The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene hesitates a moment, then gives a jerky, awkward nod. 

[Marian Hawke]

Marian steps closer to Varric, whispering, "What happened? Is she okay? Am I fired?"

[Haliel Lightsong]

Lightsong's smile brightens with golden warmth and she reaches out to gently rest her fingers on Helene's forearm. A wave of pale gold light flares and washes over Helene, enveloping nim in a sense of compassion and optimism, the feeling that that help will always come. ''There we go. How do you feel?''

[Varric]

''We were essentially kidnapped- me more than her- tortured- her more than me- and then escaped. So not really and that depends on what you did, doesn't it?''

[Marian Hawke]

"Kidnapped?" she whispers, horrified. "Tortured? She told me she was going to a healer!"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene stretches out nir arm, twisting it a little, opening and closing the fingers, then gives a short nod. 

[Varric]

''Yeah, well, even healers can be sadistic bastards,'' Varric growls, then sighs. ''That wasn't a hospital. It was... behavioral conditioning. Closer to shit I've read about slave training than any kind of healing I'm aware of.'' He flexes his hand, tightening the muscles of his arm to test it.

[Haliel Lightsong]

''Are you still hurting anywhere?'' the paladin asks softly. ''I can heal more, if you need it. Or... if there's anything else I can help?''

[Marian Hawke]

"But.." begins Marian, hesitantly. But she seemed to go willingly. Did I... was she being coerced? Should I have seen that?

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene doesn't respond, looking at the far wall, silent. Distant.

[Haliel Lightsong]

''Seeker Helene?'' Lightsong repeats softly, gently increasing the pressure of her fingers agaisnt nir arm. 

[Varric]

''They have a real slick set-up. And... sure, I guess for some cases, it might even help. Or at least not hurt so much. But for people that are... non-typical? Torture. Like trying to...'' Varric pauses a moment, thinking of his audience. ''It's forced conversion. Like making someone like books and studying by beating them if they play outside. Taking away freedoms if they don't do the assigned reading, not giving enough food if they don't read ahead.'' I'll leave the sexual stuff aside for now. Let Helene deal with that herself, tell them if she wants to.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene starts when the pressure increases, letting out a small whimper -- one that cuts off after a half second, as if she's afraid to make noise. She bows her head, trembling, but doesn't protest again.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian looks at him, aghast, but she nods, closes her mouth. "Okay. Okay. So what, they broke her arm and dumped her somewhere?"

[Varric]

''Ah, no, not really. We broke out. Helene took a tumble during the escape.'' Varric shrugs.