faderift | [Open] I can't take the distance

Entry tags:

[Open] I can't take the distance

WHO: Hermione and OPEN
WHAT: Catch-all for the month while Hermione gets used to Kirkwall
WHEN: Throughout Bloomingtide
WHERE: The docks, the Gallows, and exploring Kirkwall
NOTES: Will update with any warnings if necessary. If anyone wants to plan or would like a specific starter, feel free to either PM this journal or hit me up on plurk (

StarryOblivion).

Arrival

While Hermione had never had trouble with boats, she couldn't help feeling nauseated during the entire trip. She was still convinced that she'd left Harry behind in Skyhold, and that she could have done more to find him, and the concern and guilt weighed on her heavily.

By the time she'd disembarked, she was a little unsteady on her feet, and the sight of the Gallows wasn't really helping to foster a cheery disposition. She lingered by the docks for a time, often stopping to stare back across the water towards where they'd come from, but she knew that eventually she'd have to make her way into the Gallows proper.

The Gallows

Though it wasn't as dismal as it had been when she'd been kept a prisoner there in that horrible future world, the Gallows still wasn't the most inviting of places. Hermione didn't consider herself sensitive to that sort of thing, but she could swear she could feel the pain and anguish that lingered, soaked into the walls despite the Inquisition's best efforts to make the place livable. Though she sat in the library more than once and took a few meals in the dining hall and tried to settle into something resembling a day-to-day schedule, she didn't feel wholly comfortable anywhere. It wasn't until now that she realized just how much Skyhold had come to feel like home, and that posed a whole host of other problems in itself.

The city

Though Hermione hated the Gallows, she'd heard enough mixed tales about Kirkwall to be reluctant to travel there. But she knew that staying in the Gallows all day every day wasn't healthy, and so she eventually managed to borrow a set of clothes that wouldn't look too out of place among the locals, and so wouldn't attract any undue attention as she spent a few days familiarizing herself with her new surroundings.

[OOC- For the last option, anyone in her current CR circle is free to venture along with her, and anyone is welcome to encounter her throughout Kirkwall as she tries to get her bearings. She's curious enough that she'll at least pop her head in anywhere that doesn't look clearly dangerous, but feel free to contact me if you want to be sure or want something specific!]

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That's encouraging, and Inessa manages a small smile at the news. "Good, I'm glad to hear it. The projects are newly formed or being reorganized; I'm not aware who is the project leader for the rifts, not yet, but I suspect such news will be forthcoming soon, now that the Gallows are cleared and settled."

If nothing else, it sounds more organized than simply sitting in the library for days at a time, poring through any book that crosses her path. Not that she won't still do that, of course, but having a central area of focus would at least make her feel more productive. "Thank you. I suppose, for now, I can just help you with whatever you're doing, until I get assigned something officially. That is, if you don't mind."

"No, not at all. And it is personally relevant; I'm studying anchor evolution, attempting to learn what I can in order to alleviate their pain. Or, at the very least, diminish it." Inessa scratches Garahel behind the ears as the boat fills up enough for them to move off. "I may not possess one for myself, but it's not completely selfless. I worry for those dear to me." Too many people she knows, not just rifters, have a shard. What will happen to them, in time? It's something she intends to find out.

Hermione looks down at her shard hand as Inessa speaks, frowning down at the fingerless glove she'd taken to wearing to hide the green glow from random onlookers. She's had to deal with the pain and discomfort for so long that she hardly registers it anymore, but she'd remember how terrifying the entire thing had been when she'd first arrived. "It's like an open wound that won't heal," she murmurs after a moment. "Such a thing usually results in an infection, or in the wound getting even larger, so I'm glad rifters aren't the only ones worrying about it."

Especially since it's not something as simple as blood that spews out of this wound, but raw power from the Fade. If that isn't cause for concern, she doesn't know what is.

Nodding solemnly, Inessa tucks strands of hair back in an attempt to keep them from blowing into her eyes due to the wind. "I have not heard of them growing in size, but that doesn't mean they can't evolve. We have several people who have discovered its capacity for defense and offense. Which is useful, to be sure, but I would see that it doesn't come with a further price."

"I don't see how relying on anything that closely connected to the Fade can be good for a person's body," Hermione brings up, trying not to pout. It isn't exactly the most mature thing to do in light of the severe topic, but it's been so long since she's talked to someone about the shards that her reactions aren't entirely what they could be. "Magic is one thing; magic is filtered and controlled by the mage in question. But this is a hole in a person's hand, if not in a more inconvenient body part. If the filter has a hole, it's no longer effectively filtering out what it was built to keep out."

At those shared concerns, Inessa sighs and glances to the palm of her own hand as though imagining what it would be like to bear a shard of her own. She's in no hurry to make that a reality, though. "That is a worrying issue, yes. There is no filter, no protection, from what is beyond. I wonder if the toll it takes is even greater on one entirely unused to magic. Without any previous connection, would further problems arise?"

What would happen to Kain and others like him, previously lacking a mage's connection to the Fade? Now he was more intimately tied to it than even most mages.

Though she'd apparently thought about all sorts of things that most other Thedosians hadn't taken to account, Hermione hadn't really considered that the shard may behave differently for rifters with a magical background than it does for those without one. "Are you saying there's a chance that those without magic might be at a greater risk?"

It's likely clear, given her reaction, that she has a rather specific rifter in mind, resulting in an extremely personal stake in all this. The lack of proper books on the rifts is going to drive her mad before long.

That reaction is noted, and Inessa fights off another sigh as she straightens. Hermione's worn and stressed enough without her thoughtlessly adding to it; this was a conversation that could have waited until she was settled. But nor will she lie or divert the topic. "I...don't know, but that is something we must study closely to be certain. Who do you believe would be open to this?"

Hermione is likely never going to be properly settled in the Gallows, and now is as good a time as any for this conversation. At least it gives her something to work on right away, so she can take her mind off of everything else.

She opens her mouth to say the first name that had popped into her mind, but instead she says, "Most of the people I've come to know from different worlds don't have magic where they're from. Or, at least, aren't capable of performing magic themselves. Someone like-... like Jamie, for instance, is as magic-free as they come, and even those who can do something similar to magic, like Rey, call it something else. I'm one of the small handful of rifters I know who has magic that can even be considered the slightest bit similar to Thedas'."

Inessa nods at mention of Jamie, thoughtful. "That is a good point; my knowledge of rifter abilities and how many of them echo our standards of magic is not what I would like. That will be amended, soon. If Jamie is willing, I'd welcome his help...and I would ask Kain's, as well. He is no rifter, but nor does he have magic of any kind beyond that of the shard. It's a decent place to begin, I believe."

A small, worried smile forms at mention of Kain. "I did not learn about his...addition for some time after he received it. So I feel the need to make up for lost time. I'm not certain that I'm done being upset with him for that."

The idea of working together with Jamie makes something strange and vaguely familiar flutter in Hermione's stomach, but she tries not to think about it. Instead, she focuses on the new subject, since that seems an easier thing to talk about on her end.

"Kain? The Grey Warden with the long blond hair? I didn't realize-... how did it happen?" She knows some natives have had shards embedded in them, but other than Mal, she hadn't known any personally.

"He was near a rift when it reacted and...well, gave him that shard. It must have happened while I was on the way to Skyhold and he still in the Western Approach." Inessa sighs and shakes her head, wondering if she would have been able to prevent it were they fighting as a team. He was always too careless by himself, and this was a prime example if not the only one.

"I'm... sorry," she replies softly, frowning a little. It's strange to apologize for someone else having the same sort of situation that she has, but she can tell by Inessa's response that she's troubled by the idea of her friend having a shard. She has any number of reasons to be troubled by it, really, considering how little they know about them.

"If there's any research or projects that can be done to find out more about the risks of having a shard, especially on those whose bodies aren't equipped to handle magic, I promise I'll do all I can to help. It's scary enough when it's on my hand, but if my friends may be facing greater dangers, that's all the more reason to get what answers we need as quickly and efficiently as possible."

"Agreed. All those affected deserve that much. It's new territory, academically-speaking, so the library will not be as of much assistance as I would prefer. But that doesn't mean we lack resources; the condition of the Veil here in Kirkwall might be just we need to aid our understanding. The rifts have been sealed, but the thinness remains. I'd like to believe we can use that to our advantage...if we exercise caution."

Unpredecented magic will likely require unprecedented means of research, but the risk needn't be reckless. She'll have to seek out the project leader once they're decided, but even before then there's time to jot down ideas and a plan of action. Whether or not its taken, at least it will be there if required.

Garahel perks up as the boat carries them closer to the Gallows, wagging his tail as he's eager to be back on land.

Hermione hesitates, her understanding of the Veil and all it encompasses not nearly as strong as she would like for it to be, considering how closely her own hand is tied to the rifts. "For the purposes of experimentation, you mean? Even if we're cautious, that sounds dangerous. We'd need a large store of people involved in that, to act as healers or forces if something were to go wrong and we only ended up opening an entirely new rift."

As much as she wants to help those with shards, it's always better to err on the side of caution, after all. She doesn't want to rush blindly into something and end up being killed by a demon before she even realized that something had gone wrong.

Between the dark thoughts and the sight of the Gallows approaching ever closer, Hermione is even more disappointed that she'd been made to leave Skyhold, but there's precious little she can do about it now. She only hopes that Harry is okay and out of harm's way, wherever he might be.

Mention of healers and others at hand has Inessa nodding automatically; she wouldn't consider experimentation without either of those resources. When it comes to such matters, it's better to be over-prepared than otherwise. Her gaze

"I will certainly recommend that course of action, to the project leader or the research division as a whole. Many of the Inquisition have known Kirkwall more intimately, and could have invaluable relevant advice. At any rate, I suppose I am getting ahead of myself. Any experimentation will not happen without the express permission of the Inquisition leadership, regardless."

Hermione's silent for a moment. While she isn't one to wantonly flout authority, she has been known to quietly and carefully go behind the backs of professors and other such figures to do whatever might be necessary (and prohibited) at the time. "No extensive experimentation, yes," she allows, voice soft. "But... there's nothing stopping at least a theoretical exchange of ideas and an informal poll of sorts with those willing to be a part of it. Certainly not anything concrete, not without the properly resources and precautions."

After all, that had been how Dumbledore's Army had been initially formed, and it had come in more than a little handy during the height of the Second Wizarding War.

Inessa listens with an arched eyebrow before her lips quirk in a small smile, a touch of amusement in those eyes. She's reminded of the logic used to get around her teachers in the Circle, for good or ill. The scar on her cheek is a souvenir from latter such incidents, though she has yet to admit that to most.

"An exchange of ideas is harmless enough. I support it, as well as the poll. When we have the resources to take action, at least we will be prepared."

Hermione doesn't seem to note the way Inessa looks at her, only nodding as she thinks it over. "Yes, it's always wise to be prepared," she murmurs. After all, she'd been in enough situations where authority figures were actually the ones who were in the wrong, and she and her friends had had to work around them to do what was right.

"For now, though, there isn't much that can be done until we're all of us settled in our new... home." Not that she thinks she can ever consider the Gallows to be her home, but it's going to be the closest thing she'll have until she has good reason to relocate. Or finds her way back to her proper home.

The hesitation is noticed and met with a sympathetic nod. "If it helps, think of it as a means to an end. Everything we accomplish here is a step toward that goal of seeking a return for yourself and others."

Whether Inessa believes it possible...well, she's keeping an open mind. No one thought it possible that a breach would appear and demons would pour out, after all. So she refuses to go into this focusing on failure at the very beginning.

She tries not to feel bitter about the whole thing, and for the most part, Hermione manages to hold her tongue. But ultimately she can't help asking, "Has anyone even been looking for a way to send us back? It seems as though most people have either accepted us as a part of their lives, or else they'd rather we were dead. I understand that people are more focused on Corypheus and the Breach, but... what if part of the reason new rifts open up is because rifters are here, instead of in their own worlds?"

Silent for a moment, Hermione ponders over that. "What if the rifts are the universe's way of trying to right itself, and the breach will finally close when every rifter is back where they should be?" It's no more possible than any other theory, but that only means it's no more impossible. She just doesn't have any data with which to support or denounce the idea.

Hermione's question prompts a furrowed brow as Inessa mulls over the possibility presented. "I...an interesting theory, though the rifts appeared before rifters themselves did. That cause is not you or the others arriving here, though I cannot say for certain that your presence does not affect them. That's a good question, one we must research."

There's a soft whine from Garahel as he senses Hermione's mood, bumping up against her comfortingly. "I...don't believe there has been a constant effort to determine how to return rifters to their point of origin. Many believe it to be entirely impossible, or that it pales compared to our other priorities. I'm sorry. I know it's unfair. Perhaps this reorganization can give us more resources to devote to that area. No one deserves to cast adrift forever."

Hermione doesn't know if she really thinks her new theory is at all viable, but it's still a theory, and it seems as though she's one of the only ones bothering to come up with any. Or, at least, to come up with any theories that include the rifters heading home.

She reaches a hand out to pet Garahel without really paying attention, though she eventually concedes to look down and focus on him a bit more as she pets him with both hands. "It isn't your fault. And I can understand the circumstances. But if the Breach is sealed while the rifters are on this end, effectively closing off our way back...." She frowns a little, even if she doesn't like the fact that the mabari can apparently sense her grim mood. "You can see why it's been on my mind."

Aw, Hermione. Garahel nuzzles her, tail wagging a little as she does so. Inessa nods gravely, sighing as she mulls over the situation herself. "Were our positions reversed, I would be just as determined to return. The wonders of a new world do not negate my duty to this one. I cannot guarantee what will happen, only that I will not forget that there are many who deserve a chance to return."

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bookish_lioness - 2017-05-17 14:52 (UTC) - Expand

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