The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Zevran]

"Thank you," Zevran says gently, deciding to take the comment as he thinks it intended. 

[Varric]

"You're a good kid," Varric says gruffly, clearing his throat. "Take this with some water and get some sleep." He presses a vial into her hand, nods, and heads for the door briskly.

[Haliel Lightsong]

Haliel doesn't bother to speak, just tips Marian back a little and kisses her cheek. My love, my love, my love.

[Merrill]

The first few days after the group leaves the Oak are quiet ones- Bethany is grumbling a bit about traveling again (they'd gotten a wagon but not a carriage and no servants, and she had clearly been looking forward to such) and Roland is an endless barrel of stories. But Jass is clearly feeling bittersweet about having to part with his parents and home for a year, though he's said repeatedly that he's been idly planning such a trip for years now. Captain Vallen spends her time split between chatting with Vigile in celestial, to the feline pavitra's obvious joy, and going over ideas, plans and information control with various people. 

As for Merrill... She was still a bit goofy the day the left, but that didn't last long, leaving her distant and thoughtful. Still, she seemed to be perking up until late this morning, when she had suddenly gone utterly still while staring at a seemingly random grove of trees with a rock just off center in the middle. After that, she'd been withdrawn, almost sullen. By the time they halt for the night, she looks agitated and moody as she tucks herself away from the others with the tiny dragonling cradled against her chest. She staring off into the distance, eyes roving among the party.

[Carver Amell]

Carver heads for Merrill, worrying at his lower lip as he does. He'd been worried about her most of the afternoon, but he'd been keeping Jass company, learning something about tracks and tracking, and he hadn't wanted to tip the boy off that Merrill was acting stranger than usual.

"Hey," he says, standing awkwardly above her. "Mind if I join you?"

[Merrill]

Merrill doesn't react for a few seconds, then jerks slightly as her eyes snap to his face and focus. "C-Carver?" she squeaks, then ducks her head. "O-of course. I mean- no. Of c-course not. I- you can sit?"

[Carver Amell]

Carver smiles, his lopsided, amused smile, and sits. "Hey. You alright?" he asks gently. "You seem... skittish."

[Merrill]

Merrill just shrugs, planning to demure and hide her problems but frowns. She peeks at Carver carefully, weighting things in her mind. It's a flash of a face that pushes her to speak, to tell the truth- her own, twisted and warped by despair and vile useless. "We're p-passing by G-Goold-d-d-en," she says, her mouth failing utterly to say the name properly as her stomach churns.

[Carver Amell]

Carver nods, reaching for Merrill's hand. "I won't let them hurt you. Never again, Merrill. I'm taking you back to Nyra with me and if we so much as see a pair of pointed ears, you just get behind me, understand?"

[Merrill]

"..." Merrill takes his head willingly enough, but... "Wahbujaz?" she mumbles.

[Carver Amell]

"...huh?" he asks, stumped.

[Merrill]

"Jass," she mumbles after taking a deep breath.

[Carver Amell]

"What about him? He can protect himself, he's a hunter."

[Merrill]

Merrill frowns, annoyed at him for not knowing what she means, but twice as annoyed with herself, with being so fucked up she can't even talk. "N-no. You... you h-have Jass n-now. You l-like him m-more than m-m-m-me."

[Carver Amell]

"I do not," he argues. "I plan to marry you. Jass is just my best friend. There's a difference."