Tales of a Child Eternal [NSFW]

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene stumbles, landing on hands and knees, and the pain jolts them, jarrs them from the present. They're falling, closing their eyes, dizzy with vertigo. Breathe, Seeker. Do not fear. Madam Zevvy will protect you. Breathe. 

Slowly, carefully, they pull themselves to a sitting position, cross-legged. They keep their eyes closed, keeping the focus on their breath. Breathe. Let it come. Let the fear fade, and let it come. Remember. Remember.

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran slowly circles the room, moving to block access to the mirror room. "Helene? Please talk to me, what's going on?" he calls back to them as the other being in the room is very quiet and still.

[Helene Dakesh]

Let it go. Trust Madam Zevvy. You're still trying too hard. Let go. Let go.

Helene remains perfectly still for nearly half an hour. Their breathing is deep, even; they're clearly not hurt, clearly meditating or... perhaps praying? When they finally open their eyes, they look around rapidly, clearly searching for something -- or someone, as they seem relieved to find Zevvy. 

[Tethras Clan]

Who has spent the last twenty-six and a half minutes prowling like a caged animal in front of Helene, eyes never once leaving the canine creature. Hearing the faint sounds of movement behind him, he steps backwards rapidly to get more distance, then glances partially to the side. "Helene! What's going on?" he demands, tone just a whee bit hysterical.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene sighs, clearly relieved. "Dogsbody is mine." Their voice comes out strange -- a little too deep, a little too firm. "Little scamp." 

[Avato (Patchwork Bloke)]

"Dakesh-Who-Was-Avanti?" the being asks, voice shaking with desperate hope.

[Tethras Clan]

"...query: this one would like to know what the fuck is going on?" Zevran snaps, fingers creaking as he tightens his grip around his twin weapons.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene jumps, then, and the sudden confidence is gone. "A-ah! Th-th-this one is-- This creature belonged to Dakesh-who-was-Avanti. The, the, the canine creature in the journals. This one could not access those memories because this one was looking for a dog. But this is no dog. This is an eidolon."

[Tethras Clan]

"A... what? What's an eye-dole-ann?" Zevran asks, slowly calming as Helene continues to speak. And acts like his Helene again.

[Avato (Patchwork Bloke)]

"A summoned being, an outsider reforged for a mortal's lifespan by way of a deep bond with their summoner," the being, evidently Dogsbody, tries to explain, staring at Helene with a look of near rapture.

[Helene Dakesh]

"Yes," agrees Helene. "Avanti-who-was-Eden was this creature's summoner, if this one recalls correctly? Dakesh-who-was-Avanti was studying it." A frown. "Them? Or does the creature prefer he?"

[Avato (Patchwork Bloke)]

"I... think I'm male?" Dogsbody offers after a moment, sounding uncertain. "Dakesh seemed to think I was? Am? I don't recall if I was before however. Or... he is fine." He pauses. "...should I ask about the two of you? Is that the custom in this city? It's been almost a hundred years since I was in Nyra..." he muses.

[Helene Dakesh]

"The... custom?" Helene frowns. "To what is that one referring?"

[Avato (Patchwork Bloke)]

"Asking if people prefer 'he' or 'them' when you met them," is the puzzled reply. "Oh dead, I didn't do that when we... I do apologize, most profusely, truly I do." Rising to his feet, he dips into a fairly good bow.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene shakes their head. "This one was inquiring as to the gender of that one, as the usual terminology does not always apply to... "

They frown, tensing. "Is that one a Pavitra? Or a Tulwath?"