Blood from Stone [AU]

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I'm fine," she says dully. "I'm used to this."

[Vigile]

"And of her pain?" Vigile blinks again, nice and slow. "She is not a fool. While she cannot separate your lies, mixed in the truth, but she has known you long enough, loves you deeply enough, that she cannot help but to see the pain you live in."

[Coquette Blacquin]

Something small and broken rises up in Cindy, something so hurt she fears it will never be whole again. It is this part of her that replies, though she has grown so accustomed to covering up what's going on inside her that her tone comes out even, if subdued. 

"You are right."

I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't be with her. I don't deserve a mother, that much is clear, and my being here, being around her, hurts her more than losing me ever could. I should go. I could sleep in my hideout with Vig, I could become a vigilante full time, I could stop trying to live a double life. I don't deserve happiness, especially not at the expense of others.

[Vigile]

Vigile considers her a moment. That seemed... rather abrupt. I had expected to have to speak much longer, likely more than once, for her to consider the idea. "So... you will speak with her? Tell her the truth of your life?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

Cindy sighs. "I can't, Vigile. I'm sorry." Her voice is still soft; she shifts, sliding her feet out from under the blanket. "I'm going out."

[Vigile]

"Best we use the window." Vigile says, eyes narrowing. "Though I must say, we should stick to the broad streets. You are in no condition to deal with miscreants tonight." Nor are have we completed this conversation.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Agreed," she says, with a nod. She touches her hairband, letting the familiar outfit flow over her, though she does grab a cloak for warmth before slipping silently out the window, letting Vigile follow. She pauses, gripping the side of the building, to shut it again, fearful that her mother may catch a cold, and then she is gone into the night, hoping the cool night air can clear her head.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene had scried for nobility before, frequently in fact. It had become almost routine, to them, to scry for something a Light or a visiting dignitary had lost or wanted to know. They were, after all, one of the best scryers in Nyra, not that they'd admit it. What other dedicates spoke of, the intense pressure of knowing that this person could cause serious financial or social harm if they were displeased, seemed routine, casual to Helene.

Scrying for family, on the other hand, terrified them. They knew nobody would hold it against them if the results came up negative -- but they were afraid of what the outcome might bring. If they scried and found Cindy's corpse, would Liz ever recover? If they found neither hide nor hair of her, would Jaina? 

They take a deep breath, casting the second scrying. The first had found no results; they had failed to deliver that news,  instead moving into the second casting with a seamless transition that would lead most to believe no change had occurred, that they were trying some deepening of the same spell. 

The second spell revealed the same as the first: no results. 

"The target is beyond my ability to scry," they say, precisely. "Alive or deceased, I do not know, and cannot find them. You have my sincerest apologies."

[Varric]

Varric frowns. "Figures." As eyes move to him, he doesn't twitch from his seated, almost annoyed posture. "Too many warded areas in Nyra, scrying isn't really all that reliable. Guess that means it's Carver and Hunter up next." Just like his posture, his tone is carefully modulated to portray faint annoyance combined with an air of placid expectacity. Almost positive she's got herself a hideout somewhere. Maybe more than one (I do and she's got more secrets). Not overly surprised to get evidence they're warded against scrying. Pain in the ass though.

[Smith Family]

Where's my baby girl? Where's Cindy? Where's my sweet girl? Bastion, please don't let this happen again. Please don't let my daughter be taken from me, not another. I couldn't- I couldn't- Jaina is silent, eyes red and dry, her tears already shed. Next to her, Seli holds her tight. Aveline had gone straight to the guard house to put out word and ask if anyone had reported anything of relevance. Gods, I- how can I tell Kyle and Will? How can I tell them we might have lost another? Bastion please, please, please...

[Marian Hawke]

Cindy. Gods, please, Cindy, be where I think you are. Be safe. I don't-- I can't-- no, I left her Vig. She's safe. But why... why did she run? Why would she...?

"I'll check the bazaar," says Liz quietly. "Ask around with some friends. Maybe I can find her."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods. "Understood. This one can consult other sources if none of the available ways bear fruit. Have faith."

[Smith Family]

"Wait!" Jaina bolts upright, eyes wide. "Can you scry for beasts? A cat, I mean. The tom, your familiar- Vig, wasn't it?" She looks at Liz with hope burning hollow in her eyes. "He wasn't in the house either so maybe..."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Familiar? Yes, the familiar-master link is one that this one can easily use for scrying."

[Marian Hawke]

"Ah..."

Liz blushes. "He's not my familiar. Sorry. But, but I can describe him?"