The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Marian Hawke]

"Not even the dwarven system, or-- maybe there's a system that we just don't know about yet that--"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene shakes their head again. "This one has looked. No mortal system feels correct to this one."

[Varric]

"No mortal system?" Varric observes, still giving Marian a flat look for the dwarf/drow comparison inference. 

[Helene Dakesh]

"This one is under no delusion of being immortal," assures Helene.

[Varric]

"Not my point. Just because you're mortal- though as a samsaran, you're more of an edge case than most- that doesn't mean you can't take inspiration or the like from tulwath or pavitra."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene flinches, falling silent.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian hesitates, then puts a hand on her mentor's shoulder. "Hey, listen. When Soushi-hime was talking last night, I.. well, I admit I'd never thought about that stuff before. But I know it happens, I read about it, and I know you have too. So.. So it sounds like, um... "

She takes a deep breath, steeling herself. "It sounds like you already know what your gender is. What you want to be called, if you were just brave enough to say so. If you tell us, we can help. Okay? We're not going to judge you."

[Helene Dakesh]

Still, Helene is silent for a long moment, avoiding eye contact. Finally, when speech occurs, it is in Celestial:

"Were this one a tulwath, this one would be considered one without gender, one using pronouns ne, nir, nem, nemself."

[Varric]

"Have to say, rather proud of nem, eh Tabby?" the dwarf comments in common.

[Marian Hawke]

Marian nods. "Ne never opens up like this, it's really brave."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene blushes a deep blue, but a smile spreads across nir face, and ne ducks to let nir hair hide it.

[Varric]

"Adorably earnest about it too," Varric comments blandly. "Ne is a bit shy though, so we should probably get back to our conversation with nem sooner than late."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Stop," whispers Helene. "This one-- this one-- this one feels this one will break in half. This one cannot... this much happiness must be... forbidden or..."

[Marian Hawke]

"I know what you mean," says Marian quietly. "The happier you get, the worse you know it'll be later when it goes away. Right?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods, mutely.