Tales of a Child Eternal [NSFW]

[Tethras Clan]

"That sounds very much the opposite of silly," Zevran says flatly. "That sounds rather like wisdom. And common sense."

[Helene Dakesh]

"It seems obvious. All are frightened of sceleratis, this one is no exception. But this one is... perhaps exceptionally frightened?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Again with wise? Helene, my love, you were kidnapped and tortured by a sceleratis- that is... a perfectly reasonable, ah, reason to be afraid of them," Zevran says gently.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene frowns. "So was Hero zi'Hawke," they point out.

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran sighs softly. "And she's terrified of them too. The only difference is that she feels like she has to hide that fear, to be brave for us. And for herself."

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one has been brave today," they say softly. "This one helped."

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran lifts their hand to his lips and gently kisses their palm. "Tell me about it?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one was called to assist with Lady Coquette and her friends in tracking down the sceleratis, which we now believe to be a succubus or a lilin." Succinctly yet accurately, they sum up the events of that morning, including the scrying attempt and the fact that they kept the image drawn of the hobgoblin. "This one has asked Hero zi'Hawke to speak to Tulwath Mia about the plot, but Hero zi'Hawke is not hopeful she will reveal more. She has previously let slip that Lord Blaquin, who is Lady Coquette's father, may be involved."

[Tethras Clan]

"...convenient and yet also both annoying and terrifying," Zevran murmurs. "Are you interested in cuddling or just hands?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"hands, please," they say, without much hesitation.

[Tethras Clan]

"Hands it is then," Zevran replies with just as little hesitation, though not without some regret. Cuddling would be nice right now. "Do... do you know anything else? About the tattooed hobgoblin?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene shakes their head. "This one estimated some of the tattoos purposes, as this one said, and suspects two are missing from the sketch, for balance reasons."

[Tethras Clan]

Balance? If you say so, mon sage amie. How you- or Hawke or Varric, I suppose- can keep all that straight in your head amazes me. "I see. I... I am afraid I know little of how these work," he admits. "I can give you the name and location of where mine were done but..."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods. "This may help."

[Tethras Clan]

"A very old aasimar, nearly blind with age," Zevran murmurs. "Bald, skin wizened, pale white tinged with hints of rose. Long, thin but still very strong fingers. He didn't use needles. Instead, he would make tiny, shallow cuts, over and over again, then dribble in this chalky blue liquid. He liked to use the knives for... Only part of his pay was in gold. Denny only addressed him as Inker. I'm not entirely sure where his workshop was- north of Glaley, far north, on the coast."