Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Helene Dakesh]

"Understood," they say, with a little nod. They begin setting up, and in under a minute, the pair of them are heading out from Varric's place, a forked stick in Helene's hands as the oracle follows the touch sensations it gives.

"There are multiple signals. This one suspects Deep Thought is not the correct direction." They continue, making decisions such as this, heading toward Coalside, toward one of the many inns there. 

Toward the upstairs, toward a specific room.

[Marian Hawke]

When Varric picks the lock, he can tell right away this is the right room. 

Those eyes, those large, dark, too smart, too knowing eyes, haven't changed one bit.

The rest of her has. Her hair is cut too short, sticking out at odd angles, dyed blood red fading to bright pink at the tips. Her skin is marked with tattoos, swirling, abstract, blood-red symbols, crossed with intentional, ritual scars. Her face is full of piercings, all of them silver: lip, nose, eyebrow. She's missing a finger on her left hand, the smallest, and she wears an overlong man's button-down shirt and tight leggings underneath.

She hugs her knees, muttering to herself, eyes open but unfocused, rocking back and forth. As he gets closer he can make out what she's saying: "--not be afraid, not like you, I'm not that anymore. I can do this, I promise I'll rescue you, Cindy, I love you, please come back to me, please don't leave me alone--"

Cindy, then, must be the other half-elf in the room: the too-thin girl with the long silver hair, her face twisted in a hideous mockery of a grin, her whole body tense as though she fights a battle only she can perceive. One hand curls around a blood-red gemstone, and yes, the whole hand pulses with twisted light, a too-slow, too-even heartbeat throwing shadows about the room.

[Varric]

Varric, still invisible, sways as if drunk or poleaxed. Or both. He swallows a few times, brain going a million directions at once. Hope and doubt, love and fear warring inside him, his mind eventually coming to a compromise. One last test. One least check. Then I- then I can- For the first time in over a decade, his hands tremble as he mixes the last step of a infusion. Still, he manages to complete his Detect Thoughts infusion and downs it.

[Marian Hawke]

The first thing that hits him is fear. It doesn't make him feel afraid -- but he can recognize by now the telltale signs of a mind hijacked by panic, struggling to keep coherent thought. Not just present fear, but layers of it, deeper than he can detect with this infusion.

hold it together (can't let Cindy down) they're alright they're alive they're with Varric (don't need me) (hold it together) (for Cindy) please please please (can't shut down now) please Cindy don't leave me I need you you're all I have left (shouldn't have come to Varric) (couldn't help it) (bad idea anyway) (they'll never want you back not like this) should have held together, should have gotten help from Varric for Cindy (hold it together) enough, enough fear, enough, put the hat back on, now, before you fall apart, before Cindy loses her battle (Eli? No. Liz. Liz is good enough) before you lose another one before all the family you have is gone (gods it was good to see him though)

[Varric]

"It was good to see you too, Marian," Varric says softly, dismissing the invisibility infusion. "Gods Marian. I... you're alive."

[Marian Hawke]

She shrieks, groping beside her, slamming a hat onto her head -- and all at once, she's Marian Hawke again: gawky, brown-haired, smooth skin, no piercings. This seems to calm her; she takes a few deep breaths, staring at him with wide eyes. 

Varric. It's Varric. You can trust him. (He came for me?) Deep breath, nice and slow (you're going to have to explain) (can't, won't) (Cindy, think of Cindy)

"Cindy," she croaks, looking toward the bed. "Please, help, my, I love her, please..."

[Varric]

Varric nods. "Of course I will. She's yours," he says simply. "Helene! It's safe, come on in. Helene is a very good friend, a Seeker. Of Alydra. They're an expert at detection and divination. As smart as me and even more studied with magic, faith and outsiders. If anyone can help, it's them. "

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene scurries in, moving to check over the patient -- Cindy? -- carefully. "This is difficult," they say instantly. "I will investigate."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian's shoulders slump, and she nods, leaning back against the wall. Varric has it. He'll save her. ('Of course') Gods above, where do I begin? (this is why I went in disguise) how can I explain (he saw my real face) (stop mewling, sit up, don't disappoint him)

She sits up, then, lowering her knees to sit cross-legged, taking another deep breath, pushing the panic away. What would Marian do? she asks herself, with the air of ritual. Smile. You're glad to see him. She smiles, then, raking her hand through her hair, letting out her breath. "It's so good to see you. I-- I'm glad to be back."

[Varric]

"Terrified," he corrects her gently. "But... that's understandable, given what you... you've clearly been through. But that's okay. You're... you're home now. Safe. It's okay to let go."

[Marian Hawke]

(does he know?) 

But a moment later she rejects the thought. I am glad. Underneath it all. She gives a small, pained laugh. "I am. I was worried-- the twins are alright? Truly?" 

[Varric]

"They are. Carver's training to be a paladin of Vangal. Got himself a girlfriend too, a shaman named Merrill I'm fostering. Bit scatter-brained and silly from time to time, but sweet, gentle and devoted. Beth's getting healer training, but she's, uh, focusing on social issues. There's been bad times, rough spots and trouble, but... we're together and getting better. A family. They're going to have fits of joy to have you back." Varric keeps his voice low and smooth, gentle but certain.

[Marian Hawke]

"Back?" she asks, her voice small, inquisitive, fragile.

I can't go back. Not ever. I just have to get Cindy back on her feet and we can go back to Raplin's Oak.

[Varric]

"You're family," Varric says softly. "My home- Beth and Carver and Helene and Merrill's home- is also your home." He glances at the bed. "Your girl too. Might be a little cramped for a week or so until I get some workers in to expand the place out but we'll all fit just fine. " Sleep in the office (or not sleep, gonna be busy), let Marian and Cindy use my room (magical cleaning after).

[Marian Hawke]

"I-- I can't," she whispers, hanging her head. "Please, don't offer again." I don't know if I can stand it.