[open] love, love is a verb

[eolasemah]

WHO: Sina and you!
WHAT: She's awake more often and able to sit up in bed to do things. Visits will be more productive now.
WHEN: Early Drakonis
WHERE: Sina & Nari's tent in the garden
NOTES: Follow-up to this log and the direct result of this one.

The past month has been rough, and Sina has spent most of it in the Fade. Only now is she beginning to look a little more alive, able to converse and laugh without hurting herself, eating more than what Nari can manage to spoon into her mouth while she's conscious, spending her days reading tomes on magic and elvhen history from the library.
She still can't get out of bed without assistance, and the stuffiness of the sick tent is wearing on her. Sina is pale and thin, a shadow of herself, with bags under her eyes and protruding bones. She still smiles easily, however, and is grateful for company and news of outside goings-on.

She will get better. She is getting better. But it will take time.

Comments

[for Korriceli]

[eolasemah]

Nari is out at the moment, doing the things Nari does when she goes out-- and bless her, for now she can have more of a life without worrying Sina will expire in her absence.
It's mid-afternoon and the only thing Sina is dying of is boredom. She has a book propped up in her lap, but her eyes keep sliding over the words in favor of looking towards the tent flap. She can tell the weather is fair, the birds are singing, and all she wants to do is be out in the sunshine. All she has to do is... crawl there. Probably over the course of a few hours.
Nari wouldn't like that. She stays where she is and glares at the book.

[gatheringstorm]

One of the first things Korrin did upon returning was head over to check on Sina, but as the latter was resting, she had to wait. The Vashoth woman didn't begrudge her frail friend's need for rest, of course, then or any other time she tried to see her and was met with the same situation. But that hadn't stopped her from trying, and one afternoon, she takes advantage of the news that Sina's awake before that window of opportunity closes.

Araceli is told immediately, of course. She remembers full well how badly upset her kadan was at the news of Sina's incident, and can't make it up to her -and them- fast enough. And the fair weather of the day just cements her plan as they approach the tent. Lifting the tent flap and peering inside, she smiles in relief upon seeing Sina seated upright.

"I don't suppose anyone in here would be interested in a kidnapping? There's a garden that's been without your presence for too long, Sina."

slinks in late

[foxsays]

Lux comes scampering ahead of Araceli, happy to be free of the cold in Emprise du Lion and able to feel grass and stone beneath his paws, dodging Korrin's legs to barge inside. His tail wags hard enough that his whole body is wiggling, cold nose shoving at Sina's book because why hold a book when you could be petting his soft warm body?

Araceli isn't long in coming after him, running so fast she has to steady herself against Korrin, curls flying. Sina is alive. Of course she didn't believe she was being lied to but getting to see her helps and her face breaks into the bright smile both her friends know so well. It might not stay that way for long, she can already feel her bottle lip wobbling traitorously because she was terrified for Sina, because she saw how bad it was in Emprise du Lion, because of what happened to Zevran.

So much bad and not enough good.

"I promise I can keep watch, the fresh air and sun is good for a person recovering, not being cooped up!"

This is long overdue

[the_effect_she_has]

After a few days where an angry orange cat had been perching outside the tent, allowing Nari to guard the front of the tent while he assessed the situation, Buttercup at some point had appeared at the bottom of Sina's bed and stayed there for hours at a time during the day. Then he would hop off, and away.

Now that Sina was awake, some might find the large orange cat present as he slept on her book, or up around her shoulder like a cape. Anyone who upset her, or Nari? Those angry yellow eyes would open, and a low growl would emit.

He wouldn't have anyone talking ill of his subjects.

Of course, there might be one or two dead birds brought in, but that's only because the Petting Kitten looks weak. She clearly needs to eat more. The angry kitten isn't doing a good enough job in hunting, apparently.

[eolasemah]

Sina was initially upset by the dead birds-- they weren't even the kind that had a lot of meat on them-- but she's getting used to the idea of domestic cats, and it's nice to have a warm and soft presence by her side.

She can sometimes be found with her head fully resting against Buttercup, asleep while he keeps watch. She doesn't mind him sitting on her books, since she has plenty of time to read them. When she eats, she ensures her orange friend receives a few morsels in gratitude for keeping her company.

[the_effect_she_has]

Buttercup would often sniff with disdain at Sina's disapproval of the dead birds. If she didn't like them, she could get out of her soft nest and start hunting her own.

Buttercup doesn't mind her using him as a pillow, and that her books are comfortable while she is petting him is clearly an advantage. Besides, the extra food is nice, although the skinny kitten needs more meat.

Which was why he bit the tall Angry Keeper of him to follow him down to the Sick One's tent. She needed meat, the Angry One always had meat.

So that was how Katniss met Sina, when she stuck her head into the tent, glowering at Buttercup. "Demon cat! This is not - oh - ah - sorry. Buttercup ran in here and ... is ..curling up with you."

What?

[serannas]

Ellana has poked in her head every day to check in on Sina, but has recognized that she's still too weak for long conversations. Sometimes she sits by, offering her hand if Sina wishes to hold it, and telling her about the random goings-on at Skyhold. Today isn't much different, as she comes in and stands at the foot of Sina's cot.

"In the mood for some company?" She never wants to presume that Sina is feeling up to it, so she asks first. It may be that she's too tired, though in recent days she's been looking much improved. More often that not, Ellana finds her reading, like today.

"Oh, reading anything interesting?"

[eolasemah]

Sina still regrets the odd note on which their last visit ended, and she smiles brightly-- blush and all-- when Ellana makes her way in. "Of course," she replies, and shifts herself over slightly so Ellana can sit. She is, naturally, careful not to disturb the sleeping Buttercup, who is keeping her side warm.
"I'm trying to make sense of some runes," she says, laying the book down on her lap so Ellana can catch a glimpse, "and not having much luck, though it doesn't help that I can't cross-reference when I have to describe what I'm looking for so someone else can find it for me."

[serannas]

Ellana takes a seat on the bed and gives the cat a smile, though she doesn't move to pet it since it's asleep. That would just be rude. No one wants to wake an adorable sleeping animal.

"Oo, runes," she says, tilting her head to try and see. After a moment she switches position so instead of facing Sina directly, she's facing the same way she is, so they can both look at the book.

"I'm afraid I don't know much about them. Could you maybe draw the runes and someone can take the parchment with them to the library?"

[mythalenaste]

Pel has made regular visits to see Sina, always bringing books to read aloud to her each time. They're in the middle of an adventure serial right now. And because Sina is the tea fairy, Pel brings her a mug of hot tea.

"How is it today?"

[eolasemah]

Sina always appreciates Pel's visits, both because they provide a little variety in her life and because she enjoys listening to Pel's voice while she reads. It's nice to hear a story sometimes, when she's not miring herself in history texts.

"Better," Sina answers, with her gentle but evasive smile. She says 'better' every time, even when it is visibly worse; perhaps she's trying to will it into truth.
"What's the weather like? It's getting a bit warmer, isn't it?"

[mythalenaste]

Sina always says it's better, and Pel finds it incredibly impolite to challenge her. The healers are watching her. Pel leaves it in their hands.

"It is. Spring is on its way. Do you need another blanket?" Since she mentioned temperature, she thinks it's best to check.

[harthad_uluithiad]

He'd heard about the rift, of course, but it hadn't been until he returned to Skyhold from the Emprise that he'd learned that the elf who had opened it had been Sina herself. And of course, he'd been beside himself with worry - but Sina was still barely conscious, when she was awake at all, and he'd been able to do nothing except fret.

As soon as he'd learned she was awake and accepting visitors, he'd dropped everything and dashed to her tent - but as he approaches, he grows timid, peeking anxiously through the opening at her from outside the tent.

"Miss Sina?"

[eolasemah]

Sina has been reading the same sentence for the last five minutes, because she keeps getting to the end of it and realizing she didn't care enough to pay attention. She yawns, and is about to consider napping, when she hears a voice at the entrance flap.

"Samwise?" she says, and sits up a little, peering eagerly over at him. A grin immediately brightens her face. "You're back! How was Emprise? Cold?" So far 'cold' has been the consensus, but she wants to hear everyone's stories.

[harthad_uluithiad]

An expression of relief breaks out over his face as she looks up, not only awake but smiling. He ducks inside, hurrying over to the side of the bed and looking over her with blatant worry.

"Oh yes, cold; cold as anything," he assures her. "But what happened? I heard the most awfullest things - about a rift, a rift right here in Skyhold, and then they said it was you, and then you didn't wake for the longest time. I couldn't eat I was so worried!" Not quite true, but he had been eating far less than usual, and enjoying what he did eat not at all.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Usually tents mean refugees or healers. He doesn't really associate either of those with hanging out in the gardens, so he eyes this tent a little suspiciously. And you know something that sucks about tents? There's nothing to knock on. He can't even be polite about it even if he wanted to!

"Uh, hello?" He awkwardly calls from outside. "Hey, are you supposed to be here? Like...none of the gardeners or anyone has a problem with you parked out here?"

[eolasemah]

Sina is dozing, but a voice startles her awake. She props herself up on her elbow to sleepily look over, and is surprised to see a human that she doesn't know.
When she sits up, the shard in her chest becomes more obvious, and he may notice the tent interior has a constant green tint to it from the thing glowing through her shift.

"...I am a gardener," she says confusedly, still waking up. "...I don't... think it's a problem?" No one has complained, at least, and she's been here for over a month.

[motherfucking_ghost]

...What, the green, that's--well that's interesting. It means someone he can talk shop with! Probably!

"Oh. Uh. Well then. ...I mean, I obviously don't have a problem with it if you don't. Are you glowing?" Is that a weird question? Maybe that's a weird question. "I mean. That's just a thing some people do. Sometimes."

hi

[levered]

Clarke shows up uninvited and unintroduced. That might be rude. She doesn't—well, she does care, but she means well, and she relies on that to count the same way she's relied on it to count every time she's pushed someone or gotten in their faces for their own benefit. Good intentions don't count for everything, she knows now, but they should count for this. Something small.

And if it helps, she brings a small canvas bag of nuts from the kitchens, and she doesn't presume to come in and sit down. She hovers outside the tent with a flap held back by one arm.

"Are they giving you a hard time?"

They means the Inquisition. She tries not to pay attention to the Mage Council, in hopes they do her the same courtesy.

hi

[eolasemah]

The voice is unfamiliar, and Sina angles her head towards the flap of the tent with a small frown.
"Nothing I can't handle," she bluffs, her voice small and sweet despite her attempt at confidence.

[levered]

Clarke angles a look at her that says, anachronistically, oh, honey. She also takes that as invitation enough to come all the way inside and sit down next to the cot. "What does that mean?" How strict are they? How far does their tolerance stretch? She's asking for a friend.

As if in payment for an answer—or as if offering something nice to a bedridden girl, either way—she puts the bag in her hand on the edge of the bed, near Sina's hip, to be taken whenever she wants it.

[issala]

Hello, Sina. Have a small qunari teen with hearth cakes for you, courtesy of Korrin. He pretty much just barges in without knocking and looks a bit awkward when he notices that she's not sleeping.

he had really hoped she'd be sleeping.

"..I... didn't think you'd be awake. Sorry."

[eolasemah]

Sina is a little alarmed by the kid's presence, but she doesn't mind, per se. She's become less and less afraid of qunari/vashoth by the day, and there's nothing exceptionally threatening about this one.

"...do you need something?" she asks.

[for Solas]

[eolasemah]

The Fade was a vast and ever-changing place, this Sina knew. And it was because of this that she wondered why she always ended up back in the same part of it, each time she closed her eyes. She sat on a grimy black beach, her nightgown pooled around her as she watched the glittering green and grey tide ebb and flow, each time just barely touching the tips of her bare toes.

Sometimes she tried walking along the water's edge, but never managed to get anywhere. She had tried to go away from the beach in the other direction, and found only high, jagged black cliffs. She knew there was something across the water, something she wanted, but she also knew on an intuitive level that the sea would consume her before it let her get there.

Demons lurked around every corner, occasionally approaching, getting close enough that she would catch one in her periphery before it stepped back and into the shadows. The shard was a beacon to them-- perhaps they knew what it had done, what it was capable of.
But she was a mage, and she knew better. And they knew she knew better, that she would fight them if they tried anything. At least for now.

[singularwill]

It was chance, not fate, that saw Solas walking along that same beach, in the Fade, that night. Deep in his own thoughts he had barely even noticed as he had crossed the threshold from one dream into another - into a new part of the Fade. The spirits seemed different, when he walked by them. Calmer, somehow. Soothed.

He wasn't expecting to find a dreamer, staring out over the water. Especially not an elf.

He drew closer, his bare feet leaving tracks in the cool sand, before they were whisked away by the tide.