Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

"Nobody will ever desire me." Marian's voice is flat as she lifts her glass, takes a small sip. Woah. This is-- woah. "Try your whiskey."

[Bethany]

"What?" Oh, right whisky. Ugh. Smells terrible but... I can't say not to Marian, no when she looks so sad. Without any more thought than that, she grabs the shot and knocks the whole thing back in one go. And then promptly begins to cough, sputter and spasm against the table.

[Marian Hawke]

"Not all at once!" she chokes out, horrified. "Are you okay?!"

[Bethany]

Bethany wheezes hoarsely, tears streaming down her face as she sinks to her knees.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian rushes over, then, wrapping an arm around her to pull her over to the couch. "H-hey, are you okay? Is this--" Is this stuff bad for humans? It seemed okay to me, but she's not merikos like me, or pureblood like Varric, maybe it's poisonous to humans!

[Bethany]

Bethany finally sucks in a full breath, then expels it slowly. "That was vile," she gasps out. "Like- spicy vinegar."

[Marian Hawke]

Like-- what? "What? No, it's whiskey. Are you alright?"

[Bethany]

"Whisky. Bad," Bethany explains with all her available eloquence, then promptly sags against her beloved sister. Warm. Loves me. Here for me. Carver is off with stupid Summer. Mom is walking out with Widower Patton, even if she thinks none of us have noticed. Dad's dead. Varric... is alright. But Marian is here, for me. "You're good," she adds in a mumble.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian rubs her back, a little betrayed at the thought of anything Varric loves being bad. But... It's nice, being appreciated. Very nice. Bethany will make someone a lucky wife someday. I mean. They'd be lucky to have her. Yeah that's the right way round.

[Bethany]

Bethany sighs softly, enjoying the not moving and soft warmth thing she has going on right now. "You won't leave me, right?" she whispers, sounding very lost and vulnerable. "Even... even if you end up with Drake or... whoever? You won't kick me out?"

[Marian Hawke]

Marian flinches. "Beth," she whimpers. "I-- I can't stay in Golden Shores forever. I want to go to university."

[Bethany]

"I'll come with you. Make sure you eat properly and... clean up for you," she says quickly. "I can find part-time work as a maid or maybe sell baked goods. I won't be a burden, I promise." Bethany realizes she's begging, hates herself for being so blatant and weak and doesn't even try to change it. "Please, just... everyone leaves. I just... I just want..."

[Marian Hawke]

"Beth," she whispers. "Won't you-- won't you want to stay here with Carver?" 

[Bethany]

Her expression turns mulish. "He'll have Summer," she says shortly. "Besides... they don't burn freaks in Nyra." And... and maybe... maybe they won't care I like to look at girls there. I wonder... no, Varric's clever, he'll realize why I'm asking, no matter how careful and indirect I am.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian tenses, pulling Bethany closer. "Okay. Fine. As soon as you're done school, we'll go."