Ghost Story

[Helene Dakesh]

"I'll be back," ne promises. "In the meantime, find your faith again."

[Varric]

Varric winces. "Never lost it." He shrugs a little. "I knew were you went."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Varric." It's chiding, teasing, but it's also a reminder -- ne knows better, now. Ne can see.

[Varric]

"I knew were it was the whole time," he mutters, amused despite himself. Even now (so different!), I have to explain half my jokes (reassuring really). "But I get it. I just..."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Your faith is your own." Helene hesitates. "If nothing else, my creator is now Alydra. So you can worship the one who made me." It's dangerously close to blasphemy, really, but it's a start. 

[Varric]

Varric chuckles softly, glancing over at Emma. "See? Told you ne'd like you. Emma said almost exactly the same," he explains to Helene, just in case ne'd not been listening out of reality at the time. "And that it's not fair to you," he adds.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene blinks, startled. "It... isn't?"

[Varric]

"To put my faith on you like that," he explains. "To act like you're responsible for my worship, or whatever."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Perhaps when I was mortal. But this one is now a Tulwath. This one has been remade and crafted specifically to represent Alydra. This one can stand in for a time as a substitute."

[Varric]

Varric cocks his head to one side, then laughs. "Yeah, I suppose that's true now." And confirms you're already a high ranking tulwath. "But still." He struggles a moment, then sighs. "I need to-- to get over this."

[Helene Dakesh]

"I wish I could stay. I wanted to tell you so much. I met Alydra! But... all I can offer for now is this: Alydra does not view a change of state as a tragedy for a soul. He understands that mortals do, but things are different from the godseat." 

Helene bows, beginning to fade around the edges. "Fare well."

[Varric]

He? He (upack that later when bored) understands? "I love you. No change of state will change that. And-- and tell Alydra I'll be back... soon." He reaches out towards Helene, not enough to touch, just-- just to reach out.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene reaches back, but nir fingers are already fading, and ne can't quite touch him. In a flurry of activity, ne reaches with nir other hand to nir throat; then ne is gone, leaving behind a holy symbol.

The holy symbol. The one Alydra gave Helene when ne first swore nir oaths. 

[Varric]

Varric kneels next to it, fingers just brushing against the polished wood of the icon. After a moment, he laughs softly through the slow fall of tears. "Ne was always better at gifts. Mine were perfectly suited for whoever I gave them to, carefully considered, selected. But nirs? Fumbling, awkward and perfectly heartfelt."

[Marian Hawke]

"Are you okay?" asks Emma, gently. She hadn't wanted to interrupt the heartfelt moment, especially not after Helene indicated nir time here was short -- but she sees no reason to remain silent now that ne's gone.