Blood from Stone [AU]

[Helene Dakesh]

"And what words would those be?"

[Varric]

"Mumble mumble trust family mumble mumble different skills and talents mumble mumble ask for help?" The dwarf sounds like nothing more than a sullen five year old being made to explain the scribbles on the wall.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene blushes. "At least ask Carver," ne suggests. "He has grown into a fine young man."

[Varric]

Varric frowns a little, head coming out of his ass due to his concern. "Hey, that made sense. You're completely right about my actions not matching the advice I would give to someone else that matches me."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene flushes a little. "This one is bad at advice. And this one is untrustworthy. But this one worries about Varric."

[Varric]

"You are neither of those two things." He pauses then smirks. "And what advice would you give to Merrill if she said that about herself?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"Focus on strengths, not weakness," says Helene promptly. "This one has many strengths. None are relevant to this conversation, but there are many. This one... Regrets not trusting Varric."

[Varric]

"How about your loyalty? Or compassion? Maybe your devotion or bravery? Those all seem relevant. Or heaps of slag, your mind. Biased maybe, but that always feels central to the conversation."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene smiles. "Yes," ne admits. "Those are all among this one's virtues. Well. Perhaps not the bravery."

[Varric]

Varric raises an eyebrow. "The fourteen broken bones in Bartrand suggest otherwise." Seventeen now. Felt... unneat.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene doesn't smile at that. "That was panic," ne says quietly.

[Varric]

''And yet you reacted appropriately. In adventurers, that's bascially the same thing. Heroes too, I'd say.''

[Helene Dakesh]

"There were many instances where I did not. That was... necessary to save myself. Do not call me a hero for that." Helene's breath catches in nir throat, but ne manages to push out, "That would be the worst thing one could do to this one. This one can think of no worse fate."

[Varric]

''I... yeah. I... uh... one of...'' He takes a slow breath, gaze sliding off to the side. ''One of the curses I was put under was... a lust curse. It...'' He has to pause again to swallow a few times. ''Not... the same but... cousins.''

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene turns away, violently, hand going over nir mouth. Wrong, wrong, wrong is all ne can think for a moment, fighting not to vomit.