Blood from Stone [AU]

[Varric]

Varric nods, just a little incline and reset of his head. "Yeah. Bartrand... he would come, often, to... brag. Or maybe gloat. Told me... he wanted me to know, to wonder how much was true and..." He takes a slow breath. "Do... do you want me to read this now or..."

[Helene Dakesh]

"If you like," ne replies softly. "This one suspected you had questions. This one can answer if you prefer to ask."

[Varric]

He forces a smile- it comes easier than he expected. "Well, you went to all this trouble. I'll read this while I ea-" Varric shuts down abruptly, voice cutting off and face going blank as he starts to reach for the papers with his stump and is slapped across the face with the reminder that he can't eat and hold the papers at the same time.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene sits up, worried. "Are you alright?"

[Varric]

It takes a moment to get a response. "Change plans. Can't... You up for reading... Waiting for me to... finish." That... was a step back in verbalisation- a very bad sign.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene slips out of bed, moving towards him, though ne stops a bit away, fingers twisting. "Of course. Whatever you need. Nothing in that is urgent."

[Varric]

I want everyone here and safe and whole and- "Just- maybe- maybe talk... about something. Eat, then I'll read."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods. "Understood. This one had an interesting discussion with the Lord Hand at dinner at the ball -- this one wanted to share the results with you forthwith but this one was unable due to... anyway. This one has been made aware that certain Celestial pronouns are acceptable for mortals to use. This one has been considering changing to the pronoun ne/nem/nir/nemself."

[Varric]

 Ne, nem... That makes a great deal of sense honestly (didn't realize t-n- Helene might want to...). "I can... see why you would consider it. It does seem more accurate a reference for you. What are your thoughts on the matter currently?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one... This one had changed this one's mind, had decided to stick with they/them, because of something Dunswithe said. This one does not wish to live this one's life according to what Dunswithe said any longer. So this one will change pronouns."

[Varric]

"Brave," Varric says softly, eyes rising to met nirs for a moment. "It really does suit you. How does it feel?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one..."

Helene hesitates, shifting nir gaze to the window. 

"This one wrote out sentences, about this one's life. This one chronicled as though this one were writing up an incident report. But this one used ne, nir, nem, when writing it. And this one felt... warm. Safe. This one smiled, and could not stop smiling. This one felt as though sunshine would burst forth from this one's chest. I.. I felt happy."

[Varric]

Oh Helene... "I... I would like to read the stories of nem. I think they would be beautiful stories." You deserve to have had this so very long ago. "Its good, you have this. Do you want me to... help  you inform people or do you wish to do it all in person?"

[Helene Dakesh]

"I will do it. I... I informed Beth and Merrill, when I could not find you to tell you first. Don as well. I was... lonesome, when you were gone. I worried. Please take care not to be kidnapped in the future."

Is that a wry smile? It is!

[Varric]

Varric snorts and offers a similar smile. "Because it was asked of me by my beloved spouse, I suppose I can try." This is... good. Better than brewing even.