Tales of a Child Eternal [NSFW]

[NPCs]

"...better," Bright Tilge says a little awkwardly. "Well, that's what the rehearsals will be for. Why don't you go wash your hands now so we can have snack?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"Yes, Brightness." She-who-was-Dakesh smiles, a broad, warm smile, then rushes off to wash up.

She-who-was-Dakesh doesn't cause any more trouble the rest of that day; they go through reading practice as usual, silently mouthing words to themself, as though afraid to use their voice, as though afraid to speak out. Normal, for this child. For the least normal child Bright Tilge has ever tutored.

When they practice next for the pageant, however, there is trouble -- though not the kind Bright Tilge was expecting. The pageant is honestly nothing special; it's mostly a chance for the parents to feel proud of their offspring, for the children to practice public speaking in a safe environment. There's no real harm if lines are forgotten or mixed up, and there will be adults strategically placed in every scene to give prompts and reminders if need be. For many, the most fun part is the costume portion: the children are allowed to pick out pieces from the large chest of play costumes that they feel match their role. There's a little corrective oversight: Lidda the Rogue should not be wearing a tiara, for example, because she's not a princess, maybe you should pick a sneakier hat, what hat says 'sneaky' to you? Small things, intended to instruct the children as to what each role is like, so they can practice a variety of types of people and decide who to be when they grow up.

But She-who-was-Dakesh...

The child was assigned to the role of the innkeeper's wife, the one who takes in the injured adventurers and protects them through the thunderstorm halfway through the play.  This is usually not a speaking role; their job is to usher the party offstage so the set can be changed, but a line can be added, something small and simple. They were instructed to find something maternal and practical, something for someone who works with their hands and raises children. They have chosen... well. Leather trousers are practical, after a fashion, but fit more with Lidda than someone like the innkeeper's wife. The dangling rhinestone earrings are more suitable to a formal ballgown than to the leather pants. The heavy work gloves simply do not suffice at all. And the waistcoat, the pocketwatch? At least those things go together, if not on this outfit.

[NPCs]

"Child..." Bright Tilge says slowly, kneeling next to her as is his customary start to a private talk with a child. It helps with most of them, not forcing them to crane their neck, not looming over them. Puts them at ease, at least a little. "Can you... Can you explain why you picked what you did for your outfit? And remember to practice," he adds quickly, in what's becoming a new habit just for this one child. Any chance he can, he's reminding her to speak using 'I' and 'me' in order to 'get more practice for the play' in the hopes she'll get used to it.

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one..." they begin, hesitant. Shy. "This one felt, the innkeeper's wife is practical, so she--" She-who-was-Dakesh shakes their head. "She would say, I am practical, I do not wish my knees to get scuffed when I scrub the floor, so I will wear leather trousers. She would say, here," as they touch the gloves, "I do the wash, I do not wish my hands to get wrinkled, I will wear gloves. She would say here," they touch the earrings, "I am a woman, I wish to wear pretty, glittering things. And she would say," as they touch the waistcoat, "I am fashionable, I wish to wear things that are lovely." 

[NPCs]

None of that is... wrong, just... not right. "Well.. it's true the earrings are very pretty, but they're also expensive. An innkeeper's wife couldn't afford them, not if they were real gems. And we're supposed to pretend they're real for the play, remember? The trousers... are fine. The gloves are too heavy, she'd need to be able to use her hands. And she'd be used to having her hands be wrinkled so she wouldn't mind." He pauses a moment, trying to figure out the best way to explain that last part. "As for the vest and watch... well, those are a bit fancy for her social class for one. But they're also more suited for the innkeeper himself, not his wife."

[Helene Dakesh]

She-who-was-Dakesh nods along with the description, right up until the end. They pause, then, staring up at Brightness, frowning with that intense look of concentration he's seen when they are learning something new, something challenging. They are paying close attention, he knows, but...

"Explain, please." 

[NPCs]

"Well, it's an unfortunate truth that resources are simply not plentiful enough for everyone to have access to everything," the priest tries to explain. "Working together, in a community, is our best chance for harmony and prosperity, but not everything can or is shared equally. Some people have harder or more dangerous jobs and they make more money because of that. Or sometimes they get money from their parents. This allows them to buy more expensive things, like the earrings. It can be really complicated, but you'll get it in time." I hope that's enough for now, I'm not sure how well I can explain fiances and the economy to a child...

[Helene Dakesh]

"Understood. The-one-who-was-Dakesh has fewer resources than Brightness. Is the innkeeper's wife in a situation with fewer resources than the innkeeper also? Does this garment require resources like the jewelry does?" That is... Quite a few big words actually, for their age group. And wait, what was that name? The child had never uttered the name Dakesh aloud before.

[NPCs]

"Ah, yes, the vest is a bit fancy for a villager, aside from perhaps the mayor or the most successful of merchants- sorry, child, who is Dakesh?" the Bright asks, frowning slightly.

[Helene Dakesh]

"Dakesh was...." The child takes a deep  breath, averts their eyes to the side, fidgets. "This one was Dakesh before this one was this one."

[NPCs]

She was.. oh. right. Lothan mentioned this. Samasarns don't die like other mortals, they get... washed clean of the past life and are reborn. Which is... slightly disturbing but the gods must have their reasons. She'd mentioned that the girl might have a few snippets of the past but... "You... remember who you were? Before... this life?" he asks carefully.

[Helene Dakesh]

They nod. "It is... the way of things. This one was Dakesh. This one is no longer Dakesh. This one does not recall being Dakesh, but this one was."

[NPCs]

...right. That's... I should talk with Lothan soon about this, just in case. "I see," he says out loud in a neutral tone. "Does that mean you want to be called Dakesh? Or something else?"

[Helene Dakesh]

They shake their head. "This one has no name. This one is The One That Was Dakesh, but that is this one's description, not this one's name." 

[NPCs]

Of course. "Well... keep thinking about a name, okay? But in the meantime, would you like to try again with your costume?"