PLAYER PLOT: Until We Sleep

[byblow]

WHO: Adalia, Alistair, Freddie, Herian, Loghain, Medicine Seller, Melys, Nathaniel, Notas, Teren.
WHAT: Rescuing a king, maybe.
WHEN: Early Wintermarch
WHERE: An island off Seheron, the Fade
NOTES: Violence, disturbing imagery.

GETTING THERE • INFILTRATION • THE FADE • THE KING • AFTERWARDS

Comments

[doneisdone]

Though she hesitates to take it, Teren eventually does, and shivers when the coat is around her shoulders. It's cold in here, and having no padding to deal with it, the warmth of the fabric and residual body heat is a relief.
She tugs it closed and looks around at the cell, still shaking and uncertain, but her expression changes when she looks back at Loghain. There's a surge of vulnerability, her eyes watering, emotional rather than helpless as before. Ducking her head, she covers her face with one clawlike hand to hide her tears.
They came for her.

[pinprick]

Nathaniel's brow furrows. There is pity he feels that she would not appreciate, and discomfort that he himself does not want. For the span of their acquaintanceship, he has desired some reason to excuse her behavior toward him, some cause to raise his estimation of her. He never wanted to think her mean-spirited for no reason because it would mean never winning her over--if not to him, then to some happier way. This? This does not bring him comfort, and he is suddenly ashamed he ever wanted her to suffer so that he would feel better. This is a proud, strong woman brought low, and he would see no one suffer like this.

"We're not here," he says as a peculiar sensation begins, like bubbles going up his spine. "We're in the--"

And suddenly he is gone.

[mactears]

He looks from Nate's furrowed brows to Teren, holds her gaze and does not think to guard his eyes from her, either. Yes, he came for her; somehow, that certainty seems to be the most natural thing in the world.

He steps forward without thinking to touch her shoulder, to open his arms to her, should she want it. He would not want to cage her, not again, not even to offer her comfort--

Then Nate vanishes, and around him he can feel the dream, the Fade, beginning to melt away.

"Teren," he starts, looking back to her in alarm, and touches her face without thinking.

[doneisdone]

Even before things went so sour for her, Teren was never much of a hugger; but if ever in her life she needed one, it's now. She welcomes the touch to her shoulder, nearly leaning into it-- but then Nate's gone.
"What's happening," she rasps, stepping closer to Loghain as the world shifts around them, becoming somehow more terrifying than her worst nightmare. He touches her face, and when she meets his eyes, there's panic there.

[mactears]

Blackness is converging upon them, shifting and changing the terrain, and all he can see suddenly are her frightened eyes, the way she clutches to him--

So he kisses her. It's quick, it's brief, it's heartfelt--it's all he has time for. "I'll find you," he has time to promise, his forehead against hers.

Then he, too, is gone.

[doneisdone]

Nothing about this situation is okay, and Teren feels the horror rising in her; but it's mitigated, however briefly, when Loghain touches his lips to hers. She has just long enough to look surprised before he vanishes, a sufficient distraction to keep her unaware until she does too.