therookery | (no subject)

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FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Kain
RECIPIENT: Everyone!
WHAT: Kain got himself injured and has been really out of it this month. Now he's come to! And he's taking the last step before he confess something to someone.
WHEN: Now-ish
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: No warnings.

[Kain sounds very weary, just a bit out of it somehow. Though at least he's finally up for using the crystal, for the first time in a good while. It worked well enough last time he had something nagging at his mind, so why not now? It's technically related, since he figured out what he has to do, but... it's not going to be easy.]

If there was something you had to tell someone, and you weren't sure how to approach it... where would you even start? I'm not sure if I... [He trails off, letting that whole train of thought go, not having any way to complete it. He's had too much time to think, lately.]

I'm getting far too restless here... if anyone can manage to help me sneak out of this place, I'll owe you.

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I'm not about to go into any intensive training just yet. I just wanted to find, ah... a change of scenery.

[ That's what they all say. But she's not cruel, and so she'll cut him a deal. ]

If you agree to let me go with you and pick this different scenery, then you may have a walk.

[Well, he tried... and it's a victory, maybe!? Even if a small one at that.]

Fine... it's a deal. It's a bit of a compromise, but... I'll take it.

It is not a bad thing to compromise. When would you like to go? Now? Or must you reply to more people telling you what a poorly thought out plan this was?

[ Sorry, but she has to throw a little shade here. ]

They really are going overboard with all of this...

[Siiiiigh he should know better. Yet somehow, after all these years, it just hasn't sunk in.]

Anyway. As soon as possible.

I will be there shortly.

[ And when she arrives, she's carrying a crutch with her. ]

Will you be needing this? No puffed up pride, please. A simple yes or no will do.

[Naturally, Kain does... what Kain does, shaking his head at first, before looking off to the side a bit uncertainly.]

I'd rather not have to... but...

[He nods slowly, realizing he's not at all likely to get anywhere at all otherwise.]

Those who are recovering always wish they were already healed, and tend to do themselves greater injury by pushing past their body's limits.

[ She hands him the crutch. ]

Under your armpit. Let it take the weight.

[ Just in case he's not familiar. Araceli wasn't, so Christine will just explain it. ]

Now, I think a walk in one of the gardens would do you good. The question is: the herb garden or the Templars' prayer garden? The herb garden is a closer walk and might be a better choice, but I shall let you decide.

[ She isn't sure how religious he is. She's not, but she's not about to go around telling people that. ]

[Kain takes the crutch a bit grudgingly, but again reminds himself it's either this or be collapsed on the ground at some point. He'll have to spare himself that bit of humiliation. He does as instructed, testing out his weight with it, trying to adjust his stance. He's probably had times when he should have used something like this... though he has't always been good about this.]

Hm. [He considers this, though at the moment he's actually less interested in prayer or anything of the sort. He's only vaguely religious himself.] The herb garden would be fine with me.

All right. Nice and easy. This is not a race.

[ If Kain hasn't realized it already, Christine is the mothering type. To the extreme. He's lucky she's not making him wear a coat. ]

I never heard the story of what brought you in to the healers. Might I know what happened?

[Kain is definitely the sort not to take it easy, so really... he probably needs to be mothered over quite a bit. He nods, tempted to move faster, but trying not to overdo it, at least for now.]

I was out exploring the area... everything had gone well for a few days. Then I encountered the dragon...

The dragon? By yourself?

I realize how that must have sounded. [He grimaces a little.] It wasn't intentional at first. I was simply exploring the mountains. Then when a dragon appeared, I... well... I wanted to get closer. To see it better. All went well enough at first... I even had an opening of sorts to get away... but then I made a mistake.

I was fortunate to get away at all.

But I want... I need... to go back out there and face it. Not alone, this time.

[ Christine's eyes narrow slightly. ]

Yes, you were fortunate, but that does not mean you head back there and face it again. Do not tell me this is about wounded pride.

I'm not sure what to call it, exactly... but I must go back out there, I must see this through. I said I won't do it alone, that has to count for something, right?

[But let's face it, there's a lot of wounded pride involved too.]

[ Her look really says it all. The head tilt, pursed lips, raised eyebrows. Oh, yes, she is not pleased. ]

You had better take a healer with you.

[ Because she doubts she can dissuade him. ]

[It's definitely a look he's gotten before, on many occasions. He's frustrated plenty of healers in his time. But at least she's not arguing. There's nothing he dislikes more than being held back.]

Believe me, I intend to. I'll want a variety of fighters for this, which includes healers. As long as they let me use my reaver skills to their fullest, that is.

I think that part of being a reaver is that no one stands in your way.

[ There's a bit of sadness clinging to her voice as she says this, thinking of the reaver she knew who has been dead almost a year now. ]

Do you need a break to rest?

No one standing in my way, that's right... which is why I'm going back out there against that dragon. I owe it to myself. To my family's legacy.

[True, that whole family thing gets more complicated considering their exact relations with the dragons back in the day. But even so. Fighting them was always part of it too.]

I'm... I feel fine... [Even though he's a bit out of breath, sweating from the exertion.]

Ah, for family. I suppose I cannot scold you too much for that.

[ She slows her steps and reaches out to stop him, a hand on his arm. ]

Would you mind if we stopped for me, then? I confess, all this time indoors doing research has me out of shape.

[ Yeeeeah, that's not even remotely true, but it's easier than fighting against his pride. ]

Good, I'm glad you understand. Dragons are my life... alongside Warden duties, of course.

[Yeah, he definitely isn't steady right now, even with the crutch to help. He sighs, panting some, but then nods. He hates to back down, to admit defeat. But if she needs to stop as well... ~~oh those clever healers~~]

I... all right. I wouldn't mind. It's a... a good idea.

[ Such a strange thing to obsess over! Christine will never understand some people and their love of dangerous things. Now he's just one more person to add to her ever growing list of those she has to worry over as soon as they're out of sight. ]

Merci.

[ She moves to lean against a wall to better sell this whole "tired" look she's going for. ]

How long have you been a Warden?

[Kain has definitely provoked that sort of worry in his friends back home plenty, so he’s used to it. He nods to her as she settles down, not having caught on that he’s the one gasping and panting, fighting to catch his breath for a moment.]

I’ve been with the Wardens for six years… so I’m not new by any stretch, but nor am I yet a Senior Warden. That will come in time, though.

[That or death, and he’d welcome either pretty willingly.]

[ She wonders at that, because it seems like the Wardens have had plenty of troubles in these last few years, especially since Corypheus rose to power. Who knows how promotions work now? ]

I see.

[ And she tries to think of something positive to say, but that's a bit hard when she doesn't view the Wardens very favorably. She likes Inessa and Ciri well enough, but on the whole, the group that chooses to house and protect a mass murderer like Anders doesn't garner much sympathy from her. ]

A moment longer and I will be ready to continue.

I know how strange it may seem, but I really believe in them. We Wardens face grim tasks, but we’re strong enough to face them.

[Kain knows the Wardens have a bad reputation, given things that have happened. They aren’t always taken from the nicest types of people, either, so it’s understandable. But Kain believes in them and their ultimate responsibilities when it comes to defeating darkspawn, and ending Blights. Really, Corypheus himself is very much their responsibility too.]

All right… good. I don’t mind waiting.

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