[ Beleth wasn't sure what she was expecting. Horrible news about Sina, or Araceli, or someone else that was currently here. News about Kas was far down on her list, and for a moment, she just stares at Korring, mouth agape.
She ought to get after Korrin for disappearing for a month while she was sitting on important information, but. Korrin is her friend, has been her friend since she arrived to Skyhold, long before she was ever in charge of anything. She doesn't have it in her to scold Korrin for not being at her best when she was hurting. ]
I understand, Korrin, you don't need to worry. I know this has been difficult for you. Please, tell me what you know.
[Yeah, Korrin knows this is seemingly out of nowhere and she can't blame Beleth for that stare. She was fully expecting a scolding, so the lack of it catches her off-guard. Nonetheless, her expression is apologetic. She could have done better, and she knows it.
She heaves a sigh, not wanting to say the words aloud since it makes it more real, but--forced calm, she's not going to be a mess and divert focus from what needs to be said.]
...I have a strong suspicion that there never was a 'Kas', not as we knew him. He left before I could get solid proof other than Cole's ramblings, but I have reason to believe that he could well be a brainwashed Qunari agent. Something in him...changed when we came to Kirkwall, and Taas thought it could be that he was activated. It'd make sense that the Qunari would want an agent here, since Iron Bull didn’t come along. He -Taas- was worried that if I spread that around, that I could get myself and anyone else killed. I believed him; my parents told me about the Ben-Hassrath and what they can do to people. So I kept it to as few people as possible. Araceli-- [Because of course she would know, it's not possible for Korrin to hide that freakout from her.] --and Sam. I thought maybe a Spirit Healer could tell if I was right without a doubt. But before we could verify that, Kas was gone.
[Okay, maybe her plan not to be a mess in front of Beleth is failing. She can feel tears stinging her eyes even as she tries to blink them back. Something in her broke during that discovery, and might never be completely healed. Kas was family, he practically called her 'mom' at one point...and then he was potentially the enemy, and gone.]
[ Beleth rarely swears, but this, of all things, certainly warrants it. She's too shocked to even begin trying to comfort Korrin--the best she can do is turn her flabberghasted stare away from Korrin and to the floor.
Kas, that sweet boy who got so flustered whenever she complimented him, who was so proud to kill his first bandit, who back-pedaled his words whenever he upset her. He was never real? He was a mask worn by a spy. ]
It makes sense--it's brilliant, really. We already knew about Iron Bull. [ Her voice is a soft whisper, of horror more than admiration. They had given the Inquisition a spy they knew about, and thus had kneecapped any further searches for more. Iron Bull might not even be aware that he was being used as a distraction. ]
If it's alright, Korrin, I'd like to keep this between the people who already know. Just for now. I think that Taas might have a good point about the Ben-Hassrath, and we need more solid evidence before we take any risks.
[ She speaks almost mechanically, the rational part of her mind more willing to play ball than her emotions. She's going to need more time for that. But she still recognizes that Korrin is upset, and that she has to do something. So she reaches out, and squeezes Korrin's arm. Would it be presumptuous to try hugging her? She doesn't want to cross personal boundaries. ]
Korrin, we don't know for sure what's happened. It's possible that none of this is what it seems, or different from how it appears. It could be that Kas is exactly who we thought he was, and this other persona is the invader.
Makes you hate the Ben-Hassrath even more, doesn't it? That they'd do that to a kid. [That rare moment of swearing from Beleth means it's time to pour the wine, which Korrin promptly does, because both of them seem to need it. Filling both glasses, she offers one and nods sadly at her friend's thought process. It's exactly what she had Taas had considered earlier.]
Taas said he was going to look into it, but then he got reassigned and I haven't heard from him in a while. So I don't know how much we can count on that. [It's too bad, she knows she could count on Taas if he were still around. But if he's needed more elsewhere, she has to try not holding that against him however much she wants him here.
Beleth's rational thought process is actually rather reassuring, a contrast to the panicked nausea that Korrin has to fight off whenever dwelling on the subject, even now. She manages a ghost of a smile in response to the arm squeeze and rests her hand atop Beleth's. Personal space is never really an issue with her, not among friends.]
I'm definitely not rushing off to tell everyone, trust me. Maybe the Qunari won't bother to send him back, he hasn't been so much sighted since he left. But if he returns....
[Korrin bites her lip, dreading that as much as she hopes for it. That could go wrong in so many ways, but if there's a chance to save him....
She clears her throat, in an attempt to have her voice sound a little less rough.]
I...really hope you're right. You have no fucking idea just how much I would love to that to be true. It kills me to think that there might not be anything left of the kid we knew. If we could find a way to overcome that brainwashing...Taas wasn't sure, but he didn't say it was impossible.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
arlathvhen) wrote2015-02-18 01:05 am
no subject
She ought to get after Korrin for disappearing for a month while she was sitting on important information, but. Korrin is her friend, has been her friend since she arrived to Skyhold, long before she was ever in charge of anything. She doesn't have it in her to scold Korrin for not being at her best when she was hurting. ]
I understand, Korrin, you don't need to worry. I know this has been difficult for you. Please, tell me what you know.
no subject
She heaves a sigh, not wanting to say the words aloud since it makes it more real, but--forced calm, she's not going to be a mess and divert focus from what needs to be said.]
...I have a strong suspicion that there never was a 'Kas', not as we knew him. He left before I could get solid proof other than Cole's ramblings, but I have reason to believe that he could well be a brainwashed Qunari agent. Something in him...changed when we came to Kirkwall, and Taas thought it could be that he was activated. It'd make sense that the Qunari would want an agent here, since Iron Bull didn’t come along. He -Taas- was worried that if I spread that around, that I could get myself and anyone else killed. I believed him; my parents told me about the Ben-Hassrath and what they can do to people. So I kept it to as few people as possible. Araceli-- [Because of course she would know, it's not possible for Korrin to hide that freakout from her.] --and Sam. I thought maybe a Spirit Healer could tell if I was right without a doubt. But before we could verify that, Kas was gone.
[Okay, maybe her plan not to be a mess in front of Beleth is failing. She can feel tears stinging her eyes even as she tries to blink them back. Something in her broke during that discovery, and might never be completely healed. Kas was family, he practically called her 'mom' at one point...and then he was potentially the enemy, and gone.]
no subject
[ Beleth rarely swears, but this, of all things, certainly warrants it. She's too shocked to even begin trying to comfort Korrin--the best she can do is turn her flabberghasted stare away from Korrin and to the floor.
Kas, that sweet boy who got so flustered whenever she complimented him, who was so proud to kill his first bandit, who back-pedaled his words whenever he upset her. He was never real? He was a mask worn by a spy. ]
It makes sense--it's brilliant, really. We already knew about Iron Bull. [ Her voice is a soft whisper, of horror more than admiration. They had given the Inquisition a spy they knew about, and thus had kneecapped any further searches for more. Iron Bull might not even be aware that he was being used as a distraction. ]
If it's alright, Korrin, I'd like to keep this between the people who already know. Just for now. I think that Taas might have a good point about the Ben-Hassrath, and we need more solid evidence before we take any risks.
[ She speaks almost mechanically, the rational part of her mind more willing to play ball than her emotions. She's going to need more time for that. But she still recognizes that Korrin is upset, and that she has to do something. So she reaches out, and squeezes Korrin's arm. Would it be presumptuous to try hugging her? She doesn't want to cross personal boundaries. ]
Korrin, we don't know for sure what's happened. It's possible that none of this is what it seems, or different from how it appears. It could be that Kas is exactly who we thought he was, and this other persona is the invader.
Don't lose hope just yet.
no subject
Taas said he was going to look into it, but then he got reassigned and I haven't heard from him in a while. So I don't know how much we can count on that. [It's too bad, she knows she could count on Taas if he were still around. But if he's needed more elsewhere, she has to try not holding that against him however much she wants him here.
Beleth's rational thought process is actually rather reassuring, a contrast to the panicked nausea that Korrin has to fight off whenever dwelling on the subject, even now. She manages a ghost of a smile in response to the arm squeeze and rests her hand atop Beleth's. Personal space is never really an issue with her, not among friends.]
I'm definitely not rushing off to tell everyone, trust me. Maybe the Qunari won't bother to send him back, he hasn't been so much sighted since he left. But if he returns....
[Korrin bites her lip, dreading that as much as she hopes for it. That could go wrong in so many ways, but if there's a chance to save him....
She clears her throat, in an attempt to have her voice sound a little less rough.]
I...really hope you're right. You have no fucking idea just how much I would love to that to be true. It kills me to think that there might not be anything left of the kid we knew. If we could find a way to overcome that brainwashing...Taas wasn't sure, but he didn't say it was impossible.