Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Varric]

"You realize he's gay, right? As in, he's attracted to males?" Varric asks slowly. "Like your sister is only attracted to women?"

[Carver Amell]

"What?" Carver blinks. "Isn't he married to Seli or whatever?"

[Varric]

"And also Lovan. Who is male. They're a triad, three people married instead of a couple, or two people," Varric explains. "You'd have to ask them for more than that, I don't really care so I never looked into it."

[Carver Amell]

Carver scowls. "That's legal?"

[Varric]

"You have to file some extra paperwork but yeah. Might be a fee or something and it has to be approved but it's not hard, I think," Varric says with a shrug. "Being a Bright or Joyous grants you automatic approval, I think Seline mentioned that at some point."

[Carver Amell]

"Brights do this?" he asks, taken aback. "How? Isn't that..."

[Varric]

"Mostly the love aspect ones, I'd imagine. Guess they figure if you fall in love with more than one person, might as well marry both? Or whatever. Again, I've run across the idea but all that sex and mating stuff isn't something I care about so..."

[Carver Amell]

"Fine but, men with men? Asteans do this?"

[Varric]

"...you mean be with sex? Yeah. Love is love and all that. If you fall for someone that's the same gender, then so what? It's still love and that's kind of important for Asteans."

[Carver Amell]

"But it's not love! It's-- love is about finding your missing half, the equal and opposite piece to your soul. Like Beth and me, but with like, sex and stuff. Guys are with guys just for sex."

[Varric]

"Well, maybe the other half of someone's soul is another man. How do you know it's not love?"

[Carver Amell]

"Astea creates us male and female to compliment each other; to each gender, gifts are given, so that to make up a whole you need one of each. The lust that calls them male to male and female to female is a pale imitation." 

He pauses, then, frowning a little. "...this is another thing he was wrong about isn't it?"

[Varric]

"In my opinion at least, yes, Varric says with a shrug. "I've never felt the need for having a mate of any gender or shape to complete me. If you want, we could head to the main Astean temple, see if you can speak to a Bright about it."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods, then frowns. "No. I'll ask Seeker Helene what Vangalites believe, instead."

[Varric]

Whatever Asteans tell them to think. "That's not a bad idea," he agrees.