Blood from Stone [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline frowns. "I have done that, repeatedly. Making you do laps or drills to wear you down when you're being bullheaded or jumpy."

[Carver Amell]

"I mean, you're trying to help though?" he says, shrugging. "I told you I don't know how to calm down so you showed me. Usually it's more like, teacher makes me go fetch water so I'll stop asking questions about the reading, or Mother punishing me for saying something thoughtless, or... or how I thought you were trying to split me and Dad up," he adds, shifting a bit. "You coulda called for an investigation, you coulda insisted Dad was crooked, you coulda hounded him until he gave us up or just frog-marched me back to Mother, but you didn't."

[Tethras Clan]

"That would be wr-" Aveline stops, then smiles with a rueful laugh. "Which is your point. But that's.... What about... as a person. All that is about me having power over you and using it well. Do you... trust me to talk to you? To talk and listen? To... do my share of the chores or to be honest with you? To care about your feelings and happiness, not just your wellbeing or.... ability to work."

[Carver Amell]

"I mean, you're a person when you're a guard," he points out. "You're always a person. And you listen to me plenty -- that's why you're not beastly to me, because you don't just assume I'm trouble. And you're super honorable, if you say you're going to do something I'm sure you'll do it. So... yeah?"

[Tethras Clan]

Another flicker of smile. "That's..." She shakes her head. "You make me hopeful sometimes. That I'm not alone."

[Carver Amell]

"I'm glad. Nobody should feel alone," he says, softly.

[Tethras Clan]

He... he does sound like maybe... I still worry that he'll just... follow my lead without stepping up. But maybe... maybe I can push him somehow? "Alright," she says quietly. "So... I know this isn't maybe the time or place but... gods, Carver, I do not want to have to wait anymore until we have that talk. Are you interested in me? Enough to try and make it work?"

[Carver Amell]

He nods, blushing faintly. "I used to.. I used to try and fantasize about what I'd want in a woman, if I could just find her. But for a long while now, it... she's... my ideal has worn your face. It sounds stupid but, I, I just never thought it could be an option. That you'd never be interested in me. At all."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline winces a little. "Carver, you do know- you realize I've as many flaws as most, right? I'm stubborn, stiff-necked, aggressive, blunt, inflexible, unladylike, I work far too many hours, I'm passable at best at household tasks, I have a low sex drive, I get bitchy when people leave a mess, and I steal the covers."

[Carver Amell]

He shrugs. "Most of that's true. You're not unladylike, though. There's all kinds of ladies. And you're not inflexible, either. You keep trying with me, anyway, different stuff. Most of the girls I meet aren't the kind I'd want to marry. I mean, I used to think I wanted someone more like Beth used to be, someone sweet and passive and kind, but, I wouldn't have anything to talk about with someone like that."

[Tethras Clan]

Not even a twitch at the... intimate flaws. I can admit that impressed me a little. "You might be surprised. Then again... Seli is sweet and kind, but passive..." She shakes her head, smirking. "That is certainly inaccurate."

[Carver Amell]

"And besides, you don't blink at my flaws. Though I guess you might care about the visiting prostitutes, now that it's, uh, relevant. But presumably I'd stop."

[Tethras Clan]

Her lips purse, long held and not entirely countered disgust and disdain making itself know. "Yes," she replies in a clipped tone. Damnit, that was... Ugh. I should... or will he...?

[Carver Amell]

He looks away. "Okay. Done." 

[Tethras Clan]

"...that's all on the matter?" she asks carefully, trying not to hint at any particular path she wants to follow.