faderift | [Open] Sometimes...

Entry tags:

[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

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)

"Do you, now? That's good to know."

He's grinning right back at her as he says it, though. It's not like he's surprised to hear that she likes getting disapproving looks from Chantry sisters, not anymore. And...well, maybe that could be a little fun if done right.

For now, though, he's going to take one of those desserts for himself, studying it for a moment before biting into it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained - and as he finds, they're really not so bad. There's a quiet noise of appreciation on his end, and a couple of moments of relative silence as he chews before he pipes up again.

"Mm, that's good. Alright, then, you have a deal. If you can find some good books, bring them over. I still need to think of something for you in return, though. It's only fair."

Korrin knows that whether or not it's her horns or staff, that they won't approve of her, so she might as well misbehave anyway. That way, when they glare at her at least it's something she deserves. And because she loves messing with people who are relentlessly uptight.

Smiling at Jamie's approval, Korrin takes another bite. "I dunno, buy me around sometime? Play your music at the tavern? I'm an easy person to please, unless you're a Templar or Qunari."

"Aye, well, maybe I can do both." Buying her a round was something he certainly didn't mind doing, and as for the music... "Assuming they'll let me play my pipes there. They are a bit loud, you know."

Still, maybe he could play just the chanter or the recorder for her once he'd gotten a bit better, and as he finished the cake, he let out a small sigh.

"Think I might have to let my ribs finish healing before I have a go at the latter one, though. They're getting there, but I'll not know how much I'll have to practice until I can take a full breath again. Think you could take a raincheck on the latter?"

Leaning in, Korrin gently claps a hand on his shoulder. "Absolutely. There's no rush on my part. You just focus on getting better one step at a time. Though I hope for your sake that you'll be recovered enough by Satinalia to enjoy it. That's always a wild holiday, and even here we'll make it worthwhile. Granted, it probably won't go on for a week like it does in Antiva, but still. I expect a hell of a lot of music, booze and dancing."

Edited 2016-11-08 00:18 (UTC)

That hand clap gets Jamie to smile, the touch appreciated just as much as her willingness to wait for him to be able to get to play again.

"I could do with some dancing," he admits. It's been a long time since he's gotten to do that, and he misses it almost as much as the playing. But she's right, he's got to focus on getting better, and after a few moments, he reluctantly moves to sit up again.

"Think maybe I probably shouldn't spend all day here, though, as much as I'm enjoying it. If I'm gone too long likely they'll send the healers after me and then I'll never hear the end of it. You willing to head on back now?"

"I'll definitely take you up on dancing, then." Nodding, Korrin stands and offers a hand to assist Jamie in standing up. Once he's settled, she'll stuff leftovers and cups back into that basket, to drop off at the kitchen."Yeah, good point. Though if anyone comes up tutting, I'll take on the blame. They'll believe it, anyway, it's not as though I'm anyone's favorite patient."

Edited 2016-11-10 01:19 (UTC)

He's willing enough to take that hand up, but then he winds up shaking his head - although it's not because of the dancing. That part of things he's looking forward to. Her taking the blame, on the other hand, isn't something he feels she should have to do, even if she is offering.

"Now, look, Korrin, you don't have to go and do that sort of thing. You know as well as I do I was the one that was trying to take off in the first place."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Open] Sometimes...

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject