Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

"No, I don't. I mean, I do, but not- not yet," Bethany says firmly. "Carver, you can't keep doing this. You need to find a healthier way to vent your emotions. More, you need to figure out a way to address, solve, fix, whatever, your problems, not just... push them away for a little bit. Until the next time."

[Carver Amell]

"Beth," he groans. "How much more will you ask of me?"

[Bethany]

"It shouldn't be a lot to ask for you to be a person!" Bethany half hisses, half shouts.

[Carver Amell]

He flinches again, hanging his head, falling silent.

[Bethany]

Bethany sags, a sick combination of shame, hurt and fury churning in her gut. Oh hey, spell's worn off. Yay. "Sorry. I... I don't want to be a person that shouts or..." She rests her face against her knees again. "Why can't you just... talk to me? Or Dad or... gods, anyone? Helene, Aveline, Kenta, someone?"

[Carver Amell]

"You're right," he whispers, pushing to his feet. "I know you're right. I just can't." 

He turns toward the door. "I'm going to go sit with Dad a bit. We'll talk about Don in the morning." 

[Bethany]

"...thank you. Thank you for going to him," Bethany whispers as he leaves. "Si..." The mabari rises to her feet quietly, rady to follow her Person's most important person.

[Carver Amell]

Carver's fingers trail down to skim along Silence's fur as he walks. By the time he reaches Varric's office, he grips her, tightly as he wishes he could hold Beth's hand.

When he gets there, he slips in without knocking, clearing his throat. "Can I... sit here? A bit?" he asks, quietly. "I won't be in the way, I promise."

[Varric]

Varric looks up from his book, eyes shifting to study Helene's unmoving form on the cot- small enough to transport easily and it's a comfort to be able to check in on them during the night- for a second out of instinct before fixing on Carver. "You're my son. You're never in the way," he says quietly. "Grab a seat."

[Carver Amell]

"Thanks," he says quietly, and then he covers his face with one hand, breaking down into sobs as he heads for the little window seat near the cot. "S-sorry," he mumbles, as he cries.

[Varric]

Varric gives him a minute or so, then quietly rises. He gets something out of his desk, then moves to the chair. "Here," he says gently, offering a square of soft cotton. In his other hand is a bottle and two tumblers. "Just some apple cider. Fresh."

[Carver Amell]

"Th-thanks," he stammers, taking the handkerchief and dabbing at his eyes. "I didn't, I didn't know where else to go, I... I was worried if I was alone I might k-k-kill myself," he whispers. "I don't want to hurt Beth like that."

[Varric]

Varric's breath catches in his lungs and there's the sound of glass cracking. "Well. Good that...  you came here then," he says evenly. The dwarf carefully sets the glasses on the nearby table. "Beth... yeah. That would... that would probably..." Take her with you. And then Marian for that matter (gods). Which would take Cindy down. And the mabari (why not).

[Carver Amell]

Carver swallows, nodding. "We were.. talking, and she was shouting and I just... I just couldn't. I just couldn't. So I walked away and I came right here." He swipes at his eyes again, not that it helps much. "I wish I were like you," he whispers. 

[Varric]

"That's... flattering," Varric says slowly, And terrifying. He flexes his hand a little, frowning for a second at the bright line of pain on the inside of his thumb. "How so?"