Blood from Stone [AU]

[Varric]

Varric hesitates, first to consider how to finish Marian's introduction, then at Garrett own question. He stays silent, glad for the delay allowing him to think. Is being Marian's enough? Liz sure never... Nor Jassinth (and sure as slag not Aveline yet. Gods that would be weird). And yet... Kiss or no kiss, they're more than just...

[Marian Hawke]

"No, no, just... Let's all go upstairs. You and I have a lot to talk about."

[Bethany]

Beth clears her throat, cheeks red. "Ah, just... wasn't expecting that." At all. Wow he's real pretty. Like... wow. And so is... gods, I really am a pervert sometimes. "Anyway. Yes, upstairs to the living room. Merrill and I are set up there already."

[Helene Dakesh]

No sooner does the group start to emerge than Helene rushes to Varric's side, clearly overwrought, eyes demanding an explanation.

[Varric]

Varric opens his mouth, closes it, then finally shrugs and gestures at Garrett. "Congratulations, it's a boy."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene stares at Garrett. Then at Varric. Then at Garrett. Finally, they fling an arm out, indicating Marian, who is still cuddled up to Garrett, his arm around her shoulders.

[Varric]

"Agreed. Marian..." The dwarf pauses, humming softly. "Caster was samsaran. Affected ritual?" he mutters, then shakes his head. "Rebirth. Soul intact, mind as well, so far. Body remade. Neutrois. Also summoner. Bonded new tulwath. Stability." Varric still needs to rest, needs to process and recover. But having things done, having the last of his family back and safe... it helps. A lot.

[Garret Tethras]

As Marian presses against her new other half, Garrett feels something press against him. Frowning, he shifts his blanket aside a bit, revealing that his lower half has a light coat of fur. A closer look reveals that the same is true for his arms and back, but the hairs are very fine and short. The fur on his legs is just as fine, but longer. What has caught his attention, however, is a belt made of thin cords of something pale yellow. Glancing at Marian, he tugs at out and peers at the slip of paper that detaches without affecting the belt itself. "Do I know a... Tidiois Malachen?"

[Marian Hawke]

Marian frowns, looking down at... "Can I see?" 

Then she squints at it. "I can't understand it," she admits. "I think that's infernal. How did you--"

And then, as she shows it back to him, she understands it. It takes a moment for her to piece together what's happened: as he's reading it, she can hear the words in his voice, in the back of her mind, until she understands it as well. "Woah," she whispers, and then, "Woah. That's-- That's a contract! That's someone's soul you own!"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene lets out a low whine. Caster was samsaran -- I reincarnated her? What does that mean about my reincarnations? The theological implications of-- of--

Later. The theological implications will be there later. Helene shakes their head, tugging at Varric's sleeve. Nap will be here now.

[Bethany]

"It's a what?" Beth demands, eyes wide.

[Garret Tethras]

"I... you are upset. Is this..." Garrett pauses, frowning with narrowed eyes. "Yes... this is ownership of.. that is what I hate. Owners of mortals. I dislike this." His frown and focus both direct toward the scrap of paper, then the belt. "I... oh dear."

[Varric]

"Helene? What's wrong?" Varric asks, tensing again at the implication there's a problem ne needs help solving.

[Marian Hawke]

"No, wait, it's okay," says Marian, quickly. "This is the reason we-- this is why you were born. Because we wanted to free those specific people, from the devil that had them. And now you have them and you can, can set them all free. Can cancel all these, and let them go free again."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene shakes nir head, tugging on his sleeve again. Then, ne makes one of the universal gestures: hands folded under the side of nir head, eyes closing.