The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[NPCs]

"Won't work- Raplin will catch you. Might turn you into a bush for a day or two, but He'd catch you. Asides, cant have pissed the dwarf off that much or he wouldn't have followed us. Or stayed to watch us for the last hour and some," Roland replies easily, though his legs tense as if readying himself to leap up. "Your paladin friend has been by three times as well, but Varric sent her off."

[Marian Hawke]

She glances at him, shocked. "What? They-- really? You're not just...?"

[NPCs]

"Don't look around. Wait a few seconds, then give a big sigh and scan the horizon. There's a holly tree- bright red berries, about forty feet tall, to your left. About ten o'clock based on if you were looking straight ahead. He's the faint darker spot. Dwarf is good, but he's not used to hiding in a natural setting. Pissed off a squirrel a ways back by blocking his way home or to food, tipped me off."

[Marian Hawke]

She looks out again, then, toward the horizon. There-- so he really did... 

She sighs, glancing down. "He must be livid. Last time he was so mad-- told me I was a stupid, selfish bitch. And he was right. They're all right. But I can't help it. I keep trying to let things go, to stuff it down and focus on helping Beth and Car, but things keep popping up like this and I... it just makes me so mad, before I can catch myself. Too full of Wrath, I suppose. Wrath and ambition. Zanon's a good fit for me, even though it'll break Haliel's heart."

[NPCs]

"He and the Seeker were at the table, seven sharp- had a whole slew of books out and was deep in conversation with, uh, nem? Nem. Figured they were just doing a project but come eight or so, realized they were waiting for you. Nine and he was worried and hiding hurt. Lightsong went out a bit before then, and we all heard you go up. He was... Not sure... Well, I doubt he enjoys rejection anymore than you do."

[Marian Hawke]

"Dammit," she says bitterly. "I didn't ask him to do that. I said we'd talk not-- not turn this into a whole huge project."

[NPCs]

Roland winces. "Ah. You asked for help and he went in too hard? He does seem to be the sort."

[Marian Hawke]

"I..."

She hesitates, then, blinking. "I mean, I didn't ask. But I let him convince me I needed help. And... I guess... I guess he is trying to help me."

[NPCs]

Roland shrugs. "Maybe he's not that good at it? Helping people, I mean. Not sure what exactly it is, but I get a well hidden lonely vibe from it." He snorts. "Astea's Eyes, I get that vibe from the lot of you, save mayhap the puppy. The four-legged one."

[Marian Hawke]

"Maybe," she says dubiously.

[NPCs]

Roland shrugs a little. "Suppose it doesn't matter much on your end, why he felt so hurt. More important to figure out what you want to do about it. How do you plan to fix his grievance? Did he cross a line with you? Do you get enough out of your relationship with him to even care?"

[Marian Hawke]

"I kind of figured I'd storm out in a huff and never come back," she admits. "Cut this off now before things get worse."

[NPCs]

"Any other ideas? Never only one solution to a problem and all that."

[Marian Hawke]

"I guess I just... how do you fix something like that? Normally I'd get chewed out, hold my tongue and keep still, take whatever punishment, pretend it never happened."

[NPCs]

Gods above girl, you're not a child or a slave. "Well, for one, he's not your father nor your master- slave, not student type. If he wants to scold you and you think he mess up too? Scold him right back. If you think you didn't mess up as bad as he thinks? Correct him. Stand your ground. Accept where he's right, I know you're stubborn, but stand your ground when it's worth the cost." He looks away, pain filling his eyes before he averts them. "Mal was the same way. Smooth about it mostly, boy could say 'get fucked by a rust monster' and make you think it praise, but... He was the type of kid you couldn't just tell fire was hot. He had to get burned to learn."