Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

Bethany slowly shakes her head, more to gather her thoughts than in negation. "I... wow. I didn't... ever..."

[GamesMaster]

"Right?" he says eagerly. "That's why Brianne's pimp was bad -- because he made her serve the clients he picked or he'd beat her. Coercion, not consent. But this place is good because she can turn away any client she wants. We don't make you serve guys, or anything like that. But we don't want you to feel pressured into doing this at all if it makes you uncomfortable. We could work something else out, some other way you could bring in or save money in exchange for your share."

[Bethany]

"I... you said you got this from Zevran? Could- damn, he's gone isn't it? Oh! I'm of age, I can tell people now! I should talk with Seli- she's a friend of mine, though she's a bit older than us. She- anyway, she's a Cirenite, you said that's what Zevran was, right? I mean, she's a Joyous, so..."

[GamesMaster]

"Yeah, it was Zevran. He's real good for this kind of thing, if he ever comes back you should talk to him."

[Bethany]

"Yeah, evidently, for more reasons than-" She cuts off, blushing. Okay, brain can start working proper like again. Don doesn't need to know about the Isabela and Zevran sandwich with Beth filler I dreamed about that one time. Few times. Shut up brain. He's just so damn pretty! Lips and hands like that don't belong on a guy, it's profane or something. "Yeah. Could..." Bethany fidgets a little. "Could you... not get around to scheduling me to work-work for a few more days? Just until I get a chance to talk with Seli and... and maybe ask the girls for a meeting. Uh, whores, I mean." Right, we have guys working here too now.

[GamesMaster]

"Yeah," he says, relieved. "Of course. You still want to heal?"

[Bethany]

"Yes! And clean and mend and... I can cook, tend bar, make costumes. Whatever comes of this... I'm not going to abandon you, I promise," Bethany says softly.

[GamesMaster]

"Course not," he says casually. "You're a Bandanna, ain'cha? That's for life."

[Bethany]

Beth laughs softly, eyes sort and warm, and she rises to pull Don into a tight hug. "You're a good friend, Don. A good man. Thank you for listening to me bitch and for the advice." It's a damn shame you weren't the girl. Ari is... damn fine looking and I like her well enough but... she's got a yearning in her to... well. She's an adventurer, unless I miss my mark, even more than Carver. I can love an adventurer, but I couldn't marry one. Or even date one seriously. I couldn't bear to bid them farewell and pray they return, not after watching Marian turn around that corner and... no. And I'm not brave enough to go with them. Don in Ari's body... just about perfect really. Close enough for mortals anyway.

[Carver Amell]

Carver taps his foot as he watches the two healers work, still going over his options. He should get a job, he feels, now that he's of age, but aside from thieving with the Bandannas, he's really not sure what would be right. He could join the guard, he figures, but that seems like a betrayal of the Bandannas. He could take vows after all, but he's just not sure he wants to commit to something for the rest of his life. He could adventure, but that would require leaving Merrill and Beth behind. He could work in a construction company, only Anders had been talking about something called a 'union' and the terrible conditions the workers had and he's just not sure he wants that. 

But he can't sit here in the back room watching Merrill and Anders count potions all the time, either. 

Beth was right. I need more in my life. He scowls, his finger drawing straight little lines on his left thigh -- echoing the last 'venting session' he and Merrill had done. Nobody needs me around anymore. I don't fit anywhere.

Vangal, but he wanted another session tonight.

[Tethras Clan]

"Ooooooh, that makes a lot of sense," Merrill chirps happily as Anders explains his triage system. "The injuries and issues you have to deal with here in Coalside are so different than what I'm used to having to deal with at Golden Green. Far less poisonous plants and insects, rashes, falls and animal attacks but a lot more diseases, fights, malnutrition and alcoholism. About the same number of just being sick though. Well, there are more people here so more sick people but not proportionally is what I mean." 

Anders is really, really smart. Not Mister Varric smart but he's so clever about all this! Elder Marethari was a good healer but not as good as Anders and she didn't have nearly as much time to teach or heal or even just talk about stuff. Funny too, though sometimes I think I miss a lot of his jokes. But that just means he's even funnier than I realized! And I like his smile. And his eyes are pretty. Well, a lot of the time. Sometimes they get weird. And Justice is neat too. It must be so neat to be able to make your spirit be all touchable-ing. I wonder if I can learn how to do that? 

As Anders moves to help a patient with a broken arm that had just walked in, the young elf scampers after him with an eager grin.

[Carver Amell]

She doesn't need me at all. Carver gets to his feet, slipping out the front door. I'm going to go for a jog. Clear my head. She'll be fine. Safe as houses.

[GamesMaster]

"We'll handle this one, Merrill, why don't you go see how tha bandage supplies are?" asks Anders, moving to intercept the woman. "Hello again, Susan, how are you doing?"

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill, caught up in her studies and trying to be helpful to Anders, doesn't notice. Blinking, she looks at them, then shrugs. "Yessir, Healer Boss!" she says brightly, then trots off.

[GamesMaster]

When she returns -- it really doesn't take long to count bandage supplies -- the woman's arm is fixed. Moreover, there's a package tucked neatly into Anders' coat, a small wrapped parcel on the garment on the hook that wasn't there before. "Thank you," he says quietly as she approaches. "You won't regret this."