The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Bethany]

"I know he did," Beth says with a smile. "He has before, a few times. But that night... he's really skilled. At combat, I mean. He's taught me a bit and... he grabbed me and then.... stalled. Gave me plenty of time to disable him. And I was so out of it, he could have stopped me easily, but he didn't. And- his boss isn't dumb, he has to suspect."

[Marian Hawke]

"But..." 

Marian chews her bottom lip, thinking hard. "I'm sorry, it's just... Guys don't... Well, people don't... do that. Put themselves in serious danger for a girl, even a pretty girl. You said he's not your boyfriend -- and he couldn't have married you even if he was -- and here you are with Shiori, so it can't have been that serious... and he'd do that? Risk himself for you?"

[Bethany]

"It was very serious," Beth says in a sharp tone. "I love him, Marian. And he me. Marriage and dating and whatnot have nothing to do with that. I mean, they can, but you don't have to do any of that to love someone. I at least had Shan when we could meet, and Car when s- err, when, uh, they were in a good patch. He only had me, I think. He sometimes referred to a his 'beauty' who was an old flame or something, I think, but it was pretty clear he hadn't seen her in years."

[Marian Hawke]

"Look, you're young yet. Every relationship ends some way. You're either together for life -- which you can't be -- or one of you dumps the other, or dies. If he's smart, he won't hitch his wagon to yours knowing there's nothing in it for him. Ladies who marry for money and have secret lovers... well, it puts you in danger. If he really loved you, he wouldn't do that to you, make you choose between your family and him, or give you false hopes and stars in your eyes."

[Bethany]

"...Marian... I'm Ciren. I can marry more than once. Though I don't think he's any interest in marriage, too confining. But any woman I marry is going to have to be willing to accept that Zev is part of my life." She shrugs. "Anyone that can't accept that part of me isn't someone I would want to spend all my life with."

[Marian Hawke]

"You can," she says, dubiously, then sighs, pulling her hand back from Beth's to rake through her hair. How is she not getting this? She just assumes everything will work out alright, no matter what she does. Is this what it's like to grow up rich?

[Bethany]

"I know it won't be easy. And that all assumes I ever see him again or that I find someone to marry at all. I like Shisou, sure, but... we just met less than a month ago." She runs a hand through her own hair in unconcious imitation. "And, of course, it assumes I even survive," she adds bitterly.

[Marian Hawke]

"Beth..." Marian sighs. "You need to think about your future. What do you want? A life of wandering and adventuring? Or a life of safety and security, where you can settle and raise a family? Figure out what you want, and you can make choices that lead toward it. You can't leave these things to chance."

[Bethany]

"Safety and love. I'm not sure about kids- that's... way too... I have plenty of time for that. I like to met people and..." She starts to bite her lip but manages to soften it to just squeezing it lightly in her teeth for a second or two. "I... I've thought... well, a daydream I have sometimes is... running a tavern, geared towards adventurers. It'd almost be like traveling, without ever leaving home."

[Marian Hawke]

Marian winces. "You can't. Well, you could I guess, if you were willing to break with Carol and ditch the family name. But... It would reflect badly on her if you were doing something like that."

[Bethany]

Beth arches an eyebrow. "I hadn't realized you had made a study of politics and noble society," she says sweetly. "Sure, if it was some dive, then yes, that would look poorly. Or if it became a front of illegal... anything and that got out. But an upscale tavern for reputable and noteable adventurers? In Nyra? The nobility is expected to have pet projects, to have hobbies and such. Attend a few parties each season, maybe throw some at my tavern..." She shrugs. "A little quirky at worst."

[Marian Hawke]

"I have, actually," snaps Marian. "Owning a tavern is fine -- zi'Rainbowall owns a whole slew of them. Running a tavern is an entirely different matter. Hands-off management would be fine, but unless Carol does marry Jadan, you're likely to need to be on hand to socialize, make deals, and the like. You could perhaps pull it off -- but that would be your one quirk, not on top of having a slew of lovers of both sexes and marrying multiple times."

[Bethany]

"Then so what? So what if we lose the Lighthood? Neither of us have ever cared about it!" Beth fires back. "And like fuck Car is marrying that foul- foul thing! If we can make the noble thing work, great, but I'd rather the two of us be happy for once!"

[Marian Hawke]

Marian takes half a step back, narrowing her eyes. "Do you understand what you're saying? Do you have any idea what life is like out there without the protection of nobility? Have you got a head for business? Jadan's managing all your money right now -- have you got the skills to grow it? Without the benefit of contracts or contacts among the Lighthood? If they turn against you because they see your stepping down as shitting on their legacy, what will you do? What if they try a hostile takeover to get the lighthood? Do you know where our family gets their money, because for the life of me I couldn't figure it out from Draslina. Or did you think you'd just walk away, let Mother rot with her money all alone and make it on your own? What money would you start your tavern with at that point? What will you do when Helene goes back to Draslina and Varric goes back to Orzimmar and you're just alone and homeless?"

[Bethany]

"Well, for one, I have about seven or eight thou in gems, metal and jewelry. Two, I am a fairly good bard. I could easily make enough for two or three people with just my healing abilities, much less my music. I wouldn't be happy with that, not forever, but it would work," the fifteen year old says hotly. "Look, I get that I don't have all the answers and that it might be hard. Got it, thanks. But there's more to life than money and titles."