Blood from Stone [AU]

[Jassinth]

"Why? Why would you take poison?" Jass asks softly. "There are herbs, fungi, other things, that can... give dreams or joy. But they're not safe to take, not unless you really know what you're doing and even then only in small, controlled doses for short times. What would make someone... what terrible things..."

[Carver Amell]

"Because life hurts, Jass. Because it hurts and it never stops." There's something of that bleakness back in his eyes, his hands balled into fists. "But it doesn't matter. You have to be stronger than that, or you're a burden on everyone around you. It's better to die than to make everyone else hurt like you hurt."

[Jassinth]

The merikos drow stares at Carver for a long moment, then lets out a slow breath. "...I'm glad you asked for help," he whispers. 

[Carver Amell]

Carver opens his hands, looking down at them, his shoulders slumping. "I didn't," he says quietly. "I nearly died. But.. but Dad wouldn't let me give up, and Aveline wouldn't let me give up, and I.. I leaned on them, even though I didn't want to. I learned. I got better."

[Jassinth]

Then why do you... It's not this poor soul you're looking down on for being weak, is it? "Go ahead and get the guard... I'll... I'll watch the body," Jass says gently. "Then you still owe me a visit to a 'pool hall.'" Not entirely sure I still want to go but... probably should go. Focus on life, on Carver.

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah," he sighs, turning away. "Yeah."

[Bethany]

The room Beth had gotten Bri was... decent. It was a Coal inn, so certainly not anywhere near fancy or even moderate quality. Just a five by seven foot room with a straw and cloth mattress, a chamberpot and a wood table. But it's warm, mostly clean and dry, with few insects and no rodents. When Beth arrives the next morning, Silence on her heels, she slips into the room with a basket filled with meat pies from the Bazaar in addition to a jug of apple cider and some fried dough. "Brianne? You awake yet?"

[GamesMaster]

"Am now," she mutters, rubbing at her eyes. Though, to be fair, she was sitting up already, trying to arrange her hair into something presentable. "Smells great."

[Bethany]

"Minced chicken and egg with some sweet peppers and onions," Bethany says quietly, studying her. "How're you feeling?"

[GamesMaster]

Shakey. Desperate. "Hungry," she says, and she turns her dull eyes toward Beth. "This a food-for-answers deal or what?"

[Bethany]

Bethany shakes her head, moving over to set the basket down on the small wooden table, absently noting that it wobbles slightly. Uneven legs. "No," she says gently. "I'd like to talk, but you can have the food regardless."

[GamesMaster]

"Then, what?" she asks, and Beth can see the tension in her body as she forces herself not to lunge for the food. "Food for fuck? What's the price?"

[Bethany]

"No," Bethany grits out. "The food is free, a gift." She sighs a little. "You're... you were my friend, once. Maybe still. I don't know. But just... take the food, Bri."

[GamesMaster]

She doesn't need to be invited twice. She darts forward, almost too fast to be believed, and grabs the basket, not bothering to be dainty or polite or do much of anything other than get calories into her starving body. Which is a good sign: addled by addiction, starving, and homeless, she still burns to live, will still do whatever it takes to keep going. 

[Bethany]

Bethany wraps her arms around herself as she waits for Bri to finish. As she does so, she tries to look at the merikos catfolk with a healer's eyes. Starved, exhausted, mange or fleas...