Blood from Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

A familiar quote; she blanches, saying quickly, "it's not like that, she would never."

[Varric]

"Not the same," Varric assures her. "It's not rape. I wouldn't have stood by if I thought it was. Just... a similar concept. If you have to submit, then it's not your choice. If it's not your choice, then it's..." He pauses, searching for the right word. 

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Slavery," says Cindy, quietly. "And you're right, Liz. I would never."

[Marian Hawke]

Liz nods. "Yeah. Yeah. So it's fine. I can... I can rest. I don't have to--"

[Coquette Blacquin]

Time to rip the bandage off, the mercenary part of Cindy thinks. "Why don't you sleep anymore, Liz?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I... I sleep...." she begins, flinching.

[Varric]

"Adequate sleep, defined as a period of restful slumber lasting at least six hours without chemical or magical aid, occurring at least six out of seven days each week," Varric interjects. 

[Marian Hawke]

Liz falls silent, a guilty look on her face.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Yeah," says Cindy, gently. "So why don't you sleep?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Restless thoughts," she mumbles. "Bad dreams, sometimes."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Why don't you wake me? You know I'll talk to you, any time." Her tone is gentle, but relentless.

[Marian Hawke]

"I... I don't want to be a bother. I, I already cost you so much time and effort to look after, and the coin for the sleep aids, and..."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"And I've told you and told you I don't care. You're worth it. Gods, Liz, are you so afraid to come to me for help you'd rather die? Truly?"

[Varric]

"Cindy, rough guess, how much does Liz's upkeep run? Top of the range, if you got her everything she could possibly need?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Uh. A hundred, maybe two hundred, a month?" she hazards. "That counts food, and her share of living expenses, and so on."