Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

"I'm... new to Nyra," Bethany admits. "My home village has-" She swallows. "Had less then three hundred people in it. We certainly didn't have any... whores, legal or otherwise." Right? Or... Maude at the tavern was pretty... well-known and Leandra was always harping on about how disreputable she was... "Anyway, if that wasn't it, they why?"

[GamesMaster]

"Dee-dubs. Of all the stupid things. There's no difference between dee-dubs and gee-dee, but the Lord Hand uses gee-dee and only us whores use dee-dubs, so I get shit on for it." There's no hiding the bitterness in her voice, the disgust and shame. 

[Bethany]

"...that doesn't explain anything," Bethany says honestly. "I don't know what any of that is."

[GamesMaster]

"They found out I'm smoking dee-dubs. Devilweed. Getting high." She studies Bethany's face, watching for enlightenment. 

[Bethany]

"Devilweed! I've heard of that one. Old Man Fothers grew that for himself and a few friends. It's kendish tobacco, right?" Yet another thing dearest 'mother' bitched about. Then again, Varric said it clouded the mind and made you stupid but.... so does drink, if you over do it. Maybe it's just... easier to get addicted to than booze? 

[GamesMaster]

"Something like that," she agrees. "It takes the edge off the dee-tees, helps me get through the day. No big deal. Just as harmless as Golden Dreams, but that one's legal and dee-dubs ain't." 

[Bethany]

Dee-tees? Golden Dreams? I should ask Ari- no, Don, I don't want to look this stupid in front of- later, Beth. "Well... I'm just an apprentice, I can cure a knife wound, mostly, but I can't just cure disease. But I have an herbal cream that'll clear it up in a few days."

[GamesMaster]

Brianne's shoulders slump. "Fine," she agrees, nodding, but Beth can tell she's disappointed. I should have known. Well, maybe he won't hit me so hard if I tell him I've at least got a cream.

[Bethany]

Damn. I hate... I hate that slump. That look of... lost hope, of failure. What if- maybe- what could... "How much does an hour cost? How much do you need to make each day?" Bethany's face floods with crimson as her mouth gathers the needed variables for her half made-plan without her permission.

[GamesMaster]

"Depends," she says instantly. "My pimp does the arranging. I think it's two, maybe three for an hour." Giving her another appraising look, she throws in, "I'll lick ya for half a silver, iffin ya got a place we can go." 

[Bethany]

"What?" What! That's not- well- no! "I just- what you were talking about- that's stuff- I should know that stuff. If I'm going to help. I could- I get done in two hours. I'll pay you for two hours- I have six copper- just to talk about... stuff. Like what dee-tees are. Not as... much as you might get, ummm, working, but it'd be something while the cream gets to work."

[GamesMaster]

She eyes her. "Six copper ain't two silver, but it's not nothin neithers." A pause. "And iffin you want to meet up during the day, maybe Jay don't need to know nothin' bout it."

[Bethany]

Two or three silver for an hour of work? That's... not bad actually. I mean, that time with Marian was... well, I guess not everyone that'd want to hire you would be all the great. Gods, I could only imagine being hired by someone like Miki. Even a girl Miki. Ugh. "Ummm. Sure? And I can split my lunch with you, if you want, while we talk. Just cold roast chicken and rice but it's fresh and homemade."

[GamesMaster]

She perks up noticeably at the word 'chicken'. "Sounds like you got a deal, girlfriend."

[Bethany]

A little more than two hours later, the pair are in a park. Bethany had, rather awkwardly, chosen a bench a bit out of the way in the shade of a few elm trees and gotten out her lunch. Splitting the main dish into bowl and lid- with the bulk of the meat on the lid for the catfolk, she fumbles for how to start this. "So... umm... Oh! I'm Bethany. Beth."