Zevran's Gift

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke shakes her head. "Estelle can't, she's leaving tomorrow, but Claudia's staying to watch over Mia. We're trying to get her a mail-order bakery set up."

[Tethras Clan]

"...ex-lilin retires to be a baker," Zevran muses. "Only you my love, only you. I wonder if..." He shakes his head. "I am glad you are... coping well with her." Better than I with my 'gift' that is certain.

[Marian Hawke]

She sighs again. "honesty," she mutters before adding, louder, "I'm not, really. I've been... well, it's easy to get caught up in the party energy. But it was a shock to me that she refuses to top. We ended up co-subbing for Estelle, which went well, but she... well. We should talk about this when i'm more awake. Tell me about yours?"

[Tethras Clan]

Refuses to top? But isn't that what- ah. I suppose that's her chains or Hawke's biting. "I'm not sure how much more there is to tell. From what I've gathered, he's a slave, born to slaves. It's all he knows and he doesn't want to leave it. He... He's a strix- a winged race. Bright crimson hair and a very skilled dancer. He's decided I'm his ma-aaster."

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke shivers, holding Zevran close. "hurts, doesn't it?" she asks, softly. "Makes you feel... unworthy."

[Tethras Clan]

"Ashamed. Dirty," he whispers back. "Evil."

[Marian Hawke]

"yeah," she agrees, pressing a kiss to his shoulder. "But you're not those things. He's been hurt, badly, but you didn't hurt him. If he needs to lean on you, it's not because of you, it's because of him. Remember that."

[Tethras Clan]

"I'm trying," Zevran says with a sigh. "I just... the degree of... well, damage he has, I don't... it could be years, decades, before that sort of conditioning is worn away. I don't... I can't. But I can't not."

[Marian Hawke]

"Should we... find another place for him?" Hawke offers quietly. "Perhaps Summerhill?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Are they... isn't that for mental disorders?" Zevran asks slowly. "Do they do... trauma or conditioning... injuries?"

[Marian Hawke]

"They took me," she says quietly.

[Tethras Clan]

"I... had assumed that was a favor from Anders," Zevan admits. "Do you think they can help him?" He sounds strangely reluctant, though Hawke can probably guess why: she has trouble letting someone else help on her behalf too.

[Marian Hawke]

"Maybe?" she offers, hesitantly. "I wasn't... nearly as bad off," she admits. "But they have tools we don't. Counseling. Delving. Well, I suppose we could Delve him, but..."

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran pulls back so he can look her in the face. "Delving? That- that could work, couldn't it? I mean, I know it's not a cure-cure, but it can help break through those first terrible steps, right?"

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke blinks. "Uh. I suppose? I've never been involved with one that wasn't straightforward: go in, kill the possessing spirit or whatever, fix the problem. But I know they're using it for all kinds of problems now. Obsessions, and that sort of thing."