The Silver Queen [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran is silent for a moment. "I am... not... Isabela cannot abide the idea of a path she must take," he says slowly. "I..." He swallows. "If we meant nothing, she would not bother to say goodbye. If she... If she... if she is thinking on it this much, then she does not want to do it in the first place."

[Carver Amell]

Carver takes a deep breath, then pulls open the drawer, removing the envelope and breaking the wax seal. He unfolds the parchment, skimming rapidly. 

"...She sold the Echo," he says, and his voice is flat, bleak. 

[Tethras Clan]

Wordless, Zevran reaches his hand out.

[Carver Amell]

Carver hands him the document -- the legal document, drawing up a transfer. The Echo is now Zevran's ship, it seems. 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran reads it over, face blank. "To one of us," he finally says slowly. So... not... "There is still... a chance." He takes a deep breath. "Come," he says, swiftly restoring the document. A careful look will reveal the tampering but hopefully she does not look soon. "We and Helene must talk."

[Carver Amell]

"About what," he snarls. "She's leaving us. She's giving you the ship and leaving. With only a fucking goodbye letter."

[Tethras Clan]

"She is thinking about it," Zevran says firmly. "She has to feel like it's an option or it's not her choice to stay. Freedom is her ideal, just as family is yours. You knew that when you joined us."

[Carver Amell]

"None of those drafts would be good enough," he growls. "She doesn't explain why. She addressed them all to you, she doesn't even-- she doesn't even care how it'd hurt me."

[Tethras Clan]

"All to..." Strangely, that seems to relax him a bit. "Not to me. Not actually me, I think." He shakes his head. "Enough, put them back and let's go. Please."

[Carver Amell]

"What are you even talking about," he growls, but he stacks the papers, puts the book back on top. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Thank you," Zevran says with a sigh. "Please, I want to include Helene before we talk anymore about this."

[Carver Amell]

"Fine," he sighs. "Being left out sucks."

And so, a few moments later, they have Helene up and dressed, all sitting on the two beds in the secondary bedroom, Hunter half in Carver's lap in comfort. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Isabela is not handling her trauma nearly as well as she's trying to make out," Zevran begins bluntly. "She's had a document made up to transfer ownership of the Echo to me. Not binding yet, I'd imagine, as I've not yet signed anything. She's also drafted up several good-bye letters to me. Carver glanced at them only. I suspect she is... either reminding herself she could leave, if she wanted to, to make herself more comfortable about staying. Or panicking. She... Isabela has..."

He falters, loyalty compelling him to speak and staying his tongue in near equal measure.  Beka whimper softly, laying her head in his lap, just like her brother. Silence, however, is upstairs with Isabela, a quiet but warm presence at her side.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods, looking down, seeming small, lost. "Understood," they say quietly. 

[Carver Amell]

"Not understood," growls Carver, his hands tensing on Hunter's back.