyway. "Best of luck, then," she says, turning away from him to hide the quickly brimming tears. 

[Varric]

"Doesn't mean we won't see each other again," Varric says quietly. "And four more years to go at minimum before I start... making steps towards going home. If you take the factor position, you'd see me once a year. Or maybe you come to Nyra for something else. Bring your sibs, get away the rumors and reputation." And your mother. 

[Marian Hawke]

"Not if you get run out of town first," she says, the bitterness intensifying. 

[Varric]

"True," Varric allows. "I can minimize the chances of that, but it is and always will be a possible outcome, even if I don't use a lick of magic. Hells, it's a chance even if I didn't have any magic. Can't prove a negative after all."

[Marian Hawke]

"Just face it: I'm cursed. You can't change that. I'm sorry, but it's true. If it wasn't for Bethany..."

[Varric]

"She's not the only good thing in your life," Varric says evenly. "And there's a lot of ground between 'hide any clue, no matter the cost' and 'let's put up a banner in our front yards.' For instance... well, you don't seem all that overly attached to the town, in a general sense. So, to start, regardless of anything we talk about or decide... pour yourself a cup of tea and a fresh one for me if you would, I want to grab something from my office real fast," he says, pushing away from the counter.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian thinks about running. What good can come of staying? But... my education...

Instead, she pours herself a cup of tea, dumps the remainder of his, pourts him one as well. I'm so stupid but... if there's any chance...

[Varric]

Varric returns as stated, in about three minutes. He walks in and immediately tosses a small dark brown leather pouch at Marian. "That's for you, Bethany and Carver. Not for Leandra,"  he says firmly. "And it's only if you or her gets exposed. Or Carver, if he manifests. That's a final ace. I want your word, Marian Hawke."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian frowns, glancing at the pouch. Wait, is this like spies that used to carry poison on them...? She opens the pouch to peek inside, while asking, "What is it?" 

[Varric]

Inside, there are twenty white metal coins, the like of which Marian's never seen, stamped with the Nyran crest, plus ten silver, five gold and four vials stamped with Bastion's sigil on the corks. Healing potions. There's also a small metal tube, a four inch knife in a sheath, and a small wax covered box.

"The tube is a scroll case, with a map to Nyra. The knife is adamantine, cut just about anything. The box is filled with tinder twigs," Varric says curtly. "Your word Marian. Only if you need to run."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian looks up, mouth open, stunned. She closes the pouch. I can't take this. But... but what if Bethany needs to get out of here?

"My word," she says quietly. "Nobody even knows I have it unless we need to bug out. When you leave, this goes back to you if we haven't had to use it."

[Varric]

Varric studies her for a long moment, then nods. "Once you graduate, before I go, start saving up for your own bug-out bag. Two of them, if you can. One with coin and minimal supplies you keep on yourself or at your home, another, bigger one with survival supplies and a few coins you can stash a half mile from town," he says quietly. He moves to the table then and takes a seat. Sips his tea. Exhales slowly.