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WHO: Kain Highwind and YOU
WHAT: Kain is in recovery from wounds sustained in the Vengeance battle
WHEN: Now, and further into the month
WHERE: Healer’s Tents
NOTES: N/A

1. Now-early part of the month

[It’s the first that Kain is finally stable enough to be awake for any long stretch of time. He’d really taken a beating out there… encouraged it even it some point, since the more hits he took meant the stronger his attacks would be. He's still getting used to his new powers, admittedly. It turns out that being a Reaver comes with quite a cost in the aftermath. He’s suffered some nasty chest wounds, broken ribs, a punctured lung, a bad shoulder wound, some burns… among other injuries. To make matters worse, infection had set in not too long after he’d arrived, complicating matters.]

[He groans, trying to move and finding that more than a little excruciating. Then he realizes someone is approaching.]

What is it?

2. Later on into the month

I’m just going out to get some fresh air.

[Is this an escape attempt? Or is he just doing as he claims and getting himself outside for a change? Who can say for sure? Regardless of anything, Kain is supremely unsteady as he hauls himself up and starts slowly but steadily making his way toward the exit of the tent. Now he's healed enough he can be a bad patient.]

[He's almost there… he’s gonna make it...]

Wildcard!

[Anything else going on in the healer tents? Coming to visit or to update him about petsitting? Have another reason to come bother him? Have at it!]

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[It's for your own good, Kain. And yes, she knows, but doesn't care one bit. He's being ridiculous.]

-and flee the area as fast as possible. I know that bullshit, I've sought to do the same when I was hallucinating, remember? But all you're going to do is hold back your recovery.

[No, this isn't ridiculous! She's the ridiculous one! ...Right?! Kain-logic isn't always the best logic, unfortunately. He was attempting to escape as well, back during that illness and actively encouraging her attempts too. Whoops. So she knows how he's thinking.]

It's not as if... I'm as bad off as I was. [And it had been bad, to the point where his survival was uncertain. He couldn't even physically move to get out of bed, or stay awake long, so for a time, he'd had no choice. The problems always arise when he's able to push himself like he's doing now.] Fresh air is good for me. I'm sure... the healers wouldn't argue...

Fresh air is good...when you have the strength for it. You clearly don't. It's okay to admit that, you know. They don't revoke your 'soldier of the Inquisition' status for that.

[Korrin just shakes her head at such nonsense, wondering if she can arrange it so that Bastard awaits just outside to harass him. Maybe that will finally deter the dragoon from being a dumbass.]

I do too, I’m… [Ah, hell, now it’s hurting to breathe again, and he’s all unsteady and all around feeling gross. Just from that little bit of movement. He’s pale and sweating too from the exertion it had caused him. Pretty hard to hide it as he struggles to catch a breath to speak.] ...just f...ine… ugh…

[Grimacing, he attempts to at least get into a more comfortable position, owwwww.]

Look, I’ve been stuck here… far too long… and I’m getting restless. It’s… ahh ow, it’s bad enough that my training has been set back...

'Fine', my ass. Have some water.

[She pours from the nearby pitcher and hands over the cup, crossing her arms as she watches him.]

Your training isn't going to be improved by you hobbling around like this. Didn't they teach you that, where you're from?

[Owwww, so much pain, yeah moving around like that was so not a good idea. Kain makes a couple pained sounds as he reaches to take the cup, but he definitely needs it. He sips slowly and carefully.]

The white mages would... ah... would nag constantly, if that's what you're referring to. Ow. But I- I still have to start preparing...

[He can imagine the lecture Rosa would be giving him now.]

[And she's eye-rolling again.]

And what about when you inevitably hurt yourself worse trying to train too early? Don't tell me you don't know that's a thing, I won't believe you.

...you were part of that big ritual, weren't you.

[Her lips form a thin line, definitely not approving.]

Training too late is just as bad.

[Funny how that argument never gets through to any healers for some reason, though. Kain notices her expression, lowering his eyes a moment, sighing, then looking back toward her.]

I was, and it was important to me to be part of that fight. No one deserves to have their will subjected to another, to have an outside influence in their head.

[He coughs a bit, wheezing and grimacing as he gets himself all worked up about one of his least favorite topics. He takes a sip of water after that.]

[Korrin crosses her arms and sighs, not wanting Kain to strain himself but unable to be alright with this anymore than when she spoke with Adelaide about it.]

He chose the damn thing in the first place. Or did he not tell you that?

I may not be able to do anything about his selfishness repeatedly endangering my friends, but I'm sure as hell not going to like it.

Just as I made choices that left me open to... to the control of another. We all make terrible choices. Some of us worse... owww... than others...

[It's not entirely the same as his situation, no, but there are enough close similarities that he's bothered by it. Bothered enough to want to aid Anders in being freed of his 'passenger.']

Regardless of anything, Justice- Vengeance- was a threat and had to be destroyed sooner or later. I for one am glad to have a hand in it.

Should've been fucking executed, that would've taken care of the threat.

[Korrin crosses her arms, unable to be more sympathetic to Anders given the damage caused, then and now.]

...it actually worked, though?

Everyone... deserves a new chance.

[But he doesn't actually want to start up an argument, he knows she has strong feelings on the matter. But he can't in good conscience believe that's the answer, not when he himself struggles against darkness and bad things.]

...it actually worked. After all of the other things they'd tried, this is the one that did it. Justice is gone. Anders is free.

Even mass-murderers?

[Korrin huffs, but she pauses to consider what's said.]

So, it is possible. Interesting. But given what it did to you, what it did to others, I can't accept it as a widespread solution. Putting people at that amount of risk to free people who consented to that crap...ugh.

I'd be counted as one, technically, as well.

[He'd attacked anyone and anywhere Golbez needed him to, after all. But even before all of that, there'd been Mist... unintended mass-destruction, but even so, nearly all the summoners had died at his and Cecil's hands.]

It's worth it. I survived, we all survived. This is nothing. [Owwww yeah right.] I'm glad to have had a hand in destroying such a terrible and manipulative entity.

[Wait, back up. Korrin stares hard, ignoring the rest of what's said for one very important fact.]

What do you mean, you'd be counted as one?

Mind control aside... [He fought as a warrior while controlled, after all, did whatever was asked of him.] ...I was once sent before that along with Cecil on a mission from a man who we thought was our king. In the end, we were responsible for the destruction and death of a peaceful village. The false king wanted to eliminate the summoners, and nearly succeeded.

[He groans a little, breaking out into an especially bad coughing fit while he tries to catch his breath. Yeah, ugh, no, this is not exactly pleasant to think about but he won't deny his role in what happened.]

[Korrin narrows her eyes, as the thought of a massacre against those with powers hits very close to home in a world where that could also easily happen.]

So, you were deceived. But I find it hard to believe that you'd just take your spear to everyone in the village without question.

I wouldn't. Of- [He coughs, struggling for a couple moments to finish his thoughts. Ugh, so much pain.] -of course I wouldn't. We didn't know what was happening before it was too late, we had no idea our 'delivery' would cause such destruction. But just like when I was controlled, I still... I still did those horrible things... I consider myself responsible for it... even if I wish I could take it all back...

[Korrin waits until she's reasonably sure he won't choke, then passes on a potion.]

You didn't intend for that to happen. It's not your fault, not directly. The person who's at fault is the asshole king who thought it was a great idea to commit genocide. Please tell me you at least killed him.

[Grimacing, Kain reaches to drink the potion, managing to get about half of it in before he has to put his arm down from the pain. That and there's another coughing fit. Ugh wonderful.]

...Twice.

[Yeah, most things stay dead but not those pesky Archfiends. Or Kain himself for that matter, as he's died himself and probably shouldn't have another chance... but the Gods' War is a different story entirely. Still, he really has dealt with a lot of powerful beings who can overcome death itself.]

He was an elemental fiend, so not... exactly easy to kill permanently.

Breathe, man. Regular, slow breaths.

[Korrin doesn't take the potion, wanting to encourage him to finish it when she's able to do so.]

They never are, are they? Sounds like a fucking pride demon and you know how much of a pain in the ass those are to put down. At least they stay dead, though.

[Kain attempts to follow her advice, taking deep breaths until he winces in pain. Owwwww. Chest wounds suck, especially when they're this severe. Without the healers he knows he'd die, and definitely almost did. Not that the thought even bothers him anymore...]

The archfiends were... similar in that they're very demonic creatures, but each of the four was created from a certain element. [He sighs.] Like that archfiend of wind I spoke of some time ago. I was forced to keep... company with... the four of them... [He was like their fifth comparatively-weakling dumbass brother, it was such cute family times... only... not so much.]

[Wincing, he tries to sip on some more of the potion. So much ow just moving a bit.]

[Sighing, Korrin leans in to help Kain with the potion so he moves as little as possible. He really deserves a healer for this, though, and she knows she ought to call for one soon.]

I can't imagine they were long on social skills. Demons never are, whatever you call them. The only thing they care about is destruction.

[He starts to protest, he's got this though it's a strain to move a whole lot... but it's not like he has the energy to put up much of an argument as she helps with the last of the potion. He sighs, at least he got the potion in him and kept it down, anyway.]

They certainly... weren't the best companions. Especially Scarmiglione and his zombies. [He shudders. Earth is his opposing element anyway, so it's natural he wouldn't enjoy being around that fiend. But he's also just... really disgusting.] Terrible enemies as well. I'd be glad not to have to deal with them again... even Valvalis can be... much too... uh... possessive.

Is that the one who--you know what, nevermind. I don't need to know. You're not being forced into anything right now, let alone with undead. Maker, I never thought I'd be saying that combination of words.