Tales of a Child Eternal [NSFW]

[NPCs]

"I cannot, because you did not. I am willing to speak with you, but I am also to pass on a message- after your business is done. Rules."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene starts. "Oh! Ah. This one apologizes -- this one prepared much of their speech in advance," they admit. "This is an acceptable bargain."

They take a deep breath, biting their lower lip faintly. "This one... has deficiencies, as thou art likely aware. This one is suffering from a condition known as 'dream taken', at least, to the best of this one's knowledge. This one has become aware, however, of the similarities between this one's condition and the sufferings of a tulwath dealing with trauma. This one has begun to wonder if... if this one has... impurities of bloodline, or in some fashion otherwise is connected to or related to extraplanar entities."

[NPCs]

The elder studies Helene carefully for a long moment, then says in a very deliberate voice, "I am unable to answer that question."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene blinks at them. "This one... is unnerved by the implications of that statement, but this one understands. This one has a follow-on question that thou might be more capable of answering: is there a purpose or overarching directive to which this one can adhere in order to achieve lessening of this one's symptoms?"

[NPCs]

"Have you ever studied architecture?" At Helene's tentative nod, the Elder smiles. "Very good. How does one create a tower such that it might withstand the rage of HE-" They cough lightly, then continue, "the rage of  Naugrix and yet still touch the hand of Teiris? What principles of material, of design philosophy, must one use?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene blinks. "The classic answer to this riddle is that the architecture must be flexible in order to withstand the quaking of the earth, as a rigid structure will crumble. The less obvious answer is to build a tower in the air, unmoored by the ground below."

[Tethras Clan]

Varric nods, grinning at Helene's... completeness.

[NPCs]

"Very good," the Ancient One replies. "So the approaches you give are flexibility, rigidity and avoiding the problem. Such approaches could be applied to many issues, in fact."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene frowns. "To  be clear, this one could avoid this one's symptoms by adhering to a rigid standard or cause? But this one could also lesson those symptoms by becoming morally flexible? Or by... this one has at times considered modifying this one's self, to remove the problem altogether?"

[NPCs]

"Is the problem your nature? Or the reactions of those around you?" is the even, curious reply.

[Tethras Clan]

"The reactions," Varric says bluntly.

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one's nature," says Helene, at the same time.

[NPCs]

The Ancient One simply blinks quietly, then lifts an earthenware mug to their lips to take a sip of some steaming drink.

[Tethras Clan]

"Helene," Varric says softly. "You've said it yourself- your condition is only a problem when it interferes with your duty. If that can be fixed then there's no reason to... mutate yourself."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Problem is... a broad description," they admit. "This one suffers. This one abides. It is this one's lot in life. But it is not pleasant, being... deficient. It is cumbersome, losing words. It is troublesome, behaving in ways that are not conducive to polite company. And at times, when the world is too loud and too bright, it is painful."