Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Varric]

"Bastion, grant me mercy," Varric mutters to himself in celestial. "Alright, girls, stop squirming, he's still here. Carver. Take a deep breath. Actually, take five of them, nice and slow. Alright, can you do that for me?"

[Bethany]

Panic receding, Beth manages to get out from under the still lamed elf enough to see Carver kneeling on the ground. Without thinking, she slips an arm around Merrill and half-drags, half-carries her over so they can both hug him tightly.

[Carver Amell]

Carver pushes back violently, away from them, before he can stop himself. No, stay back, don't touch me, don't!

[Varric]

"Everyone stop!" Varric's voice rings out like a thunderclap. "No talking, just... sit for a minute. Calm down. Catch your breaths. Let your heartbeats level out." Both ladies comply, then both twitch slightly, clearly fighting the urge to get to Carver.

[Carver Amell]

Carver struggles a bit more, then gags, barely stopping himself from throwing up. Just sit still. Just breathe. Idiot. Breathe! Why do you mess everything up?! Why can't you just-- just....

[Varric]

"Carver, do you need a light sedative?" Varric asks, moving towards the trip but staying a few feet away. "Beth? Merrill?"

After a second, Merrill nods tightly, her free hand, the one not around Beth, gripping her thigh tightly.

"Alright, here. Take two modest sips, then pass it to whoever else wants some," Varric says gently, uncorking a potion. So glad I followed up on that idea to carry these.

[Carver Amell]

When it gets to him, Carver throws back the remainder of the bottle. Please, just make me stop feeling this way!

[Varric]

"...not exactly a sip but sure," Varric says dryly. "Alright. How you doing there son? Better?"

[Carver Amell]

He shakes his head, but even as he does, his muscles relax a bit. After another minute, his face smooths out, and his hands unclench altogether. 

[Varric]

"There we go. This isn't a cure either, it's just a stop-gap measure. But it can help bring you back to even, so you can address the problem without panicking or the like," Varric says, voice still low and soft. "Merrill, Beth, how you two doing?" Carver looks like he needs a moment...

[Bethany]

Beth had only take the two sips as ordered, but is still feeling... "I'm okay. I'm still really worried about Carver, but I'm okay."

[Tethras Clan]

"...me too," Merrill whispers. "My legs hurt though." Before she can continue, Bethany casts a cure spell on her. "Oh! Umm. Thank you? I thought...."

[Bethany]

"Starting to think it should be a family standard practice to take a few sips of sedative before making any decisions or having a Serious Talk. Or fight," Beth says with a sigh. "I... really over-reacted last night. I shouldn't have hit you, for one."

[Carver Amell]

Carver flinches, remembering the slap. He hangs his head, his emotions feeling distant, remote. Huh. This stuff works pretty well. I wonder where I can buy more?

[Varric]

"This runs about three hundred gold, by the way," Varric murmurs into Carver's ear. "And if I catch you taking it without my knowledge, I will personally see to it that you spend the next month in ten hour math lessons. Understood?" Detect Thoughts might be intrusive and a violation but fuck it, right now I can't afford to miss anything (else). 

Louder, he asks, "now. How are you doing Carver?"