Blood from Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

"Then we make it better," Bethany says simply. "I'll have Silence with me at all times for protection. Even the most eager mugger isn't going to get past Silence, if they're even dumb enough to try." Which is fair- two hundred pounds of aggressively protective magical beast is hard to beat as a bodyguard. "I'm not above using my own money and magic to improving our house and our neighborhood. Hells, maybe I should purchase a new place on the edges as a skin, so they'll sell, then open the house to you and your sibs. If it's big enough, maybe invite all the Bandanas and their steadies if they have one. It could be my first offering to the Tribe as more than a long-term guest." She knows better than to actually claim membership.

[GamesMaster]

Don sighs, smiling faintly. "Gods, but I love you. Bharnerol provides." 

After a moment, he adds, "Have you... You mentioned before having difficulty deciding which god to swear to..."

[Bethany]

Bethany blinks, caught off guard by the- to her- change in topics. "Umm, yes? I mean... I'm... comfortable with Bastion but it's not... a true bond, I suppose."

[GamesMaster]

"Have you considered.... I know it's unorthodox, but have you considered Bharnerol?"

[Bethany]

Bethany's mouth drops open and she stares. "I- that's- that would be... allowed?" she asks. Evidently no, she had not considered it as an option.

[GamesMaster]

"Uh. There's nothing to prevent it, really. My father is head priest of Bharnerol for the city of Nyra, so he can guide you and witness your dedication ceremony, and then, well... Nobody but catfolk wants to worship Him. If you were elven maybe it'd be different, but humans don't have a racial god, and many worship Uryll, so I see no reason not to convert."

[Bethany]

Bethany bites her lip, thinking that over. "I... I'd like to speak with your- with the Keeper. Get a holy text and read it over. I know the basics but I've never made an in depth study of His tenants," she says slowly. "But... the idea of it is... agreeable." She gives him a careful look. "What... what do you think the Tribe's reaction to that would be?" Would that be enough to...

[GamesMaster]

"The Keeper advised it would work in my favor," he points out. "The more catlike, the more Tribe-adjacent, you become, the better it looks. It seems as though I am converting you, so therefore, you cannot be converting me. And... it would help our kits, I think, not to be pulled in two directions."

[Bethany]

"That... makes sense," Bethany allows, brow furrowed. "Is there... are there any other... things I can do? No promises but..." She shrugs. 

[GamesMaster]

He is silent for a long moment, before his face softens. "I don't recommend this. I'm not sure I should even mention it, except that you asked. But... my father has heard that... sometimes.... given certain magics... a change in race is possible."

[Bethany]

"No," Bethany says instantly, then blushes. "Sorry, that's not- Carver. I couldn't... I couldn't do that to him. I'm sorry, it's not about being a catcat, just..."

[GamesMaster]

"I understand," he cuts in quickly. "Like I said, I don't recommend it myself, I just didn't feel right not telling you something I'd heard. Just in case. I would be upset if Ari decided to become a human, I totally understand not wanting to leave your twin behind." 

He blinks, then, and asks, "...Do you know if twins are always the same race?"

[Bethany]

"Depends on the type of twin," Bethany explains. "If they're identical twins, then yes. But if they're just born at the same time, then it's more 'most of the time' than yes. Worried about having a mixed race litter?" And I'd love to see Leandra's face if she heard me describe my children that way.

[GamesMaster]

"I wasn't until elf was thrown into the mix," he says, rubbing the back of his neck.

[Bethany]

That gets a knowing wince. "Age gap," she murmurs. "Yeah. Carver worries about that... One of the reasons I was kind of not entirely surprised he and Merrill didn't get back together."