The Silver Queen [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah. Yeah, that's-- thanks."

[Tethras Clan]

"Carver is not... out. At all," Zevran says faintly, offering his cousin- unconfirmed, true, but with their resemblance to each other, they've just decided to go for it- a wan smile. "Thank you, Jass." The other drow, eyes showing his understanding, nod back and slips out of the room.

[Carver Amell]

"'Out' -- is that slang for, uh...?" asks Carver, as he slides his legs out of bed. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Being open about your sexual preference," Zevran confirms as he carefully sits up. "Out to your family, out to certain groups, out in general, out to everyone but a particular person or group such as your boss and so on."

[Carver Amell]

"So.. I could be, uh... with you... and not be out?"

[Tethras Clan]

"It is... not the optimal condition. But it is also a very common stage for those new to... this part of their sexuality," Zevran explains. "Think of it is sort of a... it's like a training period. Or perhaps a bit of scouting. Exploring the terrain of this new part of you before making it known to others."

[Carver Amell]

His face falls. What did you think, Hawke, you could just... never tell anyone? Idiot. "Right. Of course." 

He pulls his shirt on, buttoning the last few buttons. "Ready to get some breakfast?"

[Tethras Clan]

Accepting the slight pang of hurt, Zevran nods carefully. "I need to use the head first, you go on up," he says softly.

[Carver Amell]

"Okay." 

Hesitating a moment, he then leans in and plants a kiss on Zevran's cheek. "Thanks. You're... You didn't have to be so understanding about all this." Then, slightly flushed, he's heading off toward the hall and the ladder up to the deck.

[Tethras Clan]

Smiling faintly, Zevran forces himself up. Of course I do. I need to keep my family together, no? Helene does not know how, Isabela refuses to admit she wishes it and you are a mix of both. So who else?

[Coquette Blacquin]

Lady Olocaryn was having a difficult week.

Freed from her captivity, held as a rescued hostage and not as a prisoner, befriended by a pavitra in the form of a cat, and now, speaking to one of the druids at the Oak about her fears. She's finding it difficult to open up, difficult to talk about her life before her husband or during his reign. Easier to focus on what she wants to do next... which is still not easy to contemplate. 

Wearing a simpler dress, tying her hair back, she blends in among the refugees. Her silver hair will always stand out, of course, but she's pleased to note the weight coming off as she pares down her food, pleased to note she's moving easier, feeling less bloated. The changes are subtle, for now, but... Perhaps I'll move to an elven enclave somewhere, try to find my mother's people.

She's unaware how much she looks like Cindy until she hears her name called. She turns, glancing across the street to where the voice came from...

[Smith Family]

Pushing his way through the crowd, a middle aged man with dark hair beginning the transition to grizzled grey, fights down the surge of desperate hope that wants to break his heart yet again. Yesterday had been bad enough, that flash of silver hair, had been bad enough when it only lasted a bare second. But- but if it is her, then- then- 

"Cindy!" he shouts again, hissing a second later as a brush against someone's arm sends sharp bolts of pain surging up his arm. "Cindy!"

[Coquette Blacquin]

Kyle!

Cindy is smaller, more agile, faster. She clears the distance between them, throwing herself into his arms and sobbing onto his shoulder before she can think twice. In this moment, there's no time for lies or saving face; she finds herself inexplicably home again, when she never thought she would see the place in her lifetime.

[Smith Family]

Kyle twisted at the last second, putting her against his left shoulder, and wraps his left arm around him. The feel of him is the same, the bristle of his beard against her temple, the strength of his arm. But the scent is lacking- there's no smoke or metal on him, a subtle thing that had always clung to him despite being better with bathing than the average middle classed Glalian. 

"Cindy," he breathes out, knees going weak with stunned relief. "You're- you're here?" His right arm doesn't move, appearing to be tied closely to his side in fact, under his traveler's cloak. 

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Gods, gods gods gods," she whimpers, embracing him tightly. "I-- Kyle." 

Finally, she pulls back, looking him over critically. "You're hurt? I-- if you need healing..."