Blood from Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

Carver sighs. "So... how's Golden Green?" he asks, moving to pick up the soup bowl. May as well eat. I can't just lay here and be sad all night.

[Tethras Clan]

"...good," Malcolm says lamely. "I suppose. Honestly, haven't been around much this season." He winces a little, then admits, "Raynare got herself engaged to a merchant. Older man, spends most of the year traveling. I... I know she wasn't... who I thought she was but..."

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah," he says, nodding. "I know what you mean. When Merrill and I broke up, I had to re-evaluate a lot of things about her. You kinda get this way of looking at someone like they can't do any wrong, you know?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Yeah... at least you managed to stay close to Merrill," Malcolm says weakly. "How is she by the way?" he asks. Seeing his person start to eat, start to really interact, Hunter relaxes enough to slip off the bed and have some dinner himself.

[Bethany]

The next morning, Bethany heads into work- her political work, not her healer work. She'd taken a couple of days off after her fight (if that's what it was) with Don. And the two days after that, Don had made a point of working in Cattown, leaving her his office in Bedrock. Then it was her turn to work the clinic in Cattown while he was uptown. She'd also be pleased, even impressed, with their ability to coordinate without communication, based simply on knowing each other, if it was used for something less painful. But today, she finds a note on her desk- 'If you want, I'm ready to talk tonight. -Don'

She'd spent most of the day worrying over the invite, but of course she went. How could she do anything else? She doesn't stop to get dinner this time, taking only herself- and Silence of course, a quiet but solid supportive presence. Evidently early, she waits in Don's living room after stoking the fire. When Don arrives, she's curled up on a sofa chair, her mabari's head in her lap as she stares into the fire.

[GamesMaster]

"Beth," he sighs, sounding relieved and happy despite himself. "I hope you're doing well?"

[Bethany]

Bethany blinks a few times, her mind slow to engage from her doze. "Don? Don," she repeats, eyes focusing on him. "Hey." Her voice went from distracted, to loving, to... wary.

[GamesMaster]

"Hey," he says back, smiling as he tilts his head. "How are you? Not too sick yet, I hope?"

[Bethany]

"No," she says simply. "Can we... can we skip this part?"

[GamesMaster]

Don's tail whips to one side, but he keeps a smile on his face. "Where would you like me to begin?" he asks, gently. "I missed you. I wanted to make sure you're alright. I want to know how your week has been. If you don't want to tell me, fine, but I honestly was asking."

[Bethany]

"Are we still together?" Bethany asks bluntly, eyes worried and afraid.

[GamesMaster]

"Of-- do you want to be?" he asks, swallowing his first answer. "I... I do," he adds. 

[Bethany]

Bethany sags a little, a noticeable amount of the tension in her body escaping. "Yes. Yes." She swallows. "I- I don't... I don't want to... do this alone," she whispers, eyes closing.

[GamesMaster]

He swallows. "We... need to talk about the kits," he says slowly. "I didn't want to do it while I was upset, but we do need to talk."

[Bethany]

"I know," Bethany agrees, hand drifting to her stomach. "I... I was hoping to have this talk before... before there were... well, before we had a deadline and... while we had a choice." She bites her lip, trying to not start crying.