faderift | [open] love, love is a verb

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[open] love, love is a verb

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.

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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.

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."

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.

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?"

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.

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!"

When a sudden stream of light enters the room, followed by a large grey horned head, Sina suddenly beams. She sets her book aside, mindful of Buttercup's presence, and pats the bed to invite Lux up with her. She hugs him, burying her face in his fur while the other two make their way over.

"I've been too long without the garden," she says in a mock-whine, still grinning. She's very pale, and very thin, but there's suddenly a bit more life in her eyes than usual. "And without you two. How was Emprise?"

"Cold. We made a lot of headway, though. The Red Templars no longer control the area. There were also dragons; I helped kill one of them." Ever so modest, Korrin grins back, though her smile is solely for sheer relief at seeing Sina awake and upright than that particular adventure. Her pallor and protruding bones don't go unnoticed, but rather than make Sina self conscious, she'll just focus on what's been gained. That's right, just pretend that there isn't a lump in her throat already.

Well, she tries and then glances over to see Araceli's lip-wobble. Reaching out to her kadan, Korrin gives her hand a gentle squeeze before crouching before Sina. All the elf has to do is loop her arms around Korrin's neck and the Vashoth mage will take care of the rest. And yes, Lux is welcome to come along for the ride as well.

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?

Sina stirred when Buttercup's paws stomped over her frail ribcage, but rather than get upset, she lifted an arm to accept him into a cuddle. She turned her head at the sound of a voice and saw a girl there, someone she'd seen around but had never met.

"Oh, is he.. yours?" she asked hoarsely, looking as though she might fall asleep again at any moment. "Ir abelas."

"Cold, she says. Freezing, I say. I have only just thawed out entirely. Cold." She tuts because it's easier to just run her mouth and ramble, to let it fall out and maybe stave the tears off, to think about breaking into the kitchens and feeding Sina up more. "Oh and yes. She did that, I think I mentioned the dragons in my letter, honestly I cannot remember entirely what I wrote when I wrote it so late in the night. Did Korrin ever tell you she warned me about dragons, then she runs off to fight one, I think people are mistaken when they call me the scoundrel of the two of us."

Teasing, she's teasing, it's easier. It gives her a chance to look away as Lux hops down, leaning on Araceli's legs before following them outside as Araceli dabs at her eyes carefully though they're already red and stinging.

"A dragon!" Sina breathes, caught between being impressed and horrified. "Korrin..!" On the one hand, dragons are noble lords of the land, sea, and sky. On the other hand, they're terrifying and violent and prone to ruining civilizations.
When Korrin bends down, Sina hesitates a moment before awkwardly reaching her thin arms up around the vashoth's neck. To Korrin, she must weigh almost nothing. It takes the elf a moment to adjust, and she gives a nervous giggle at suddenly being so much higher up than usual.

"Not to worry, Sina. I've had backpacks that weigh more than you; you're as light as a feather." Which is worrisome in its own way, since the Dalish elf definitely needs some meat on those bones. She'll conspire with Araceli to send more tasty and fattening things her way.

Araceli's tutting gets a small grin out of Korrin, as she lifts Sina in her arms. "Hey, I didn't just run off on my own. I'm not Kain. There were heavily-armed teams all ready to take each one on, and more potions and tonics than I ever remember seeing before or since. We were responsible. That reminds me, I have a dragon tooth as a souvenir."

Once out of the tent, she'll seek the nearest unused bench to gently set down Sina. Then Lux is free to climb all over her again, of course.

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?"

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?"

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.

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?"

"No, Pel, I'm fine," Sina says again, this time a little flustered. She's a capable girl most of the time, and now that she's awake, her patience for people fussing over her is beginning to wear thin. Instead, she extends a hand towards Pel, beckoning her to take it and sit beside her.

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.

Fussing and checking in aren't quite the same. Sina is tough--Pel isn't sure she would have been able to power through this sort of abuse with Sina's grace. She takes Sina's hand and sits.

"Everything's coming together for Dirthamen. Merrill's coming, and Zevran and Galadriel. It's a good team. I'll be telling you absolutely everything as we find it. Next expedition, you're going to be the leader."

It's optimistic, but genuine. Sina is going to need to get out of this garden very badly when she recovers, and the next expedition may be months in the future.

Sina takes her hand and squeezes it, smiling as Pel describes the new expedition. "Perhaps I can assist from the library again," she says hopefully, though her smile falters at the notion of being leader. That will depend on... a lot of things.
"We'll have to make sure there aren't any rifts on the way," she says with a strained laugh, "but it would... be nice, to see a bit more of the world." Right now it would be nice to see anything but this tent, but she knows better than to take it and her attentive friends for granted.

"Start you off small. Somewhere in summer where it's nice and temperate. Maybe the Dales somewhere. When scouts have swept the area and closed any rifts. It'll likely be a while, but with all the fighting in the Dales, the Inquisition is sure to turn its attention there sooner or later."

Sina considers, then nods, smiling mildly. It seems like she's been here for an eternity, and will be here for another, but perhaps she will be out and hiking again in the near future. If nothing else, she should look towards it to keep her spirits up.

She shifts uncomfortably, trying to recline a little, since sitting up puts a strain on her back. She still wants to face Pel, however, so she gingerly pulls another pillow from nearby and stacks it on top of the one she's been using. She lies back again with a wince, but then smiles again, in a self-effacing way.

Taking Pel's hand again, Sina looks down at it, momentarily deep in thought. "Pel," she says quietly.

"Yes?" Sina might be settling in to discuss something serious, so Pel does the same, granting her full attention.

Suddenly Sina is having difficulty thinking of what to say. It's all wrong, the thoughts are running over themselves in her head, and finally she decides perhaps it's time to just have done with it.

"I'm sorry I shouted at you," she says timidly, her eyes wide with tired worry. "...I should have trusted that you know what's best for yourself."

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[open] love, love is a verb

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