Blood from Stone [AU]

[Marian Hawke]

"Who would hire me, knowing my past, how damaged I am? I wouldn't." She blinks, then rubs her head. "You. You're saying I can work for you. Like how Cindy is going to do your social events." Now she sounds tired.

[Varric]

"Pretty much, yeah. I mean, if you really want to try and find someone else, I'd help with that. But yes, I would very much like to hire you if you were willing. I have three to four jobs so..." Varric tries to shrug casually. "Could really use the help and I trust you."

[Marian Hawke]

She sighs. "What are the jobs...?"

[Smith Family]

The walk back to the Smith's  is... quiet. A bit tense, quiet and yet... Kyle's solid presence, heavy, regular footsteps, and that smoke and metal scent is strangely comforting. Vigile crouches on Cindy's shoulder, mostly supporting his own weight with his internal magic, purring steadily to offer his own comfort. When they arrive at the house, Cindy is almost attacked by a sobbing Jaina. It takes nearly ten minutes before Kyle can coax Jaina away from hugging her daughter to the kitchen to make a pot of tea- and giving her a little preparation for the upcoming talk.

[Tethras Clan]

Which leaves Cindy- and Vigile- in the living room with a somewhat uncomfortable Seli, as Aveline is at work. Still, the older woman does her best. "I've very glad you're back, safe and sound."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Thank you," she says, her voice prim, polite, distant. Her eyes hold something small and lost, some deep unhealed hurt that's never been so prominent.

[Tethras Clan]

Poor girl... she's been hurting a long time, hasn't she? "How goes the ball? To Light Tethras's trade agreements with... merish, were they?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

Hang the ball. "I quite left the notes in my study, to be honest."

[Tethras Clan]

Seli offers a wan, almost apologetic smile. "Understandable. I'm sorry. I normally do better with small talk but I'm a touch out of sorts myself. You seem... tired. Are you well? Physically, I mean, sorry."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Quite," she replies agreeably. "This is likely to be a.... Difficult conversation, is all."

[Tethras Clan]

"I imagine so." Given that whatever the topic is, it caused you to flee into the night through your window without so much as a note. "Should I be offering Jai a calming spell or tonic?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I... Actually, if you could... If you have anything that would make me feel less..." Scraped raw, dry of tears, desperate..."less, it might help."

[Tethras Clan]

The Joyous stares a second, eyes widening a touch, but she recovers smoothly. "Yes, of course. Something mild? Or, well, I have something stronger but it can make you a bit lightheaded, especially on an empty stomach." And I'll hold onto my only Calming spell until I truly need it, I think.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Mild, please. I don't..  I don't wish to... Mild, yes. Thank you, Joyous."

[Tethras Clan]

Eyes softening even more, Seli nods silently as she reaches into her expanded belt pouches. It's a common variation on the traditional adventurer's backpacks. Smaller openings, which are thus more stable and easier made, with a fair bit less volume as well, but subsequently far less cost. After a few seconds, she takes out a pair of small vials filled with pale blue fluid, each sealed with a water drop embossed wax stopper. "One for now, one in two hours if you still need it. They're very gentle, so they don't not last overly long."