Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Coquette Blacquin]

She frowns. "This is no time to poke fun at my weight. I'm doing the best I can -- I haven't binged in..." She frowns, trying to recall the last time she binged. The last time she anything actually. What was she even doing before Zevran got here, come to think of it? Actually, what day is it? 

[Tethras Clan]

"...skeletons are skinny, not fat," Zevran says slowly. "It's not binging that's bad for you," well, technically, gorging will make you sick regardless but- "it's not eating enough food that's your problem. What did you eat today? Yesterday?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I don't... recall... but it's not uncommon to eat only fruit and toast. My mother frequently does it, there's no harm in it. I am gaining weight after my injury, something I need to-- hang on, how did i get to Glaley?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Because you refuse to admit the power your mother still holds over you. By lying to yourself, you allow her to still control you," Zevran says, twisting the truth but not exactly lying.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Of course she has power over me. She's my mother. The things she said to me will haunt me for the rest of my days."

[Tethras Clan]

"That is not the actions of a mother. Oh, I won't deny she birthed you, it's clear enough you share blood, but family? No, not a shred or scrap of family bond lays between you."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"But she's--"

Coquette frowns, then, slowly piecing things together. "She threatened to sell me. She thinks I'm a monster. She is always critical of me: my body, my skills, my poise, my inability to be wed. She dotes on Alisenne like she's the moon and stars but I can do nothing right. Why do I... Why do I still care what she thinks? Why can't I just forget her and embrace Jaina instead?"

She looks up, then, swallowing hard as she meets his eyes. "Jaina is my real mother. Not Melindre. Never Melindre." 

There's a bright flash of light; when it fades, the entire party is standing in darkness again, with only a shining brooch the color of Coquette's eyes laying on the path before them. 

[Tethras Clan]

"...awesome. Evidently Cindy has mother issues but seems to have worked that out. Mostly. Maybe. Gods this is strange," Zevran mutters to himself as he slips back to Bright. "So... we win? And loot!" Adventurer instincts prodding him, he scoops up the brooch. Just as he picks it up, something clicks. "Wait, Cindy and-" Wait, are Jass and Cindy related?

[GamesMaster]

They press onward through the dark, emerging suddenly -- painfully, as their eyes had adjusted -- into a brightly lit tavern. For a moment, sights and sounds and smells assault them: the tavern common room is full of people chatting, drinking, laughing, enjoying fried snacks. Most of them are men, and all are tough looking folks, several with missing eyes or hands. Soldiers? No -- there's no uniform, no military cleanliness. Pirates, or bandits, or other rough types, most likely. 

Once again, their races are changed around: Varric finds himself a Goblin female, Helene a Vishkanya male, Zevran a Kobold male, and Isabela...

Isabela's nut-brown skin has become the green of sea glass, her dark-brown hair the darker green of kelp. The webbing between her toes that Zevran is intimately familiar with has spread to her hands as well, and her ears have fins to them, instead of just being pointed with a bit of flourish. Otherwise, she is herself, dressed in her pirate-esque adventuring attire, complete with bandanna. Huh. Fancy that.

[Varric]

"...well, at least I back at near the right height," Varric tries to console himself, feeling all sorts of uncomfortable with being a sodding goblin of all things. Least I'm not (no, don't chance it!)- "Right then. Thoughts?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Yes," Zevran says grimly. "Bad ones. Isabela?" He turns to look at her and his eyes light up. "You got your booty back! I like the colors too. Right, no, focusing on the bad. Is it just me or is this..?"

[Isabela]

"A wretched hive of scum and villany?" asks Isabela, eyebrow quirked. "I suppose the first step is to find our target. Should we split up?"

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran shakes his head. "We seem to be visiting old haunts of our, ah, targets as you say. When you combine that with bandits... I think I know where Liz is. Assuming it's night anyway."

[Isabela]

Isabela stiffens, then, glancing at the stairs up to the higher level. "...but she's been in fantasies, right? Why would she fantasize about -- you check upstairs, I'm going to circulate among the guests down here, see what I can find out."

[Varric]

"We should stick in pairs," Varric says quickly. Hmm. "Helene, got a preference? Up or down?