Blood from Stone [AU]

[Varric]

Varric take a breath to steady himself before turning around. He'd heard him approaching of course- Carver isn't the most stealthiest and Hunter almost as bad. "Hey Carver. I, uh, sorry that work was... Got your note. Thanks for... keeping me updated."

[Carver Amell]

"Y-yeah. Don't mention it," he says, shifting a little. "I uh. I think... I think we need to talk."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene bows their head. "I can put away the groceries if you two need privacy."

[Varric]

"You are a kindness in my life," Varric murmurs to Helene in Terran, brushing his fingers over their forearm. Looking back at Carver, he nods. "My..." Might be unfair, given.... "There's time enough, want to go for a walk? Or we could use their house as.. middle ground if..." He gestures at the currently empty house down the street. Liz's house.

[Carver Amell]

"Let's... Let's go to Liz's place," he says, glancing away. 

[Varric]

Varric nods silently, stepping away from the house and towards the street. He lets Carver in, stopping in the foyer. "Where... This is your show, you get to set the pace and such." Given how... controlling Varric can be, that's a far show of respect and generosity from the dwarf. 

[Carver Amell]

Carver takes a deep breath, glancing toward the kitchen, then shakes his head once, leaning against the door. Here is fine. Privacy, away from the street. 

"I'm not... I'm not going to apologize for what I said," he begins, slowly. "I meant it and I still believe it's the best thing for her. I'm only concerned with her safety and I won't apologize for that either. But I... I didn't mean to cause so much trouble. I really thought you'd understand."

[Varric]

"I do understand your concern," Varric says slowly, brow furrowing. "I think Liz is more stable than you see to, but I can entirely understand not wanting to take the risk. If they hadn't been tortured in the cesspit in Glaley, I would push for them to be enrolled at Summerhill wholeheartedly."

[Carver Amell]

Carver takes a deep breath, the words on the tip of his tongue not ready to come out, not yet. You hurt me, he doesn't say. I got drunk last night, he doesn't say.

Instead, he glances away. "I was considering moving to Raplin's Oak," he says, casually. "Not sure yet. Depends how things go with Aveline, we're in some talks that might be... but I might go."

[Varric]

The dwarf blinks twice. "...Aveline is thinking of moving to the Oak? What?" 

[Carver Amell]

He shakes his head. "No, no, I-- I got a job offer and maybe Aveline, here, but if the thing with Aveline doesn't pan out, I was thinking of passing on the job offer and going to the Oak. I.. I don't know if I can be around while.. all this happens."

[Varric]

The skin around his eyes tightens slightly. "I... I have to admit, I wasn't expecting that choice. What... what are you expecting to... happen here?" His tone is controlled and even, perhaps overly so. He pauses after that question. Wait, job offer and maybe Aveline? What is that supposed to mean? "Wait, is something wrong with Vallen? I thought your partnership with her was pretty solid."

[Carver Amell]

"We're... we had a fight. But we're working on it. We're probably okay." He takes a deep breath. "To be blunt, I expect her to... to try to leave. And, I.. if you think you can handle her, I don't really have a choice but to trust you. I went to see zi'Smith and he didn't agree I could have her... anyway. But I can't sit here wondering. I can't... I can't make the promise she asked for, I can't... I can't ever be in that position again. So the best I can do is stay away and trust you."

[Varric]

Varric takes a few slow breathes, head slanting to the left as he thinks that over. Don't have any choice, best thing I can do... Damn. "What... Alright, that's entirely an option you can take. Have you considered any other ideas?"

[Carver Amell]

"Loads," he says darkly. "I can't stay and watch this play out. I can go to the Oak with Jassinth, or I could get my own place -- I make enough, I'm sure -- and try out this job offer zi'Smith had for me. I can't have her committed, but I do have a list of names of healers zi'Smith recommends for her care I can give you. I need... I need to find something to do, something I really believe in, not just to fill time. I'm planning to focus on that, instead of... meddling."