Blood from Stone [AU]

[Carver Amell]

"Yeah," says Carver absently, prodding at his porridge listlessly, staring off into the distance. 

[Jassinth]

Both of the pause, turning to stare at him, then each other. They have a silent exchange, then Beth smiles kindly. "Carver?" Jassinth leans over towards Carver, clearing his throat loudly. "Did you want to share your own... discovers or opinions on anal sex?"

[Carver Amell]

He blinks. "My-- what? No! Gods!"

[Bethany]

"Because you just agreed catfolk cock is great for anal so..." Beth shakes her head. "Where were you?"

[Carver Amell]

He reddens. "God no, I'd never want to-- anyway." Get your head on straight. "Sorry. I was thinking about Marian."

[Bethany]

"Change your mind if..." Bethany shakes her head. "Yeah, I figured. You... you ready to hear the latest?"

[Carver Amell]

He straightens, taking a deep breath. "Alright," he says quietly. Vangal guide my step-- forget the steps, Vangal, guide my tongue.

[Bethany]

"I... made a point of memorizing the final wording," Beth admits with a sight blush. "We worked out more detail after, which I'll explain too but... Okay, here goes." She clears her throat, then begins to recite.

"Five months of you trying your best to find yourself, find joy, find a place and purpose. You'll do your best to do all of that, listening to advice and suggestions, but are not required to take it. You'll stay in contact with us during this, but not on a strict schedule. You'll give talking to expert mnd healers a try and be honest with how you're doing. In exchange, we won't try to trap you, in an institution or otherwise. If, in five months, if you're not satisfied with your progress, we let you walk away." Finishing, she clears her throat. 

[Carver Amell]

He swallows hard. "I see," he says, his voice thick. How could you, he doesn't say. Maybe the prayer helped. 

[Bethany]

"Something I noticed afterwards? That I don't think Liz did- or is letting herself realize anyway? Only Dad promised. Merrill and I didn't. And, obviously, neither did you. So..." Bethany shrugs a little. "I mean, Dad is kind of the biggest threat, because he's the only one of us that has the pull and skills to force her into SummerHill or the like but... still. Anyway. You... okay to hear more or... need a break?"

[Carver Amell]

"That... mostly, that's what I needed to know. I don't think I can be here while you... that. I'll write, of course."

[Bethany]

Beth grips her hands together tightly in her lap. "There- there is more. She- she and Merrill are going to enroll in some classes. Merrill just to learn some things, I think. And to spend time with Liz. But Marian wants to do the full thing. Oh! And she asked that, um, when she acts like she used to, when she... to call her that again. I think she's going to enroll with that name."

[Carver Amell]

Carver hesitates. "She... she's going to go by Marian again?" he asks, to confirm.

[Bethany]

"Sometimes? I think she's trying. She... She doesn't want to be Liz, not really. But she's not sure who Marian is. I'm mean, even if you, somehow, ignore the..." She falters, swallowing. "Dark months, she was still never given much time to... She had to be Big Sis Marian by six. Basically our mother by ten. In a lot of ways, we're years and years ahead of her."

[Carver Amell]

"I know the feeling," he says, with a grim chuckle. "After she... left, I had to figure out who Carver was anymore."