Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

"I'm okay, it's okay," Bethany says soothingly, hugging Merrill tightly. "Just stay still a minute Ari, I'll come get you." Taking a breath, she rises to her feet and moves towards Ari, making sure to drag her feet so the catfolk can hear her coming.

[GamesMaster]

Ari turns toward her even before she scufffs her foot; when she gets within range, Ari's hand shoots out and grabs Beth's arm, tugging her close so the catfolk can bury her face against Beth's shoulder and sniff deeply. Only then does her fur relax somewhat, though she's still tense. "Beth." 

[Bethany]

"Shhh, shhh," the human croons. "Danger's done, we're all... intact. Let me take a look at your eyes, okay?" she asks after a moment of just holding Ari. If only... if only.

[GamesMaster]

"Yah. Okay." She pulls back, wiping at her eyes as subtly as she can manage. 

[Tethras Clan]

After a minute or two of inspection- and a quick consult with the still scowling Merrill- the verdict Ari gets is, "I can cure it, but not today. I'll have to pray for the right spell tomorrow morning, sorry." The elf looks rather pitiful as she confuses she doesn't normally prepare that particular form of healing magic. 

[Bethany]

"Alright... Ari, would you be okay with going back to the safehouse- or better yet, our house- with Merrill? Hunter can carry Anders for me to the guard," Beth says with a scowl at the unconcious human.

[GamesMaster]

Her tail lashes. "I'm supposed to stay at the hideout," she whimpers. "Someone has to tell Don," she adds, louder, trying to sound less like a drenched kitten. "He's counting on me to be there."

[Bethany]

Bethany rubs her forehead. "Alright. Alright. I can... it's too dangerous for you to try and guard while you're... blind. So... where's Don now? If Merri doesn't mind-"

"I don't!"

"-love, at least wait until I finish before you agree. Anyway, if Merri doesn't mind, we can have Chirples play messenger again," Bethany suggests.

[GamesMaster]

"Don's at the temple. I wouldn't send a bird there," she points out. 

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill nods furiously, not liking the idea of Chirples getting eaten.

[Bethany]

"Alright... is there someone we can play messenger chain with?" Bethany asks tiredly. "Or should I just pay the first urchin I see to run a message?"

[GamesMaster]

"Miki," she says instantly. "He's stationed at the Shiny Cat, he can run the message."

[Tethras Clan]

"Alright, let me write that up, I've no idea if Miki can even read common," Beth finishes in a mutter. A few moments later finds the group splitting up- Chirples to Shiny Cat with a letter, Merrill leading Ari home and Beth leading Hunter with a bound, gagged, blindfolded and bundled Anders being dragged on a tarp to the main Coalside guard house.

[GamesMaster]

Cpl. Lowell was not having a good day.

Firstly, that newfangled golem-clock wasn't any better at waking her than the sun or her good-for-nothing roommate had been, so she was late for work again, the third time this month. Tardiness was the one thing she was told to work on if she wanted to become a Sergeant, and here she was, late again. At this rate she was likely to be fired rather than promoted.

Just like all her friends, for whatever reason.

And then, she's assigned to question this Dwarven asshole. She knew it was an important duty -- which meant that Captain Vallen was sure to be paying close attention to how she did with it. Lowell had made sure her uniform was neatly buttoned (she'd had to work on personal presentation before she could be promoted above a Private), and her glare was particularly menacing for when he'd refused to talk. 

Only...

Only the dwarf hadn't refused to talk at all. On the contrary -- he talked too much, about anything and everything other than the murder, which he claimed to have absolutely nothing to do with. She'd growled, she'd glared with her jade green eyes, she'd raked back her spiked white hair in exasperation, but nothing seemed to phase the guy. It's like he was unflappable.

Like he was in no danger at all.

Wylde slammed a fist down on the desk. "You know what I want, dwarf," she growled. "Answer the question: could you or could you not have made such a bomb?"

[Varric]

"...there's a bomb? Where? Should we evacuate the building or..?"