The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Varric]

Varric chuckles softly, nodding. ''Yeah, I know those feels. Well, how about you start us off and maybe we can wander around a bit until the Shiniest Ray of Hugs and Puppy Dog Eyes gets back.''

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene begins to talk. This time, it's less intense of a lecture; she simply rambles, bringing up several clever points but conceding where he's got a more logical suggestion. 

The discussion of Aklo morphs into a discussion of Celestial, and from nouns to pronouns, with Helene surprisingly knowledgeable about the ins and outs of various pronouns, many of which most mortals struggle to keep separate. Still, something seems amiss; the more they get into gender and pronouns, the more Helene begins to fumble, stutter, grow quiet. 

Almost as if there's a topic she's dancing around related to genitals, sexual roles, or gender.

[Varric]

During a lull, Varric glances over from his spot sprawled on the ground. ''So... so this was pretty good. Not often I get someone that can both keep up and is willing to give and take on various points. Mind if I do a bit of a topic shift? Kind of a big one, sort of personal?''

[Helene Dakesh]

"Please do," says Helene, eager to get off the topic of pronouns.

[Varric]

I... actually feel a little guilty about how easy that was. ''So... about the center. About... how you were treated,'' Varric begins, feeling like his previously silver tongue has turned clumsy and stiff. ''By Levi.''

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene tenses, giving a small nod to him to continue. Her stomach churns, but she doesn't protest. Not yet.

[Varric]

''His... familiarity with you. With... touching you.'' Varric stares very carefully at the ceiling.

[Helene Dakesh]

"A reward," she says softly. 

[Varric]

Motherfucking gods be damned pox licking ill-forged cross-eyed dumbshit dust-choked ignorant bastard. ''...what... kind of rewards d-did he... what did he do to you, Seeker?''

[Helene Dakesh]

"Caresses on the head or arm. Kisses on the cheek. Hugs." She repeats this softly, in a flat tone, her eyes distant. She does not continue into anything worse. 

[Varric]

''And?'' Varric's voice is tight, just shy of harsh.

[Helene Dakesh]

"Sweets, at times." Helene blinks, shaking her head as she focuses again, looking down at her drawing.

[Varric]

Is... is that it? She isn't giving any tells and she normally does have cues so... ''What... has he ever... indicated there would be... more rewards? Better or... private ones?''

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene tenses, but shakes her head. "No. Seeker Levi... No. Seeker Renaud was... different. He looked at this one with... The look was... Different. But Seeker Renaud was not in charge of me until I bit Seeker Levi. In that time, he and I had only one session of training. Another was scheduled but we left the facility."

[Varric]

Oh. Well... shite. Evidently Crypto the Ancient likes to gamble, particularly double or nothing. Still... if they brought me in, then... same destination, different path maybe? Fuck. ''S-sorry you had to... go through that. Face that. Both things honestly. No-one should be... being touched isn't a reward if you don't want to be touched. And it was pretty damn clear you didn't. Nothing wrong with that either, especially not with the way he- Levi- went about it.''