Tales of a Child Eternal [NSFW]

[Tethras Clan]

"Nothing wrong with being perverse," Zevran says with a laugh. "Could also be a kitsune. Or someone... dedicated enough to use magic to embrace the role."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Unsexily perverse," they clarify. "It is unlikely."

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran snickers a little. "But now you're wondering about it, aren't you?" he teases.

[Helene Dakesh]

"Unfortunately!" They scowl. "It is.. is.. is illogical for a catfolk to pretend to be a canine. They are a feline. That is... that is perverse, and, illogical, and, and, and wicked!" 

[Tethras Clan]

"Exactly," Zevran purrs, leaning in with a very wicked look in his eyes.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene's eyes widen; their mouth shapes into a little 'o'. 

[Tethras Clan]

"'ello," he says in that voice. A tease, yes, but also an offer, if they're interested in... something other than talk for a bit. It has been some time since their last indulgence after all.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene considers the offer for a moment, deep in thought. Finally, sheepishly, they offer, "Woof?"

[Helene Dakesh]

The Seeker dreamed. 

Helene's dreams were different than the Seeker dreams. They were the usual tangle of images, barely remembered upon waking. Faces of people they knew; strange situations, but ones that were similar in nature to their waking life. Seeker dreams were different, more vivid, slow to fade in the morning.

This one featured, primarily, mud. Not just any mud; a primordial black ooze, sucking them under. They struggled, trying to get free, as the mud coated their fur, their paws, their tail. Then they were under, all the way under, and the world went upside-down and blue, and there was a shark there, grinning as it circled them once, twice, three times. 

Helene recorded the dream carefully in their notebook, underlining the words 'tail' and 'shark', then closed the notebook and went to class. Classes were important, after all. 

When they arrived in the doorway to the little one-room schoolhouse, Lottie was sobbing...

[NPCs]

As Helene gets closer, they can overhear parts of what Lottie is saying to her friends. "Spackie -sob- a puppy and-and-and -sob- bears and wolves -sob- wood -sob- rained all night -sob- what if -sob- drowns?"

"In a puddle?" her pig-tailed friend asks dubiously, causing Lottie to wail louder.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene inches forward, listening intently. Should this one speak up? No. Wait and see.

[NPCs]

There's not much more to learn, alas- Spackie, the girl's dog went missing last night, when the storm caused the fence around her kennel to fall over. Lottie's parents have to work of course- there's not many in the small village that can afford to be without a job, even if it's just raising some limited livestock or doing laundry  for a few other families- so they weren't able to go looking very much this morning. Not that Lottie puts it so... neutrally in her distress.

It looks like if Helene wants more specific information, they'll have to ask themself. Or perhaps they can investigate Lottie's home for clues? Well, after class or quickly during lunch, whatever they decide, as teacher is walking in just now.

[Helene Dakesh]

Class... class was going to be the problem today, it seems. As Helene doodles on their note page, thinking about poor missing Spackie, they barely pay attention to the discussion. Today's lecture is about the founding of Drasslina; the city had been planned, some said by divine inspiration, and laid out such that it gives equal weight to each of the Seventeen in the central area of the city.

"Of course," the teacher was saying, "that causes problems. After all, barely anyone can abide the Loathsome Two. There's always a push to eradicate their temples altogether."

Helene's pencil pauses mid-line. That's not right. They raise their hand, ready to correct the teacher and inform the class correctly. 

[NPCs]

The teacher pauses. "Ah, did you have a question, Miss Helene?" she asks, hiding her resignation and wariness rather well. In regards to the detection skills of children at least.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene pauses, swallowing. "Seeker Helene," they correct softly. "This one is called Seeker Helene. This one noticed misinformation during the lecture and this one was hoping to offer a correction. In Drasslina, there is no strife between factions. There are many worshippers of Bright Deities that also have compassion and can co-exist with Dark Deities, and in Drasslina, the law prevents religious discrimination or crusades within city limits."