[closed-ish] revelations come at last

[eolasemah]

WHO: Sina and anyone who wants a starter
WHAT: The diplomacy mission did not agree well with her.
WHEN: Some backdated to Harvestmere 4th/5th, some current.
WHERE: The healing tents or Sina's tent in the garden.
NOTES: Warning for some icky injuries and pretty severe downers!

"Adelaide," comes a cry from the gates, and the newly-conscious Sina removes herself from Herian's horse to stumble towards the healing tents, the darkness staved off by her glimmering shard, which is definitely brighter than the last time anyone here saw it.
"Adelaide," she wheezes again, her voice thin and desperate, an injured fawn bleating for its mother; but with this part of the courtyard filled with only unfamiliar faces, she finds she's not strong enough to keep looking. Sina drops to her knees and hugs herself, keeping the palms of her hands away from her arms in strange clawlike poses. "Ghi'lan," she sobs, her voice growing quieter.

This is only the beginning of a long month in which few hear from or see her, as Sina is spending it curled up in a ball on her bedroll. She resists eating, won't talk to anyone without persistence on their part, and ultimately seems at a total loss of spirit.

[If you'd like a starter, hit me up!]

Comments

[foxsays]

Some things are easier to deny, to hold back because admitting them means that they're real. Once they have breath then that gives them a life of their own to sit at your table, to walk in your shadow, to wake up with you, and worst of all to taunt you when you should be sleeping. Not that they don't do that anyway but once they're out there, it's not just you seeing them. And you wonder what other people might see.

Or maybe that's just being too aware of herself now. A year as a rifter and it was the rifter part or at least the shard in her hand that had marked her out as something they wanted, something to be poked and prodded and pushed so close to breaking.

Agreeing with Korrin is easy, perhaps hard for Sina to hear but probably necessary too. Araceli understands people living together and in a group, thinking for the common good but her home is far larger than all the Dalish clans put together and more like human towns and cities where there are problems they can easily admit to as she finds herself nodding along. "People are people. There's no shame in loving your people or where you coming from, holding it dear to your heart - you know that I do that Sina - but the world is a world. It's so much bigger than whatever boundaries we make for ourselves or others make for us."

[eolasemah]

Comforted by Korrin's warmth and the soothing lilt of Araceli's accent, Sina, while perhaps not fully convinced, is at least beginning to come down from her place of total despair.
She's quiet for a time after they've finished speaking, gazing thoughtfully into the middle distance, her eyes still brimming and red and tired. "...I wish my Keeper was here," she confesses quietly, "she would know what to do." Apart from Merrick, Sina is the youngest Dalish present by years, but is also the one who holds the most power and responsibility within their clan structures. A relative child can't be her own mentor any more than she can be her own mother.

[gatheringstorm]

Nodding in full agreement with Araceli's words, certain there's room holding guilty parties to account and not having that contradict one's love for their people, Korrin glances down at Sina when she finally speaks up again. "We can attempt to contact her, can't we? Where would the clan be around this time, do you know? If there's a way to send word, we'll find it. You deserve to have your clan's support, too."

[foxsays]

Knowing just how badly she'd wanted her own mother when she'd been recovering, Araceli nods and sighs. "If it comes to it, I know a few people that owe me some favours. Scouts would do better than soldiers when they're out, getting word back more quickly..." It's only an idea but it's doing something. Or taking the steps in the direction of it so that she feels less useless than she might.

"This will be a time for you to decide too though. How much this changes you. How much you let it change you." People might not have blamed Araceli if she wanted nothing to do with Ruby. If she'd said that Ruby was a danger to them. But she didn't and eventually when Sina is able to see things clearly again then she can bring that back up if she has to, but it's just thinking aloud because hearing voices that aren't talking about you is a strange sort of comfort instead of the snarl of noise in your own head.

[eolasemah]

Sina shakes her head, regretting the request, but also fully appreciative of their support. "She'd never come here," she replies, "I... wouldn't want her to." Then Clan Dahlasanor might be in danger too, and they're too small of a clan to be able to hold their own against... the others. Should they decided Dahlasanor are traitors too.
"I'll... write to her in time. Soon." Sina nods to herself, and then again to Araceli. She thinks about it briefly, then just rests her head down again, the very idea making her tired. How much should she let it change her? She's not sure it hasn't already, entirely outside her control.

[gatheringstorm]

"Take your time. You'll find the words when you're ready, Sina. I know you will." She knows what's best for her own clan, so Korrin won't push matters, and time is probably needed anyway. Their offer can still stand if Sina changes her mind later, if clarity gives her a different perspective. But if it doesn't, then they'll respect that.

crawls back from the plague

[foxsays]

"You'll have plenty of time. Messages take long enough and getting up and down from Skyhold is already bad with the weather being what it is." As impossible as it'd be for everyone to have sending crystals - nothing would stay secret, and if it comes down to it then Araceli knows that she'll value that before she values several other things - it'd be good for Sina right now. But why bring up things like that now. "If you feel like a change of scenery, you know where our room is too, yes?"

Does she? Araceli can't actually remember so she looks to Korrin because Araceli isn't really in the room often enough to always know who does and doesn't know where it is.

[eolasemah]

Sina nods mildly, calmer at least if not happier. She vaguely remembers where their room is: it's... somewhere in the Keep, among all the other rooms the humans live in. And others. She's one of the few who has actively chosen to remain outside in a tent, but walls make her anxious.

"Thank you," she says to both, and lets that be that. Sometimes, sitting quietly with friends is the best medicine.