Blood from Stone [AU]

[Varric]

"Make sure you write in your will, just in case. Boy seems a bit slow in some regards," Varric says in the same tongue. 

[GamesMaster]

She flashes him one of her world-famous tight, reserved smiles. "Speaking of misbehaving youngsters, how's your 'apprentice' doing?" she asks, her tone marginally warmer than usual. 

[Varric]

"Liz is..." He sighs, rubbing his temple lightly. "Steadying, mostly. Not as recovered as I'd hoped by now. She's found a place she can survive at and she's afraid to push for more. She's comfortable with Cindy. With hiding behind Cindy."

[GamesMaster]

"Ah," sighs the elf, knowingly. "Change can be terrifying. Facing it is easier on the uncomfortable."

[Varric]

"Yeah." He takes a sip of tea, not minding that it's still hot. "Of course, when you're as... fractured as Liz is, being 'uncomfortable' is a very thin zone that's dangerously close to 'psychotic episode.'"

[GamesMaster]

"Indeed. More courage is required, but change is possible for the comfortable. Desire for better circumstances or improvement to one's life is not the sole province of the devastated." Huntinghawk nods. 

[Varric]

Varric offers a smile, grateful for the support and encouragement. "Yeah. I've started 'lending' her some texts and workbooks designed for university prep. She was only a few months from taking her general education proficiency tests before... Golden's Fall. And one of her dreams, then anyway, was to go to uni. So..."

[GamesMaster]

"She will have no end of letters of recommendation, unless I miss my guess."

[Varric]

"Like as not," Varric replies faintly. "Though... she might prefer to enroll under cloak," he admits, referring to the practice of using a fake name in the day to day, with only the Headmaster (or equilivant) of the school knowing who you are. A lot of nobles, especially relatives of Lights, use that practice in order to attend under their own merits. And avoid unhealthy attention.

[GamesMaster]

"Commendable, if short-sighted. Competition is fierce."

[Varric]

That gets a smirk. "She taught herself, using low-budget texts a decade out of date minimum, by age fourteen enough to at least pass the proficiency test. Granted, she lost some ground during... after the Fall, but she'll gain it back in no time. Probably already has. I'm not worried about the academic side of things."

[GamesMaster]

"Good, good." Huntinghawk nods. "Still, it seems remiss not to offer her every advantage she may need." 

[Varric]

"Not just advantages though. Being a Light's apprentice and child puts a lot of attention and expectation on a person. Academic pressure doesn't worry me. Social and political?" His gaze hardens. "Digging graves is such a pain in the arse."

[GamesMaster]

"Do you think any would harm her? With so many connections?"

[Varric]

"Of course. Oh, most wouldn't mean to harm them probably. But they'll expect someone ready for Noble games and..." He sighs. "Besides, there's always someone willing to risk it.for regengr, money, a cause or even the challenge."