The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene's eyes go distant once more. "Seeker Levi was kind to this one," she says, quietly. "It is only this one's defects that torment this one."

[Varric]

''Or maybe no? I mean, some people just... don't want to be touched by random ass people that think they have the right to pet highly intelligent mortals like they're some dog or domecrest. Why is that wrong? Consent is a thing for more than just Cirenites.''

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one consented to treatment. Touch habituation is part of treatment."

[Varric]

''I didn't. In fact, I repeatedly and clearly refused treatment. Clearly, they don't actually care about consent.''

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one struggles to understand why you were treated," admits Helene.

[Varric]

Varric's eyes close for a beat, feeling the phantom weight of- ''There was... Business trip. Had some downtime, figured I'd tourist. At a temple, small one in Nebula Cognis's east side. Someth- Something happened. Never heard full story, but a wall caved in. Buried me for twelve hours, no-one saw me get covered, so they took their time clearing it. It- I... I don't... like being... contained like that. It... It put me in a bad place. When they finally got me out, I was... nearly comatose. So. Evidently that's worthy of imprisonment and torture around her, instead of, you know, just giving me a quiet room and some space to recover. Dumbasses.''

[Helene Dakesh]

"Ah," says Helene, quietly. 

[Varric]

Varric frowns slightly before he smoothes it. "Ah?" 

[Helene Dakesh]

"A shutdown was experienced, much as this one experienced as a child. Treatment was sought on your behalf. They were incorrect about your level of functioning but they did not know better."

[Varric]

"Didn't care to find out," the dwarf corrects nem. "They assumed they had the answer and no further investigation was needed or even allowable as that would imply there is the possibility they could be wrong. Can't have that, noooo! Even when evidence was gained despite themselves, they set it aside in order to maintain their image of infallibility."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene flinches back, giving a small, jerky nod.

[Varric]

Varric falls silent, a pang of guilt hitting. ''...sorry. Not upset with you, Seeker.''

[Helene Dakesh]

"You were wrongfully imprisoned," says Helene, softly. "When you could speak, they should have explained to you, given you a choice to leave. This one understands. But if this one had not been treated when this one was as you were, this one would be nonfunctional today."

[Varric]

Varric slowly tilts his head so he can just see Helene on the edge of his vision. ''How can you be so sure? What happened to make you so... comfortable with being treated this way?''

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene looks down at her sketchbook, quiet, for a long moment. Finally, the thin, hesitant voice comes forth once more:

"This one was.. This one never quite fit into human society. This one tried. But the rules escaped this one. This one behaved strangely, and more and more so over time. This one... Do you know much of Samsarans?"