Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Varric]

"Most of the time? Blind luck and being damned good at thinking on their feet mostly," Varric muses. "Helps that they breed rapidly and grown quickly. Watching the twins grow in just a short few years has been... astounding works, I suppose."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods. "This one envies them, sometimes, how quickly they grow."

[Varric]

Varric winces a little. "Yeah, I can... see why. If you don't mind... how old are you, exactly? My best guess is... one hundred to one thirty?"

[Helene Dakesh]

They blink. "This one is impressed. This one has not aged since this one was merely thirty-five. This one has lived one hundred fifty five years."

[Varric]

"Impressed? I was off by a full deviation of mean," Varric protests. Well, half a year short of a full deviation. "Just a trick anyway. I know when you got to Nyra, as a full Seeker. Factor in your age grouping, the amount of time needed to gain your rank, a handful of rumors to pin down averages... Add some further hints based on your personality, experiences, behaviors... Hundred and twenty-two myself, if you care."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene blinks. "This one is amazed. Mister Tethras seems so much wiser and more learned than this one."

[Varric]

"Eh, just what I focused on. You know a hells of a lot more in the way of academics. Magic, alchemy, history, local affairs and some mechanical engineering know-how is all I really know well. You've got all that, better than I do mind you, plus you know about religious matters, other planes, biology, wilderness lore, geography and at least a little bit of everything else."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods. "This is to be expected. This one began early. This one was a Seeker at the age of thirty-five, when this one stopped growing. This on practically lived in Alydra's temples after that."

[Varric]

"Right. And I started learning my trade, started being a merchant, when I was fifteen. My mother was a blacksmith and I wanted to help but I never had the knack. So I shadowed her clerk and her accountant for months, learning how to do all the stuff she hated. Didn't start learning-" Varric has to pause, searching for a word that's allowable. "-the more creative stuff until she passed, but the foundation was there."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Hardly the same as being sworn to service, but that is a nitpick," they say with a small smile. "Foundations are foundations."

[Varric]

"Right. My point was just that you shouldn't put down your wealth of knowledge as just... standard. Or unimpressive," Varric explains, smiling a bit himself. 

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods again. "Understood."

[Varric]

"Good," Varric says firmly." Interesting. Getting them talking about something academic, something black-and-white, helps them stabilize (lack of uncertainty?). "Oh hey, I've been meaning to ask- how's that investigation going? About the Light's lost lineage?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"Ah, yes. This one... this one does not have the pieces this one needs. But, this one is getting closer. This one may need to contract with adventurers to obtain the final pieces."

[Varric]

"Oh? What kind of looking into do you need?" Varric asks curiously. "I have a few names, a group or two that I often tap for that sort of thing. Depending on where, how nasty and if they have to be... subtle or not."