Blood from Stone [AU]

[Varric]

Varric looks genuinely startled at the tease, eyes widening. "I..." Ne really doesn't blame... "Well. Prior it was a... Feature, not a flaw."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Ah, of course. How foolish of this one. The tendency to overwork oneself only adds to the charm of Varric's wit and skill."

[Varric]

Where is this all coming from? I like it. "I am relieved at your understanding, it speaks well of your discernment. And your tolerance." The playful tone drops for the second virtue, becoming earnst instead.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene's smile slips a little. "This one has little need for tolerance," ne admits. "This one is blessed with wonderful loved ones."

[Varric]

Varric snorts. ''An egotistic and paranoid dwarf, a human with a temper and chip on his shoulder, an elf with no sense of boundaries of any kind and another human with a bit of all of the above combined with a surly independence streak? Yeah, no need for tolerance there.''

[Helene Dakesh]

"You're not paranoid," says Helene, sharply.

[Varric]

The dwarf just snorts, knowing better. "Any other questions?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"You're not. There was a real threat, and this one was too naive to see it."

[Varric]

The dwarf sighs a little and rubs his temple. "Being correct in this case- and in fairness, I didn't see this coming either- doesn't excuse all the other times. Or the methods I use to... placate that paranoia, warranted or not."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Will you.. may I help? In the future?" asks Helene gently.

[Varric]

"I did," he protests. "With the ritual. And it..."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene bows nir head in shame. And I betrayed him. Now I cannot be trusted. "Understood," ne whispers.

[Varric]

"I don't think you do. It... I let Carver handle Leandra, she gets Taken. I let Cindy care for Liz, they both almost burn out. I let you help and I almost lose you. It's not about trust. It's about fear."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Fear?" Asks Helene, quietly. "What would you say to Carver, were he similarly afraid? Not that he will be, of course."

[Varric]

"Hypocritical words that boil down to let me handle it?" Well, that's honest at least.