The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Bethany]

Beth stiffens against Shiori, body trembling with hurt and rage. She swallows a few times, then moves her head just enough that she can speak clearly. "I told him I knew he was molesting you, taking advantage of you. When he threatened to tell Mother that I was delusional and thus get me sent to the cloister again, I countered with threatening to go to the guard. Then he... That was when Jadan threw me against the wall." 

She pulls away from her... possible new girlfriend to give her twin a look of disgust. "So there. That's what I did to deserve to be hurt and raped. That's what the monster you love is like when he's not playing a role for you." 

[Varric]

"...seems pretty clear," Varric says evenly. "Anyone else want to take advantage of the Zone while it lasts?"

[Carver Amell]

Carol gapes. "He-- he didn't-- you accused him of--"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene clears her throat. "You will need to step forward to be affected by the Zone."

[Carver Amell]

Carol gapes a moment longer, then steps forward. "He never molested me! He never took advantage, he never treated me like that -- it's only, he's my fiance and I love him and sure we fooled around but it was-- I was-- Beth is wrong about him!"

[Marian Hawke]

Marian shakes her head. "You heard what happened, same as the rest of us. Maybe he was nice to you, but people treat different people different. It sounds like Beth pissed him off, and that's how he treats his enemies. For better or for worse, that's who he is."

[Varric]

Moving forward, Varric looks over at Carol. "One, doesn't matter- false accusation or not, his reaction is not just a crime, it's a sin against any of the Bright Gods. Two... you just admitted under Truthing that you fooled around? That's illegal. You're fifteen, he's half again past his majority. Nyra signed onto Ciren's Custodi Filii Lex so... doesn't matter if you agreed. You're too young. Him being engaged to you would... mitigate it, but you being a Light family would amplify it. Probably... eh, no barrister or anything, but I would guess a hundred or so hours of service and a geas to stay away from you until you were of age."

[Haliel Lightsong]

"It's hard," Lightsong says gently. "To realize what you love isnt perfect, isn't the ideal you thought it was. That you needed it to be." I always thought... mistakes yes, but compromise? On that scale? I would never have thought that of the church.

[Carver Amell]

Carol pales. "But-- but-- sure, it's illegal, but he didn't do anything wrong to me. To-- to Beth, I-- I guess he... I guess he did... do something wrong, but... Beth antagonizes him constantly. You can't just push a man for years on end and not expect him to lash out. Men aren't like girls, you can't accuse them of horrible things without consequences."

[Bethany]

"Varric, you're male and of age and such, right?" Beth looks over at the dwarf, a faintly apologetic look in her eyes. He nods slowly, having a fair idea of where this is going. "Good. Then, under Truthing, what would you have done if I accused you of molesting..." She gestures uncertainty. "I guess Carol works but whoever."

[Carver Amell]

"After picking fights for months," she adds. "Trying to break us up."

[Varric]

Yep, pretty much what I expected. "Same set up? I'll go with two answers. First, if it was false, that I had never touched Carol. In that case, I would have instantly left the room and summoned a guard. I would have insisted on a Truthing at the most suitable Junonite or Milean temple. With you, Carol and Leandra present." He shrugs. "That's the sort of thing that can ruin lives if it lingers. If it was true, that I was taking advantage of my engagement to have sex with a teenager.." He falters, not actually sure what he would do in that setup.

"I... Fuck. I'm not entirely sure, the entire idea of doing that in the first place is sickening. With other crimes, if I was caught like that, I would try to keep it quiet. Find out if the person can be paid off or brought in. Might have gone with that, I think Given Bethany... would have tried to work something out, find out where her lines are. Maybe gone to get Carol so the three of us could work things out."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene hesitates. "Bethany mentioned threats of being... sent away," she begins, awkwardly shifting. "There are... There have been studies that show that... when a person is disadvantaged in some ways, or in some way prevented from seeking help, perhaps isolated or perhaps due to a power differential, such as being a teacher or parent to the victim... abusers tend to take advantage of such situations more so than situations that may backfire."

[Carver Amell]

"Jadan isn't abusive!"

[Marian Hawke]

"To you," growls Marian. "But maybe he abused your sister."