Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

"Then exile her. Kick her out so others can take care of her. At least give her a chance to survive," Bethany pleads. 

[GamesMaster]

"It wasn't up to me, not entirely. Basil and Juniper did their best to plead the case. If we could have gotten away with just declawing her.... but it wasn't allowed. And the Tribe didn't have money to put her in a hospital. We did what we could, I even donated a bunch of Bandanna money to help pay for the blood money and the healer, but now we can't help her. She has to pull through on her own." Still, his tail twitches and jerks, showing his displeasure with his words even as he says them.

[Bethany]

"So... wait. You were allowed to get money and help before but not now?" Bethany swallows. "...why didn't you come to me?" she asks quietly.

[GamesMaster]

"You're not Tribe," he says quietly. "I can't..."

He straightens, swallowing hard. "We can't trust you, not really," he says, wincing. "You're a great person, Beth. I'm sure you'd do the right thing. But you don't have money of your own. And your Dad is great to you, but you're human and he's a Dwarf. He wouldn't be so kind to us."

[Bethany]

Beth flinches, having known the answer but hoping... "I would have helped. Even if I couldn't get money- and I do have coin of my own, even if it came from him, I could have at least helped with the surgery. How often have I healed the Bandannas or the workers at Shiny without asking any questions or making any judgments? What do I have to..." She sighs., shaking her head. "Never mind. See you at work tomorrow night, Adonis."

[GamesMaster]

He looks away, his ears flattening against his head at the sound of his full name, feeling the rebuke, the shame, the hurt. "Have a good night, Bethany."


It helps. Juniper doesn't come back, but a few days later, there's a paper-wrapped bundle of dried meats left on the doorstep when Anders' clinic opens, and Don reports cheerfully that she pulled through after all. "Bharnerol must have decided she had been punished enough," he declares, not looking at Beth.

Two weeks later, however, it seems the god has revoked his favor. As Beth heads for the Shiny Cat, she spies more guards in the streets than normal -- and once she meets up with Ari, she's stopped three times, despite not having been so much as glanced at before. Each time, Ari's asked her name and where she's going; when she tells them the Shiny Cat, she's given a stern look and sent on her way with a bland "stay out of trouble".

[Bethany]

The fourth time they're stopped, a mere stone's throw from the brothel, Bethany can't stop herself. "Don't you need my name?" Bethany asks sweetly, eyes hard and sharp as daggers. "Or is 'human' name enough to suit?"

[GamesMaster]

"Where are you coming from, whore?" he demands, scowling. "Didn't your mother teach you better than to run around with cats?"

[Bethany]

"Hardly, my mother's a self-righteous bitch. Thankfully my dad is a wonderful person, who taught me to judge each person for their virtues and sins." She smiles at the guard broadly. "As for where I'm coming from, I've just come from class at the Sweetwaters Temple, but if you mean my address, I live in Meadows."

[GamesMaster]

He sniffs. "I didn't think Sweetwaters let kitten-lickers in. Must be going downhill." 

Ari bristles at the insult, claws sliding out of her paws, but she forces them back in, lowers her eyes intentionally, though she can't reign in her fur. 

[Bethany]

"Bastion favors those with compassion and a sense of family. Not everyone is capable of understand that sort of thing. Is that all you need?" Bethany asks coolly, reaching over to gently rub Ari's arm.

[GamesMaster]

"Stay out of trouble," he warns, a hand moving to his sword hilt. "You're free to go."

Ari tugs away, rapidly closing the distance to the Shiny Cat and slipping inside before a hiss escapes. In her native tongue, she lets out a long, intricate string of curses aimed at him and any other human who thinks he's better than her.

[Bethany]

Beth lets Ari go for a minute, then carefully approaches. "Hey," she murmurs, trying to give her friend a hug- and trying not to wonder if Ari knew about Rosemary, knew what was done and also didn't think to come to her. 

[GamesMaster]

Ari tolerates the hug, but only for a moment before she pulls away. "I need to find a brush," she spits. "That asshole has my fur all ruffled. It's been like this all day -- they're just supposed to be setting up checkpoints but they're clearly running double patrols."

[Bethany]

"Do you want me to brush your fur? Or... maybe talk?" Beth offers tentatively.