Tales of a Child Eternal [NSFW]

[Helene Dakesh]

"The wisdom inside this one is that this life, this body, is wrong." Helene takes a deep breath. "Perhaps that is the lesson for this life."

[NPCs]

"What makes it wrong? That one appears healthy, though perhaps that one's musculature is slightly under average normal. Such is not overly significant." Another bit of bread is feed to the ducks, this one to the adults.

[Helene Dakesh]

"I don't know," they say, frustration leaking out and forcing them into a more informal tone. "Perhaps it is my spirit that is wrong."

[NPCs]

A slow nod. "It shows wisdom to admit that one's first answer might be incorrect. Perhaps this old one could be of help? Describe what is wrong and we might seek a new answer together."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene shakes their head. "I can't put it into words, only-- only-- what everyone sees when they look at me isn't what I am."

[NPCs]

"Hmmm. If one cannot describe the problem, then one must seek more experience. Be exposed to more knowledge, more circumstances, so that one might eventually learn the means of expression required." The elder's hand reaches into the bag, then pauses before withdrawing without any bread. Instead, the bag is taken between two wizened but still strong fingers and held up in silent offer to Helene.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene takes the bag, staring down at it. "This one hates being called, 'girl', or 'miss'," they say quietly. 

[NPCs]

"An improper label is an irritant," the elder agrees. "It misinforms others, constricts the self and taints knowledge with a lie, however benign. What label does this one like for oneself?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene frowns. "But the label is proper. This body is female."

[NPCs]

"That one's shell does appear female," the elder allows, not reacting to the geese's agitation at the halting of their food. "But the shell is only part- the least part- of that one." Lifting their hand, a glossy red apple is shown. "Most would say that the label 'red' is accurate for this object. And this would not be a lie. However..." With a simple twist, the apple's inside is shown, the pale yellow-white flesh revealed.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene, as if by rote, takes some of the bread and shares it with the geese. "The interior of this body is also female," they say, with a small, stubborn frown. 

[NPCs]

"The peel of a mortal is thicker than an apple," the elder allows. "The inner pulp unseen by their own eyes."

[Helene Dakesh]

"If this one's shell and this one's soul do not match, then one or the other is wrong," they say, stubbornly. 

[NPCs]

"Or perhaps this was meant to be as it is. Can that one not think of a reason such might be done?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"To teach this one humility," they say instantly. "Dakesh must have been proud, arrogant, and by putting him into a flawed, broken body, this one will learn to be more humble and kind."