The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Carver Amell]

The whole way to the park the next afternoon, Carol doesn't speak a word -- not to Marian, and not to Bethany. She stares at the ground, silent, hands clasped behind her like a prisoner walking to her own execution.

She tries to steer toward another area of the park, but has to relent when Beth refuses to change course. And so, as she draws near Lightsong, she radiates nothing so much as a desire to be anywhere else. Doing anything else.

[Bethany]

Beth is agitated as well, though her unease is displayed in her observations and humor being more cutting, outright sardonic, rather than sarcastic or dry. Of course, none of this touches Carol, not in the slightest. The various passerbyers, the weather, herself, even politics, but never Carol. And, though she starts once or twice, never Bells or Hunter either. They reach the pond with the waterlies where Lightsong is reading a plain tome with no name on the spine, the human letting out a sigh of relief as she spots the paladin.

"Afternoon! Well it is to see you once again, noble knight and fairest of teachers," she calls out, the relief in her eyes serving to mask most of her nerves for now.

[Haliel Lightsong]

Lightsong starts a bit at the call, quickly tucking the book away in a bag. She raises a hand then in greeting, blushing faintly as she looks over at the group. "Ah- good afternoon."

[Carver Amell]

Carol swallows, glancing away. "Please," she whispers to Beth. "Don't."

[Marian Hawke]

Bells, reading the room, hangs back a little with the pup. What's going on with Carol?

[Bethany]

"Mother said this visits are fine. And we can't just... stop without a word. If you want to stop lessons, then... then I can't make you. Enough people make you do things, I won't. But... but there's no harm in talking with her. She's a paladin. Of Bastion. The only more blessed would be Astea." Beth moves over to hug Carol genty with one arm. "Alright?"

[Carver Amell]

What about Vangal? wonders Carol, but she doesn't say anything. Instead, she shakes her head. Please don't let them take you away from me. Please don't make me be the reason you're sent away.

[Haliel Lightsong]

Rising to her feet, Lightsong approaches the trio, hand reaching up to her waist as if to double check the book is tucked into her bag. "Miss Carol, Miss Betha- Beth. How have you been?"

[Bethany]

"Car was a bit under the weather yesterday," Beth says with a warm smile, pleased that Lightsong remembered to call her Beth, not Bethany. Still not sure why she won't drop the titles. Noticed her calling Bells 'Miss Bells' a few times too. Just really formal, I guess?

[Carver Amell]

"Yes," she whispers, looking down, cheeks burning. "I-- I don't think I'll be able to come anymore," she adds, in a hushed, embarrassed tone.

[Marian Hawke]

I knew it -- someone hit her, didn't they? They found out and they hit her. Leandra? I'd have suspected Gamlen but he's dead. Bells tightens her grip on the leash, muscles tense.

[Haliel Lightsong]

Hunter whimpers softly, picking up the tension. Not only in the air, but on the line of his leash.

Lightsong makes a worried nose in her throat. "What happened?" she asks quietly.

[Carver Amell]

"I--" she whispers, shaking her head. "I've been.. it's... I'm sorry, I just can't."

[Bethany]

"Mother... For personal reasons, Mother has decided to tighten discipline. As such, asking forgiveness instead of permission is no longer viable," Beth says carefully. "And she would never approve of her daughters knowing how to defend themselves or having a hobby that is anything but the most delicately refined-" Well, it started carefully said.

[Haliel Lightsong]

Lightsong's eyes widen, then narrow. "...I see. But surely she would not be upset if you continued having lunch with a Ray? I have very much grown to enjoy spending time with you. Both of you."