faderift | [Open] Sometimes...

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[Open] Sometimes...

WHO: Jamie and you!
WHAT: Recovery after the events here
WHEN: Mid-Kingsway through the end of Harvestmere
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: CW for references to the shardbearer plot, so torture, forced lyrium ingestion, hallucinations, violence and other Bad Things. The first part in healer tents features lyrium withdrawal and may involve the possibility of the getting glimpses of other people's memories. If you would like to have Jamie pick up your character's memories, let me know via pm or in your header, whichever you prefer.

[Healers Tents]

It's no surprise that after being taken by the Venatori and experimented on, Jamie winds up having an extended stay in the healers tents. Not only does the lyrium have to work its way out of his system, contend with, he has a concussion and cracked ribs to contend with as well, and for the first couple of weeks he's fairly out of it, still having problems distinguishing people he knows here from people he knew back home. As time goes on and the lyrium wears off that starts to improve, slowly but surely, although his head still hurts and it's still hard to breathe.

[Still the healers tents]

Eventually, however, the worst of the lyrium has passed through his system, leaving him more his usual self - and that usual self is one that doesn't much care for being stuck in bed, no matter how injured he is. There's more than one time where he insists he's perfectly fine, and more than one time where he might very well wind up being caught at trying to sneak out of his bed and out of the the healing tents entirely. Whether or not he's successful depends on whoever catches him wants to do...but he's supposed to be resting, so steering him back to lie down is definitely always an option.

[New quarters and out and about]

Finally he's deemed well enough to be able to be let out on his own, and left to his own devices. The very tiny room that he's been working on fixing up for months now is finally done, and he's finally able to move his belongings out from where they've been stored and put them someplace he can call his own. He might have to look into getting a roommate at some point, but for now he works on settling in and getting back into something like a routine. Not too long after he's released from the tents, he gets a present of sorts - a set of dragon armor, crafted from his share of the hide of the dragon he helped to kill months ago. There's a fitting or two to make sure everything is where is should be, but once that's done, he settles into training, both with sword and shard. He knows he's got to be able to control that extra ability it's developed, or at some point someone's going to get hurt that he doesn't want to get hurt. So while sometimes he can be found at the pells like everyone else, other times he's in remote areas, practicing at reliably shooting those small projectiles out of the mark.

Days like that leave him tired and his hand aching, but while he used to pop around to the healers tents, even that ache doesn't seem to be enough to get him to go there any more. Instead he can be found at the tavern having a drink, or tucked away in a corner practicing finger exercises on his chanter. Sometimes he still goes to the stables, too, even though he isn't living there any longer. He likes being around the horses, and here more than anywhere else you can catch him idly carving small pieces of wood. Nothing he does is terribly fancy, but some of pieces do eventually turn into things someone could wear or display - well, if you happen to like tiny figures of various semi-recognizable beasties, that is.

[Once a piper... (end of Harvestmere)]

It takes quite some time for his cracked ribs to heal to the point where it doesn't hurt to draw a breath, and longer still before he's able to sustain the breath he needs to properly play, but eventually, one day, there's a noise that's possibly familiar to the people who know Jamie well - the skirl of bagpipes, the sound carrying from high up on the battlements and traveling throughout Skyhold. Unlike some of the other times he's played, it's a somber sound, the tune itself sad and maybe just a little haunting. There's a reason behind the song, a promise he'd made to himself awhile ago, and even though it may be a little rougher around the edges than usual, it's something he's determined to see through, even if there's a risk someone might come up and try and figure out what's going on. He can deal with that if it happens. Until then, he's going to play.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Korrin pauses and raises an eyebrow at that. "Are you sure? I'm not prioritizing efficiency over your comfort. If it's a strain on you, I don't care about taking more time." Jamie's a grown man, so she won't prevent him from trying if he sincerely thinks he can handle it. She doesn't put up with macho bullshit, but then if he'd exhibited those traits more often than not, they wouldn't get along as well as they do now.

"Och. Look, Korrin, it's not like I've broken my leg. I can walk, you know."

While he admittedly has times where he's too stubborn for his own good, in this case he's being serious. It's not that far from the tents to the stables, and as long as he takes it slow and stays away from stairs he should be alright. Tired, maybe, but alright.

But he also knows that Korrin is trying to look out for him as well, so after a moment he adds, "Tell you what, though. I'll take it slow and if I need to stop I will. If you see me like that then I'll take the extra help. Promise I'll not even complain about it if I do."

"Alright, alright. I won't coddle. Just don't hurt yourself getting there, that's all I ask." Korrin gives him a very careful squeeze, she lets him go in order to reach the kitchen's back entrance. Her plan is to be in and out, with a minimum of fuss. Hopefully when she leaves it with a full picnic basket, Jamie will already be waiting her at the stables or at least most of the way there.

"Och, just how clumsy do you think I am, anyway?"

It's a rhetorical question, so not one Korrin has to answer. After a second of Jamie pretending to pull a face, he winds up flashing her a hint of a grin and stumps on off towards the stables. It's a slower go than he likes - especially since he is being careful, but he gets there before she does. He's even managed to secure a horse for his use, a sturdy, well tempered Fereldan Forder.

What he he hasn't actually managed to do yet is get the horse saddled, and when Korrin arrives, he's just in the process of coming back from fetching the saddle. Normally he'd just go ahead and saddle it himself, but his head is still prone to twinging when he he drops it to look down at something, making him think that maybe for once he should see about not being completely stubborn here. Accordingly, when he catches sight of Korrin, he raises the saddle up in his hands in an attempt to draw her attention to it.

"Here, think you'd be willing to lend a hand with this?"

Setting down the filled basket gently, Korrin nods and steps over. "No problem, Jamie. Here." Taking the saddle, she set it on the Forder's back and begins securing everything in place. Having done this countless times, her work is pretty efficient by now. Upon a last inspection, she straightens and pats the horse before turning to Jamie.

"Your noble steed awaits. Needs a hand up?" She cups said hand to offer him a boost, to help move this along. Now that goodies have been retrieved from the kitchen, Korrin's getting hungry.

There's a mounting block nearby that he's thinking of using - just this once - but Korrin is closer, making it quicker for him to use her as a boost. So he nods, placing his foot in her hand and using it in order to swing himself up onto the horse. He's able to do so smoothly, and with a minimum of jarring, something he's grateful for - enough so that he gives Korrin a brief smile as a result.

"Thanks. Let's get going, eh?"

She's not the only one who's getting hungry here - and the idea of getting to that grove and settling in for a wee bite to eat is getting more and more appealing. As soon as she's ready to go, he's ready, and as soon as she starts moving he'll nudge the sides of his horse with his knees and see about following her along whatever path she's decided to take them on to get there.

Nodding, Korrin pats the horse and steps back, certain that Jamie can manage to steer the mount on his own without trouble. She doesn't even need to clear the way, since no one wants to trampled by a horse. Leading them past the main gates, Korrin takes the more direct route since his mount can manage it. Upon reaching the empty clearing, the Vashoth mage nods, satisfied.

"There's some good shade over to the left. We can set down there, unless you want to bask in the sun."

"Shade is fine with me."

While he appreciates that it's a nice day and not raining or snowing, he doesn't feel any particular need to be baked by the sun right now. With a couple of quiet clicks of his tongue, he directs his horse over to the left, stopping once they're at the edge of the spot Korrin's indicated. Once that's done, he starts to swing his leg over the horses's side, although he's slower about that than he usually is, a little more careful about dismounting than normal.

That does jar things slightly, and there's a grunt from him as his feet hit the ground, but all in all he seems okay, and even though he decides he wants to sit down now rather than later, it doesn't stop him from turning his attention towards Korrin and the mysterious lunch.

"So what've you managed to sneak out of the kitchens, anyway?"

"Shade, it is." Upon reaching the spot, Korrin starts forward to offer Jamie some help down, though he seems to have managed for himself. Setting down the basket, Korrin sits down beside him, resting her back against the trunk. "Apple cider, because everyone should have some at this time of year. Also, some tea biscuits with cream and chocolate. Some Orlesian recipe; whatever else can be said, they usually get their deserts right. If you're not up for sweets, there's also ram-meat pasties. They're small, but filling."

"Do they?"

Hopefully Korrin will forgive him looking slightly askance at the biscuits. The memory of those wee cakes from the soiree - the anise and deep mushroom ones - has been burned into his mind, and he's not at all sure that he's willing to trust an Orlesian recipe, even if they do look quite good.

"I'll...ah, take the pasties for now, I think. But cider as well, please. You'd not had to have gone to the trouble for that, though, Korrin. I was just thinking maybe some bread or fruit."

Pouring some cider for him, Korrin hands over a mug before during the same for herself. She hands over a pasty, still warm from the oven, biting into another and savoring the taste. Perfect. Not in the habit of talking with her mount full, the Vashoth woman clears her throat before answering. "

"It wasn't any trouble at all, this was what they had ready. Besides, it wasn't only for you. Stepping inside the kitchen made me realize how hungry I was. Training drills will do that, you know."

He nods, but given the pasty is still warm and he's hungry, his mouth is also full - and for right now, at least, he's going with eating and not talking. Once he gets around to swallowing, though, it's a whole other story.

"Aye, I know. Not that they're letting me do that right now, either, but it's not been so long that I've forgotten."

Still, he pulls a face before leaning back to eat some more of the pasty, his eyes idly looking around the clearing as he does so. After a bit, he pipes up again.

"You know, this is a nice place. I'd come out here more often if I had an excuse to, I think."

Korrin nods as she takes another bite, glancing around the peaceful area. At least it's peaceful for now; she's aware it tends to be more active when darkness falls.

"Well, you're recovering. Isn't fresh air supposed to be good for you and whatnot? I'd say take that excuse and run with it, enjoy the view before winter comes up and brings that face-hurting cold with it. We still have some time before that, but not too much."

Getting fresh air while he's recovering isn't quite what he had meant, but it still isn't the worst idea - even though his mouth does tug off to one side a bit at 'face-hurting cold'.

"Aye, well, that's assuming the healers let me, remember? They keep insisting I'm not ready to be released yet. Eirlys even marched me right back to my cot last time I tried to get out."

Well, maybe not quite marched, but close enough as far as he's concerned. Still, he's not so upset about that as to not finish his pasty, which he does before leaning back up against the trunk of one of the trees.

"Although I suppose there's worse things than being insisted at by pretty healers. Fairly sure my telling her that isn't going to get me out of there any faster, though."

"Eirlys knows what she's doing, but sometimes she worries too much. Pick your battles and space out those times, and she'll come around." Even Korrin has had to learn some patience with both the healers and herself, lessons she's tried to ignore but have found their way in regardless.

Taking another swig to wash down her pasty, Korrin chuckles afterward. "Maybe not, but a little flirting can make the time go by faster than it might otherwise. Why not go for it? It worked for me well enough in the past."

"Maybe so, but I think you got lucky."

Araceli'd been interested, to start, and whatever differences they'd had between them clearly hadn't been enough of an issue to get in the way. Or, if they had, they'd found a way around them, and Jamie's expression turned slightly glum before he twisted away, grabbing the cider and taking a drink from it to cover up the look on his face.

"Things didn't go so well the last time I tried flirting here. Or telling a lass I liked her, for that matter." 'Didn't go so well' was an understatement, if he was honest, but it sounded better than 'he'd made a mess of it'. Still, something of it was there as he looked up back over at Korrin. "With my luck, if I tried with Eirlys she'd think I'd developed a fever."

There's a sympathetic look as Jamie mentions his previous bad luck and she reaches over to squeeze his shoulder lightly. "You might have a point there. Maybe wait a little until you're more recovered and she can't mistake it for that? That'll give you time to figure what you want to do, anyway. Just don't overthink it, you have enough charm of your own without making it sound rehearsed."

There's a brief, but serious nod from him on his end. Waiting a bit probably isn't the worst idea, anyway. Even if the flirting does wind up working, he still isn't in any shape to do much about it, and that might make things awkward.

What he can do, on the other hand, is let the serious expression melt off his face and grin at Korrin - which he winds up doing right at the tail end of her statement as he leans back and lets the mood lighten into something slightly more playful.

"Oh, so I'm charming then? Why, Korrin, I never knew that you felt that way."

That gets a warm laugh out of her, as she sets down her cider. "I'm taken, not blind! And I'm not the only one who's noticed it, can't be. You give yourself too little credit sometimes, Jamie. Then again, maybe I'm spoiling it just by making you aware."

That last observation isn't likely helped much by the fact that he's puffed up his chest self-importantly, but at least that part's mostly for show. Mostly. There is a part of him deep down that's pleased by what he perceives as a compliment, and an echo of that winds up being mixed in with his expression, even after he settles down and stops playacting.

"Look, there's not so many people that've told me I'm charming," he says, more seriously. "A fair few other things, but not that. Even if you are taken, it's nice to know that there's someone out there who notices me as something other 'that rifter that sounds like he's from Starkhaven'."

Korrin nods, dropping the teasing, at least for the moment. "I get that, I do. Anywhere else outside Rivain or here and I'm 'that woman with the horns', like that's the only important thing about me. Which can be fun to exploit, but it also gets tiring. Trust me, though, I'm pretty damn sure there's going to be someone who takes notice of you, and it'll be for more than the fake-Starkhaven thing."

"Aye, well, we'll see."

There wasn't any point in worrying about that, though, at least not right now, and he settled back with a small, but content sigh. He was warm, and fairly full, and even without a cheeky lassie by his side, things were alright - if a bit dull when Korrin wasn't around, anyway.

"Once they let me out of the tents and I can start doing things, like as not I won't wind up worrying about it all that much anyway. I don't like this sitting around and getting told to heal. Leaves me with nothing to do but think too much."

"Want me to bring you books from the library? Or more interesting ones from the merchant's stalls? Reading isn't much of a boredom antidote when you mostly have dry Chantry-approved tomes to choose from, but there are plenty of serials out there, Varrics and otherwise." If Jamie's going to be stuck in bed most of the time, he might as well have something more interesting. Korrin might even sneak in some of the racier stories, because why not.

"Aye, well...suppose it'd not hurt to practise my reading," he admits. It'd give him something to do other than figuratively climb the walls, anyway, but if he's going to do that, he does have some standards. "But the more interesting ones, please."

The ones from the merchant stalls sound pretty good to him - and if some racier stories make their way in, he's not going to complain. There's another reason for wanting those, as well, and he gives her a shrug.

"Like as not I'd fall asleep trying to read those Chantry-approved ones. And aye, I know everyone says you're supposed to rest but I'd not want to get you in trouble when I wind up dropping the books on the floor."

Or flinging them across the room in frustration, because that could be a thing too, and the look he sends her says as much even if he doesn't comment on it out loud. But then his expression smooths back out.

"You'd be willing to do that, though?"

"What, getting disapproving looks from Chantry sisters? I live for that." Korrin flashes a grin before taking more cider, and one of those Orlesian desserts. "It's not like it's any strain on my part, honestly. Araceli gets just as bored waiting to heal, so I'm there anyway. Most of it's going to be Orlesian and Fereldan but I'll see if there's anything abroad, too."

She stretches out and lets out a content noise as she bites into one of those desserts; so worth it to bring them along. If she didn't train so much, perhaps it would be overkill, but she does and it'll go to a good cause. If there's one thing Orlais does right, it's this

Edited 2016-11-04 17:40 (UTC)

[Open] Sometimes...

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