Blood from Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

Can I get that in writing? "I... Don, it's not about deserving or... I love you. And... safe to say you love me, given... That can be enough. For now, just... let that be enough. Rest. Heal."

[Varric]

Varric flinches as if struck, head bowing. Of course. I... yes. He nods, the movement jerky, and forces himself to his feet and towards the door. And stops when Silence gives him a single-eyed glare.

[Carver Amell]

Carver hesitates. "You're... angry with Dad?"

At Helene's fierce headshake he tries again. "You're... oh, you're angry because Bartrand hurt Dad?" 

That gets a nod. Carver sighs, smiling a little, not that it reaches his eyes. "Yeah. Me too, tuiste. We just have to keep pressing on. Can't let anger get the better of us."

[Varric]

Varric's head turns slightly towards the two. Not... how? How could they possibly... "Why? Not. I... failure."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene gives Bartrand one last, hard kick, then goes to sit on the floor, scribbling in nir sketchbook for Carver to read out:

"He hurt you. Bad. Kidnapped you. You would have been there if you could." 

[Varric]

"Hurt. You." Varric trembles violently, spiking into a full shudder a few times. "Should have... better. Prevented."

[Carver Amell]

"You can't do everything," snaps Carver. "Isn't that what you taught me? You can't be everywhere, protect everyone all at once by yourself. You're not Vangal Himself. If I don't get to wallow in how badly I feel about Don, about Mother, about Helene and about you, you don't get to either. Pick your chin up and keep moving forward. Do better next time."

[Bethany]

"...I feel both intensely proud and vexingly annoyed by that," Beth mutters to herself as she strokes Don's temple.

[Varric]

Varric hunches his shoulders, entire left hand dancing instead of his just his fingers for a moment. "Not... not same. Older. Should be better. Failed everywhere, not- singles." He growls softly, hating that he can't speak right, can't focus on getting words to form properly, can't order his thoughts enough to get his mouth to shape common without chiseling each and every word as if made of solid granite.

[Carver Amell]

"I'm honored," he snaps. "I didn't realize my father was literally The Everlasting Shield made flesh."

He would go on, but he's whacked in the back of the head by a sketchbook, and stumbles forward, rubbing at it. 

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene lets out a low growl, holding the sketchbook menacingly, clearly threatening another blow.

[Tethras Clan]

"Tuiste..." Merrill says gently, eyes showing her amusement. "It's mean to aim for the head. Go for arms and shoulders." She cocks her head. "Though Carver does have a point really. Dad is... well, Dad but he's not Vangal. Or Alydra. Or even Junon or Naugrix or-"

[Varric]

Varric's hand slows, returning to just finger twitches and taps. "Not god. Yes. Father. Husband. Light. Patriarch. Merchant." He swallows. "Brother. Failed. All roles."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene turns, raising the sketchbook in Varric's direction, but thinks better of it, sitting back down to write furiously.

[Carver Amell]

Carver scowls. "One, that's a lot to take on, and two, you might be the smartest guy in Nyra but you're still only one man. You were kidnapped. If you sat around choosing not to help that'd be different but-- ow! Stop it!"

He glares down at where he's been smacked on the leg with the sketchbook, then scowls as Helene holds it up for him to read. "Tuiste says you didn't fail as a husband either. What you did was not tell anyone what was going on so we were unprepared."