Blood from Stone [AU]

[Varric]

Varric had flinched, outright flinched at nir attempt to take his right wrist. His breathe catches as he tries to explain but all that comes out is a soft wheeze that ends in an airy whine.

[Bethany]

"You lost nothing that would take my love with it. You are still kind. Still loving and true. Still... gentle and good. Clever and honest."  She strokes his cheek with her thumb. "Still my love."

[Carver Amell]

Carver frowns at Varric, not wanting to draw attention to his freakout. "Maybe you two should both go rest," he says quietly. "it's been a long day."

[GamesMaster]

Don shakes his head. "I can't, Beth," he murmurs. "Please. Just... please."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene hasn't moved, staring down at Varric's right side, thinking. Studying the way the cloak falls with their artist's eye, thinking back to his actions -- at least the ones they'd seen. Thinking about him taking the glove from Bartrad, what ne knows about magical items of that type. How Bartrand must have had the Light's Ring if he could control the wards at Crystalwing, since it was unlikely Varric had had time to re-key them to him personally as he prefers for his private wards. 

Helene doesn't so much sit as crumple onto the floor, burying their face in both hands, rocking resuming as their attempts at stilllness are forgotten. 

[Bethany]

"Don. Love. Father of my kits, my lover and friend. When have I ever not been contrary and stubborn about something I really, really want?"

[Tethras Clan]

Yet again, Merrill tumbles herself out of her chair to be with her Tuiste. This time, however, she also reaches for Varric, placing a hand on each of their wrists in the hopes that Varric's preference applied to Helene too. And also that it extended to her in the first place. "Deep breathes. Focus on the movements of your hands. Tap tap. Focus on the sway of your body. In and out, in and out. You are both safe now. Hurting and sorrowful but safe. You can move towards healing and wholeness now. Breathe in, nice and slow. You are safe and loved."

[GamesMaster]

"I just... can't, right now," Don whispers. "Please, I... just let me rest for a bit."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene pulls free of Merrill's grip, but as the girl speaks, Helene rests nir head against Merrill's shoulder, sobbing silently into it. Varric... my fault, should have known he'd never speak to me that way, should have... No, not helping. Not helping. Must keep calm. Must keep still. Must focus on comfort, must not break any further, must not... must... must...

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill accepts the correction, guessing that Helene needs more than nir fingertips to be free in order to hand dance properly. "It's okay, Tuiste. It's okay, it really is. Cry and rock, I'll be right here. And so is Dad. Right?"

[Varric]

Varric jerks his head in an unbalanced nod, then manages to grunt something affirmative sounding. 

[Bethany]

"...fine. As long as you don't try to chase me away, you can rest for a while without me nattering at you," Beth says, trying to add a bit of light-heartedness to things.

[Helene Dakesh]

But Helene isn't hand-dancing; nir hands are in nir lap, quiet, still. Soon ne manages to stop crying, shuddering as ne rocks gently, restrained. 

Ne pulls back, looking at Bartrand with a cold, calculating expression. 

[GamesMaster]

"I can't chase you away," murmurs Don, after a moment. "You're my weakness. It would have gone easier on me if I could have given you up but I couldn't, I couldn't lose you."

[Bethany]

A chill passes through her and Beth leans closer. "Don..." If... If I was what they demanded and what you balked on then... "Forgive my ego, but that doesn't sound like a weakness, if thoughts of me stopped you fro... Selling."