Tales of a Child Eternal [NSFW]

[Helene Dakesh]

They breathe deeply, closing their eyes to focus on the smells, the sounds, the feel. And then, suddenly, the words come back: "I wish to serve Alydra. I wish to be useful. I am small and weak, but I wish to serve."

[NPCs]

Words. Words are good, yes. Good. "You wish to serve THEY-THAT-IS-ALYDRA... A valid choice, but, of course, not the only choice. There are many gods, and and many paths to walk towards them. Do none other interest you? Is service all that there is?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene's eyes shoot open. "Th-thi-this o-one-- please, this one can be of use!"

[NPCs]

"That is not the matter of debate- the intelligence, devotion and integrity of Helene-Who-Was-Dakesh is not in question. Those values are known. The matter of debate is how they should be applied. You could give yourself to HE-THAT-IS-BASTION and receive healing and mercy. You could swear to CE-THAT-IS-JUNON and find rule and order. HE-THAT-IS-ZANON would guide your path to a better self. Many are your options. What choice will Helene-Who-Was-Dakesh be content and pleased with in five decades. Ten? Twenty?" The Ancient One lightly tosses a few handfuls of bread into the water as they speak. "Take a moment and think. Time has no meaning in this place."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene shakes their head. "This one is for Alydra. This one has always been for Alydra. This one swore. Alydra will not reject this one." That last sounds more like a plea than a statement.

[NPCs]

"No rejection is made. But service must be a choice. If one cannot consider another path, then there is no choice. Even the gods must follow rules."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene turns their gaze to the duck pond. "There is always a choice. This one chooses Alydra."

[NPCs]

Fine... I suppose that I shall simply have to return once again, to offer once again. "As you wish. THEY-THAT-IS-ALYDRA does not refuse the service of one such as yourself given in good faith." Need to do something... but I cannot interfere too much with their development. "Remember that even the greatest story is nothing if the book it is held within is treated too poorly."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene gazes at the pond, flushing slightly. The book... They had thrown a tome of tales across the room several days before, damaging the edges of the hardcover tome. This one will behave better. for Alydra. "Understood."

[Helene Dakesh]

Later that evening, as Helene and Varric put together more plans for the golem defenders of the Clan Babies, Helene abruptly asks, "Beinn Varric? This one has questions about previously gathered data."

[Tethras Clan]

Was kind of expecting some heavy talk tonight (yay). "Can't promise good answers but I always have an answer," he replies easily.

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one has been instructed to gather data about the emotions of mortals," they begin. "But this one does not understand the emotion this one felt earlier. This one felt as though this one ought to be cruel to the tulwath that visited, as this one desired for them to desist speaking with Beinn Varric in the manner in which this one speaks to Beinn Varric."

[Tethras Clan]

Varric coughs lightly, as his greater social interaction allows him to identify the emotion they're describing. That's... interesting (also flattering and a little intimidating). Should help them work it out, not just label it. "Well... Was it- not, no biasing," he corrects himself.  "Can you discern any of your motivation for this? Why did you want her to desist?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"This... one..." they begin, flushing faintly. "This one is unsure," they conclude. "This one had many erratic thoughts. This one did not like the similarities between that one and this one. This one did not like that one's manner of speech. This one felt that it was perhaps mockery or.. or perhaps... perhaps they wished to replace this one."

[Tethras Clan]

"The hurt and attendant desire to be cruel was likely born primarily from that first, the possible mockery." He pauses a moment, then adds, "from what I can tell, Mia did that to try and mimic you, but not to mock you. She doesn't know the rules for interaction with her new... existence. I've noticed her mirroring a lot because of that, I think. Why did you think she wanted to replace you? In what way?"