The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Varric]

Varric flashes a smile, then speeds up just a little so she can't see his face. "What can I say? Having an older brother has proven to be rather horrid, so why not try a younger sister, eh? Come on, we need to hoof it so I can get back to those bodies. Explaining I got jumped and fought back, doable. Explaining that I just left a bunch of bodies in an ally... less so."

[Marian Hawke]

In short order, Marian finds herself summarily abandoned at the Temple of Living Waters so that Varric -- who was alone the whole time, really, officer -- can deal with the aftermath of the attack. Which means Marian gets to run down a quick summary of the events and the fallout thereof. 

"So, yeah, I guess you get to walk me to and from work from now on, hooray."

[Haliel Lightsong]

Lightsong flinches, her mouth closing on the third instance of asking if Marian is okay. She swallows and looks away for a few seconds. "I... I am sorry you have to- to deal with my presence," she says in a tight voice. "I shall- shall try-"

[Marian Hawke]

"No, it's-- dammit, dammit, dammit! Can't I say anything the right way the first time!" Her groan of frustration seems to be aimed at herself, as she slams her head back into the door of the dormitory room, eyes closed. 

[Haliel Lightsong]

Lightsong jerks forward before she can stop herself, yanking Marian away from the door. "Please do not hurt yourself!"

[Marian Hawke]

Her eyes pop open. "I'm fine," she reassures Lightsong. 

[Haliel Lightsong]

And sees big, wet eyes looking at her with concern and warmth. And... maybe something more than just Bastionite compassion. "You are not fine, Marian. You are hurting and it's because of me."

[Marian Hawke]

"Yeah, well, that just makes it your turn, don't it? I hurt all the time, you're nothing special," she says, with unexpected bitterness, even to herself. Stupid. Lashing out like that -- don't you know who your friends are?

[Haliel Lightsong]

Strangely, Lightsong seems to be unoffended by it- perhaps even a little relieved. "Let me help? Let me in and... please, Marian. Please let me help you. Even if it's just to stand here and be yelled at. I can take it."

[Marian Hawke]

"Why? There'd just be two of us feeling bad, then. I'll be fine."

[Haliel Lightsong]

Lightsong just smiles sadly. "Because it might help you."

[Marian Hawke]

"Yeah? Like confessing my feelings for you helped? Like talking about my past helped? Like telling you I got jumped and poisoned helped?" Funny, she hadn't mentioned the latter point. 

[Haliel Lightsong]

Lightsong nods, seemingly moving right past the sarcasm. "Yes, just like all of those." A beat. "Poisoned?"

[Marian Hawke]

"But none of that helped! I fucked up every single time I talked about any of those things! And then I just felt worse because now I was ruining one of the few good things in my life!"

[Haliel Lightsong]

"I- I mean, us is only ruined if one of us walks away. I still want you as my friend. I still care about you. I still want you in my life. You didn't ruin anything. Also. Poisoned?" she demands.