Imprints in Stone [AU]

[GamesMaster]

"I AM," they say, and there's a weight to that simple declaration, to that claiming of the title, that somehow implies more than simply an affirmation. "AND I AM OFFERING YOU A CHOICE, VARRIC TETHRAS."

Behind them, a door opens just a crack, letting golden light pour into the room -- casting the rest of the room into shadow, the bright sunlight from the window merely a pale imitation of what comes through that small crack. 

"DO YOU WISH TO RETURN? OR TO MOVE ONWARD?"

[Varric]

"I made that choice years ago," he say softly. "Back when I accept the duty, then the honor, then the joy of three kids. Failed one. Took on another. And someone not a kid, not even close, but just as much a joy. Different but.. equal. No. That's... that's something I want to know. Want to have, one day. But it'll wait." He takes a deep breath. "Thank you but I'm going back to them."

[GamesMaster]

"AS YOU WISH."

There is a pause, then, as things start to fade away around him. Quietly, in a close, almost personal whisper, he hears Mileen say one last thing: "A REQUEST, FROM A DEAR FRIEND. PLEASE TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM-THAT-IS-HELENE. THEIR ASSISTANCE IS MOST APPRECIATED."

Then it is gone, and he's opening his eyes, looking up at his family once more.

End of Act 2

[Marian Hawke]

There were stories about being in prison. They said one thing to do was to be sure to make friends; if you chose wisely, ingratiating yourself with the most terrifying individuals there, you could find yourself with a strong protector and ally, possibly even an escape route. This wasn't a prison, not exactly, but once she'd made up her mind to leave, Lizzie Demontouched started eyeing up the other inmates, deciding to make friends.

There was one obvious choice: the patient kept sedated, the one the orderlies whispered about sometimes, the one with the rumors swirling around her. Patient Black.

So Demontouched started swapping out the meds going to Black's room, hoping to get her a little more talkative.


"I'm Liz," she whispered, her head close to the other girl's.

"...Cindy," said Patient Black.

"Want to get out of here?"

"Gods, yes."


Things didn't go quite according to plan. But as Cindy and Liz rode into the night on jet-black horses, heads bowed low over their mounts' manes to avoid the Shield arrows, the night lit up by flames, neither of them could say they quite minded.

They were leaving Glaley just a little better off than they found it, after all.

[GamesMaster]

Act 3

"Welcome back to the land of the living," says the honest-to-goodness Light that had invited Varric to his home. The Astronomer, Ian zi'Magus, walks Varric to his study, offering and pouring a glass of whisky for him and having a seat across the desk from him. "How are things? No ill effects I trust?"

[Varric]

"Depends on your point of view, I guess," the dwarf says after a moment. He'd found himself more... contemplative of late. Money, and more importantly, the game of getting more of it seems... emptier than it used to be. He'd come back for his family and that purpose seems more than it once was. Not just their safety but... their happiness, their wellbeing, their causes and dreams. Everything has more weight to it. "Still readjusting to... things."

[GamesMaster]

"Well, I hate to interrupt that adjustment, but there's a bit of a situation I feel you could rectify. Remind me, your net worth is approaching, what, a million gold?"

[Varric]

"That's what my taxes show anyway," the dwarf replies with automatically cheer in voice to turn the honest truth into a joke. 

[GamesMaster]

"Meaning it's closer to one and a half," muses the Astronomer. "Not quite what Ailures is worth, but approaching it. Closer than most, and to be quite honest, I prefer your character. Not a hint of scandal associated with your businesses, not the ones tied to you directly, and there's that Memento Mori business on top of it." 

[Varric]

"...yay?" Varric says carefully. "Is this about the contracts to supply the Lantern and guard the OTMG secured last week?" Instead of Ailures, he doesn't say.

[GamesMaster]

"I'm afraid not," he says, with a smile. "This next bit is confidential -- I assume I can speak with you in trust?" At Varric's affirmative, he continues on. "Ailures is not the same since her resurrection. Frankly speaking, she no longer wishes to be part of the Lights. Unfortunately, she has no successor at this time -- her apprentice's personal net worth is simply not sufficient to inherit her Holder position without her death."

[Varric]

Varric just stares at him for a long moment. "Do you need a healer?" he asks gently. "Should I get your husband?"

[GamesMaster]

He chuckles, a much more staid chuckle than his husband would give, but a chuckle nonetheless. "I assure you, I may be getting on in years but I am not yet senile. No, I'm here today to offer you a position among the Guiding Lights."

[Varric]

"Yeah, I guessed that was what you were leading up to, hence my concern," Varric explains. 

[GamesMaster]

"Are you interested?" he asks, folding his hands.