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WHO: Kain Ventfort and OPEN
WHAT: The return from a month's captivity in Tevinter's 0/5 star accomodations
WHEN: This month, now-ish
WHERE: Inquisition areas and around Kirkwall
NOTES: References to captivity, nightmares, and associated dark things

I. Infirmary

They had made sure to keep the captives well enough to stay alive, so they might retain their usefulness… but that was about it. There was little regard for their mental states, particularly, or looking too closely after their overall statuses beyond the basics. Once the adrenaline of the escape had worn off, Kain had crashed pretty hard. He'd gotten quite weak while lingering in a cell, and feverish and sickly in those last couple of weeks, all of it aggravated by his worsening insomnia.

So on returning, it was off to the infirmary with him to start his initial recovery.

He's being given all kinds of herbs and tinctures, along with the healers tending to him as well. They've been adjusting and adapting what they're giving him, not about to let him leave until he's got the right mix that'll work. Some of those things should be helping him sleep, and for the most part, they do… Mostly.

The nightmares still keep coming back, like they are right now. Kain wakes up with a sudden jolt, screaming as he flails his arms around against an unseen enemy.

II. Chapel

Kain hasn't always been the most devout, even if he considers himself Andrastian in theory. But he feels compelled to pray, though he's unsure if he's there to thank her for being freed, or simply to ask the Maker… why. It's an excuse to leave his room, anyway, and the healers have allowed that much, since it's not too strenuous to walk there.

At least it's blissfully quiet here, something he's sorely needed after the month of whispers in his head. Perhaps even a little too quiet.

Although he starts out kneeling, deep in prayer, he soon enough finds himself nodding off… eyes getting heavier and heavier… Until Kain ends up curled up on the bench, fast asleep. After the month he's had, and the mix of various herbs he's been taking to help him sleep, it's no wonder he can't keep awake.

His snores are hard to miss, loudly echoing throughout the chapel.

III. Kirkwall Merchants

Amid all the chaos, he's lost his favorite pair of gloves. It's a small thing relative to what he'd been through, but to him it matters. They'd been perfect for covering up his shard and nothing else he owns entirely does the trick. At the moment, he's still not in the best state of mind, so he's become a little obsessed with finding something new to cover up that shard, especially after all that he's been through recently.

So Kain is at a glove merchant. He's trying on pair after pair, one by one, all different colors and fabrics. One by one, he's also tossing them aside when he still sees that glow emanating through them. There's a black leather pair which seems almost promising… but no, they don't quite fit. A soft velvet purple pair, no. A silky deep maroon, also no. A plaidweave pair… yeah, definite no.

Kain sighs in frustration as he holds his hand up to observe that faint glow through the plaidweave.

"How annoying. I guess I really will have to return all the way home to get something…"

IV. Griffon Roost

It feels like forever. Kain still isn't in the best of shape, but he's desperately missing Potato, and the griffons in general. So at some point he heads off for the roost. He's oddly nervous as he approaches. What if she's moved on from him? Does that ever happen, after a long enough span of time apart?

Of course, he had nothing to worry about. As soon as he enters, cheerful squawks greet him. The griffons all know and like the Warden, since he always comes bearing plentiful treats.

Potato is the most enthused of all. She bounds toward him, knocking him flat over. He's a bit too weak to get up just yet, but he doesn't care at the moment. As for Potato, she's nuzzling him like a fiend and making very elated noises. She's clearly missed him.

"I'm... glad... to... ahh, to see you, too, Potato…"

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"Well, I'll just stay far away from the Deep Roads. Hopefully I don't get assigned there for something." Because she kind of can't control that.

"So! Now that we've discussed that creepy, scary thing, are you gonna buy some gloves?"

"I don't blame you. If it were up to me, non-Wardens wouldn't get assigned there. The risk is too great. But... we only have so many of us here. They sometimes have to send whoever they can, unfortunately. Just keep your wits about you and you'll be more apt to survive." Well. More or less. He'll never pretend the danger isn't worse for those who aren't protected against the taint. It's better that people are informed of what they're getting into.

But, yes, changing his focus a little, he looks at the gloves he's been considering, then sets them aside to pick up another, one that will be better for adding in some extra fabric. "These look promising."

Keep her wits about her. Tessa's never considered herself to be that type of person, so there's a bit of a worried crease to her brow. However, what she thinks of herself and who she actually is are two different things. She managed to survive in a world where few people did. She's more capable than she realizes.

"Yeah? That's good. And they look pretty cool too. I don't know what counts as trendy here, but they'd definitely be in style back home."

"They're Ferelden-made, which is all the more reason to get them. My countrymen would hate them." He gives a wry little smirk, before returning to the more serious demeanor. "I've nothing but pride in my homeland, don't get me wrong. But sometimes, they do go overboard when it comes to what's fashionable." Ok, and maybe he's gotten a bit of a thing for things that are Ferelden, these days.

"Oh, yeah?" Tessa gives a soft snort. "Where I'm from, you don't dare wear an opposing city's gear." Of course she's talking about sports teams and he's talking about something else.

"You must be pretty brave."

"Believe me, it's still the same even now, between Ferelden and Orlais, and I doubt it'll ever change, no matter how well they might get along at times. I just have a certain... new found preference for Ferelden." He looks down toward the hand with the shard, thinking about the recent situation that he'd been through, then over to her. He takes such words very seriously, after all, bravery means a great deal to him.

"I certainly try to be... Thank you for saying so."

Man, what a sincere guy. Tessa hopes the world doesn't chew him up and spit him back out.

"No prob. I'd better get going, but it's good you found something that'll work for you."

Ah, it already has, it already has. Hence why he's struggled to be as good of a person as he can be.

"Yes… and I appreciate the help in the matter. It's best getting the opinion of someone who's in the same position… in this one regard, anyway." Sure, he's no rifter, but he very much understands what they go through with the shards. He'd never have expected to have such a thing in common, but here they are.

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