The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Marian Hawke]

"Any deity?" asks Marian, quietly, a low, fervent intensity in her tone. "What about-- No. No, no no no, bad Outsider, very bad!" 

[Haliel Lightsong]

Haliel winces. "Sorry, sorry, that wasn't supposed to-- so look at those trees?"

[Varric]

Varric stares at the aasimar, honestly impressed at the terribleness of that segue.

[Haliel Lightsong]

Haliel slowly covers her face. "Pretend I said something else please?"

[Haliel Lightsong]

The following day, Zevran and Helene head out to Nyra in order to gather information so the party can plan for the near future. The more time Marian has to get accustomed to her new form the better after all, but at the same time, they're worried that the twins might need their help. The pair intend to spend at least three days investigating and seeing to a bolthole, just in case, which leaves the others with several days to devote to other matters. Marian flies, thinks, dallies with Isabela, plays with bitty baby and sings when she thinks no-one is listening. Varric tends to Ricky, brews, frets and creates both elaborate plans and far less elaborate traps around the camp. Isabela allies with Marian, banters with Varric, does a bit of reading and has more than a few long talks with Lightsong. As for the paladin, she's just as eager to look after Ricky as Marian, practices her cooking, tries to give Marian both space and company and...

"Marian? Do you have some time? I... I've finally finished my project and-- I want you to see it first. If you're willing."

[Marian Hawke]

"Your.. project?"

[Haliel Lightsong]

"My painting?" Haleil prompts Marian's memory. I guess she didn't realize it's been the same one this whole time. "It's finally done. Well. As done as I can make it at my novice level."

[Marian Hawke]

"Oh! I thought-- oh, okay. Yeah, I'd love to see it."

[Haliel Lightsong]

Haliel beams at her, but it shifts to a slightly worried expression. "I was going to just surprise you, for the full effect, but, umm, given recent... discoveries, umm, well. It's-- the subject of my painting is religious in nature? But it's just a painting, so I was kind of hoping it'd be okay. And maybe a way of helping you build up a tolerance for your, ah, yearning?"

[Marian Hawke]

Marian hesitates, chewing her lower lip, before she nods. "Alright. But stop me if I seem to be... worshipping it. Or making any promises. Deal?"

[Haliel Lightsong]

"Absolutely," Haliel says firmly. "If you're not up for it, I can wrap it up and store. I just-- I just wanted you to see it first. But it can wait until you're ready."

[Marian Hawke]

"I don't think I'm going to get more ready," she jokes. "I just... Let's do it."

[Haliel Lightsong]

Haliel nods, offering a sad smile. Oh Marian... Taking a slow breath, she leads them to a small clearing where Haliel has set up her easel in a pool of mid morning sunlight. She gestures for Marian to sit in one of the crude chairs Varric and Isabela cobbled together, then moves to the covered painting. "Okay. Here we go," she says nervously.

It's a woman. Or at least, they have the appearance of a woman. The background is muted, almost lost in mist, but there's an impression of a forest, perhaps a pond? Most of the painting is taken up with the female. Her face is out of focus, set in a profile with her eyes half closed as she looks upwards to allow a beam of sunlight to fall on the flowing strands of moongold hair. Her body is pleasing to most eyes, skin a rich bronze and shape round and generously filling the soft white and gold cotton robe. She has wings, feathers matching the color of her hair for the most part, though most of them have colored tips that create an almost prismatic effect. One arm is raised as if to accept the viewer into an embrace, though somehow Haliel has managed to create warmth without heat in the offer.

There are flaws in the painting. Her proportions are just a little off, her eyes not quite correctly placed, the fingers deliberately twisted a touch to avoid having to detail them all (and her feet are cut off by the edge of the canvas). The color choices for the forest could certainly be better and the prismatic effect on the wings is a touch jarring in how much more vivid it is compared to everything else. But there's a feeling of awe, of reverence, gratitude and joy in every stroke of the painting. Most of all, there's love. Not for a distant patron or a guiding force, but love for a friend or family member who offered help in a dark hour.

"I was thinking of calling it Beloved. Unoriginal but..."

[Marian Hawke]

"Yes," says Marian softly, staring at the painting. "Beloved."

[Haliel Lightsong]

"I tried to... paint her as best I could remember," Haliel says quietly, looking at Marian instead of the painting. "She, umm, she's hard to forget but hard to remember too."