The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Varric]

Varric hums softly, tapping his leg slowly. "I must have missed the memo."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Perhaps?" hazards Helene. 

[Varric]

"About Alydra adopting Sirena's guidelines for personal interaction," Varric explains blandly.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene sits up, indignant. "What?!" she squeaks. 

[Varric]

"You being Aldyra's slave. Or tool even, as even slaves can have friends."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene hesitates, then slumps a little. "This one is unique. This is known. This one does this one's best to serve. This is the only thing of importance in this one's existence, as it ever has been. Varric is not like this one. Varric did not belong in that place, and Varric has more potential than to serve. This one does not."

[Varric]

"...huh."" At her look, he shrugs. "Sorry. Just making a mental note of that. I like to keep lists and such in my head and I wanted to update my list for 'dumbest things a smart person has said' before I forget."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene lowers her gaze. "As you like," she says softly. 

[Varric]

"Se- no. Helene-who-was-Dakesh. Look at me."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene flinches back from her name a little; it takes her a moment, but she finally raises her head, looking him square in the eyes. Her pupil-less gaze is unnerving to most mortals; the intensity in it, coupled with the alien, nearly extraplanar nature of her eyes lends her an unsettling quality. Perhaps that's why she rarely meets anyone's eyes?

[Varric]

"None of us are the equal of Alydra. I get that. Hells, I'm glad of it. Being a god, being a Heptad... couldn't pay me for it. And that means none of us can have the same bond you share with Them. But that doesn't mean we can't have a bond with you as well. You can have friends. Marian tried, chained as she is by her past. Shiny is certain you are friends, though she's likely feeling hurt and disappointed in you for not helping. Still, she'll forgive, that's just her nature." He leans in a little, fighting to keep his eye contact steady. It's gotten easier over the years, but it still takes just a little focus to remember to do it. 

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene refuses to look away, refuses to blink, though her stomach twists, her heart pounds in her chest. The closer he comes, the worse it gets -- heart pounding, mouth dry. She swallows, keeping eye contact, refusing to back down. 

"This is not my concern. This is not my fight." Her voice is a dry whisper, but a level one.

[Varric]

"Then make it your concern. Unless They forbade it... why not? Take the chance. Reach out and help."

[Helene Dakesh]

Now she looks away, down to her papers, as if considering picking up the quill she's dropped only moments before. "It is not for the likes of me. This one was made for research, for discovering knowledge. Wanting more... wanting more is the sin that will lead to my downfall. Wanting what I cannot have. Wanting to be what I cannot be. It is the wanting that causes the most pain."

[Varric]

Just as she looks down, so does he. Though in his case, he's casting his eyes down in prayer. Seriously Greybeard? Not the only game piece you shuffled around in this, am I? Prick. "Helene... The only thing stopping you from having friends is you thinking you can't. You can. You do. Already."