faderift | [Open] The World It Learns

WHO: Jamie McCrimmon and you!
WHAT: Rifter reflections and various other things
WHEN: Mid-to-late Haring unless otherwise specified
WHERE: Various places in Skyhold
NOTES: Either brackets or prose is fine with me, so feel free to use either and I will match your style. I'm also happy to set threads prior to the Abomination appearing, so if you would prefer one of those, just say so in the header. Will update warnings as needed.

Battlements
[Monsters. It seems no matter where he goes, there's monsters. It's something that's been a part of his life for so long now that he normally he doesn't even think twice about the fact they're here, too, just falls into the habits he's developed over the past few years when they turn up.

The night the Abomination shows up is one of those nights, although he doesn't wind up facing it directly. Instead, he helps others get out of its path and tries to keep the fires from spreading, and when all is said and done the night becomes a bit of a blur. It's not until a few days later that he finds himself up on the battlements, staring down at the Courtyard below.

It's entirely not because of what's happened, although it is part of it. Losing people is never easy, and there's a part of him that regrets they couldn't do more to save them, especially that poor mage lass who'd never stood a chance. However, what happened also reminds him all too much of the way life used to be, before he'd fallen through the rift. Only a few months ago he'd still been with the Doctor and Zoe, fighting beasties and helping the people wherever they'd wound up. Sometimes they'd died, too, but they'd done their best to stop things from getting worse. Maybe he's doing the same here now, in a way, but now he's doing it alone. As much as he likes to think that he can handle what this world is throwing at him, deep down he misses his friends - and he winds up caught up in those thoughts, making it all too easy to sneak up on him at the moment and catch him unawares.]

Library
[Jamie's not normally the sort to be found in the library. He's neither a mage or a scholar, and much prefers trying to see about getting something to eat rather than nosing around old books. But the longer he's here, the more he's starting to realize that the books here can be useful, too. The main problem with that - or with reading anything that's being written down around here - is that he has no idea how to make heads or tales out of the runes people seem to be using for writing. Having to learn to read all over again in the space of only a few years isn't something he's particularly keen on doing, but given that it could be something that would be handy to know, he's determined to figure it out.

The problem, in his case, is getting started. There were books the Doctor used to when he first taught him to read. Simple children's books, ones where it was easy enough to take the letters he'd been taught and string them into words, and from there, start to puzzle out sentences. He hasn't seen all that many children about, but the library here has a lot of different books. Surely there's something her that'd work. On the days he's trying to find these books anyone who happens to come by the library can find him pulling tomes off the shelves, leafing through them (often while the book is upside down), and putting them back again, although not necessarily the right way around. Sometimes he finds a couple that look almost promising, and settles in a nearby chair, slowly tracing the symbols with a finger as if trying to make some sort of sense out of them. More often than not, though, he simply winds up looking frustrated with the whole exercise and winds up grumbling to himself. He tries to keep that part of things quiet...but he's also not particularly good at always being quiet. If it means he gets glared at, well, that's only to be expected.]

Out and about
[Being at Skyhold for the moment means that he can be found just about anywhere: having a drink at the tavern, trying to sneak a bit of food from the kitchens, or hanging out with the horses in the stables. Occasionally he can be found carving a piece of wood. It's a longer piece, about the length of someone's forearm, and to those who can recognize such it's slowly starting to resemble something rather akin to a recorder, although still very roughly formed. He seems to be taking his time with it, although it's hard to say if it's because he wants it to be perfect or if he just needs the practice. Either way, if you need him for something, you should be able to track him down one way or another.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Aye, well, I think the point is that Saint Francis is good enough with beasties that they're willing to do things they'd not do normally," he says with a shrug. It's how he's always interpreted it, anyway. Still, he's curious again, and gives her a considering look as a result.

"Why, what would've Fen...Fen-Har-el have done? Did I say that right?"

"Fen'harel," Sina repeats, a little more slowly, and with a patient smile. "And... I suppose that makes sense, about Saint Francis. He must have been quite special, that being the case."

She looks down and begins to fiddle with the end of her scarf as she continues. "Fen'Harel was one of the Creators. There are many tales of him, but most importantly, he tricked the others and sealed them away. This is why we long for them-- they have not been present on this side of the Veil since the days of Arlathen, the great Elvhen kingdom." Her smile diminishes. In some ways it's a fairy tale, and in others, it's as real as any other piece of history. "We lost everything when our Creators went away. We no longer know their faces, and no longer have their protection. The Dread Wolf is to blame for this. He would not have lain down at anyone's feet, let alone a human's."

Well, he's at least in the right ballpark - which given how often he mangles words he doesn't understand, is something, at least. Still, he dutifully mouths the name one more time in an attempt to get the pronunciation down. Most of his attention is on Sina's explanation, however. It isn't something he's expecting at all, and as she talks, his eyebrows arch in surprise, then wind up climbing up further and further, until they get high enough that they disappear into his bangs.

"No, it doesn't sound as though he would've. Why would he want to trick the other creators like that, though? It doesn't make sense, unless there was some sort of benefit for him to do so."

Sina considers, then shrugs, her brow knitting in a thoughtful frown. "We know of his Great Betrayal, but very little of why." She hugs her knees to herself and rests her chin atop them. "Only that... he must have wanted them gone, and for Arlathan to fall."

It's strange that he'd want to do that, but Jamie has come across a lot of strange in his time. So that simply gets him to hrm thoughtfully for a moment before putting the fact in the back of his mind to mull over later. For now, he tilts his head somewhat quizzically as he looks at Sina again.

"Arlathan? Was that where your people came from? Or was it a city of some sort?"

"It was our greatest city," Sina explains with a sad sigh, "and the Dalish Keepers believe its fall, at the hands of Tevinter, was the reason our People were enslaved and all our knowledge lost. It was destroyed."

Given Sina's words earlier, hearing that the city has been lost isn't so much of a surprise as it might have been otherwise. But there's still something in her tone that makes him press his lips together briefly before a look of sympathy crosses his face - and he reaches out with a hand, meaning to lay it on Sina's arm if she lets him, just so he can offer a bit of comfort. It's all he's really able to do, in this situation.

Even if she's not inclined to let him touch her, after a moment he does wind up letting his breath out in a fairly quiet sigh.

"There's nothing left at all, then? Not any small objects that might have gone elsewhere, or stories that could've been passed down? Nothing at all?"

Sina is a bit surprised by the touch, but doesn't pull away from it. Instead, she looks into Jamie's eyes and smiles a little.

"I believe there are artifacts," she says, "Pel and her expedition found some. I've been reading about others, discovered here and there over the years." Her smile becomes more hopeful. "And stories-- of course we have stories. But that's all they are now, and it can be difficult to discern history from myth."

"Aye, well, that's the problem with stories. They tend to take on a life of their own over time."

Not that's necessarily a bad thing, but it does make it harder to figure out what's real and what's just some sort of tale. Still, when there's artifacts that might help sort that sort of thing out, he can't help but think that's a good thing.

"If Pel's found artifacts, though, then maybe you'll be able to find more. Once you're feeling better, anyway. Think that'd be something, wouldn't it?"

"That's the plan," Sina says with a smile, "I just have to.. feel better, first." Little does she know how not-better she's going to feel very soon! But nobody's that psychic, except me, the writer.

"I helped them with some on their last expedition, but wasn't able to do much. I hope that... at some point, I'll be able to go out on an expedition. I'd like to see these ruins for myself."

"Och, you'll get there."

Not knowing what the future holds means he's confident that Sina'll get there sometime soon, and then she'll be out there with the rest of them, reclaiming her heritage. And for the moment he gives her a brief, reassuring smile before turning

"You'll have to let me know what you wind up finding, mind. I'll admit, I'd not mind seeing what some of these artifacts look like, but it's not my place to go along on something like this."

"Oh, I will," she says, with an enthusiastic smile. "And of course the same goes for you. If you see anything that might be relevant, I'd love to hear about it." After all, it's far more likely Jamie will be out and about than she will.
"Perhaps it's not your place to seek them out, but I understand people occasionally stumble on them. All you need do is ask one of the Dalish if they think it will be useful."

"Hey, that's true. I'd not thought of that."

While he still has his doubts that he'll find one, there's always the off chance it'll happen - and he makes a note to himself that if for some reason he does, he'll let her know about it. Or bring it back so she can see it for herself, if possible. He pushes himself to his feet, giving her a smile at the same time.

"Tell you what, then. If I do happen across something, I'll ask. And maybe bring it back, if I can. I should probably get going for now and let you rest, though. I'll see you later?"

Sina smiles and offers an amiable nod. "Wonderful," she intones, then lifts her hand in a small wave. "Right, see you later."

[Open] The World It Learns

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