Blood from Stone [AU]

[GamesMaster]

"I suppose," she concedes. "Apprentices are always difficult. I wish yours the best."

[Varric]

I like you but... (you'd think after dying, you'd realize nobles can be in danger too). "Thanks," he says quietly. 

[Carver Amell]

The Tethras family had a sort of tradition: serious talks required Whiskey. 

After breakfast was a strange time to be drinking, but Carver wasn't going to complain. It was the only time he allowed himself real alcohol: a bit of ale here and there when socializing at a tavern, and the whiskey he drank in Varric's study. If Beth wanted them in the study after breakfast, he'd come willingly, fixing himself a finger's worth of the amber fluid and mixing it with the same amount of water.

He sits on the loveseat, letting Beth fix her own drink while they waited for their father.

[Varric]

Varric, on the other hand, is wary and tense. He doesn't show it much, but it's there. Beth hasn't been feeling well (ache, queasiness, heartburn) and Helene was akwardly (amusingly) close-lipped about the healer visit. And now she's asking for a private talk with both us. Plus she had some kind of fight with Don last night- she wasn't home until late (too early for staying over, too late for just dinner) and stayed with Merrill last night. 

"How was patrol?" he asks Carver absently as he watches Beth stare a bit dully at the cabinent. 

[Carver Amell]

"Went well. A few petty criminals. No psuedodragons in trees today," he adds, shuddering. Nyra is weird sometimes.

[Varric]

"I would have thought you'd be getting used to that sort of thing, given Merrill's new spirit animal," Varric says with a grin, though his eyes stay on Bethany as he speaks. As he goes quiet, he flicks that gaze to Carver, worry evident, then back to Bethany. "The look on your face when you first met Glimmerwing the Magnificent was priceless." In all fairness, even I had to blink at a faerie dragon with the night sky drifting under his skin.

[Bethany]

Bethany barely hears them speaking, her mind going in a million directions. How do I do this? How can I tell them? What do I tell them? Should I really do this with both of them at once? Should I tell Dad first? Carver? Should I have asked to go to a field or something? Should I ask for sedatives? For me, for Carver, for all the people? 

[Carver Amell]

"ain't natural," he mumbles, with a smile. He'd gotten used to Glimmerwing, but he still made a show of disapproving just on sheer principle.

[Varric]

Varric takes a sip from his tumbler, then sighs. "Beth?" he calls softly. "Beth?"

[Carver Amell]

Carver turns his attention to his twin, smile fading. "Beth...?" he asks, softly, reaching for her hand. "You okay?"

[Bethany]

Beth jolts at the touch, eyes wide. "Wh- Carver? Carver. Sorry- I was- sorry. Lost in thought. Umm. Yes?"

[Carver Amell]

"Hi," he says, with a sappy smile. "What did you want to talk about?"

[Bethany]

"What makes you think-" She pauses, flushing. Probably because you asked them both to stay after breakfast for a talk. Just possibly that might have served as a clue. Idiot. "Right. Sorry. Umm. Yes. It... it's kind of... it's a complicated thing. And... serious. But I want it to be good?" she asks, voice trembling just a little.

[Carver Amell]

He tugs her toward the loveseat. "Okay."

[Bethany]

Beth allows him to guide her to the loveseat, curling up next to him. "So... Okay. Please- please don't get... let me... please try and let this be a good thing? Please? I... I need it to be a good thing for all of us," she whispers.