Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

He scowls. "I said yes, didn't I? You don't hafta give me crap for it, I'm doing what you said."

[Tethras Clan]

"I don't care about the disrespect towards me, I am concerned that I'll be wasting my time and the time of my associates because you lack the dedication to follow through. Do you want this or not? Are you willing to sweat, bleed and suffer to learn these skills? Are you willing to sacrifice time and energy to learning? If you're not, then it's better to not even start Carver."

[Carver Amell]

"I said I was! You know I am!" he snaps. "It's just, Beth needs me for this, and that, and other stuff, and I have to be there for her. Beth comes first, always. It's no good if I learn how to protect her but I'm not there when she gets hurt."

[Tethras Clan]

"That's true. You can't be everywhere at once," Aveline says, the still unhealed wound of her fiance in her voice. "You'll have to make judgement calls, decide when and where you can devote your time towards. That's not something anyone else can decide for you, it's too personal. But you have to make a choice and stick with it. Are you strong enough, right now, to keep her safe? Or do you need to learn more?"

[Carver Amell]

"I definitely need to learn. I'm not saying I don't. I'm saying I can't spend all my time learning. I have to balance things. That's all I'm saying. I'm behind on school stuff and I have to spend time with Beth. Dad won't let me drop out of school for this, I'm sure."

[Tethras Clan]

"...alright, what's your schedule right now?" Aveline asks with a thoughtful frown.

[Carver Amell]

"I drop Beth off in the morning, then I spend the day doing schoolwork, then on days my tutor says I'm doing good I can usually go out and meet up with my friends and Beth in the afternoons, but sometimes I'm not doing good and she-- they make me stay and work more on school until dinner. Then dinner, then Beth and I read some, then bed. So, if Dad says I can not do school three days a week I could come here instead, and only hang out with Beth and my friends on days I have school, or maybe after if I'm not too tired, but then I'm probably going to just never see my friends again because I'm shit at school, really shit, so, but, but for Beth it's worth it, but I can't do every day or I'd never catch up on school and also never see Beth."

[Tethras Clan]

"You have a tutor," Aveline muses. "Would they be willing to teach you at a different location? Here, specifically, or do they require you to go to a certain location?"

[Carver Amell]

"Uh. I can ask? They're Alydran, if that matters?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Most private tutors are," Aveline says with a shrug. "If your tutor is willing, they can tutor you here, while you train. During meals and exercise. Muscle training and eating don't require your brain, so they can have it then. You'll have to devote most evenings to bookwork, writing and such, but..." She shrugs again. "Do that five days a week, ten hours or so a day, and you can have your weekends for friends."

[Carver Amell]

He winces. "It uh. It takes me a long time to get stuff, sometimes. I'm. That's what I was-- when you came over, I, sh-they, they just said I was... I'm apparently... defective. In the head. So I don't learn things well. Sometimes moving around while I learn helps? Maybe I can do drills and listen at the same time?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Drills probably not, those require you to think, at least at first. But strength and stamina training, the morning segment of your training, yes. Do you know anything more about this... learning issue?" Sounds a bit like Cass... 

[Carver Amell]

He shakes his head. "I just... I can't pay attention long."

[Tethras Clan]

"So shorten the lessons. Change topics and keep you busy," Aveline replies with a shrug. Not quite the same, I think but... "My mentor was never much for academics either. Too blunt, too disinterested in things she couldn't see or do herself. She's done well regardless and is currently a sworn paladin, a Champion of the Order of Valor Errant, one of the more... aggressive Vangalite Orders." Her smile sharpens. "She's also a tiefling," she adds almost lazily. 

[Carver Amell]

He scowls. "I just can't, okay? Everyone in Nyra scares me to death and tieflings doubly so. I have to keep Beth safe, that's all I have time for anymore."