Blood from Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"What do you want from me?" he snaps, then takes a few deep breaths. "This is an ongoing investigation. I'm not sure I'm allowed to tell you." Not that it seems to be stopping him. "That misbrew the other day wasn't a misbrew." Thankfully, he's too anxious to let Varric wonder about that one for long. "A light's been poisoned, and a light's assistant. All alchemical sleep tonics like the one Liz tried to brew. All needing a curse-breaking to wake them, and all reporting being tempted by a sceleratis in their dreams. So we stopped to ask if she had too, and more importantly, if she gave in. It.. it sounds like she didn't, but Aveline must have seen something in her face, because she started giving her a hard time about self-pity and being too weak to put herself back together and how she almost succumbed because she's too afraid to try -- and you know how Liz is."

[Varric]

Varric pulls in a slow lungful of air and stashes Bianca back into his glove. "Sceleratis. Sniffing aground Liz." The 'again' is unspoken yet thunderous. He lets the breath out, refills his lungs. "Alright. You're faster- head to the temple and let Helene know we're having a family dinner. I want them to cast and... be sure."

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods, then hesitates. "They're not there. Or well. They were this morning but we already pulled them into the case, they're trying to figure a way to track the affected from the source. We got the alchemist selling bad ingredients, but he's dead and he burned his notes, we don't know how many people might be affected. But, I can drop by Huntinghawk's, let them know."

[Varric]

Varric frowns, then shakes his head. "No... I can do some basic tests myself, enough for tonight. I'll grab a messenger to tell them to come straight home after but... No, let's both of us head home and warn the girls so they don't... Well, so they don't walk into anything unaware. I want more details on the way."

[Carver Amell]

"It's sleep tonics, and only the ones with that one oil in them." Carver takes a deep breath, lets it out. "We're not going to try and chase her down?"

[Varric]

"Not yet. If she misses dinner, yes. But we have to give her a chance to be trustworthy." He offers a sympathetic look. "As much as it chaffs."

[Carver Amell]

"What if she..." what if she gets hurt? What if she doesn't come back? What if she decides to take another sleep tonic and it's another misbrewed one? What if--

He shakes his head, taking a deep breath. "I don't know how you stood it," he says, quietly, turning toward the door. "That night I got drunk. You waited for me to come home until morning."

[Varric]

"Helene," Varric says simply.

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods, making a small sound in the back of his throat. "They're good for you," he says, pushing the door open. "I'm glad." What I wouldn't give for a partner like that.

[GamesMaster]

The last thing Zevrsn expected today was to be pulled aside and asked to serve as a Joyous today. It's not that he isn't qualified, though he hasn't sworn vows. But usually there's a preponderance of qualified individuals on hand to give comfort to a petitioner in need, even if what they seek is mind-blowing sex 

One look at the crying hhalf-elf in the sanctuary and he understands why.

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran purses his lips as he gives a silent hum. Now, how to approach.... Charm and flirtation is out. So is boisterous and playful. Quiet lethality doesn't even merit consideration. Devout and serious? She did come to a temple... Or perhaps soft and kindly? Hmmm. Slipping away, he returns a minute later clad in a soft, pale pink robe with Ciren's symbol on the hem and back. He leaves it unbelted, though it's volumous enough to  mostly hide his paint spattered shirt and trousers.

He walks over to Liz, taking care to brush the robe againt the ground to alert her. At her careful glance to see who comes, he nods politely, a warm smile on his lips. If she does not stop him, he plans to kneel next to her.

[Marian Hawke]

She lets him, considering her own approaches. Finally, as he kneels, she asks, "Do I make your life worse? Being in it?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Heavy question." Zevran hums again, the same tune but this time audibly. Sweeping and quietly dramatic, whatever it is. After a minute or so of thought, he shakes his head. "I cannot think of any part of my life your existence makes worse. Different, for sure, though not overly so perhaps. Better in no few places, though admittedly a significant portion is indirect."

[Marian Hawke]

"Do you think I am... Letting my family down? Being broken, as I am? I... Maybe there's more I can be doing. Maybe there's.... But I'm so tired. I just want to rest. Is that so wrong?"

Still, her heart doesn't sound in the question. "Is it really so wrong to be a bad person? To be a liability?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Well... That depends on what measure you wish to set your life against. Whether you value your comfort or freedom or whatever other motivation that keeps you as you are instead of pushing for something else over your family's expectations, happiness, pride or what have you."