The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Marian Hawke]

She reddens, chewing her lower lip. "It's... I just do a lot of mental math," she admits. "It calms my brain."

[Varric]

"Well, keep it up- that sort of thing is good training for spell-casting, rituals, brewing and all sorts of stuff."

[Marian Hawke]

"Do you think maybe... I will be able to do two brews at once?" she wonders.

[Varric]

Varric sobers in an instant. "Absolutely not!" He visibly forces himself to relax. "Sorry, just- there are thousands of people that have said that very thing. So far, no-one has been able to do it outside of blatant divine cheating. The vast majority just fail. The handful that almost succeed end up dead or worse. Mindburn, magic hallowed, recurring brain storms, full body paralysis..."

[Marian Hawke]

Her face deflates. "Oh. I see." 

And yet, some part of her wonders if she can't just pull it off. After all, I've only just begun to learn. Who's to say how far I can go?

[Varric]

Varric frowns, then sigh. "If you think you have a way of doing it- and the double thought thing isn't it or I could do it." Not at the moment, maybe, but give me another two months or so and I should be back to form (technique is worth it though). "Bring it around and all three of us can look it over. Hells, successful or not, do it right, and you could publish your research. I'd be happy to undersign it to get you some visibility, and I bet Seeks would be honored as well."

[Marian Hawke]

That puts the stars back in her eyes. I could publish findings -- I could make for myself a career, a research career on top of just doing basic alchemical goods for sale. I could be self-sufficient. More than that -- I could be wealthy, famous. 

She nods. "Yes, sir!"

[Carver Amell]

"And you're certain it's safe? Really certain?"

Car can't say why he's so nervous about taking this potion, about trying this experiment. But he is nervous -- his stomach is tied up in knots, and he clings to the vial tightly to stop his hands from shaking. This feels Very Big. Too damn big. What if it fails? But what if it works?

[Varric]

"Absolutely," Varric repeats yet again. "I tested it in seven different ways to be sure. No toxicity, no side-effects of note, no interactions with your medicines... you're fine. Absolute worst case, the duration isn't as long as we want. Should be a hundred minutes, but there's a chance it'll only last for fifty."

[Merrill]

As has become the norm this last week, Merrill is sitting right next to Car. At the moment, Hunter is cuddled in her lap, tiny puppy eyes locked on Varric and the apple sized crystal decanter in his hand. The potion inside has a soft, heady scent of apples, clover and running. Somehow, because magic. 

[Carver Amell]

"Okay," whispers Car, closing his eyes. "Okay."

He puts down the empty vial he's been toying with, taking the decanter from Varric. All in one smooth motion, he chugs the liquid, feeling the cool, empty, distant feeling wash over him even as he tastes apples, clover, sweat. Then all at once he feels the magic take old, squeezing him, until he's sure he's going to be wrung inside-out. For a moment he can't breathe, his body paralyzed as the magic works on his interior; then it lets him loose, and he slumps back against the wall, feeling sore and tingly all over as the numbness fades. 

He gasps, just enjoying breathing for now, his eyes still shut tight. The bottle's fallen to the bed beside him; the others can see his firmer jaw, the lack of breasts, the broader shoulders, the larger hands. 

[Merrill]

The first thing Car hears as he sits there is Merrill. Voice filled with a int of wonder, she leans in as she speaks. "You have a beard. All dark and scruffy, like wilds man." She reaches out to gently trail her fingertips over his shoulder, down his arm. "And you're so... solid." Her tone is approving, underneath the amazement. 

[Bethany]

"Wow," Beth murmurs from the corner of the room. She hadn't said anything when she'd shown up, just slipped into the room and given her twin's hand a squeeze. He doesn't look a thing like Gamlen. Well, I mean, not really anymore than he used to. Or I do really.

[Carver Amell]

Car opens his eyes in surprise, looking at Merrill. Slowly, he reaches a hand up, touching the scruffy hair at his chin. "I..."

His voice is deep.

He starts, jerking up fully. "I'm--" he begins, startled once more. Intending to rip the bandage off all at once now, he looks down, spying his broad hands, not spying his breasts. 

"I'm a man," he whispers. He bolts to his feet, stumbling toward the bathroom, needing to see himself, needing to remove his pants. 

[Marian Hawke]

Marian watches him go, eyes misting. "Uh, should one of us...?" go with him? Just in case?