Blood from Stone [AU]

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Yes," says Cindy, and her eyes are distant while her voice is sharp. "Perhaps we should have this tea another day."

[Tethras Clan]

"Understandable. I'm sorry we didn't get to have tea," Merrill says softly. She starts to wheel back so she can leave but pauses as she remembers that she has to explain things, because most people can't follow her thoughts. "I'm glad I was right about you being a good person. But I couldn't risk you not being a good person. No-one ever asked about the people that hurt me, not until Carver. I can't not ask. I won't be quiet like them."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I will go to great lengths for my family," says Cindy, after a moment. "But I should warn you, I make a very dangerous enemy."

[Tethras Clan]

"Me too," Merrill says warmly. "I don't like hurting people or violence, but I'd do anything to keep my family safe and happy. I'm glad you feel the same way." A pause as she tilts her head a little. "And that Liz makes our families one family. Anyway. Do you want any help cleaning up?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I can handle it. Thank you for the treats."

[Varric]

As Merrill makes her farewells, leaving behind a struggling Liz and a wary Cindy, Helene swiftly locates Varric in his office, as he nearly always is when at home. He never meets with people, merchant or politician, at home but does the vast majority of his paperwork for both jobs here. More comfortable- and more accessible to his family. When Helene opens the door, he's busily tallying up sums for a proposed utility improvement budget in Meadows, a pleased, almost feral glint in his eyes as he slowly narrows down where the hook is hidden. 

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene, struggling to project an aura of calm, walks into the room, carefully closing the door. They move to sit across from his desk, motion controlled, face blank, hands still and clinging to their skirt tightly.

[Varric]

Varric's smile flicked to warm as soon as they enter but fades as they... mince their way to the seat. "Take your time, speak when you're ready, partner mine," he murmurs, not looking up. 

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one does not wish to interrupt," they say quietly, wincing a little. "I have just been to see Liz."

[Varric]

Liz. That gets a pause, a second of stillness for his quill as he makes denotations on the scroll before him. "Family is never interrupting," he says carefully. "When you're ready." Please don't need time.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene takes a moment, gathering their thoughts. Finally, timidly, they say, "I do not wish to make assumptions or hasty generalizations, not on a topic of such importance, but it seems... it seems that the relationship between Cindy and Liz is not.. what this one has come to understand a healthy relationship should be."

[Varric]

Varric sets his quill down. Ah. This could (will be) awkward. Depending. "Alright. Start- you know how to explain things, sorry."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods, beginning with the true beginning: the divination the day before, the outcome, and a brief overview of the talk with Merrill. They then move into the tea, explaining what was said, what Cindy's response was, and Liz' reaction to Cindy's words. What's missing, as always, is the inflections, the tone, the facial expressions. It's unusual, then, that they mention Cindy's tone here:

"When they spoke to me, they seemed... harsh. Angry. I am afraid I may have offended."

[Varric]

"People- especially noble ones- can be... real twitchy about bloodlines and, uh, offspring born out of wedlock," Varric says slowly, most of his thoughts on Liz's reaction. "From what you said, you did this just about the best way possible. Only other way I can think of doing it that might have been... less awkward is anonymously, via a letter or some such, but that has some downsides. Less trustworthy and you wouldn't be able to supply follow-up information."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Understood," says Helene, with a quick smile. "But, Liz... her reactions were not... And, that last, with Cindy, she was acting as her mother did in the Delve."