Blood from Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

"Come on, let's get back on the couch and we can just cuddle for a bit." Beth rises to her feet, offering a hand to help her sister back up. "If you really, really need to go lay down, we can, but I'd like it if you tried to... push a little."

[Jassinth]

Jass winces. "I did not mean to... Sorry. I have... grown used to people either never mentioning it, ever, or using it as a weapon against me." He rubs his chin against Arthur, drawing comfort from the unusually cuddlesome avian. "Thank you for..."

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah," he says, with a shrug. "Race is hard. Surprisingly hard. I get that."

[Marian Hawke]

Liz takes the hand, settling in fairly quickly beside her sister. She keeps her eyes on her lap as she folds her legs under her, but she leans against Beth, taking comfort from her presence.

[Jassinth]

"...should we..?" He gestures vaguely towards the backdoor, then bites his lip.

[Carver Amell]

"Only if you're okay," he says with a shrug. "I'm sorry about my sister."

[Jassinth]

"It is not your fault, Carver." Jass hesitates a moment. "Do... you seemed... a bit... surprised and... other things, about my answers?"

[Carver Amell]

He glances away. "I uh... I didn't... I don't know what I expected," he admits. "I don't know many guys as accomplished as you. It's a little intimidating."

[Jassinth]

"Growing up in a village that is so intertwined with nymphs, satyrs and such does seem to... not encourage, exactly, but... support, I suppose? Such a lifestyle." He clears his throat. "Do... does it... bother you?"

[Carver Amell]

"I mean... I'm a little..."

He hesitates, shifting a bit. "I know you're not in town for long. And I can't move to Raplin's Oak. And... well I guess.. I'm probably not what you want anyway. So it's not really any of my business."

[Jassinth]

"You're wrong." The words are blunt, but not unkind. "I do want you."

[Carver Amell]

He gapes for a moment, his ears reddening. "Oh."

[Jassinth]

"...you truly did not..?" Jass snorts a little, lookin bemused. "Carver, I did everything short of stripping naked, oily myself and draping my body across your bed bedecked in ribbon."

[Carver Amell]

"Well, guys, guys flirt sometimes, and they don't always mean it, and, uh, after the whole... after the whole... thing... with me... I thought you might have... soured."

[Jassinth]

Jass bursts into laughter. "Ca-Carver, men do- do not flirt with each other often. Not unless they are interested, I mean." Arthur mantles a little, annoying at how Jass is shaking. "In my experience, if a man flirts with another man, they mean it!"