Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

She blushes, just a little, when he kisses her temple.

[Varric]

"That's better," the dwarf says softly. "See? We can do this. It can get better. Just need to figure out the variables, come up with plan and get it down."

[GamesMaster]

"To a certain extent," cautions the nurse. "But again, I have to remind you she's incurable."

[Varric]

"Nonsense. Well, okay, there might always be scars, but we can do a lot better than this. My fiance manages to live a normal life ninety-nine out of a hundred days. Most people can, if they get the right support and education in their own condition," Varric says firmly.

[GamesMaster]

"I'm glad for your fiance, truly I am, but there's a difference in functioning between patients," she says patiently. "We did a full assessment. At first we had the go-ahead for treatments, but when she showed no signs of improvement, we transferred her to this wing. Not all patients are capable of living outside a managed facility. Your fiance would be what we call 'high-functioning'. Liz here is... not."

[Varric]

"Then you didn't try hard enough," Varric says simply. "I will."

[GamesMaster]

"It's not a matter of trying harder," she coaches gently. "Sometimes people just aren't meant to be high functioning. It's perfectly fine. We're happy to take care of her."

[Varric]

"Not meant?" Varric scoffs lightly. "She was tortured, this isn't natural or intended. A demon did this, not the gods. Her soul is perfectly fine."

[GamesMaster]

"The soul can be broken by torture," says the nurse, her tone still gentle. "And demons can work for the gods."

[Varric]

"What's been broken can be put back. And I know people that work for gods too. Hells, I'm owed one, I think," Varric counters. "My daughter can be helped. Can't be who she was, maybe, but she can get close. Can be a person, be functional and have a good life."

[GamesMaster]

"And you believe this because?"

[Varric]

"That the gods owe me or that she can be helped to be more again?"

[GamesMaster]

"Both, but specifically the latter is relevant to this conversation."

[Varric]

"I died doing Them a favor, several of them," Varric says idly, having... mostly comes to terms with that. "It was a thing. Back now, obviously, and They're not done yet. So. As for the more? Logic. Experience. Knowledge. Several sources really."

[GamesMaster]

"What experience, what knowledge? You only just got here. How can you know better than trained healers what her trajectory is like?"