Tales of a Child Eternal [NSFW]

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one tries to be useful," they manage, with only a slight stammer.

"Aww, how cute!" says Tamika. "She must be wicked smart to have skipped ahead. Like one of those genius kids?"

[NPCs]

"Tami! Sorry, but I have to stop you there- see, Helene prefers 'they' and 'them' instead of he, she and stuff. That sort of thing makes them uncomfortable," Cybil says dramatically. "We have to be accepting of others' differences, remember? Helene is a wonderful person, unique and special, and that should be celebrated and applauded!"

[Helene Dakesh]

The more Cybil talks, the more Helene seems to shrink into themself, cheeks burning deep blue. It's not that they don't appreciate Cybil looking out for them -- Cybil is my friend, I'm lucky to have friends -- it's just, do they have to be so... loud about it?

Tamika, on the other hand, nods a few times. "Oh, of course, I totally appreciate Helene." There's something off about her tone, something Helene can't quite place. But the words are correct, so they force a smile onto their face. 

[NPCs]

"Great! So..." Cybil leans in towards Tamika. "What's the deets on Rosh? Did he and Jan really...?" She waggles her eyebrows.

[Helene Dakesh]

"You'll never believe it!" Tamika leans forward, and launches into a long, complex explanation of the teen dating drama and who made moves on who and who was going to ask who to what dance, most of which Helene tunes out. 

They don't feel so good. They're not sure why -- things seem to be sliding away from them, like they can't get a grip on how things are going, on what the words mean. They keep tuning out Tamika, staring down at the table and the forgotten history book, then coming to with a start and flushing a bit as they struggle to catch back up. But... they just... can't. 

[NPCs]

"Oh. My. Ciren. She didn't!" Cybil's voice breaks into Helene's awareness, in large part to the girl also grabbing their arm and shaking it. "Helene, can you even imagine? I would just die! Oh, but are you going to the dance?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene stiffens, words fleeing their mind as they struggle to keep their breathing even. Their hands go still, utterly still, as they desperately try to figure out what the right action is, what the grabbing means, what she wants their arm to do-- but it's just emphasis, there is no right answer, which is somehow even more distressing. They let out a low moan, beginning to rock back and forth, struggling to figure out what to do, how to avoid being punished. 

[NPCs]

"Helene?" Cybil asks, a note of concern creeping into her voice. "Hey, you okay? It's cool, I was just asking, it's fine if you don't want to go..." Looking a little unsettled, she lets go of Helene's arm.

[Helene Dakesh]

They know they need to stop. They need to behave like a normal kid or they're going to be punished. They need to make sense, stop rocking, say something in words, or they might not be allowed to go to school. But the more they try, the more the distress and anxiety bubbles up in them, the less of a grip they have on the situation, the less they can find the words. 

Tamika jumps up, staring at Helene. That signals the teacher to come over, frowning, and bodily lift Helene. "Right, they told me to bring you in if this happens," the teacher says, putting Helene on their feet, starting to march them away. 

[NPCs]

"Hey, what's wrong with h- Helene? Is- is this a fit? Are they okay? What's going on?" Cybil asks, now really starting to panic. Which unfortunately just draws even more attention from everyone towards them.

[Helene Dakesh]

They can't -- they can't. With a screech, they wrench free of the teacher, though the teacher grabs hold again an instant later. They flail, sinking their teeth into the teacher's arm, which finally gets them free. They race for the door, stumbling, desperate to escape, to have this not be happening, to get away. To go back in time, to undo this whole day. To make this work better.

An hour later, they're found in the closet, quietly banging their head against the wall, letting the dark, small space comfort them and help them grasp reality. 

The next day, they're no longer in school. 

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene didn't come upstairs for lunch. 

Still concerned about the water incident, Zevran heads down to the basement, where Helene has been setting up their new library space. He might have expected them to take a break from unpacking to eat, but no -- they are still at it, and in fact, seem to be less unpacked than the last time he checked on them. They've undone a whole bookshelf, and are now putting books back into it, this time in a different order. They mutter softly to themself as they work, eyes half-closed, face intent, entirely unaware of his entrance.

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran smiles faintly, delighted as nearly always by how... earnest Helene can be. He starts to say something, to start coaxing them into eating some of the food he brought down but pauses. He's... fairly certain not, but... Last time I interrupted Merrill when she was this focused and muttering, it set two mannequins on fire and summoned a tiny fog bank in the craftsroom. Rituals are fucking scary. Instead, he finds a slightly out of the way spot and waits for a time when the Seeker appears to merely thinking, instead of moving and muttering. Or if they spot him, that'd work too.

[Helene Dakesh]

They don't seem to notice him, even as he gets closer, so intently focused are they on the books, the bookshelf. They place one more, then step back, observing the finished shelf. Their hands bounce up and down briefly, a small, repetitive flutter of happiness, then they're at it again, going back to find another box.

That's when they notice him, and freeze, eyes on his face, hardly daring to breathe. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Good afternoon, ma bon sage," he says brightly, attention snapping back to present from his idle daydreams. "I've a late lunch slash early dinner, as you seem to have missed breakfast."