Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Varric]

How did I become a parent again? Went from a successful businessman with a friend (after a fashion) in every tavern and no strings to a living soul to a father of two (should be three) struggling to keep his operations humming. Bethany's slipped back into keeping house like she was born (or groomed) to it but... she's a piss-poor liar (should work on that but then again...)and there's clearly something about this Brianne she's trying to avoid talking about. Ari too. Clearly got a crush on the later but there's something there with the former too (other than just lust, if I'm not mistaken. Which, given the topic...). She'll prattle on and on about her classes (seems to be losing that first flush with the church though) and she'll share a story or two about her friends but...

And then there's Carver. Gods above, that boy needed a father (and a mother) growing up. Too late now, I think. He might think of me as an uncle (and ain't it something I'm hoping for it?) one day, maybe even now but... Temper's still flaring up, lost and uncertain, stumbling in the dark and too scared of looking weak to ask for help (or accept it half the time). Varric rubs his forehead and stares broodily into his mug of whisky and tea. "In my office," he calls out when he hears the door, recognizes the footsteps. Let's get this over with...

[Carver Amell]

Carver flinches. I'm made, then. He squares his shoulders, heading for the office, already practicing his excuses. It's not that I don't want to swear to Vangal, it's just that...

But there's no good end to that sentence. It's just that school has always been a particular torture for Carver. It's just that he's not sure he's capable of protecting Beth the way she needs, deserves, and thus he's not sure Vangal will accept his vows. It's just that he's not so sure about violence anymore, not up close, not like that. It's just that his temper burns too hot, and he knows it's dangerous and he still can't make it stop, can't hold himself back...

He slips into the office, ready to fight, unsure how to do so safely.

[Varric]

"Hey," Varric says, tone careful, almost gentle. "You ah, you got a few minutes? There's some.... stuff that I think we need to discuss." Wow, very smooth. Well done. 

[Carver Amell]

Carver shuffles his feet, hands jammed into his pockets. "I guess," he says, trying to sound casual and failing miserably. 

[Varric]

"Whiskey?" the dwarf offers after an awkward moment. "Just some simple rye whiskey, nothing fancy but..."

[Carver Amell]

Now he perks up a bit. "Yeah! I mean, uh, sure, I guess." He winces a little, hating how over-eager he sounds. I sound like a little kid, no wonder people keep treating me that way.

[Varric]

Varric nods easily. "Have a seat. And relax a bit, I'm not your boss, about to scold you for poor performance or something. Just want to..." He frowns slightly, trying to find the right words, as he pours them both a tumbler. "Touch base, figure out what's going on and maybe help you work some stuff out. I missed a lot while I was entangled in that investigation bullshit and I'm feeling real behind."

[Carver Amell]

Carver scowls, the anger that lurks just under his skin flashing to the forefront. "That whole thing was bullshit. I told them you didn't do nothin'. D'ja know they wanted to send Beth 'n me to some kind of... not a convent, they said, but it sounded like one?"

[Varric]

"Youth hostel, yeah. Andy told me a bit about what was going on." Damn near the only thing that keep me sane. "Not nearly as bad as what Leandra was picturing, but I don't blame you for not wanting to find out first hand." His lips quirk upwards a bit as he hands over the glass. "Thanks for sticking up for me by the by."

[Carver Amell]

Carver takes the glass. "Course. You.." He hesitates, glancing away as he shuffles his feet a moment, struggling to put things into words. "You helped. After. Well, and before, I guess. But. You helped Beth, and you're... you're a good guy. So it wasn't much trouble." 

[Varric]

Huh. Honestly wouldn't have thought he'd say even half that plain or direct. "Thanks," Varric murmurs. "So... alright, how about this? How about you tell me what you've been up to while I was detained and then we can go from there?"

[Carver Amell]

Now he tenses, just a bit. "Going to the Vangal church. Learning. I'm going to take vows," he says, even as it sits uneasy in his stomach. 

[Varric]

Varric waits for a moment, then gives a 'go on' gesture when Carver falls silent.

[Carver Amell]

He shrugs. "Helping Beth. I think we should get a dog."

[Varric]

"That's it? Sounds pretty boring, half day of classes and nothing much else." Wow, neither of them can lie for dross.