Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"I love you," he says instantly. "Come back to me safe and sound, okay? Promise? I'll be waiting for you."

[Bethany]

"Me too. I'll look after him, promise. And- and I miss you. Please come back as soon as you can, alright?" She sniffles softly, then kisses Merrill on the cheek.

[Varric]

Alright then... "Merrill... please try to remember from now on- you're not our family because of Carver. You're our family, full stop. Now. Let's get to work... Twins and mabari, go ahead and fade out. I think it'll be easier with less minds muddling things up." There's some reluctance, particularly on Carver and Merrill's parts, but Bethany points out the sooner this is done, the sooner they can cuddle in the flesh. And then blanches at the idea of cuddling with her naked brother ambushes her.

"Here we go," the dwarf murmurs as they twist and vanish away from everything in the dreamscape. Closing his eyes, his focuses. Now... the problem is that she's cut herself off from her memories (on the moon). Pretty sure just bringing the moon down on the planet would be... bad (ya think?). So... maybe... Yeah. Yeah, that should work. "Alright Merrill. I know it's going to be a bit painful, but... it's time for the moon to give back your tears..."

[Carver Amell]

Carver comes back to himself, staring down at Merrill's prone form, tears still leaking down his face. He reaches out, gently, and strokes her cheek, unable to help himself. Please, he thinks, again. Please.

[Varric]

Varric jolts up with a grimace. "Sodding hells," he grunts, reaching up to his head with both hands. "That's not fun. Everyone okay? Made it out fine?"

[Bethany]

"Yes, we're all here. Are you okay, did it work?" Bethany asks quickly, moving over to poke at him.

[Varric]

"Good, that's good. Worked fine. Migraine. Bad one. Had to... push a bit," Varric grunts. "She'll sleep, then we'll see just how fine she is. But it looked promising right before I got booted."

[Carver Amell]

Carver's shoulders relax. "Okay," he says, relieved. "I'll head back to Aveline's, you go have a nap."

[Varric]

"Good plan. Best for you two to wrap up anything you need doing, once people start walking up, we're going to be real busy. Rest, talk to people, finish... errands," Varric says, hesitating a second to find the right word. Gods my head. Even for just a few seconds, thinking like Merrill was excruciating. Minds shouldn't match up like that. "Three days at least before Marian and Cindy could walk."

[Bethany]

"Wake you mean?" Bethany frown at Varric's tired nod. "...Silence and Hunter should go with Carver for tonight. I'll stay here and tuck you into bed," she decides, then glance at Carver. "Then... can you come by and get me in the morning? I want to visit Don and Ari. Maybe overnight at the hideout."

[Carver Amell]

"If Aveline lets me," he agrees. "If not I'll send Hunter. Will you be okay without them?"

[Bethany]

"Sure, I'll be with Don, Ari or the Bandanas," Bethany says with a shrug. "And yeah, ,Hunter is a Good Boy, he'll look after me, won't he?" The mabari prances a little, doing a- "Oh that's his 'outside please' dance!" With a laugh, she rises to let the mabari out. Life goes on.

[Carver Amell]

Carver comes back to Aveline's with two mabari, which is totally not an imposition to the guardswoman, no way. Especially not when he asks if Hunter can get extra meat tonight, because 'he's earned it'. 

Once he's settled into food, however, he doesn't talk much. When asked how the delve went, he just says "Fine." He prods at his uneaten food, clearly deep in thought. 

Finally, after being prodded to eat three times, he looks up. "Aveline? If I... if I let you watch, so I don't get too hurt, can I cut tonight? I really need it."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline stills for a long moment. "...finish your meal. At least the meat," she says in a low, steely voice.

[Carver Amell]

He flinches, looking down. "Sorry," he mumbles, prodding his meal again.