Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Andy za'Frane]

"Of course, it's the least you deserve after... what happened," the young looking man says gently. The two follow him to small room, much like the one they were just in but twice the size with sofas along the walls. "This is our break room, I'll put up a sign that it's in use so you two should have the place to yourself. Anything special you want for your late lunch?"

[Carver Amell]

Carver shakes his head. "Anything's fine. I just want to make sure we're safe."

[Bethany]

Bethany bites her lip, then asks nervously, "could... anything's fine." At Andy's patient smile, she fidgets a bit. "Something sweet?"

[Andy za'Frane]

"I think I can do that," Andy says softly and bows once before leaving. Two minutes later, he's back with a jug of apple juice and a half loaf of oat bread to 'tide them over.' 

[NPCs]

Twenty minutes after that, there's a knock on the door and a woman's voice asks, "is this the Hawke siblings?"

[Carver Amell]

Carver jumps to his feet. "Who's asking?" Wait, this is probably more food? Well, whatever, it's good practice to make sure I know who it is.

[NPCs]

The door opens slightly and a dark-haired human woman pokes her head in. She's pretty, in a plain sort of way, but her smile is bright and kind, her eyes warm and welcoming. "Joyous Seline, bringing lunch to the Hawke siblings. May I come in?"

[Carver Amell]

Carver studies her closely, looking for any sign of infernal taint -- but he sees nothing, smells nothing, out of the ordinary. He relaxes a fraction. "Alright. You can come in."

[Bethany]

Bethany, curled up on one of the sofas in a light doze, yawns broadly and looks up. "Ma'win?" she asks in a sleepy voice.

[NPCs]

Seline enters the room after being given permission, showing that she's carrying a large wicker hamper. And, no matter how much Carver inspects her bum or legs, he doesn't find even a hint of a tail or cloven hooves. "Andy didn't say much in the way of details, but... my deepest sorrow for your losses," the Bright says as she sets the hamper down and starts to unpack it. She's not that much older than then, should appearances be honest, early twenties or so at most. The soft, curvy body of an active but sedentary life of modest comfort. A subtle, pleasant floral scent, though Carver's keen nose would catch a faint hint of fresh bread, ink and... something musky that he can't entirely place. Good clothing, well made but not fancy. More importantly, they're a priestess robes, clearly denoting her- if her introduction wasn't enough- as a sworn member of Ciren's clergy.

[Carver Amell]

"It's the food, Bethany," says Carver, his voice more gentle. "And a Bright, er, a Joyous you said? That's..." He gropes through his memory for which deity the title belongs to. 

[NPCs]

"Ciren," the woman replies with a smile, shifting so her holy symbol is visible now that she's set down the hamper. "I focus mostly on Her Youth and Comfort aspects," she adds, the detail automatic when talking to a teenager, especially a male one. "I have a light garden salad, some fresh made tomato soup, twice-baked rye cubes for the soup, and some sweet-spice sauced pork shreds on pretzel rolls."

She pulls the various foods out as she talks, then smiles warmly as the lightly blushing Bethany. "Plus, a strawberry cobbler pie for something sweet," Seline adds, winking at Bethany, which causes the crush to deepen a bit more. "Oh, and chilled apple cider. Soft, I'm afraid, I was given the impression you were both a bit younger than you actually are, sorry."

[Carver Amell]

It's good she added that -- upon her naming Ciren, Carver's nose wrinkled automatically. The sex god. The god of shallow, meaningless comforts and empty promises. No, be nice. You have fucked up enough things already. 

"We're fifteen," he adds, wanting to sound mature. "But my mentor is a dwarf, I'm used to ales." 'Used to' is a bit of an exaggeration -- he's had ale a few times, watered down. 

[Bethany]

Amusingly, it's the female teenager that feels a vague flicker of disappointment at Seline's clarification. It's faint and she's far more interested in the food being set out however. "Ugh. I can't fathom how you and Varric drink that stuff," she replies as she rises to her feet as quickly as she can, stomach growling quietly. "Wine-" Her expression falters, grief and pain slashing across her face. Marian...

[NPCs]

"Tall for your age then," Seline comments as she looks at Carver, thus missing Bethany's expression. "Would you mind grabbing the cider? I had to set it down just outside to knock."