Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"Not much. Just that demons can sometimes breed with people to produce infernal offspring."

[Tethras Clan]

"Most often from rape, either violent or coercive," Aveline notes, watching him carefully. "They're mortal, the same as you or me. Often have... darker instincts, desires, yes, but so do humans. As do elves, kender, kitsune and even aasimar. A soul means you can choose your path, regardless of your blood. I've met gentle orcs, urban elves, steady kitsune, morose gnomes and staid, boring humans, evil aasimar. People can choose."

[Carver Amell]

"Evil aasimar?" he blinks, honestly startled. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Of course. They have souls, they can choose their paths. Some of them choose greed or hatred. Cruelty, arrogance, fear, nihilism... anyone can fall to them, no matter their blood." Aveline shrugs slightly, plucking the waterskin from him to take a swig. "Any can fall, all can rise."

[Carver Amell]

"Anyone," he says, looking down at the waterskin in contemplation.

[Tethras Clan]

"That's the price we pay for living," the paladin says soberly. "Or... maybe it's better to say, our lives are the price we pay to gain the afterlife we earn with those lives." She frowns, not entirely pleased with that phrasing.

[Carver Amell]

"Even if-- even if someone keeps fucking up, over and over? Even if they just can't seem to... to make sense of things?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Only Zanon asks for perfection," Aveline replies, taking another sip of water. "Vangal demands that we protect, that we defend and serve. Failure isn't... good, of course, but trying is worth a great deal."

[Carver Amell]

"Could I be perfect if I worshipped Zanon?" 

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline raises an eyebrow wordlessly.

[Carver Amell]

"What? It might be worth it, I mean, my soul against Beth's, that's, I'd make that trade."

[Tethras Clan]

"One, I said He asks for perfection, He can't grant it. Two, your sister would probably beat the shit out of you if you did that. And I'd make sure she could do it."

[Carver Amell]

He winces. "It was just a thought," he mutters, rubbing the back of his neck. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Well, it-" Aveline pauses. "Actually, explain. Why you would do it and why it wouldn't work both."

[Carver Amell]

Carver shrugs. "I-- I'm not very good. I mean, I'm trying, I'm really trying, but I'm not good enough and I know it, so I, if I could be perfect, it doesn't matter what happens to me when I die, it'd be worth it. Because I have to keep my promises and protect Beth, no matter what. But, if I wouldn't, if it wouldn't make me better, then, Beth being mad wouldn't be worth it."