Tales of a Child Eternal [NSFW]

[Helene Dakesh]

"Ah."

They take a deep breath, letting it out. "This one was tortured."

[Marian Hawke]

"I remember," says Hawke, her voice soft -- but with almost a note of warning in it. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Yes. The ally of... who I was made from maimed you," Mia freely confesses. "Humiliated and hurt you. I assisted in stopping this, but only when the timing suited my purposes." 

Varric looks at Hawke intently, watching her carefully. "Let's let them work this out," he says quietly, firmly, to his daughter.

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke swallows, but speaks up anyway: "I'm not sure rehashing all this is useful." 

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene flinches, taking half a step back. "Understood."

[Tethras Clan]

"For you maybe. But it seems like they need to talk. How about you go check on your room, make sure I remembered to change out your sheets," Varric says carefully.

[Marian Hawke]

Hawke tries to think of an excuse to stay, to manage the situation. Failing that, she tries to think of a way to insinuate to Mia what not to say. Damn damn and double damn. 

She sighs, hangs her head, and heads out of the room without another argument.

[Tethras Clan]

The hells was that about? Varric thinks with noticeable worry.  Mia, meanwhile, simply continues to sit there. Patiently. 

[Helene Dakesh]

"Th-this one," they begin. "This one is not... comfortable with devils."

[Tethras Clan]

"Good," Mia says firmly. "That is wise."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Why are you here?" they blurt.

[Tethras Clan]

"...here in this room, tonight, or with Hawke?" Mia asks after a moment.

[Helene Dakesh]

"Tonight."

[Tethras Clan]

"Sage zi'Hawke wished to have dinner with her father, as she intended to ask him for business advice. She also wished to spend time with me and allow Claudia to spend time alone with her boyfriend," Mia says promptly. 

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene takes a deep breath, lets it out. "This one understands, rationally, that you are no more... that one... than this one is Dakesh. And yet, this one's fear is irrational."