“She hasn’t.” 

We haven’t. 

"Sheltered Circle mage."

Also they've lived in a suburban middle class first world country their entire lives.

“You don’t really have the luxury of being squeamish.” 

He doesn’t sound unkind when he says it. 

"You're right. I just - didn't expect it."

"Then I'm sorry you had to leave a life that idyllic." 

There is an edge of bitterness to his voice, but Anya can hear that it's not directed at her.

"Because mages have such idyllic lives."

Tabs, however, did not hear that.

Anya pokes at her memory, well, her Thedosian backstory.

"It was... very not that. We were sheltered, yeah, but it was -- not a good place. We were scared a lot. Terrified. I spent a lot of time in isolation. For stupid kid stuff. Less blood and violence, but very much not a good life. Different."

Carver grits his teeth at 'isolation'. "Then I hope Tabitha can make it easier for you. I gotta go meet up with Garrett. Take care."

He's turning and gone before Anya can even say anything.

Anya flops on Tabs.

"That was a Time."

"I'm so sorry, Anya, I should've been there for you. I- god, you know me. Try and get me out of bed at a reasonable time and I'm murderous." 

The joke is weak.

"Nah. It's my bad. I got angsty and a little manic and needed to be Out. Found a little spot, but then got caught up by some scam artist and it spiralled from there. Hawke, Isabella and Carver were around and... did their thing. Which we knew was going to be a thing? But the reality of it is. They killed them all. It was terrifying."

Tabs cuddles Anya closer, tucking her head under Anya's chin. "I suppose we should've expected it sooner."

She pets her hair. "Probably. But we dumb bitches. It be known."

"Come and have some tea. It unfortunately does not stop the turn of mortality, but it might...fuck, I dunno. Settle? Something?"

"I do feel kinda nauseous. Also... I kind of want a bath. Or something."

Tabs snuggles closer. "I don't know if we can bath...unless we get a room in an inn somewhere, or go to the Blooming Rose. But we'll find something. I promise."

"Probably a damp cloth will do for now. Especially since we're super broke."

"I think we can manage that." 

Tabs gets Anya settled back inside Merrill's room (the woman herself nowhere to be seen) and organises tea, and a warm washcloth. "I boiled some water and dumped this in it."

"You're a master chef. The best Tabs ever." Anya lets the tea steep and tries to make herself Clean. "Plans for the day?"

"If you're still up to it, we're gonna head up towards Sundermount. Merrill has a place for us to go wild with power."

"Don't think I'm gonna be able to sleep for a while, so that works. Plus, I did some magic before? And it... yeah. I really need to test this bitch out."

Tabs perks up, about to grill her on said magic use, but immediately dials herself back. 

"Yeah, we'll get a chance to stretch our legs too. See how far Sundermount actually is."

Anya notices. "I zapped one of the guys that attacked me. I didn't really mean to? Was sort of a gut-insta-reaction."

"You were just protecting yourself." Tabs cuddles into Anya again.

"With zappy consequences. Not the worst defence ever."