Tales of a Child Eternal [NSFW]

[Helene Dakesh]

"Yes. Each is very different in personality, but accumulates wisdom and life lessons from previous incarnations. Dakesh was... very bold. Brash, even. Sometimes called arrogant. He never stopped smiling, but he was strident, always pushing his way through difficult problems."

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran tries to picture Helene as 'brash' or 'arrogant' and comes up completely blank. 'Bold' perhaps, should the cause be important enough but... "Huh."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods. "Toward the end of his life, Dakesh had a canine companion. This one also enjoys dogs very much. Dakesh was attracted to males and females both, as this one is. Dakesh was also dedicated to Alydra above all else, as this one is. He served in a different way, but he served.  He writes with great passion about the spells he has found, much as this one enjoys decoding prophecy."

[Tethras Clan]

"I see. And you are rather good with the mabari. Beka more than Silence, but Silence has never really taken to anyone but Hawke and Merrill all that much," he offers. "I see why it's not quite the same as being you but... younger. Or older."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods. "Dakesh-who-was-Avanti's writings about Avanti-who-was-Eden indicate that Avanti was... also very different from this one. She was similarly bold, or brave perhaps. She was unconventional, a summoner who.. she dedicated her life to the exploration of the planes, to the reclamation of magics that were lost to mortals from the Outsiders. Particularly the Tulwath species. She... Eden lived during the fall of the Sovereignty era, and Avanti was obsessed with restoring what was lost."

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran gives Helene a thoughtful look. "It... it sounds like they both focused almost entirely on... magic and knowledge. Academic knowledge, I should say. Did they not have any time for people? Perhaps that is what this life- incarnation- is for?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"Dakesh had a number of... of known associates. This one is unsure how Dakesh felt about them, as this one only has Dakesh's writings on the matter, but Dakesh and Avanti both wandered far and wide, often alone. Avanti was said to have companions on many of their trips, but they were... often outsiders or part-outsiders, as she preferred the company of outsiders to mortals. Dakesh was much more personable, but... This one does not see indications of long-term partnerships aside from the canine companion."

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran sets down his lemon cake to reach across and squeeze Helene's hand. "I'm glad this you has people who love them," he says softly.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene smiles. "This one is as well."

[Tethras Clan]

He gives one last squeeze before pulling back so they can continue with their snack. "So... you said Dakesh had a mabari? Or some other kind of hound? I assume magical in some way, to have been around as long as it seemed you were implying."

[Helene Dakesh]

"I... am not certain," they admit. "The journal in which he acquired the companion was not recovered. Later texts mention a canine companion called Dogsbody, or sometimes Doggy. It could speak, it seems, which is unusual, but Dakesh referred to it as 'my dog', though he was fond of wry turns of phrase, so this may have been metaphor."

[Tethras Clan]

"That... does not sound like a mabari, no. Or perhaps one that has been Awakened, like some of the companions at the Oak," Zevran muses. "Or perhaps Dakesh was into pet play."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Query," they begin.

[Tethras Clan]

"Hmm? Ah, it's a form of sub/dom play, wherein the sub also pretends to be a pet of some kind, often a feline or canine. The degree of... accuracy and dedication varies greatly of course," Zevran explains with a smile. "Mathias does kitten play if you'd be interested in seeing a scene."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Ah. No. there was reference to fur." A pause, with furrowed brows. "Unless there was a catfolk who was a canine pet. But that would be perverse."