Blood from Stone [AU]

[Varric]

"Bartrand," Varric says grimly. "Name."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene tilts their head, tapping out, Query?

[Varric]

"Bartand. Devil's name." Varric shrugs a little. "Name, bait."

[Vigile]

"Ah, yes. If this Bartrand has the devil's name, we could summon it directly, into a prepared ritual trap."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods. Taps out, pleasure to before stopping, tapping, nevermind. 

[Varric]

"Agreement." Varric's words are still limited, mixed up and disordered. His tone, however, is perfectly capable of expressing his extreme displeasure with the dwarf born as his brother.

[Marian Hawke]

Liz shivers. "Okay. I'll... we'll make preparations. Are you two... okay? Do you need me to help with research?"

[Varric]

A long pause. "Please." 

[Marian Hawke]

"Okay. I'll meet you in the library in ten, then," says Liz, tone gentle. "Love you." 

She throws out the little-said phrase casually, as if it were accidental, no big deal. But she rarely says the words, even to Cindy. 'Thank you' or 'You're great' or 'I care about you', more and more, but not the big L. 

She crawls back toward the overlap, then, heading out of the fort as if to flee from the weight of the words.

[Varric]

"Also," Varric calls after her, eyes closed and a genuine if pained smile on his lips. As the flap settled back into place, he sighs. "Thank you." Those words are direction not at flap, but to the side. Towards Helene.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene taps back, Always.

[Marian Hawke]

Liz slips into the living room, giving Carver a brief, hushed update before moving to sit beside Beth and the sleeping Don. "How's he doing?" she asks, her voice soft. What happened?

[Bethany]

Beth instantly wraps herself around her sister, pressing her face against Liz's neck. "Bad. Better. But... bad. They... Some possessed... monster tortured him. He... it's bad." She starts to say more, then winces. Gods. Way to remind her about what was done to her, Beth.

[Marian Hawke]

Liz rubs Beth's back, gently, trying to soothe her. "It gets better," she whispers. "He's safe now."

[Bethany]

"I know. I know he will. I won't let him not. It's just... gods." Beth takes a slow breath. "The things that monster did to my Don... He's so hurt. He feels so guilty for not somehow, miraculously, being strong enough to just... shrug all of it off."