Ghost Story

[Helene Dakesh]

"At least long enough to give you my summoning name, so you can call me whenever you like." Helene smiles. "This one is now known as [This-one-has-questions]." 

[Varric]

"Now known?" It's a somewhat feeble joke, but it's all his brain can muster at the moment as he reels from all this.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene gives a high, girlish giggle. "This one suspects this one's tulwath name was influenced by this one's loved ones."

[Varric]

"Is that right?" Varric's smile turns a little goofy. "So you-- do you-- You seem to remember me, do you still..."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene reaches out as if to cup his cheek, stopped only by the edge of the summoning circle. "I will always love you, Varric Tethras, in this life or the next or in any form I may take. I love you and I'm so glad you found Emma to be with you."

[Varric]

Varric instantly steps forward, breaking the circle so they can touch. "Helene," he says, voice choked and hoarse. "I love you. So much."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene presses nir lips to his, and he's pleased to discover ne is exactly the perfect height for their lips to meet, their arms to slide around each other. And better yet, as ne slides nir tongue into his mouth, there's no fluids to exchange, just a pleasingly slick surface. 

[Varric]

He kisses ne back for a long moment, but even with the modifications, he doesn't have much tolerance. Breaking off the kiss, he rests his forehead against nirs for a moment. "Emma!" Pulling back, he takes Helene by the hand to tug them over to Emma. "Emma, this is my spouse, my partner, [This-one-has-questions]-who-was-Helene. Helene, this is my apprentice Emma."

[Marian Hawke]

Emma struggles to sit up, reaching out a weak hand for a handshake. "How'dya do?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene shakes Emma's hand, smiling sadly. "Little ghost," ne says warmly. "How much I long to tell thee."

[Varric]

Varric grins broadly, looking almost childlike in his joy. "She's brilliant, Helene. On level with us, I think. And she's got the same hunger to know, to understand."

[Helene Dakesh]

But Helene turns to Varric, that smile still sad. "She is dead. She has to move on to her eternal rest."

[Varric]

"Death isn't always the end of things," Varric counters instantly, a faint edge of desperation in  his voice. "If she's willing, there's a chance she can be brought back. Or, well, there's technically nothing wrong with letting her stay as is. Again, if she's willing."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene reaches up to stroke Varric's cheek. "Nothing lasts forever. Not even undeath. She is not what she once was, and every year that passes she becomes less of herself."

[Varric]

"So we try the former."