Imprints in Stone [AU]

[NPCs]

That gets another wince, this one more obvious. "I... yes. That's fair," she admits. "Being an orphan is often hard. And Merrill is a foundling on top of that- she was found by some hunters in the woods, at a campsite with no sign of her parents or anyone else, barely two years old if that. Nothing was every discovered about her origins, I'm afraid and... well, people will make up their own facts if there is not a real truth to be found."

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one was a foundling once. This one does not have parents, in the way of the Samsaran people. This one recalls what it was to be raised in a small village with no connections to any of the people therein. This one would not wish that on an enemy."

[NPCs]

Looking older, frailer, than before, Marethari nods. "She... it was... okay, at first. People speculated, of course, but mostly to themselves and rarely was it negative. But when Merrill was sixteen, people started noticing she would watch things no-one else could see, talk to things- objects, trees, even just locations, as if they were people. Full conversations, as much as one as young as she was could manage anyway. People assumed she was playing at first, but she clung to it. Became combative, even hostile, over the matter. I eventually witnessed one of these conversations myself and was able to determine she was conversing with a spirit, a conceptual manifestation of the elm tree. Almost like a pale shadow of an outsider in some ways, not any form of undead. But the damage was already done," she concludes sadly. "And it got worse from there. Already different, this pushed her even further from the other children, causing her to throw herself into her shamanic powers. Eventually she attempted to commune with a spirit far too complex and powerful for any mortal mind."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene goes still.

It's a subtle thing; they're not prone to a lot of motion in the best of times, as they tend to hold themself stiffly, formally. But now that he knows what to look for, Varric can see the stilling of their body, almost a sense of holding their breath (though they do take little, shallow breaths). Their hands freeze in place in their lap, tension writ across the muscles of their arms. They look at nothing, at the edge of the table or perhaps the stove beyond, frozen, waiting. Concentrating.

"Understood," they say, their voice tight, small.

[Varric]

Varric reaches over to rest a hand on their arm but stops himself, recalling they don't get much comfort from touch. Instead, he tries something different: he takes the hem of their sleeve in his finger tips, causing a light pressure on their arm but not touching them directly. "Sounds like that could go really badly," he says lightly, looking directly at the elf, almost daring her to comment on Helene's behavior. 

[NPCs]

And she did notice of course, but either doesn't feel like pressing or simply thinks it's not her place to do so. "Correct. Merrill's mind was shattered, badly. She was young enough, strong enough, to recover for the most part but... she still bares the scars of it. Trouble concentrating, a slightly non-mortal point of view similar to some aasimar and tieflings, a disjointed attachment to her body and general... flightiness, I suppose." Marethari sighs softly, eyes closing. "I do care for it, even if... I am not a... emotional woman. I never wished for children of my own, nor do I consider myself particularly maternal. In addition, my duties and responsibilities an Elder prevent me from doing as much as she needs. Nevertheless... I worry about her a great deal. I've done what I can to help her but it's not enough and I do not know what else can be done. I cannot make the others accept her."

[Helene Dakesh]

"No," whispers Helene, their voice a barely audible croak. "One cannot make anyone accept differences."

[Varric]

Voice low and speaking in auran, Varric suggests, "ask to use the restroom."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene takes a deep breath, then nods. "This one-- this one must be excused for-- please excuse this one. This one will return." That's all they can manage before they slip from the chair, heading toward the restroom at a brisk walk.

[Varric]

Varric engages Marethari in small talk, cutting off any chance of them trying to ask about what was wrong with Helene. The dwarf naturally guides things towards trade, though he teases out more than a few details about the village, mostly about their culture and treatment of 'outsiders.' All in all, you couldn't pay me to live here, not even in diamonds. Probably some good folk here, sure (Marethari isn't bad, just a bit passive and tired) but damn most of the people here are assholes. Maybe it's a good thing Malcolm didn't (try to) get his kids after Golden Shores was wiped out. They'd not have done well here (gods, probably run away inside a month). This continues for some time, until Helene is ready to rejoin them.

[NPCs]

"My apologies if I offended or... upset you Seeker. I just... I suppose I do not often get the chance to speak on the matter with someone that has not already judged," Marethari bows to them, the gesture very similar to Helene's own.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene returns the bow, deepening it slightly over where Marethari did. "This one apologizes. This one was reminded of unpleasantness in the past. This one would do what this one can to assist Merrill while this one is in the vicinity."

[NPCs]

"Thank you," Marethari says with notable relief. "I... Well, it seems that your young ones have that well in hand," she notes with amused surprise as they watch Merrill drag Carver out of the house, an energetic babble about puppies surrounding them. She frowns after a moment. "Though I am... I do not mean to insult the young man, he's proven his valor and nobility, just... Merrill is... impressionable and..."

[Varric]

"Crushing on Carver like a maiden in a bard's tale? Yeah, noticed that. I noticed it. But Carver's even denser about romance, he probably won't even notice her adoring looks and soft sighs," Varric assures her.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods. "Carver is similarly atypical. He is slow and methodical, and struggles to understand emotions and social interactions. He is also, however, impulsive, and prone to blurting out the first thing that comes to mind. But he is gentle and earnest. If he missteps, he is likely to correct it on his own. There is little to fear in that respect."