Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"Humans build businesses in Coal already. Then they put up 'no cats' signs." He sighs in frustration. "Maybe that weird healer was right. Maybe we need a new system."

[Andy za'Frane]

"That's... legal-ish, though it's being debated in the upper courts," Andy admits. "Evidently, there are laws in place the prevent discrimination in the government based on species and there's a fair bit of pressure to expand that to private businesses." Just glad they struck down the part about 'only magic-users' being allowed office down centuries ago. 

[Carver Amell]

"It's wrong. Catfolk are just people. They're better than a lot of humans I know."

[Andy za'Frane]

Andy reaches up to tap a horn, face sober. "You'll get no argument from me about the evils of speciesism, Carver."

[Carver Amell]

"That's different," he begins, but he looks troubled, shifting his weight a bit. 

[Andy za'Frane]

"...because my blood is tainted?" the tiefling asks with sad eyes.

[Carver Amell]

"Demons are evil. Pure evil. Nothing redeeming about them. Anyone who would fall in love with a demon is also evil. And men grow up to be like their fathers, mostly. So, so you're probably going to become evil."

[Andy za'Frane]

Andy's face goes blank. "I see. Then I suppose I'll leave you be. Have a good day," the guard says, turning away to leave.

[Carver Amell]

Carver crosses his arms, scowling. Good. He's going to be evil anyway. I want him to stay away from Beth. But he can't quite believe it -- his chest aches, and he winces, picturing what Beth would say if she saw this. "No, wait," he says, unsure what to say. "I mean. I don't. It's."

[Andy za'Frane]

Andy hesitates a second. Without turning around, he speaks very carefully, very evenly. "I never knew my father- orphanage, remember? Some idiot that got seduced by a succubus. I won't be like him, careless and- Fuck you and your bigoted bullshit, Carver." With that, he starts walking again.

[Carver Amell]

Gods be damned. "What am I supposed to say?" he calls after him. "Am I supposed to just pretend it's fine? Pretend demons aren't-- pretend people don't-- what am I meant to do?!" His hands ball into fists at his side, and as his face screws up in anger, tears brim in his eyes. 

[Andy za'Frane]

Andy whirls around. "I didn't ask you to! All I want is for people to judge me for what I do, what I am! I'm not a fucking demon, I'm a mortal! I can choose my life and I choose to protect people! To live a life of order and justice. But all you can see are my damn horns. That's it. Nothing I do, nothing I want, none of it can- none of it-" His eyes close, burning.

[Carver Amell]

"But I do see what you did! What you do! You're a guard, they're not great people either, and every time you turn up you want to change things, make my life harder, make it harder to protect Beth. So, so what am I supposed to see that's different?"

[Andy za'Frane]

"And you're a human, one of those people with 'no cat' signs! Should I consider you the same as them? And make it harder to protect Bethany? I bent over backwards to make it as easy as possible for you to safe, the both of you!"

[Carver Amell]

"You wanted to put some stranger in charge of us, or send us away!" he snaps. "Just like Mother! You don't care what's best, just what's most convenient for you."