Blood from Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

"Even if it kills you?" Bethany asks.

[GamesMaster]

"Losing it would be dying," she whimpers, shrinking back onto the bed. She closes her eyes, leaning back against the wall, trying not to be put off too badly by her aching, bloated belly, the urge to throw up. "There's nothing left for me, Bethie. Never was. I was born in a gutter and I'll die in one too. But I've the music, the glorious music. Maybe when I die there'll be music in heaven too."

[Bethany]

"Never?" The word slips out despite herself and she fights back the sudden wave of sadness. "Bri, there's more... if you do this, if you continue like this, it won't be music you find after life. That's Astea's and you're... you're following Tessaline's path now." Decay. Negation. Entropy. "Please... just- just give it a chance."

[GamesMaster]

"Give what a chance? The DTs, the look in Don's eyes, being shut out of everywhere I go?" Her tone is bitter, wounded. 

[Bethany]

"The DTs can be treated, reduced and they run out eventually. And I'm not shutting you out, am I?" Bethany counters. 

[GamesMaster]

"You... can't be you," says Bri, suddenly, as if she's just remembered something. "Yer Dad'll shoot me."

[Bethany]

Beth snorts, loudly. "I've of age now, Bri. He'll huff and grumble and glower... and yeah, probably have some shadows set on me, but if I wanted to, say, move into Cattown..." She smirks a little. "Oh that's right, I am. Already have a place picked out in fact." Her expression sobers a little and she sighs. "He loves me and he's protective- very- but he's not a cruel or unreasonable man."

[GamesMaster]

"Threaten' me before, dinne?" she asks, her ear flicking with anxiety. "I'll try if ya keep feeding me. But it won't take."

[Bethany]

"Room, board and medical care," Bethany promises, then adds on a sudden burst of inspiration, "and music lessons. Vocal or instrument, whichever you like."

[GamesMaster]

Brianne makes a dismissive sound. "I can't play anything."

[Bethany]

"Hence getting lessons," Bethany points out. "Most everyone needs lessons before they can do most anything.

[GamesMaster]

"I don't own an instrument."

[Bethany]

That gets a flat-out eyeroll. "I'll get you one. Well, rent one, until you decide which type you want to learn. Hmm. Actually... I bet we could go to a Chanter's temple and try them out." After we get you cleaned up anyway. A few quick spells isn't enough to make you look like anything less than, well, a homeless drug addict. 

[GamesMaster]

Bri's tail flicks. "Well. Alright."

[Bethany]

Finally! "Good. Alright then. How about we head to a bathhouse to get cleaned up a bit, then we can get some breakfast before heading to the temple."