Tales of a Child Eternal [NSFW]

[Helene Dakesh]

"Don't have." The child shakes their head once more before adding, quieter: "yet." 

[NPCs]

Grower Lothan frowns slightly, trying to recall what she's read about the girl's race. "Just... appeared or whatever it is that your kind do then?" she asks slowly. She pauses, then shakes her head. "Come on, let's get you to the church. Some warmth and wholesome food before we get to questions."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Food!" This interests the child; their stomach growls at the thought of it. 

[NPCs]

"Seems like most children alright," the butcher says with a laugh. "Both of mine sound just the same after playing outside for too long."

The priestess laughs as well, nodding. "Come along, lass. Le'ts get you warm and fed."

[NPCs]

Grower Lothan doesn't press the child while they eat, allowing them to eat a half dozen tiny bowls of mostly legume stew, along with two tall glasses of milk. They're not sure how long it's been since they ate a real meal and it's best to make sure they pace themselves, the priest figures. Food consumed and a warm (albeit far too large robe) ensuring Helene is nice and warm, the Valshathite pushes over a footstool and takes a seat in front of Helene's comfortable sofa chair so they're roughly eye-level.

"You said you don't have a name, lass? Do you mind if I call you Lumi for now?" she asks, providing a very common elven nickname for little girls that's a shortening of the word for 'shining.'

[Helene Dakesh]

Something in the child rebels, not so much against the name, but against the idea of the name. "No," they say firmly.

[NPCs]

Grower Lothan blinks, a bit surprised. Few children would mind a nickname, particularly at her age... though I suppose none of the children I've met were samasarn. Having only a handful of mentions and a story or two isn't a lot to work with. "Any particular reason?" she probes curiously.

[Helene Dakesh]

How to express? They wanted the right to name themself, to be self-determined. To pick a name that would embody their aspirations in life, rather than simply being convenient. Also, they do not yet speak Elven. 

"Not me." 

[NPCs]

"It... doesn't fit you? Is that what you mean? Is there something else you'd prefer to be called?" she asks. It's so hard to tell what age she is... she looks... perhaps five? Six maybe? And her vocabulary and speech are a behind that yet her sense of self seems advanced on some ways. Fearless as well, though that could be naivety.

[Helene Dakesh]

The child's head shakes, in a natural negative gesture. "Not yet. Don't have name. Am new." A frown, as if in deep contemplation; then, "I am new." The child nods, clearly pleased with the reformulation. 

[NPCs]

Am.. new? As she... "How... recently were you... born?" Lothan asks, fumbling the words a little.

[Helene Dakesh]

"Light and dark-- days," they say, feeling out the vocabulary. "Days and days. Just before the snow." The snow has clung to the ground for a few weeks, but it's still pretty early in winter. Maybe a month ago?

[NPCs]

Her ability to talk seems to be improving rapidly. Almost like she's just... stretching stiff muscles, not learning it. I suppose she's not as far behind- if behind at all- in that as I first thought. "I... see. then what shall we call you until you pick a name?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Another pause, as if looking for words. "Child?" 

[NPCs]

"Well... yes, but that's just... a description really, not a name. Unless you'd be fine with Fille? Elven for a female child?" Lothan suggests. She's really the only one in Oakbridge that speaks elven proficient so it wouldn't be too awkward.