Ghost Story

[Varric]

"So add to the cost to bind the debt to me," Varric argues, shifting his weight from side to side. "I get the worry. I do. And I can't promise there's no chance that I get lost again. Nothing is impossible and I've learned better than to make promises like that. But I won't shut you out again."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene pauses a moment, eyes glowing faintly. "There is... an altered ritual," they suggest. "You are not unknown to the deities. It is far from certain, but such things can be, on occasion, used as currency."

[Varric]

"I'm listening," Varric says cautiously, though with far less worry than he would with literally anyone else.

[Helene Dakesh]

"What credit you have stored up for serving Alydra will be gone, but it will be added to Marian's ledger. It may tip the balance in her favor. Or it may do nothing, either being insufficient or superfluous. Only the gods themselves understand the complete workings behind being offered a second chance -- not even their most favored Outsiders are privvy."

[Varric]

"An interesting gamble. The sacrifice of decades of effort, blood and pain, money and opportunities, towards a price so vague that not even the middle-sapient knows if the bid is high or low, much less close." Despite how he describes Helene's offer, the dwarf seems more amused than anything else. "The gods really do like Their tests and riddles, don't They? Almost feel like I should be looking under the table and out the door for Hope and Loss." He shakes his head, setting aside the parallels to the Herald Tale. "No matter; the only reason to stay in this world is to preserve and improve the Clan, one's legacy. One's family. If spending here, or the chance to come back here to be more accurate, does that , well..." He spreads his hands wide.

"Deal."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene smiles, the glow fading as ne takes a step back. "Right, then. Have you parchment handy?"

[Varric]

Varric stares at Helene flatly, arms crossing as a wounded frown spreads across his face.

[Helene Dakesh]

"Yes, yes, alright, of course you have, I'm being a bit daft." Ne grins at him. "Come on, let me show you the circle you'll need."

[Varric]

Sniffing a little to show that ne's not forgiven for the grievously insulting and slanderous question, Varric moves to stand next to Helene. Been far, far too long since we've had a lesson together.

[Marian Hawke]

At first, nothing seems to happen. He feels something small but just barely noticeable change in himself, and then... nothing.

Then, the bones he's laid out lovingly on a plush blanket shift, just a little.

The next few moments are fascinating from an anatomy standpoint. He watches muscle generate from nothing, wrapping itself around the bones lovingly. A layer of fat comes next, as organs nestle their way between the muscles -- not much fat, really, nor all that much muscle. She was a slim thing in life, apparently.

And far less pale than he'd have guessed, he notes, as skin finally covers her. It's nut-brown, her eyes a more vivid green than he'd seen in Emma, her hair richer brown. That makes sense; as a ghost, she was washed out, bleached of color somewhat. Her lips are pale red, not pale pink, and her fingernails stand out against her skin as they sprout from her fingertips.

She takes a breath, then coughs, several times.

[Varric]

He misses some of the last of her renewal, as his ability to deduce logical progression based on historical data is sufficient to the task of predicting the inevitable outcome of this process. As such, by the time her skin is whole and smooth save for a handspan sized white blemish on her chest, he turning back around with a soft cotton blanket already billowing out to cover her.

"Welcome back Apprentice. Ready to stop lazing about and get busy with living yet?"

[Marian Hawke]

She coughs again, shivering a little as she pulls the blanket closer over her body. "Who..?"

[Varric]

"Who me or who you?" He chuckles softly as he studies her face. "Take a few deep breaths. This is a big shock to your system." What with suddenly having a system and all. 

[Marian Hawke]

"I-- I don't--" she manages, taking a deep breath and then another. Come to think of it, should she recall her time as a ghost? Or is that time lost to her now?

[Varric]

She damn well better, or he'll be having words with at least two of the Heptad. They gods can have his faith, but damned if he'll give them unquestioning acceptance. "There you go. Deep breaths. You're safe, you have time to collect yourself."