Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods, turning to offer his hands. "I'm about sparred out."

[Varric]

Varric nods as he moves to clean and wrap Carver's hands. "Walk and talk or... not want to go far?" he asks quietly. "The girls are still in the kitchen. Sunshine suggested making cookies and Beth jumped on the idea. Sugar maple." His favorite- apology cookies.

[Carver Amell]

He winces, glancing at the window. "I think she'd worry more if we left. I just... needed to be mad for a bit."

[Varric]

"Nothing wrong with that- you left the fight and vented where you wouldn't hurt someone. Well, yourself a bit, we should get you some boxing gloves or the like if you keep this coping strategy," Varric muses as he finishes up.

[Carver Amell]

"Why are girls so damned confusing?"

[Varric]

"Because they're people mostly," Varric says with a shrug. "Forget maths, forget magic and the nature of reality, forget history, the gods and anything else- people are the most confusing thing in existence."

[Carver Amell]

"I'm not," argues Carver. 

[Varric]

Varric just gives Carver an amused look. "Got your life's plan all worked out then? Understand all your feelings, know all your fears and dreams to the line?"

[Carver Amell]

"Yes," he says, firmly. "I'm going to marry Merrill and protect her and Beth forever."

[Varric]

Gods, save me from teens in love (adorable though). "Alright, that's broad strokes, sure, but you've had... well, not to drag up some bad stuff, but that wedding- you picturing your mother there?"

[Carver Amell]

He scowls, looking away. "Depends."

[Varric]

"Complicated?" Varric asks knowingly.

[Carver Amell]

"At this rate it doesn't matter because Beth's going to make Merrill leave me." He scowls. "Or die."

[Varric]

"She's not- okay, that's jumping a few steps. I doubt she'd be in there baking cookies and worrying about you if she was planning to drive her off. Or commit murder. What's going on?"

[Carver Amell]

He sighs. "She knows it's dangerous. She was almost -- but she doesn't care. She just doesn't. She says it's because she needs to help her friends more than she needs to be safe but she wants to drag Merrill right in with her. It's like she doesn't care who else gets hurt so long as she gets to misbehave."