X. [Audio][Filtered to the Kirkwall contingent]

[leaporfall]

Bethany's gone. I hadn't seen her since before the whole - Labyrinth fiasco, so I went to check that noteboard, and she's been sent home.

[There's a pause, and a faint hitch of breath before she continues, voice just a little too determinedly level to be credible.]Which is probably for the best, really. Kirkwall at its worst still doesn't have

Comments

audio.

[doesnotbrood]

[It's simply quiet at first.] Marian...I am deeply sorry. [And he's sad too, now.] Where are you?

audio.

[leaporfall]

It's not your fault.

I-- Not far. Just on the edge of the market.

audio.

[doesnotbrood]

I...don't have much to offer in the way of comfort, but what I have, I will share. I'll be to you soon.

audio.

[leaporfall]

Thank you. [There's a hint of something almost like surprise beneath the gratitude there.]

[audio]

[shieldwall]

Marian, I'm sorry... [Aveline didn't know the girl all that well... she hadn't survived in her timeline, but she felt for her friend.]

You're probably right, it's safer for her to be back in Kirkwall. [As odd as that sounded.]

[audio]

[leaporfall]

Strange to say that, isn't it? [There's a sound that might be a laugh, though it's decidedly lacking in humour.] I suppose if there's one bright side to all of this, it's that home won't look quite as chaotic when we finally get back.

[audio]

[shieldwall]

It is. [Her own voice sounds a little wistful.]

Unless we don't remember any of this when we return. Then it will seem exactly the same. [She says this almost jokingly, but there are some things she's experienced here that she wouldn't mind forgetting...]

[audio]

[leaporfall]

Is it bad that I'm actually not sure which possibility would be the better one?

...I suppose, if we all got out, I could be content to forget.

[youallneedme]

[ With everything that has been going on- with what's happened between him and Anders... And now, to lose Bethany on top of everything... ]

I know. I looked for her in the house when I got back- to see if she was safe... but...

[ He sighs very heavily. ]

At least she will no longer be subject to this place, and it's games.

[leaporfall]

And that's something we have to hold on to.

[She pauses for a moment.]

Garrett. I'm sorry.

[youallneedme]

You needn't apologize, Marian. You couldn't have done any more than I. And it would be selfish of both of us to think otherwise.

At least we both know that somewhere she lives. [ Trapped in Circle or no. ]

[leaporfall]

I've a feeling that's one sort of selfishness to which we're both prone.

[audio]

[spiritessence]

[The feed's been running for a good few seconds before Anders finally speaks.]

Marian, I'm...sorry. [He doesn't know what else to say past that, considering what happened where he came from.]

[audio]

[leaporfall]

It's not your fault. She's - she'll be all right. Better than here.