no excuse for this

• Sebastian: Have you heard the Chant of Light?
• Merrill: That's the song they sing at the Chantry, right? It's pretty... but a little repetitive.
• Sebastian: Then you know the story? How Andraste became the Maker's divine bride and convinced Him to offer us a second chance?
• Merrill: Right. But I never understood why she had to die.
• Sebastian: Her mortal husband betrayed her out of jealousy.
• Merrill: But if He wanted her to spread her faith, couldn't she do that better alive?
• Sebastian: The Maker gave us free will. By his betrayal, Maferath showed us that men were not yet worth saving.
• Merrill: I don't know. It's a nice story, but I think it's got some holes.
• ───────
• Merrill: Your armor is very shiny, Sebastian. Doesn't that make you an easier target?
• Sebastian: The Light of the Maker is my armor, Merrill. I am not afraid.
• Merrill: Maybe you could ask Him to make His Light less shiny? Then you wouldn't need as much armor.
• ───────
• Merrill: If your city was stolen, why didn't you just call the guards?
• Sebastian: I'm afraid the matter can't be handled by guards, Merrill.
• Merrill: Aveline could help you! She's very good at making thieves give things back. I think it's because she's so tall.
• Sebastian: This is beyond even Aveline's power, I'm sorry to say.
• Merrill: Are you sure? Have you seen her hit people?
• (If Aveline is in the party)
• Aveline: I can hear every word you're saying.
• ───────
• Sebastian: So what do you believe, Merrill?
• Merrill: Our gods abandoned us long ago. They haven't answered our prayers since the fall of Arlathan.
• Merrill: When we've proven that we're elves again, that we didn't lose everything, they'll come back to us.
• Sebastian: We say the same of the Maker.
• Sebastian: Perhaps they're only different names for the same divine force that created the world.
• Merrill: The Maker wants you to be elves?
• ───────
• Act 3
• Merrill: I've always wondered: how do your Divines choose their names?
• Sebastian: They write all the best sacred names on slips of paper and stuff them in a miter.
• Sebastian: Then the newly elected Divine picks a name out of the hat.
• Merrill: What if she picks a name she doesn't like? Does she have to keep it?
• Sebastian: Of course she does. How do you think we got four Divines named Hortensia?
• ───────
• Merrill: Does your bow have a name? Varric's bow has a name.
• Sebastian: I'm afraid I can't compete with our dear dwarf's... relationship to his weapon.
• Merrill: You could call it Philomela!
• Sebastian: Why would I do that?
• Merrill: Because it reminds me of a woman in the alienage. Skinny, pointed, and always throwing things at people.
• ───────
• Merrill: What does your Chantry do?
• Merrill: I mean, you keep saying how great it is. Anders and Isabela tell me to stay away from it. But what does it do?
• Merrill: Among the Dalish, the Keepers teach the children, preserve our history, perform magic. The priestesses here just... sing.
• Sebastian: The Chantry does many charitable works. It cares for widows and orphans—
• Merrill: Who in the Dalish would just be part of the clan, like everyone else.
• Merrill: I just don't get it.
• ───────
• (After completing A New Path)
• Sebastian: You need to seek atonement.
• Merrill: I know I should've died there, not Marethari. Don't you think I feel guilty enough?
• Sebastian: Guilt isn't a punishment. It's a reminder of the things you haven't set right.
• Sebastian: The only way to shed its burden is to repent with a sincere heart and to rectify your failings.
• Merrill: But how?
• Merrill: The Keeper is dead, my clan lost everything because of me.
• Merrill: There's not enough I can do in this lifetime to make up for that.
• Sebastian: It was your pride that led you to the demon. Admitting what you can't do is a good first step.
• ───────
• Sebastian: What do the Dalish teach about the creation of the darkspawn? I mean the Chant of Light says it was the hubris of magisters trying to compete with the Maker. But you don't believe in the Chant of Light...or the Maker. What do you believe?
• Merrill: Well, we don't get into many details but we're pretty sure it's the humans' fault.
• ───────
• Merrill: It's a good thing you're here, Sebastian.
• Sebastian: Oh? Why do you say that?
• Merrill: You're so shiny! Much better than a torch.
• Sebastian: I did swear an oath to carry the Light of the Maker wherever I go. Grand Cleric Elthina will be so proud.
• ───────
• Sebastian: You know, people generally wear shoes to this sort of affair.
• Merrill: Really? What a strange custom.
• Merrill: Among the Dalish, it is a mortal insult to cover your toenails in the presence of a superior.
• Sebastian: You're kidding.
• Merrill: (Hums)
• Sebastian: She's kidding, right?
• ───────
• Merrill: I'm so nervous! What if I do something wrong and embarrass us? I always do something wrong.
• Sebastian: You'll be fine, Merrill.
• Merrill: But I don't know anything about human manners! What if I use the wrong fork? And then accidentally stab someone with it.
• Merrill: That sounds like the sort of thing that would happen to me.
• Sebastian: Just act annoyed that they bled on your dress. Nobody will even notice.
• ───────
• (While looking for Hawke and Tallis)
• Merrill: I... think we've been through here before.
• Sebastian: Now that you mention it, we have seen that chipped cornice a few times, haven't we?
• Merrill: All right, don't panic! Every other time I've gotten very lost, Hawke has found me.
• Sebastian: Uh, Merrill? I don't think she can rescue us before we rescue her.
• ───────
• (and a bonus Anders convo because I love Sebastian's and Merrill's voices at the end)
• Anders: Go ahead. Say it.
• Sebastian: Say what?
• Anders: I saw you watching me.
• Sebastian: I was looking at the clouds.
• Anders: Don't give me that. I know you've been judging me.
• Anders: You think I'm out of control. How can I claim to speak for mages when I'm half demon myself?
• Sebastian: The one over there looks a bit like a bunny rabbit.
• (If Merrill is in the party)
• Merrill: I saw that too!

Posted 4 months ago With 92 notes