Darkest Timeline AU Flashback Meme

[faderifting]

DARKEST TIMELINE AU FLASHBACK MEME
Did you work out something for your character's darkest timeline AU that you love so much it would be an absolute crime not to be able to write it out for real? WHAT LUCK! This meme is here for all your flashback-from-the-future needs. It's also the place to display sad single-character vignettes, letters that were never sent to dead friends, and anything else your dastardly little heart desires. Go forth and suffer.

The contents of this meme do not count for AC. For AC, you must participate in the real logs for the event, which will take place in Cloudreach 9:48, or else continue your normal non-event RP in the present (Guardian 9:43). However, you can count log threads in this meme toward your rewards points for the month.

Comments

[in_death_sacrifice]

"They've had quite a lot of fighting of their own to deal with. These monsters are leaving nowhere untouched." All of that is at least true, since Kain still does hear from them. Though letters are more sporadic lately. There's just too much to deal with, everywhere, too much chaos and fighting.

Kain sighs. He knows that Inessa worries, and that's why he can't bring himself to tell her the truth. That red lyrium had embedded itself deep within him... he'd managed to pull it out on his own, but by then the damage was done, and some shard of it had to have remained inside him. Perhaps he'll tell her when the day comes when he does have to leave. He can't burden her with his impending death, or with what must be done to ensure he doesn't become a monster. He's planning to take care of that himself. When the time comes. It feels closer with every day that passes.

"I guess I can't argue with you." He doesn't have the energy to argue, and it shows. He feels so weak. "As for those reports... I've heard. Is it true she's speaking out against us? The very order who she once helped to form? What could have gotten into her head?"

[circleprodigy]

Inessa's lips form a thin line as she reaches into her bag for crushed elfroot to add, shaking her head. "Many of the Inquisition are convinced she's an impostor, a puppet. I never met her, so that's not a certainty I can claim...but it doesn't make sense that she would speak out against the order she had given her live to years ago. At any rate, it seems to be nigh-impossible to verify; she's well-protected, far beyond our reach."

Garahel grumbles wearily, them plops down by Kain, and huffs up at him in a 'can you believe this bullshit' fashion.

[in_death_sacrifice]

Kain gives Garahel some sympathetic petting. It really is a lot to deal with. He only wishes things weren't so... so complicated now. This feeling of having such limited time is really starting to get to him. He has so much yet to accomplish. He can't leave the world in such a state.

"Right, I guess there's no way to tell for certain if it's her, at least for now. I'm almost surprised no one has come forward before this with such a claim. It's one way to sow uncertainty among us..." He looks downward for a moment. "I hope it is an imposter, and that it's not really her being manipulated by some power."

[circleprodigy]

Sighing, Inessa tucks some hair back so it doesn't get in her face as she continues her work. "But they found her body, didn't they? Not even magic can bring back the dead. Or it couldn't, though the rules of reality seem more malleable in the past few years."

Circles falling, rifts appearing, people from other worlds...it's a lot to process. Garahel sighs contentedly, stretching out to give Kain more access where it counts. Recent scars, tended to by Inessa so they wouldn't get infected, are healing nicely...as long as he doesn't rub up against them. "What I want to know is where they found her, why she's really doing this."

[in_death_sacrifice]

"So they did, which means... this has to be something else at work. Someone impersonating her for their own gain. I don't like the sound of it. If enough people believe her lies, what becomes of us?" The Inquisition has enough problems on hand without getting more enemies somehow.

He continues petting Garahel, content to keep doing so for a while. "I wouldn't be surprised to find that this is someone in league with Corypheus, or... something along those lines. Perhaps even something demonic."

[circleprodigy]

"A demon...Maker, as though we didn't have enough problems. But that's happened before, a demon impersonating someone." Inessa's lips form a thin line as she shakes her head, then moves to apply the poultice. "Let me see your leg, Kain." Again, not really a request. She'll as she pleases to care for those who need it, and they can just deal.

[in_death_sacrifice]

"I wouldn't put it past a demon to do such a thing. It's the perfect way to sow discord among us all, to turn people against the Inquisition... It could mean considerable trouble ahead for us." Like they don't have enough to deal with, but if more and more of Thedas sides with this 'Inquisitor' who knows what may happen? He sighs, undoing the armor around his leg. It actually is hurting him quite a bit, the old injury flaring up. So it's not as if the whole thing is a total lie, just... omitting the part where he's got a hellish red crystal nightmare embedded deep inside him.

[circleprodigy]

As Kain undoes his armor, Garahel yawns and stretches...then gets back onto his feet rather abruptly. Inessa doesn't think much of it, guessing he's caught the sent of a rabbit or fennec. But when he starts sniffing at Kain intently and then letting out a low growl, that really gets her attention. Something is definitely wrong.

"...Kain...?"

[in_death_sacrifice]

"I- what? Garahel..." Kain looks at the mabari warily, all too aware of what brought that one. He's revealed a deep dark secret, just like that. Though he can't blame him for acting as he did. Maybe it's for the best. He's heard vague bits of a song now and then when it's quiet at night. He knows once it gets loud and doesn't stop, that he'll be in trouble.

He looks away from Inessa, panicked. He didn't want to have this conversation. He wanted to leave in the middle of the night without telling her, wanted to be long dead before she ever learned the truth, so he didn't have to face her. Damn it. "Inessa, I... Ness. Please... please, don't hate me, I..." He bows his head. "It was too late even right when it first happened. Nothing embedded so deeply could be safely removed. It was so deep within me, I was gone the moment it... I'm sorry, I..."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa's hands fall away from the armor abruptly, as though suddenly dead weight. Blood drains from her face as she stares with wide, horrified eyes. She's seen what's become of those infected with red lyrium, fought what was left of them. Their fate is something she's all too aware of, for better or worse. Definitely worse, now. And though she tries to say something, anything, all that comes out is a quiet, panicked 'no'.

[in_death_sacrifice]

It had all come out in a rush, those words he hadn't wanted to say. It never should have happened like this. He didn't want to tell her, and see her react... see the sorrow in her face. He turns his gaze downward. "I'm so sorry, Inessa. I was careful, I swear it, I did everything I could, but those Wardens... I didn't expect there to be so many... and... it... I'm sorry."

He knows he won't have long, with it inside him like it is... and he hates that. "We Wardens already live on borrowed time... it's..." He gulps. "It would have happened one way or another."

[circleprodigy]

Excuses, excuses. Inessa snaps out of her shock enough to close the distance, beating against his chest with her small fists. "No, this would not have happened! We succumb to the taint, not red lyrium! I told you not to lie to me, Kain! Lies by omission still count! I told you--"

And then she can't speak anymore for the lump in her throat, lowering her head and fists with a choked sound.

[in_death_sacrifice]

"If it were anything else, I wouldn't have! I didn't want to tell you, I'd hoped to leave before..." He can't even finish the sentence, can't even think it. Not around her, anyway. It's all the worse admitting it around her, that he's dying and can't do anything about it. He has no chance now. He... has no hope left. Nothing. He thinks about all those letters he's been writing in vein. He should have shown her them earlier, but it's too late. He can't show her his feelings only to die on her soon after.

"Maybe heading to the Deep Roads still isn't such a bad plan, when... the time comes, I..." He can't say anything more. he just wraps his arms around her, hearing that uncharacteristic sound hurts more than he can say. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

[circleprodigy]

The rising anger drains from her abruptly, leaving only a cold pit in her stomach. When Kain holds her, she sags and sobs against him, decidedly unstoic about this revelation. Even Garahel, still on edge after sensing Kain's taint, whines softly but gets no reassuring reply from his mistress.

[in_death_sacrifice]

Kain had prepared for death, he'd already done so long ago, when he was first about to sip that darkspawn blood. After all, not everyone survives the Joining. He may well have been dead back then. Then, just knowing it could come anytime, as a Grey Warden, whether through darkspawn or the Calling... he's ready to die. But... not like this, and not so soon. He'd always thought he'd have more time.

He thinks of the letters he's been trying to write, which he's kept hidden for well over a year. Damn it... he'll never... never get a chance to...

"...sorry..." It feels sort of useless though, as he holds her almost protectively.

[circleprodigy]

It's a while before Inessa's capable of anything other than sobs, and they leave her drained, light-headed. They only trail off when she has no more strength left within herself even for that. Kain is going to lose himself to the red lyrium, a worse fate even than what a Grey Warden should expect. And there's nothing she can do about it, not yet.

"...don't...." Don't die? Don't go? One of those.

[in_death_sacrifice]

"If I could..." It he only could, he would. He'd do anything to stay here, with her. He knows he won't be able to, for much longer, so he'll have to make the most of what little time is left. As it is, he's not going to endanger her for some selfish reason of wanting to be around her longer. He won't be able to trust himself soon enough.

For now, he just keeps his arms around her. He wishes he could say or do something more reassuring, but nothing seems to be coming to mind. Instead, he just repeats the words, needing her to know how much he wants to stay at her and Garahel's side. "If I could."