Blood from Stone [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

But you felt you could come to me? Even though... What happened at home? Licking her lips, an almost jarring show of unease on the stern and certain paladin, Aveline takes a step forward before stopping herself. And not just because of the Gilly deflector in play. "Of course. You're family, you're always welcome here and to my aid." Her eyes dart away, her nerve breaking before she has to see his reaction.

[Carver Amell]

"We have to talk," he says quietly, with a sigh. "But... Liz had a breakdown and... and I can't stay mad at you, I need you. Things are bad between Dad and I and I... I'm not happy with how you talked to her, but I guess everyone makes mistakes."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline closes her eyes tightly, shoulders untensing. Just for a moment, as the rest sinks in. "I'm sorry. I... I should not have pushed as I did. I... I stand by my intent, but my method and timing were..."Her eyes flick to the still cheering and squirming Gilly. "Poor." She clears her throat. "My apologies, young griffin but I have need of your Uncar. Oh! Look, Hunter's here too! I bet he'd love to play fetch." The mabari in question glances over from where he greeting his siblings and trots over, detouring to grab a cloth stuffed ball.

[Carver Amell]

Carver gently sets Gilly down so she can run off with Hunter. "I wonder if she'll be jealous when we're overrun with babies?" he asks, watching her go.

[Tethras Clan]

"She doesn't mind sharing attention with Tommy but then again, he doesn't like a lot of attention," Aveline replies in a way that shows that this is not a new thought to her. "I suspect she will swing back and forth, delighting in the novelty and later the position of authority being older will grant and being annoyed she has to share."

[Carver Amell]

Carver moves toward the little bench, taking a seat and hoping Aveline does the same. "I don't know what to do with myself," he says gently. 

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline does indeed follow, noting that Lovan had deftly guided the other two guests over the side of the garden near Tomas and their mabari to give them some privacy. A gentle glow of love and gratitude feels her, giving her a little more strength to have this talk. "Well... Treat it like any other problem, in the general. First off... do you have all the intell you need yet?"

[Carver Amell]

He shakes his head. "I... I'm worried if I get more intel I'll fly off the handle again. I can't... When the Doctor comes out of seclusion, I'm going to try one more time to get help for Liz. But if that fails.... I know I can't fight Dad. It's better if I just don't go home and let him handle it, since I can't fix it myself."

[Tethras Clan]

"Why do you need the Doctor to get help? Why are you and zi'Tethras fighting?" What in the hells happened? What did I cause?

[Carver Amell]

"Liz has some plan," he says taking a deep breath. "But she wants us to promise to... to let her go if it doesn't work. I can't... she needs help. I made the call to have her committed to Summerhill and Dad absolutely refuses to consider it."

[Tethras Clan]

"That is... strange. He is one of SummerHill's strongest and more vocal supporters. Did he explain why?" She doesn't question Carver's judgement in that Liz needs help, even of that magnitude. 

[Carver Amell]

"Because she's afraid. Because of Danvers. I know she'll do well there -- they're good folks, they've been a huge help to Mother. But she panicked and tried to flee again when I so much as suggested it."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline winces. "I hadn't realized her fear of such things was to the point of phobia or memory traps. Some of the veterans have those," she explains. "Sgt. Stattin, on the Redwood Station night shift? His squad was wiped about by a roper when he was still fresh from training. Almost washed him out and he still can't so much as go in a stone-walled basement without losing his control." 

She shakes her head slowly, expression grave. "That's a damn shame, a stay at SummerHill does sound like it would have really been the best option." She pauses, head tilting. "I wonder if the Doctor has a program or method to help alleviate that sort of thing? He came up with the Delve after all."

[Carver Amell]

Carver flinches. "I... when I accused Dad of not caring about Liz, he said... he reminded me he'd been in her head before," he admits. "I just... I can't stand to see him so cold and callous, so... I used to think he was so strong for not seeming to care about things, but now it feels like betrayal, that he's so calm and level-headed as he tells me he's not going to get her help."

[Tethras Clan]

"That is... not an uncommon... behavior, in Alydras. They prize reason and analytical thinking over emotion." Carefully, nervously, she reaches over to rest a hand atop his. "But surely he's not refusing to help Liz entirely right?"