Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

"I, I know, I've been... I've been eating vegetables, mostly, and some fish, I, it's working, this is... smaller," she admits, in a hushed whisper. "Cindy knows what to do, how to... how to fix it."

[Varric]

"Won't hurt to have Beth double check then, will it? Always best to let an expert do their thing- and Beth might not be done with her training, true, but she's got more than any of us," Varric says, causing the human girl to flush with pride.

[Marian Hawke]

"I, I can't, please," she whispers. 

[Bethany]

Bethany swallows, looking hurt but supportive. "Do..." Do you not trust me? "Is there... something I can do to... make it easier?" she says instead.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"She doesn't show her real body to anyone," says Cindy, gently. "It hurts her. It's okay, Liz. It's alright. We can, we can measure you, maybe? I can do it by feel? So nobody has to see?"

[Carver Amell]

Carver digs his nails into his palm in his lap, fist clenched tight, refusing to speak, worried he'll make it worse.

[Varric]

"What if it wasn't your body?" Varric suggests. "All Beth needs to see is a body with a certain shape that's merikos elf. The features, coloration and so on don't matter."

[Marian Hawke]

"I..."

She bites her lip, looking at her lap. "Okay. Okay. I can, I can do that."

[Bethany]

Looking sad and unable to hide it well, Beth still tries to smile. "Good. That's.... Good then. So... Ciren, huh?" 

[Marian Hawke]

"Cindy's a cirenite," she says softly.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Passion," she says simply. "The ability to really live your life to the fullest, no matter what's going on. Passion and joy and all the good things that make the bad times worth it."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian nods. "I.. I've seen where Astea leads me. I don't want that anymore. I want to live."

[Bethany]

Bethany's smile goes wooden, then crumbles and she grabs her twin's hand in a death grip. "Oh. That's...." She falls silent, words beyond her.

[Carver Amell]

Carver squeezes her right back, taking a deep breath. "That's great," he says, earnestly. "You should be happy."

[Coquette Blacquin]

Cindy squeezes Marian's hand gently, swallowing hard.