The Silver Queen [AU]

[Isabela]

"This is my life," she whispers. "Over and over. The thing about having an amazing body is it becomes coin, the only reliable coin I have, and there's thieves everywhere. But I can't not be what I am. So-- so forgive me for thinking I could run away, Carver. It was never about you. I just... I'm just so tired of being..."

[Carver Amell]

"I'm sorry," he says earnestly. "I'm so sorry. I-- there's, Dau can change, can reshape your body, if you ever need that. If you ever..."

[Isabela]

She closes her eyes, leaning a bit toward Zevran for comfort. "Thank you, Carver. I... Not now. I've decided to stay, and I'm going to try to be Isabela at least a little longer."

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran slides his hand up to reach around Isabela's shoulders, leaving a slightly tacky feeling on her forearm and rising from his seat. "Perhaps... an... intermediate step, if you wish it, would be to borrow my hat? My magic one?"

[Helene Dakesh]

He feels a tapping on his shoulder then; it seems, in the turmoil, unnoticed, Helene slid from the table and fetched the first aid kit, which they clutch in shaking hands as they swallow hard, grasping for words. 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran stares a moment. "Wha- Helene, are you hurt?" he asks in sudden and somewhat confused concern.

[Helene Dakesh]

They shake their head, swallowing again. Speak, Helene! "Thi-this-thisone," they mutter, more stutter than words, only intelligible due to long familiarity. "Do not be hurt," they manage again, this time clearer, more earnest. 

[Tethras Clan]

Do not be- is they saying they are not hurt or- As he reaches for their hands, intending to look them over, he stills when he sees the lines of crimson running from a series of crescent marks on his forearms. "Oh," he says faintly, the stinging pain slowly blossoming as he stares. Those are... deep, for fingermarks...

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene sets the kit on the table, opening it, reaching for bandages. Trying to help.

[Carver Amell]

Carver, finally looking up, hisses. "Zevran, your arm!"

[Tethras Clan]

"I... yes," he says awkwardly, still staring. When did I... I don't remember... He swallows. "My... apologies for..." he fumbles.

[Isabela]

Isabela pulls away to give Helene more access as the samsaran begins bandaging. "We should talk about something else," she says, her voice still strained. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods, his gaze still fixated on the blood. 

[Tethras Clan]

"What? No, it's not- we needed this," Zevran insists even as he kneels so Helene can get to his arms better. "I just... I wasn't- I wasn't paying attention and- I'm fine," he rambles, desperate to head off any idea of them not talking like this again. 

[Carver Amell]

"You're not fine," says Carver, bluntly. "I'd rather not speak of it if it, if you're going to... get hurt."