{ CLOSED }

[aceso]

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: Christine Delacroix
RECIPIENT: Any of her CR still left in the Dark AU. She wouldn't send this to the whole Inquisition, so it's sort of locked?
WHAT: Just asking what's shakin'.
WHEN: Cloudreach 13th 9:48
WHERE: random hidden spot in the Frostbacks
NOTES: Christine's mental state has deteriorated so she'll be erratic, angry, and possibly not easy to talk to.

[ Every waking moment hurts and yet Christine lingers on. For the last two years, she's been slowing the spread of her red lyrium corruption with healing magic, but most days she can't remember to do it now. Her head is full of a song and the longer she focuses on it, the deeper she sinks into it. But some days she awakes in pain and her head is clear enough to focus for a little while. Today she grips her crystal tight in her claw-shaped hand, red spikes of lyrium jutting out through her skin from where they're fused with her bones. ]

It is me.

[ Her voice should be easy to recognize. It now sounds like two voices at once, too close together to be an echo, and with a humming sound woven through as well. ]

What news?

Comments

[aceso]

Yes. That... that would be nice.

[ But it's an unattainable dream. This is their world now. ]

Yet this is reality. I will not be suffering through it much longer.

[gatheringstorm]

[What does one say to that? 'Good' sounds callous. But Korrin wouldn't want to see it drag out for Christine, either. She deserves an end to all that suffering.]

Does the Hold know? Will they...be there? [The thought of Christine being alone for it is too much.]

[aceso]

They know; what is left of them, I mean. Many left. I cannot say who remains.

[ She pauses, distracted for a moment until she realizes that she hasn't answered the second question. ]

No! I do not want them here. They should stay away. If it is too much to bear, Cullen can take a knife to me, or lead me into one of the traps set up outside.

[ It was a morbid idea struck by two individuals whose minds are half gone. They thought to lay out traps and not tell the other where they were. So if a day comes when one goes into a rage, they can chase the other until they fall onto a trap and die. ]

[gatheringstorm]

[Korrin sighs, wanting to protest, but it's not like she's there to do anything about it.]

...well, as long as Cullen's there, too. You shouldn't be alone.

[aceso]

Monsters should keep each other company.

[ It's said with resignation. She believes that is what they are now. ]

[gatheringstorm]

As long as there's a part of you that's still yourselves, I wouldn't call you that.

[Once that's gone, though....]

[aceso]

I still remember things...

[ She remembers days without pain, or fear, or anger. But then the song gets louder and she thinks someone's coming to steal her red away and she screams and shouts and bars the door. ]

But soon that will go too. Maybe it will be better once it does. Nothing left to regret.