{ 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

[el_tybs]

[That wasn't funny!]

What?!

How- when did that happen?

[Red lyrium was bad enough for templars but for a mage to have it? He couldn't imagine what that would be like. Painful in either case.]

[aceso]

[ Says you, Sam. ]

Awhile ago. You can tell your superiors that I kept it at bay with healing magic. And you can also tell them that those of us who are corrupted will never join your ranks so you can forget it!

[el_tybs]

[He does say.]

I don't want you to join anything? Christine-

[He wants to ask where she's at, but that seems fruitless considering she still thinks he's the enemy.]

I know I went missing a while back, but I'm not dead, it's me.

[aceso]

And how could you ever prove that to me, hmm?

[el_tybs]

I suppose you would have to ask me only something I would know?

[Cliche he's sure, but what else could he do without being there in person?]

[aceso]

[ There is a long pause, because Christine's mind has been deteriorating for some time, and it's hard to remember things, or know if what she's remembering is real. ]

I have forgotten so much... [ But she thinks back to important moments in her life that she shared with Sam -- her brother. ] In the bedroom of my mother's house: what did you do to Church?

[ The memories of the two of them traveling with her to give her mother the news of her father's death haven't faded away yet. Especially not that silly moment that freaked Church out and had her laughing aloud. ]

[el_tybs]

[Sam pauses at that question, very glad he wasn't in public or at least around anyone they knew because that sounded very suggestive.]

I remember him saying something with a lot of noise and sat on him.

As a dog.

[aceso]

Yes.

[ Now she's so confused and doesn't know what to believe. At first she thought Venatori were behind this, and now she's wondering if he's a demon in disguise. Demons can read minds, but can they read minds through crystals? ]

You-- You are not a demon?

[el_tybs]

Last I checked I wasn't.

[There's a quiet, tired sigh on his end.]

Believe me I'm just as confused on all this as you. A week ago we went on that mission... and now we're... here.

[aceso]

Sam?

[ Don't mind her, she's just going to start crying. ]

How?

[el_tybs]

Yeah?

[He's not crying, but he certainly sounds emotional at hearing Christine call out for him like that and all he could do was talk.]

I don't know... someone thinks maybe a rift or some other thing of magic had something to do with it.
I'm sorry, Christine. I wasn't here.

[aceso]

You are dead. You-- were dead. You left me a-and everyone and we mourned you.

[ She gasps for breath. ]

I... I wish I could see you again.

[el_tybs]

I know. Well I didn't know. None of us expected such a thing to happen.

You could if you wanted. Where are you?

[aceso]

No! No one can see me like this. Only Cullen since he is this way too. We are monsters now.

[el_tybs]

... The red lyrium you mean?

[aceso]

It is inside of us, always growing outwards.

[ She lifts her hand to stare at the red spikes of lyrium that have erupted through her skin. Of course she's in constant pain now from it. ]

I wish I could see you with my own eyes, but I cannot let you see me this way. It is why I left the Inquisition; left everyone, even my Church.

[el_tybs]

[Sam sighs. He doesn't... like that answer, but he really cannot argue against it either. Not that he can do much about it either way since he doesn't know where Christine is and it is up to her to let him know.]

My Church, huh?

[When he last talked to Christine about Church she had pressed rather hard that nothing was going on. Sounded like things changed, or at least more honest.]

That must've been hard.

[aceso]

My Church...

[ Her voice sounds faraway, like she's reliving a memory. But as soon as it comes, it goes, and her mood shifts violently. ]

He is dead now. They murdered him! Dragged him to Val Royeaux and tortured him. Cut off his marked hand! That is what I was told happened. But I will see him again soon. He will come for me when I die and lead me across the Veil.

[ It's pretty much the only thing she has to look forward to now. Hearing from Sam again is an unexpected bonus too. ]

You-- You have found those you love now, I take it? Those in hiding?

[el_tybs]

[It is a lot to take in, everything she's telling him about Church. It's horrible, but at the same time he doesn't know what to say, how to react at the sudden shift in her mood.

He'll keep the information in mind though, focusing on her questions instead.]

Yes. I've found them. They were... surprised to see me to say the least.

[aceso]

[ Her mood now shifts like the wind on a blustery day. As quickly as her rage comes, it goes, leaving her with a sadness coupled with a spark of something fond for Sam and his having his people around him. ]

Of course. If I had seen you... Well, perhaps you would have gotten a smack. But you are back and they have you again. It is a bit of happiness they deserve in this world. I am sorry you have to see the world this way.

[el_tybs]

Really? Just a smack? Some reason I picture you bringing hell fire down on me.

[Considering how she reacted to just his voice.]

I'm sorry to see that the world became like this for the rest of you. It's... a lot to take in.

[aceso]

Perhaps. I would regret it if I did and all there was left was a burning husk.

[ She gives a thoughtful hum. ]

But I am sorry for you. I will not be suffering in it much longer. Sam... if you could, please remember me as I was, and not now, when I might saw something horrible? My mind shifts... Things can be bad.

[el_tybs]

I suppose in that case then it would be true that I was no longer of this world.

[A nervous chuckle; please don't turn him into a burning husk, Christine. He's quick to quiet down though, hearing that Christine believes the end is soon.]

At that time... do you think you could let me know where you are? Even if we cannot talk face to face... you should have a proper burial.

[aceso]

[ She sighs, knowing there's a possibility Cullen will die before she does and then there may be no one to do her burial. She knows those left in Honey Badger Hold would, only... she's not sure if there are any left. What if they've died? ]

The end may come fast and I would be unable to tell you. Do you remember the path through the mountains to Honey Badger Hold? Where it forked and one path went towards Ferelden and the other towards the hold? My hut is down the Ferelden path, about five miles from the hold. You can just drag me outside and let the birds take my soul. Wrap me in a sheet. Don't touch the red lyrium. Take the sheet off for the birds.

[el_tybs]

[He wants to argue that if the end came fast and she didn't tell him, how would he know to come to the hut? It's a hard temptation to fight since he's so used to just giving Christine a hard time, but remembers himself, the situation and just nods, eventually making a vocal confirmation that he understood.]

Do I... need to send word to anyone if or when that happens?