Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

Bethany moves over to lay a hand on Marian's arm, the gesture normal and familiar, right up until they touch and the human looks suddenly uncertain, as if unsure if she's allowed to do this anymore. "Marian, what's wrong?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I-- I don't, didn't want to do this in front of-- but-- but we can't... I can't be with you," she whispers. "I want to spend our lives together, but I don't think I can do... what we did last night."

[Bethany]

Bethany's face stiffens, but she doesn't pull her hand away. "W-why?" she stammers.

[Marian Hawke]

"Not because of you," she says quickly. "I love you, Beth. You're the best sister anyone could have asked for. But... but..." The tears start flowing around now. "I'm a witch," she whispers, "and an elf, and a bastard. I can't not be those things. To add... to add this on top of it... I can't, Beth. I know you think the world of me but I'm not strong enough."

[Bethany]

"But we can stay- just no more sex?" Bethany presses, focusing on what she really needs. The sex was... that one night, the feelings she gave me... I can live with that if I have to. Maybe one day, I can find another freak like me, that might be willing to touch me like that, in Nyra.

[Varric]

"Wait, pause. You're not a witch. Witches make pacts with outside forces, bargaining power for influencing the mortal realm. Some forces are good, some are just weird, others are evil. You didn't do that, I'd have noticed. I'm not entirely sure what flavor you are, I think you're leaning towards wizard, but you're not a witch, either of you. Second, what's wrong with being an elf? Not dwarven, sure, but not everyone can be that great." Maybe not the time, Varric... "Jokes aside, elves are fine."

[Marian Hawke]

"Then why--" she whispers, before shaking her head, wiping at the tears. 

[Varric]

"Why..?" Varric asks carefully, rising to his feet to move a little closer to the pair. What is she bothered about? Something about being elf, and me... did she think my jokes were serious? Or is this- Oh shit. That wasn't just a passing... does she still.. "Marian is this... about the two of us or..?"

[Marian Hawke]

She swallows. "No, I-- I understand. You're not interested, you won't ever be. I-- I just..." I don't want to hear it again, how little I fit in. How wrong I am.

[Varric]

Yeah, damnit. That's what this is- gods be damned. "Marian, I- it's not you, it's am I really saying that trite crap? Sorry. I'm asexual." Which they might not actually know. Right. "Hetrosexual, attracted to the opposite gender. Homosexual, same gender. Bisexual, both genders. Asexual, attracted to no-one. I don't... do sex. At all. With anyone," he says awkwardly, inspecting the wall past the two girls.

[Bethany]

Wait, what? There's like a- a system for- for being like- I'm... homosexual? That's what I am? Bethany doesn't really hear much past that, getting a bit mindstuck herself on that label. Well, that and Marian likes Varric? Really likes him? But he's like our dad- oh. Right. Nevermind. Makes sense.

[Marian Hawke]

"You-- what?" she asks, awkwardly, wiping at her tears with a sniffle. "Like... like a Pavitra?"

[Varric]

"...bit like that, I guess. I'd say more tulwath, but sure," Varric says after a moment. "Just... born that way. Sex is... gross, to me. Even reading about it is... anyway. So. Not about you. You're fine."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian nods, relief flashing across her face for a moment as she does. "O--okay. Thank you."

[Varric]

"Okay. So that's settled. You're fine, great and such. No-one with any brains or worth cares that you're merikos elf. And you're not a witch, either of you. You can't accidentally become a witch. You have innate magic, not pacts," Varric explains. "Very different. Not... entirely sure what kind you have, I'd say some kind of ice-sourced blood. Frost giant, silver dragon, ice genie, something like that, way back in your genealogy. But that can be expressed a few ways. Babbles seems... kind of... internally focused, not the result of careful thought but instead using will and need. Hints of divine though, which is weird. Prentice on the other hand, favors a cerebral approach. Wizard, maybe, or something along those lines. Bit martial for wizard though."