Blood from Stone [AU]

[Varric]

"Not so much that a break from paperwork would be unwelcome," Varric replies with a warm smile. Which isn't a lie, exactly, just that Varric doesn't really ever need a break from paperwork unless he's honestly ill. Reaching into his drawer, he pulls out a jug of spiced apple cider, the sort with little enough alcohol in it that children can safely have a glass or two without any concern. Just enough to keep it from going bad as fast really. "Sorry I had a meeting last night- I gather I missed your friend's arrival, based on the cleaning flurry Beth was doing this morning." As if Varric wasn't aware there was someone new in the house.

[Carver Amell]

Carver shakes his head, once, pulling the door shut behind him. As he drops into a chair, his eyes fall longingly on Varric's bar -- but of course, just wanting booze that much makes him resolve not to drink any of it. "Yeah," he says, taking a deep breath. "Jass is here. I... I need to... I need to tell you something, and then I need advice on how to tell other people. Because, because I don't want to keep secrets."

[Varric]

Gods, you're never going to be able to recover from that blow, are you? Not all the way... "Alright. Start at the beginning, give what context you need to but don't pad it. Just say it straight and clear, no justifications or apologies. Just say it outright first, then we can discuss it."

[Carver Amell]

Carver stares down at his cider, the words sticking in his throat again. He swallows, hard, shivering. 

"I... when I was small. Real small. Four? Five? Before schooling. Before... d'ya know, sometimes I wonder if Beth even remembers. She was there for it but... but Malcolm fixed it and then, well, she was four. I barely remember it and it happened to me. I..."

He takes a deep breath, his face a picture of misery, and starts over. "So, uh, Helene. You know how Helene is, uh, that whole ritual thing?"

[Varric]

Varric stills, tensing for a long moment, then forces himself to nod smoothly. "Hard to forget," he says wryly. "...which aspect? Body or mind?"

[Carver Amell]

"Body," he says, his voice soft. "I don't... I don't really get the whole they/them thing, but, I, if I let myself remember, I... I guess I know what it's like to be born... wrong."

[Varric]

Born wrong, not them/they, defensively masculine... ah. "Alright. I assume your father...." He pauses a second, ideas forming and being discarded rapidly. "Raplin?" Where else could an underaged bard get that kind of ritual (expensive) done?

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods. "Raplin has a daughter, named Dau. Dau sent well wishes through Jass, and I.. I about panicked, remembering." He shudders again.

[Varric]

Dau? Never heard of that one... (how many of them does He have?) "I imagine being broadsided by something that... you don't like to think on was a bit... unpleasant," he allows. "Is there... it was just wellwishes? No... warnings or asking for a check-up or anything?" I doubt there's any need for that sort of thing (ritual backed by a god, even a local one? nah) but... 

[Carver Amell]

"Dau... Dau said to, uh, to be careful," he says, his voice cracking. "For Jass to be careful, I think. And... and Dau says, he still called me, 'child', of Malcom and Leandra, like, like, like Helene."

[Varric]

"Can you remember the exact wording?" Varric asks gently, annoyed he's getting this third-hand.

[Carver Amell]

"No," he groans ,hanging his head in his hands. "I'm sorry. I was having a panic attack. I know you like to know the exact words, I had Jass say them, but they didn't stick."

[Varric]

"Perfectly understandable," Varric soothes him. "Would you object to me asking Jass about it? Before, after or during when you talk to him about all this."

[Carver Amell]

He nods. "That's fine. He... I didn't... exactly... hide my reaction well."

[Varric]

"Ah. He pushing for an explanation I gather?"