Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Varric]

"I can accept that." He wince. "And... right. I do not mean to... give offence, but would you be okay with... holding off on telling anyone until, well, all that stuff you just said?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"Acceptable. The crisis at hand is more important. This one is glad to have been able to distract you with more pleasant things this evening."

[Varric]

Varric snorts. "You did that," the dwarf admits. "And... thanks for... making the spiced chocolate, even after I grouched at you."

[Carver Amell]

It's not hard to guess where Carver is, even without Beth telling him. Where else would he hide well enough to spend the night?

As Varric approaches, invisible, he hears signs he's on the right track: Miki's pained, frightened voice. "Carver! Hey, can you hear me?"

And Don's, in Catfolk: "Get him to my father. Bharnerol's nails, how much did you give him?"

The smell of vomit, piss, and alcohol nearly attacks him as he enters the Bandanna hideout. Carver twitches faintly on the floor, his cheek half in a puddle of reasonably fresh vomit, as Miki shakes him, trying to rouse him. Don is moving to his feet, clearly intending to help lift him, as Varric draws near.

[Varric]

Varric tosses a vial at Miki, the deft catfolk catching it as expected. "Give him that, then dunk him in water. I'll make tea," he orders in a voice of authority.

[GamesMaster]

Miki drops to a knee, fumbling with the vial in his haste to get this inside Carver. Whatever it is.

"He's well past the point of tea," says Don, pinching the bridge of his nose. But even as he says that, Carver's color begins to improve from the bluish tone his skin bore a moment ago. "Huh. Alright. I've got to get back to work." He heads for the door.

[Varric]

"Thank you," Varric calls after Don. "I won't forget you standing by my family. I'll be bringing Carver to the church later!" 

That done, he waits for Miki to finish his instructs as he makes that tea. "Don't bother undressing him," he adds to Miki.

[GamesMaster]

"Uh. If you say so." Miki slips out back, then returns a few moments later, dragging a bucket of water. "Cans pour on pup-cat or?" Seeing the affirmative nod, he hauls up the bucket and dumps it on Carver's upper body.

[Carver Amell]

Carver shrieks, sitting up and gasping for breath, still pale and his hands shaking, but very much awake.

[GamesMaster]

That done, Miki starts sneaking back toward the door, intending to silently leave Carver to his fate. 

[Varric]

"I'll talk to you about your part in all of this later," Varric says to the catfold in a neutral enough tone as he leaves. That said, he sets a mug of tea down next to Carver and has a seat nearby.

[Carver Amell]

Carver stiffens when he hears Varric's voice, for a moment ceasing to wipe the water from his hair. Then he snarls, a viscous, animal snarl, his hands becoming claws. I don't care if my head splits right in half, I want the fucker dead, he thinks, and he whirls on Varric, staggering to his feet, letting pure rote instinct take over as he slashes toward his throat.

[Varric]

Varric was... not expecting that severity of a reaction, but he had been smart enough to buff himself a bit. Still, the blow manage to catch him across the arm he raised to block it. Rolling backwards off the chair, he ignores the fairly deep furrows in his arm to turn invisible. Once that happens, the rest of the fight doesn't take too long- still slightly drunk, very hungover, no gear or weapons save his claws and against an armed, enchanted and invisible foe... those are very rough odds. His sense of smell can help pin down a general location, but it's not enough. Carver connects once more, but fails to find flesh before he's beaten into a daze.

Another bucket of water bring him back up out of that, but now his wrists, ankles and elbows are all tied together. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" Varric demands. "You're not possed and there's nothing but alcohol in your system, so what the fuck?"

[Carver Amell]

"Me?!" he snarls. "The fuck is wrong with you! You knew and you lied to us!"

[Varric]

"I know a lot of things, narrow it down," Varric says, frowning.