The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Marian Hawke]

"I can," she growls. "Tanna would stop if I asked. But if I stop myself, I'm letting the fear win. I refuse to let fear win."

[Zevran]

"It sounds like you are afraid of being afraid. Of admitting limits and fears, of saying no."

[Marian Hawke]

She hesitates. Is that... true? I think it might be.

"Maybe," she says, "but that's the lesser sin here, I think. Sex has been controlling me for way too long. I have to take control back."

[Zevran]

"Then learn to say no. You are fashioning sex into a weakness, one that allows anyone to control you. How is that you taking back control of anything?"

[Marian Hawke]

"You don't understand," she says, bitterly, turning toward the door. "I'm going to get some sleep."

[Zevran]

"i think I understand far more than you are willing to admit," Zevran says tiredly, watching her go. 

[Marian Hawke]

After sleeping some hours and devouring some food, Marian heads back out, this time full of resolve to speak to Tanna about what's happened. I need to set some limits,she decides, having slept at least a little, having eaten, having had more distance. I can't burn myself out like this. I need to work on some other pieces of things, need to understand rather than just obey. 

[Tanna]

When she gets to Tanna's condo- only dwarves would create entire houses that share walls in, stack them five high and sell the insides but not the outsides of the walls- Marian gets waved in without fuss. Heading up, she knocks on the door only to have it ripped out to reveal a distraught Tanna. "Marian! You're okay!"

[Marian Hawke]

Marian blinks, not having expected this. "Um... yes?" she offers. 

[Tanna]

The aasimar reaches out and yanks Marian into a hug. "When I woke up, you were just- just gone! I thought-" 

[Marian Hawke]

"I-- didn't you get my note?" she asks, hesitantly. Ouch, that's still tender!

[Tanna]

"Note?" Tanna asks, pulling away enough to look Marian in the face. "What note? I looked over the entire house but-" She shakes her head. "What happened? I was worried that..." She blushes faintly, eyes drifting away as if embarrassed. Tanna. Embarrassed. 

[Marian Hawke]

"I-- I just couldn't sl-sleep, I went-- I left a note, so you wouldn't worry. I'm sorry."

[Tanna]

Tanna steps back, clears her throat. "No, this is- this is me being silly, I just... When you vanished after last night, I was worried that you... that it was too much after all."

[Marian Hawke]

Guilt twists Marian's face. "No, no, it's fine. I'm fine. I just can't sleep sometimes."