Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

"For the love of Astea Carver," Bethany exclaims, looking horrified. "Please stop talking?" Taking a deep breath, Bethany mutters a prayer to Bastion asking for help in explaining this. "Okay. So. You know that Carver is part of a gang, the Bandanas, and that I sorta help too, right? Well, one of the things they do... aside from like petty stealing, is, uh, well, they've been hired as security." She coughs. "For a brothel."

[Varric]

That... wow, you're pretty bad Carver (need to teach him how to lie, at least a little). Wait, killed a what? Gods be damned, what are- Varric's eyes flick to Bethany when she starts talking. Well, she's starting at the beginning at least (was that an orison? Eloquence enhancing, I think). Yeah, good, start with background because I'm going to need a lot of background for- "A brothel!"

[Carver Amell]

"It's not like that," says Carver in a hurry. "It's a little place, owned by the whores. A, a what's it called, a cooperative. They needed a healer, and more muscle, so, we've been helping out a little bit, that's all." 

[Varric]

"You've- that doesn't matter! You're both under-aged, you can't work at a brothel!" Varric snaps.

[Bethany]

Bethany bristles, shame and righteous combining to make her snap right back. "So what, I shouldn't help people that need it because of some stupid law? They need a healer and I could help! So I did! I've made their lives better!"

[Carver Amell]

"Besides, the rule is you can't be a whore, and we're not. So there." 

[Varric]

"No Carver, the law is that minors can't worth in brothels." Varric rests his face in his hands. "...you realize that if this gets out, we're separated for good, right? I'll likely spend a few years in jail, minimum, and you'll both end up in foster care."

[Carver Amell]

Carver shoots a meaningful glance at Beth. "Like hell. We'd run away first. But, more importantly, I thought you might be able to help us hide this. So nobody gets caught."

[Varric]

Yeah, that doesn't actually reassure (and that look of 'I told you so' really doesn't help). "Alright. Just... this talk isn't over, but we can table it for now. Tell me about the dead guard."

[Bethany]

Bethany scowls. "You mean the sicko slaver? Asshole came in for the 'guard special' like all of them do now- one of them found our place and demanded free service to not turn us in but we're asking for half pay and most of them go for it. So he goes with Elle, a sweet girl really. She takes care of her little sister, she's only twelve- the sister, not Elle! Their parents are dead so- anyway. After he, uh, went through the courses- and didn't even have the money to pay anyway, asshole- he told her that if she didn't come with him, he's take her sister instead. Called her by name, to make sure Elle knew he wasn't entirely bluffing. So, umm, well, Elle disagreed and... she stabbed him with some glass and hit his lung. He fell and hit his head and..." She shudders, unable to not see the dead man's face.

[Carver Amell]

"The body's taken care of. And one of the whores is good with disguises, he managed to walk out dressed like him, so he didn't go missing with us. But, the guards aren't going to stop coming, and we can't just kill them all."

[Bethany]

Bethany grumbles softly, clearly feeling a bit aggressive this morning about the subject. 

[Varric]

"Yes, that would go poorly. Glad you all realize that," Varric confirms, giving Beth a hard look. She sniffs and looks down at her food. "Alright, what you've done so far is... honestly better than I was expecting. How good is good? The disguise, I mean. Any hints that it sparked any suspicion?"

[Carver Amell]

Carver shakes his head. "No, he was good."

[Bethany]

"Zevran was great last night," Beth says softly. "Stayed real calm and... made things happen. Got things... handled. Elle and her sister are hiding out for a few days, but I think we might be okay. Maybe."