( OPEN ) | been stung by this hurt

[swordproof]

WHO: Six + open
WHAT: Six has her powers back and has a few emotions
WHEN: Over the month (catch all)
WHERE: Here, there, everywhere
NOTES: Possible references to abuse might come up!

GARDENS.

Six wakes from her dream and feels an immediate sense of power, something she had not felt in the months since she had first arrived in Thedas.

It feels as if a part of her has been returned, a missing piece of her soul given back. In her minds eye she can still see the image of the spirit she had met not so many weeks before now, the gentle touch of a being that was so close to being Sarenrae but so distant all at once, a Faith she could not deny. Knowing that gentle touch for what it was, a dream that gave her so much, all Six can do is rush out in the light of the early morning and settle herself down for prayers.

She kneels for hours, dressed only in her light linen shirt and her breeches, her hair a tangle around her face - she hadn’t even bothered to comb her hair or tie it back away from her face, the curls of it sticking to her cheeks as the tears stain her skin.

They are not, at least, the tears of an upset woman - Six has cried enough of those in the last few months that she thinks people might be able to tell the difference now. With her hands clasped as they are it’s clear that she is bowing her head, offering her whispered words to a Goddess she does not think is truly able to hear her despite the power that now settles inside of her, making her feel strong and remarkable all over again.

As she prays she tries, just a little, summoning some of her divine strength - and her hands glow as the tears fall on them, her laughter coming as she realises that she is truly herself once more.

GALLOWS.

With her powers in hand Six returns to the Gallows immediately, drawing the greatsword from her back and rising herself to her full height.

She has to take a few moments to centre herself, to focus, to summon what she knows as familiar inside of herself. It’s been so long since she called upon the powers that Sarenrae gave her - a year has gone by, a year stolen from her, a year where she had felt bereft and wrong. When she holds the hilt of her blade she feels as though she is on fire, and when she opens her eyes again the blade is lit up with the flames of her faith, flickering as her eyes widen.

When she laughs it’s a giddy, desperate noise, blade twisting as she slams down and brings the blade into the heart of the training dummy, the flames disappearing as she does, calming as she brings it back.

If anyone notices her she does nothing to dissuade them from watching her, twisting and pressing her body forward. It’s clear that she is excited, that she thrumming with her joy and her passion, and she doesn’t stop for a moment - unless, of course, someone wants to challenge her to a spar.

STABLES.

On the heel of her successes comes the need to make sure all her animals are content, are happy, are being well taken care of. She has Two with her at all times, the kitten she stole from the barn sleeping on her bed more often than not - and she knows she needs to name it, but there’s a sense of uncertainty that she can’t quite swallow - and Sir in his stable, waiting for her to come with treats and a promise of a grooming.

When she comes into the stables, a Mabari on her heels, all she can do is go straight to her horse and reach up to pat at his face and scratch at his neck, a fond expression on her face. It’s obvious which horse is hers from a distance, a huge beast that is strong enough to carry a woman of her weight and height without crumbling under her. She feeds him carrots, takes him out to be groomed, and walks him around, sometimes taking him out to ride if she has the company for it.

She spends a great deal of time around the stables, playing with Two, taking care of her horse, talking to anyone who will listen to her about the animals she cares for; she is clearly an animal person and she has no hesitation showing it.

WILDCARD.

( Find Six hanging around anywhere or msg me for something personal! )

Comments

Gallows

[circleprodigy]

Inessa is quiet, distracted as she crosses the courtyard toward the mage tower alone. She's not thinking to socialize at that particular time, more interested in dropping off her items in her quarters and going to the templar tower for a good soak. Spring is slow to warm her up, and she could use the extra help.

Passing by the training area, Inessa plans to do nothing more than pass by with a weary wave. Six is busy and she doesn't mean to distract her any more than she wants to be diverted from her course. And if she had passed by a moment earlier, that's what would have happened.

Instead, she stops short, eyes instantly widening upon seeing Six's blade wreathed in flames. Her friend had explained before that she was bereft of what had made her a paladin, so she certainly wasn't expecting to see that or anything like it after all this time. "...Six?? How...?" She realizes her mouth is hanging open and she closes it, though her eyes retain their amazement.

[swordproof]

Six is incredibly focussed on the dummy in front of her, on the fire that has taken over her; she feels as though Sarenrae is back with her, despite knowing there is a distance between them, knowing that her God cannot truly be here in Thedas. The Chantry does not have room for someone else to share space with them, but someone had allowed a glimpse of home to come to Six, to give her back something she had never thought she would be able to have again.

Sweat sticking her hair to her face, she has to force herself to breathe out and turn when she hears the sound of her name. When she lowers her blade she realises who it is and her eyes widen, pure joy spreading across her face as the flames die out and the blade goes back to its natural steel.

"Inessa!" Moving forward, she puts her blade to one side and, without thinking too much, wraps her arms around her friend. "She has found me again!"

[circleprodigy]

"I can see that!" Inessa stares, entranced with the blade even as it reverts to normal. It reminds her of the abilities of Knight-Enchanters, somewhat, though Knight-Enchanters are mages and Six has made it clear that she's not. She's still taking this all in when Six hugs her and when the moment of surprise passes, she laughs and returns the embrace.

"That's truly wonderful, I'm so happy for you. Tell me everything, how it it happen? And you can do all that you did before? How does your anchor feel?" The jubilation is still there, but she can't escape the knowledge that the anchor/rifter relationship is intense. Did her regaining what was lost change that in any way?

[swordproof]

She can't help the clear delight on her face as she leans back, gripping her friend's arms for a shoulder before she breathes out gently. Her eyes are wide and excited, a spark to them that had been missing before. It's true that Sarenrae wasn't present in the way that Six was used to, but this is enough - it has to be enough.

"I dreamt of her last night and the Spirit that worked with me when the Veil was thin. Most things are the same, but my powers are different, not identical." Looking down at her hand, she hesitates. "I have not looked at it much. I have not felt a change."

[circleprodigy]

Naturally, she glances down to the hand as well, but is quick to reassure and focus on the positive. "If you've not felt anything different, I wouldn't worry. Such changes are not subtle." And her smile returns, a proud gleam in her eyes. Six's spark is contagious, how could it not be? "Then something good came out of all that horror. I'm so glad you've found that connection, that a spirit saw your need and worth.

What is different? Please, tell me everything. I promise you will not bore me."

[swordproof]

"Many of my powers cannot be summoned here," Six admits. "I was able to summon a steed and create an aura of truth, but that has not been possible here. I think I can use more of my other strengths, however, so I do not think those are losses that I should mourn for too long." Her smile is soft and wry.

"I can heal, and I can defend against evil and undead. That is what I was useful for."

[circleprodigy]

A summoned steed, a reliable means of discerning truth from lies...all that sounds incredible even for mage, but Inessa has to admit that Six is right. There's no sense in focusing on what cannot be, only what has been gained...most of all, that light in her friend's eyes. She nods, understanding as best she can.

"Both of those are great boons, and will be extremely useful in this world as well as your native one. We're never at an overabundance of healing, let alone ways to effectively fight undead. There's a joke in there somewhere about Nevarrans and their mortalitasi, but honestly I think they would appreciate its practical use against our enemies."

[swordproof]

She has a horse here; there is no point wishing for one that she can summon when she has Sir at her side. He's a good steed, one that she chose herself for the first time in her life, and that means something to her. Six is now able to choose a path for herself, with Sarenrae to help guide her, but she wishes that she could feel that blessing with more strength all the same.

"I do not know enough about the Nevarrans to understand it," she says, voice a little wry. "But I am here, a member of the Inquisition, and I will do what I can. I will protect these people, with Sarenrae to guide me."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa beams at that, proud of her friend and how far she's come in her time in Thedas. "I look forward to seeing that might in action, and learning how to adapt my magic to yours. If you tire of training dummies and want to test them at the coast or mountains, I would gladly fetch Garahel and join you. Maker knows he would love the run around freely, without risking knocking over anyone here."

[swordproof]

"I would be glad to do anything that might help us work well together. My magic is not entirely of Thedas, I know that, and I would not want to do something to bring trouble accidentally." She strokes her fingers over the pommel of her blade, softening. "I am glad to feel my strength again."

[circleprodigy]

Resting a hand on Six's arm, Inessa squeezes it gently with a warm smile. "You deserve to feel whole again, or nearly so. It may have taken a while, but this is a good sign of things to come, I believe. It's about time that this world adapted to you and not only the other way around."

It always seemed unfair that many rifters lost vital parts of themselves when crossing over. She can't imagine arriving somewhere without the magic she had worked so diligently to hone, or as another race. If this can happen after all the time passed, who knows what else can be made possible?

[swordproof]

It's a strange idea, but Six understands it; she does feel whole again. It was something that had been taken from her that has been given back, and she can feel that bubble of warmth inside of her thrum once more. Sarenrae is there in her heart, as she has always been, and the strength of her contentment cannot be ignored.

"It is good that I am myself once more. I do not mind if this continues," and she flexes the hand that houses the shard, "but I will devote myself. It is what my sister would have wanted for me and, surely, what Sarenrae would ask."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa's expression softens at mention of lost family, and she nods. "You may see her again here, and when you do, you'll have something exciting to share." There's no promise to that -there can't be, with the nature of rifters and the Fade- but Inessa will hold onto that hope even if her friend doesn't dare hold it for herself.

[swordproof]

"I hope that I do," she admits. "I do not know what happens to Rifters when they leave, but I have heard the rumours, the whispers. I would like to think that she would have the strength to return to my side, no matter what."

[circleprodigy]

"I've heard the rumors, as well. Some of them...well, they seem extremely unlikely and outlandish. I try to be open-minded; after all, we once thought all this impossible. But I would place my thoughts on theories with some substance to them, rather than baseless speculation." She isn't unsympathetic, though, and her tone softens. "I see no reason why she cannot return. I've heard of those rifters who gain new memories when they sleep. Perhaps she will return with new memories, gained in another fashion. And you'll have something to show for that time away, now."