The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Marian Hawke]

Better. What is better? Not thinking about it is better. (is it?) What potential? I'm just a bastard. "What potential?" she asks, her voice a rough scrape. She shakes her head. "No, nevermind, I... I just want to go home." The sooner this is done with, the better (go back to hiding)

[Varric]

"Your mind. I've tried, Seeker has tried, I'm sure others have but... you really can't see just how brilliant you are. Not just book smarts, not just memory, but real intelligence. Problem solving, deductive reasoning, assimilation of unorganized data, refining that data into usable forms... all of it. Plus there's your magic that we're slowly working out." Varric shakes his head. "You're one in ten thousand, easily. Add in your charm, your able-body and that increases even higher."

[Marian Hawke]

I'm... Brilliant? (stupid bitch) No, I'm just a good liar (passed all my exams without hardly trying, tested into advanced schools but there wasn't money, never had to study until I met Helene) So what? I'm a worthless bastard, who cares if I'm brilliant? (I could be someone if I wasn't so scared)

She swallows, shaking her head a little. This is all too much. Too much change, too fast.

[Varric]

"Not no, yes. You are brilliant." He studies her for a moment. "I can prove it, if you really can't believe me. Only take an afternoon." And a handful of gold (worth it).

[Marian Hawke]

"How?" She asks, picturing divination, picturing a poison lowering her intelligence to show her the difference.

[Varric]

"Entrance exam to Lume d'Ciel," Varric says simply, then shrugs a little. "Well, an old one. Most prestigious post-mastery university in fucking Nyra doesn't have a standard test, they make a new one for each entrant. But some of the alumni have published their exams and you can get a copy if you look in the right places. You, me, and Shiny will all take the same test. Beth and whoever else will take it too. Seeker will proctor and grade." Poor Shiny will be lucky to get five percent on the thing, I'll have to warn her.

[Marian Hawke]

"Measures learning, not intellect," mumbles Marian. And I don't know a lot about magic, though maybe more than Beth

[Varric]

"Lume d'Ciel isn't just some school, Marian. You go in there with just studied facts and they won't even let you knock." Varric rolls his eyes. "But if you want, we can just ask Seeker to ask upstairs."

[Marian Hawke]

"No," she says instantly, then winces. Why am I so afraid to find out? Because I know I'm not and it will hurt to find out, she adds, with an air of trying to convince herself.

[Varric]

"So you prefer the test then?" Varric nods easily. "Fine, I'll slip around after we get to Waters and find out what the fire is and get an exam that we can all take soon."

[Marian Hawke]

"Fire?" Waters -- Lightsong. Carol. A surge of fear rises in her breast, but she tamps it down quickly, automatically.

[Varric]

"Not sure," he says neutrally. "Didn't get a chance to find out what the problem was yet. Carol and Beth were there and looked fine though. Like as not, Jaduh finally made a move."

[Marian Hawke]

"Then why are you--" wasting time on me of all things?!  "Come on, let's go," she says instead. All you had to do was say Carol was in danger. I'd have come right away. 

[Varric]

"Taking the time to take care of my friend?" Varric gives her a pointed look. "You're just as important as either of the twins." More, from my viewpoint, if I'm honest.

[Marian Hawke]

"There could be real danger," insists Marian, noting that he's not moving. Come on -- what if they got hurt because I was wasting his time?