Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

Carver manages a wan smile. "I... I want you to be able to help people. You're, you've always been amazing, Beth. I want that. I want you to be that. I just can't... there's something wrong with me, and I can't figure out how to fix it. I  need you to be safe. If you just let me protect you sometimes, let me try to figure out how to make you safe, I think I can.. I can handle it. Whatever it is you need."

[Bethany]

"Tonight I'm not going out really- just, umm, hanging out with Brianne. So... how about tomorrow, after lessons, we sit down and go over ideas? About how to make this work for both of us?" she offers tentatively.

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "I'll talk to Miki some, he knows more about keeping safe from, um, disease and stuff."

[Bethany]

"Oh! Right, that was just- Bri and Ari found a healer in Coal for that. Guy's a bit intense about politics but he's a good healer. Ander, I think. Would... would you want to come with me, when I go for my first... check-up?" Bethany blushes a little, but it would be reassuring to have him there, just in case.

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "It's better to not get them in the first place." He hesitates, then asks, shuffling his feet, "did you... ever talk to Varric about... that sort of thing? It's just, he knows a lot and, when I, with Summer, he was able to teach me how to be... safe."

[Bethany]

"Umm. Sorta? Back... before, after... He gave me a couple of healer's texts on... reproduction to read. He was so mortified," Bethany says, smiling a little at the memory. "I had wondered why he... did that, given his views on the entire subject. But, umm, I've also talked kind of a lot about it with Bri so.."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "Okay. Good. good. That's good."

[Bethany]

Impulsively, Bethany steps in to grab her brother for a hard, tight hug.

[Carver Amell]

Carver clings to Bethany, holding her tightly, gripping her tunic in both hands. A desperate cling, but one that's solid and warm.

[Bethany]

"Together, I promise," Bethany murmurs, head resting against Carver's broad chest. "Tomorrow, we'll talk about work and safety. And this Silvaday is ours. Just us. We'll find a park or a street festival or something and just... have a Twin Day."

[Carver Amell]

"Thank you," whispers Carver, clutching Bethany close. 

[Bethany]

"Always, ma'win."

Later that night, Bethany gives Carver a hug before he heads downstairs to hang out with Don and Niko for the night. Screwing up her courage, she knocks on Brianne's room, then furtively triple-checks to ensure she has her coin purse on her.

[GamesMaster]

"Come in," calls the merikos catfolk, from her place reclining (wearing only smallclothes) in the bed. She's grooming her fur with a specially designed brush, helping the lush, velvety dark fur smooth and separate, emphasizing the exotic white stripes. Her hair is pinned back in a braid already, and the tip of her tail twitches as she grooms. 

[Bethany]

It isn't the first time she's see Brianne that way- she's even seen her entirely bare once- but Bethany still has to take a moment to focus past the ball of quivering heat that blooms in her stomach instantly. "Ummm. Hey," she says a bit breathlessly as she steps in and closes the door behind her.

[GamesMaster]

"Hey yourself," says Brianne with a smirk. She knows how she affects Bethany -- and she likes it, likes the little bit of power it gives her over the well-off human girl.