Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Varric]

Varric reaches with his free hand to run fingers over some light grooves across his leather vambrace. "Yeah he does." Nailed the nickname game solid with this one evidently.

[Bethany]

Okay, so that's... that's new? Maybe? Or did he just not tell anyone about... did he tell Summer? "Well, that's enough. We- we can't fight. We can't."

[Carver Amell]

"You take that back," he growls to Varric, not caring about the claws right now. "I have never-- I would never hurt Bethany, never."

[Bethany]

Bethany's mouths twists and she scoffs loudly.

[Carver Amell]

Carver whirls on her -- having the unfortunate side effect of turning his growl and claws on her as well. He pants, struggling to control himself, a wounded, savage look in his eyes. He says nothing. 

[Bethany]

Bethany lets out a gasp, stumbling back- and, perhaps predictably, steps on a loose rock which sends her tumbling back into the stream with a cry of pain.

[Varric]

Varric doesn't hesitate, nor bother to carefully circle around Carver, instead rushing right for the young woman to help her.

[Carver Amell]

Carver lunges forward -- and it's a human hand that grabs for Bethany's arm, catches her before she hits, pulls her close. As he embraces her, she can feel him trembling.

[Bethany]

Bethany, panicked about falling, clutches at the hand automatically. They both go down in a tumble, but it's slower and on their legs and hips instead of Bethany's back and maybe head. For a moment, just a moment, Bethany clings to her twin. Then she shoves at him, squirming to get away. 

[Carver Amell]

Carver rolls off her when shoved, staying in the water, letting it rush over his hair and back. Bethany's afraid of me, he thinks.  I had claws. The thoughts seem distant, disconnected, but each of them seems vital in some vague, distant way. 

The anger quenched by the stream, he lies there, waiting to be judged. Fucked up again.

[Varric]

Varric is there then, allowing Bethany to lean on his shoulder as he moves next to Carver. "You okay there Hound? Can you get up?" he asks gently.

[Bethany]

"He had claws- is- is that my twin or-" Bethany asks, voice trembling.

[Varric]

The dwarf seems confused for a split second, then, "it is. He's not possessed or a shapeshifter demon," he assures the human. Both of them, perhaps, at least about the possession. "Added a pinch of salt to our meals a few times just to be safe. I suspect Carver has some nature magic, something druidic-y. Makes sense. You and M- you got your magic from your mother's bloodline, Carver got his from your father. Elves have a tendency towards nature-based magic."

[Bethany]

Bethany sags with relief, then takes a few steps towards Carver. "Ummm... thank you for... I mean, sorry I- falling and being- I didn't mean to..."

[Carver Amell]

Is that my twin? She doesn't even know me. Carver remains in the stream, staring up at the sky. Father. I'm like Father? That's... is this how it happens, then? You try so hard and they just push you away until finally you abandon everyone.