Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

Marian nods slowly. "And the bastard thing?"

[Varric]

"Dwarvens don't care about blood as much as they do about Clan bonds. Adoptions, child or adult, are very common. Him not being around, him not honoring your mother shames him, not you," Varric says simply. "Blaming what humans call bastards is like blaming a village for being attacked by a pissed off dragon. Pointless and petty, and indicative of an asshole."

[Bethany]

"Language!"

[Marian Hawke]

Marian nods again, her eyes finally drying. "Okay," she whispers again. "I'm sorry."

Hoping against hope, knowing she's pushing her luck, she adds, "and... This... Beth?"

[Varric]

"Logistics problem mostly," he says with a shrug. "Well, that's not quite the right word but yeah. All sex is gross to me, this isn't much different. Sorry. Might be partly because dwarf siblings may or may not be blood related. Or anywhere near the same age. Very much aware it's taboo as hells here so this has to keep as dark as moonless night, two hundred feet underground."

[Bethany]

"Oh. Okay? So..." Bethany glances at her sister warily, nervous but hopeful smile in place.

[Marian Hawke]

Marisn lets out a sound Beth has never heard before: a low, whimpering moan, mixed with a sigh. Her shoulders slump, and she nods, wiping at fresh tears. "Okay," she whispers again, and it's a white flag, a surrender. "Okay."

[Bethany]

"Not okay! Crying isn't okay!" Bethany says a touch shrilly. "What's wrong?"

[Marian Hawke]

She gives a smile -- genuine, if strange. "I... I'm so relieved. I'm not fired. We can still live here. It's going to be okay."

[Varric]

"After all the training I've put into you?" Varric says with a noticeable smirk in his tone and expression both. "Not a chance. So... that's all handled?"

Both girls nod, looking relieved to have this finished. "Good, good. Means we can talk about what you thought about the two hundred and fifty gold worth of booze you drank last night."

[Bethany]

Bethany whimpers, then passes out in a dead faint, right into Marian's arms.

[Carver Amell]

On the one hand, Varric was a good source of knowledge. He was learned, well traveled, and so far had answered every question Carver had with a simple yet thorough answer about how the world works. For an adult, he was easy to talk to, casual, and cunning. If he had to ask someone something, he would prefer to ask it of Varric.

On the other hand, this was about Summer. Not only was she the most beautiful girl Carver had ever laid eyes upon, she had deigned to notice him over all the other guys vying for her attention. Sure, she'd gone out with Johnny twice, and she'd held hands with Steve just last week, but it was Carver she really had eyes for, and Carver she'd taken out to the cornfield yesterday. He didn't want to share a single moment of that with any man alive, not yet. Not until they were married, and even then, he had a vague feeling it would be wrong somehow to talk about her with other men. She was his, wholly his, not even shared with Bethany, and he wanted to keep it that way.

On the gripping hand, it was for Summer that he needed to ask his question. After all, he didn't want to get her pregnant. Carver Hawke would never, ever sire a bastard if his life depended on it. He wouldn't be like his father. So. He needed to ask, and he needed to be sure he'd get a good, solid answer. 

So, after lunch while Bethany and Marian practiced spells outside, he volunteered to help with the lunch dishes instead of going out to play by himself. From their perch they could see the girls through the glass, but neither side could hear the other unless they shouted -- which he very much didn't intend to do. "I... I need to ask you a question. A uh. A sensitive question."

[Varric]

Varric isn't as close to Carver, once Surly and now Hound, as his sisters. Varric  isn't much for hunting in the wilds, but the boy had soaked up every dribble of lore and advice and made it his own. Real gift for it. And he's come to the older dwarf for advice every now and then. This sounded a touch more serious though, and deserved to be treated as such.

"Dry your hands and we'll talk in my office. Sounds like this might be a real man-to-man talk," Varric says seriously. Good kid but so damn serious about being a man. Eh, he'll grow out of it.

[Carver Amell]

A real man to man talk! Carver perks up, and Varric can almost see puppy-dog ears prick up at the sound of that. It's about time someone noticed what a man I've become! Summer notices, but my family, never.

Metaphorical tail wagging, he does as he's bid, following Varric into the office.

[Varric]

Hiding his amusement, Varric leads them in. Telling Carver to have a seat, he heads to the small dry bar. Hmm. Only two and change from maturity... yeah, why not? After pouring himself a tumbler of whiskey, he makes another for Hound. Granted, it's cut, generously, with fizz water and some bitters, but it's real whisky.

"Small sips, whisky isn't juice or water. Sip and savor. Enjoy it, sure, but respect it or no-one will respect you. Now, what's on your mind?" He asks as he sets down the drinks and takes a seat of his own.