Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"Prove me wrong," Zevran says firmly.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"How? I am only who I am. I am no-one else. How am I to prove my own identity?"

[Tethras Clan]

Damn. Worth a shot. "Alright," Zevran replies, focusing on the Scale. "You must, of course, know whom you are under the mask. Specifically, her. You may not particularly care for that fact that you come from... this, but truth is truth."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I am not that," he says, voice dripping with disdain. "I have never been that."

He reaches up, then, removing the mask to reveal a handsome male half-elf face -- one with very little similarity to Coquette.

[Tethras Clan]

"Then why does Cindy- who does look a great deal like Coquette- have your rapier?" Zevran asks curiously. "And then there's the part where you're in her head but that won't mean much to you evidently," he mutters to himself in auran. "I can understand wanting to deny a part of your past, deny your origins and deeds, but..." And after seeing all this, I shall be making a point of being more honest with myself, if not others. 

[Coquette Blacquin]

He re-applies the mask, which grins a terrible, dangerous grin -- and how is it that a mask can change expression, exactly?

"If no other proof will satisfy you..."

He moves, then, wielding the Rapier as he darts forward. The darkness grabs for Coquette, lifting her slightly so that he can sink his blade into her terrified form from behind.

From Varric's perspective, for an instant, a monster made of shadows and a silver mask appears -- then Coquette tumbles over into Melindre's lap, blood staining her blue gown. Melindre shrieks, shouting out, "call a healer! She's bleeding! My poor darling girl, what happened?! Who did this?!"

From Zevran's perspective, as she collapses onto the loveseat, Melindre shifts away, scowling. "Do not make a scene, Coquette. You are bleeding all over my gown."

[Varric]

"The everloving hells?" Varric shouts, moving to go provide help. He's no patch on his youngest, but he'd picked up a bit of the healer's arts in the last year or so. 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran springs to his feet to prevent a second attack. "Not actually helping, given how often people are willing to hurt themselves actually," he grits out, a wine glass twirling in one hand. "And would you shut the fuck up woman? Gods in all Their domains, you're a selfish, whining cur, aren't you?" he snaps at both Melindres.

[Isabela]

"What the hell? Zevran, what happened?" demands Isabela. 

[Coquette Blacquin]

But the monster is already gone, fading into the shadows from whence he came.

[GamesMaster]

The more visible Melindre is shocked, appalled at being spoken to this way; the one in the shadows simply sips her wine, unruffled.

[Varric]

"Was that a mask of Cindy?" Varric asks as he works on stopping the bleeding.

[Tethras Clan]

"Yesss?" Zevran replies uncertainty. "I am almost sure, yes. He seemed... displeased at my assertion that he and she were one and the same."

[Varric]

"Joy," Varric mutters. "Cindy- Coquette, are you okay? Can you hear me?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

The bleeding readily slows and stops under Varric's care; with help, Coquette is coaxed into a sitting position again, a little pale but none the worse for the wear... on the surface. "I-- yes, I-- I am--"

The shadow Coquette, however, curls into a ball as far on the couch as she can get from her mother, head down, shivering, clearly greatly affected by this turn of events.

In both worlds, Melindre stands. "I shall call for the family healer. Please, stay with her, in case that... whatever it was, happens again?" asks the bright-side Melindre. Without waiting for an answer, both of them follow after where the father went, into the house.