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Uh, hey. ...is it Miss Poppell, do I remember that right?
[Wysteria's right that they didn't talk much her first time around, but on the other hand, it isn't as if Wysteria is easy to miss even at a distance. She does, however, set her food aside to gamely look through the pages.]
Wow, this is thorough. Have you gotten all the Rifters to sign on? That's a seriously impressive data pool.
[Wysteria's right that they didn't talk much her first time around, but on the other hand, it isn't as if Wysteria is easy to miss even at a distance. She does, however, set her food aside to gamely look through the pages.]
Wow, this is thorough. Have you gotten all the Rifters to sign on? That's a seriously impressive data pool.
Edited (to make it clear she's asking about the honorific because I reread and it wasn't) 2021-04-08 00:05 (UTC)
Oh—[Clearly equal parts caught off guard and a little charmed, which successfully delays her from launching into her next monologue.] Yes. Miss is correct.
And no. Not quite all the Rifters. But myself and Mister Fitz have done our best to collect information from the bulk of them. Particularly as they arrive. It is so much easier to do so when they've only first arrived, so I'm sorry to say that our data with respect to the...long standing, I suppose? Members of the club is partial at best.
And no. Not quite all the Rifters. But myself and Mister Fitz have done our best to collect information from the bulk of them. Particularly as they arrive. It is so much easier to do so when they've only first arrived, so I'm sorry to say that our data with respect to the...long standing, I suppose? Members of the club is partial at best.
( Given that it’s Cosima she’s speaking to, Herian was quite prepared to wait a while longer. Cosima is wise in her insights, though - as Herian sights her rounding a rosebush coming into flower, she braces her right hand against the arm of the bench to try and push herself up. Practicality did not override decades of formality, after all.
She is much improved from when she first arrived. The bruises are entirely faded away, and she no longer needs to be so heavily bandaged. A brace is still on her left wrist and her right thigh. Next to her there is a collection of flowers, being woven into a crown, because Starkhaven alienage had few things, but it did have flowers, and they’ve always soothed.
Herian glances to the sky, and makes a sound of apparent surprise at the sun’s position. )
Have you become more hasty, these past years?
( Can they tease? Is teasing okay? )
She is much improved from when she first arrived. The bruises are entirely faded away, and she no longer needs to be so heavily bandaged. A brace is still on her left wrist and her right thigh. Next to her there is a collection of flowers, being woven into a crown, because Starkhaven alienage had few things, but it did have flowers, and they’ve always soothed.
Herian glances to the sky, and makes a sound of apparent surprise at the sun’s position. )
Have you become more hasty, these past years?
( Can they tease? Is teasing okay? )
Oh yeah, that's fair. I mean, once you've been here a while, you get busy.
[And, presumably, you learn enough to know what is and isn't compulsory, but she doesn't add as much.]
I feel like I'm gonna be an outlier for you in a lot of ways, but I'll do what I can for you. Do you really want it written, or have you ever done interviews? It might make it easier if you have follow-up questions.
[And, presumably, you learn enough to know what is and isn't compulsory, but she doesn't add as much.]
I feel like I'm gonna be an outlier for you in a lot of ways, but I'll do what I can for you. Do you really want it written, or have you ever done interviews? It might make it easier if you have follow-up questions.
[It seems to be, at least in this context, as it gets a small laugh and a duck of the head from Cosima as she comes to join Herian.]
Maybe. Or maybe I just always need to be heading downstairs to get to places on time?
[One of those. She comes to sit on the bench, maybe not as close as she once would have, but relaxed.]
You're looking better. How are you feeling?
Maybe. Or maybe I just always need to be heading downstairs to get to places on time?
[One of those. She comes to sit on the bench, maybe not as close as she once would have, but relaxed.]
You're looking better. How are you feeling?
If you would prefer to discuss it aloud, I would be more than happy to take notes. Here, you may keep that copy as a guideline, [she says, and from somewhere behind her ear--the uptwist of her hair, perhaps?--she draws a pen. She flips over the page on the top of the stack and poises her hand for writing.]
And truly, I doubt you will be as much of an outlier as you suspect. There has been quite the variety of answers.
And truly, I doubt you will be as much of an outlier as you suspect. There has been quite the variety of answers.
The power of gravity at work.
( She remembers some of what Cosima would speak of, germs and the irrelevance of miasma theory and the spirals in lifetimes. Her mouth tugs at the side with the little smile, though she looks away, idly taking up the flower crown and a couple of daisies. )
I’m told that training is strictly prohibited, for the foreseeable future. The— loss of that is proving more trying than I’d like to admit.
( Well might she hold vigil and be silent and still, but her training was a means of focus, weapon of discipline that she could turn against herself as well as others. To be denied that means of channeling her energies is difficult.
oh hey, and surprise, Franklin just rocked up and snooted the back of Cosima’s calf. He also has a flower collar, don’t judge her. )
Actually, I had— I hoped to apologise. For all that I was ragged, when I learned of your return, my behaviour was unfair in the extreme. You did nothing to deserve that, and— even if it were not unknightly,
( She rolls her eyes at herself, for that,) it was cruel and said in the heat of— nothing justified.
( A pause. ) I meant to ask if I could apologise, but...
( Apparently she just blathered. Cool. )
( She remembers some of what Cosima would speak of, germs and the irrelevance of miasma theory and the spirals in lifetimes. Her mouth tugs at the side with the little smile, though she looks away, idly taking up the flower crown and a couple of daisies. )
I’m told that training is strictly prohibited, for the foreseeable future. The— loss of that is proving more trying than I’d like to admit.
( Well might she hold vigil and be silent and still, but her training was a means of focus, weapon of discipline that she could turn against herself as well as others. To be denied that means of channeling her energies is difficult.
oh hey, and surprise, Franklin just rocked up and snooted the back of Cosima’s calf. He also has a flower collar, don’t judge her. )
Actually, I had— I hoped to apologise. For all that I was ragged, when I learned of your return, my behaviour was unfair in the extreme. You did nothing to deserve that, and— even if it were not unknightly,
( She rolls her eyes at herself, for that,) it was cruel and said in the heat of— nothing justified.
( A pause. ) I meant to ask if I could apologise, but...
( Apparently she just blathered. Cool. )
Fair enough, dude. I'm easy, whatever you'd prefer, but if we do the interview you'll probably get your data faster. I've been known to get lost in my work, sometimes.
[With a smile, this last. She glances down at the first page.]
Oh hey, though, I guess we're sort of starting there, huh?
[With a smile, this last. She glances down at the first page.]
Oh hey, though, I guess we're sort of starting there, huh?
Hey.
[She smiles. Warm.]
I appreciate the apology. And you're totally forgiven. None of us are at our best when we're in pain.
[She glances out at the garden around them.]
This was always going to be weird and complicated. But I'm still ... I'm really glad you're here. I thought I might have to start all this over on my own, and I would have but, man, that's ... it's a lot. Especially when everything around here reminded me of you, you know?
[She smiles. Warm.]
I appreciate the apology. And you're totally forgiven. None of us are at our best when we're in pain.
[She glances out at the garden around them.]
This was always going to be weird and complicated. But I'm still ... I'm really glad you're here. I thought I might have to start all this over on my own, and I would have but, man, that's ... it's a lot. Especially when everything around here reminded me of you, you know?
What a happy coincidence. Now, [has the air of turning a page, metaphorically speaking, as Wysteria's attention lowers to the page before her. She dutifully reads aloud:]
'Question one-dash-A. Conceptually, how familiar are the Fade and the Veil to you? Are there similar phenomena (however minor the resemblance) in the place from which you came?' Stop me, of course, [--she glances up--] Should anything seem completely inapplicable to your experience.
'Question one-dash-A. Conceptually, how familiar are the Fade and the Veil to you? Are there similar phenomena (however minor the resemblance) in the place from which you came?' Stop me, of course, [--she glances up--] Should anything seem completely inapplicable to your experience.
Definitely nothing I know of like the Fade or the Veil in my home world, that's easy. Nothing similar to magic in the Thedosian sense at all, at least as far as I know.
I learned a bit about the Fade in my first visit here, though. My research was split between Rifts and the Veil and Red Lyrium, which were subsumed into Project Felandaris and Project Sashamiri, respectively.
I learned a bit about the Fade in my first visit here, though. My research was split between Rifts and the Veil and Red Lyrium, which were subsumed into Project Felandaris and Project Sashamiri, respectively.
[She nods and hums, writing hand jotting merrily along.]
And if you were asked to give a very brief summary of your studies? —And how long were you here last, if you don't mind me asking? And do you really anything about the details of leaving here? I have always been quite curious and it is so rare that any Rifter returns.
And if you were asked to give a very brief summary of your studies? —And how long were you here last, if you don't mind me asking? And do you really anything about the details of leaving here? I have always been quite curious and it is so rare that any Rifter returns.
It was... complicated to be once again in Skyhold. I associated so much of it with you.
( Herian shakes her head at herself a little, and Franklin insistently pushes her hand with his nose, so she absently begins petting his ears.
A quiet breath of laughter, and she shakes her head at herself, at both of them, at the weirdness of— of all of this, before reaching into her pocket. )
This is yours.
( She holds out a ring to Cosima - a familiar vibrant stone, the one that had been enchanted for providing better light, and set in silver. )
There are nuances to its magic that I did not anticipate, but I would be glad to teach you.
( Herian shakes her head at herself a little, and Franklin insistently pushes her hand with his nose, so she absently begins petting his ears.
A quiet breath of laughter, and she shakes her head at herself, at both of them, at the weirdness of— of all of this, before reaching into her pocket. )
This is yours.
( She holds out a ring to Cosima - a familiar vibrant stone, the one that had been enchanted for providing better light, and set in silver. )
There are nuances to its magic that I did not anticipate, but I would be glad to teach you.
[The smile that gets is quite warm.]
Oh man, yeah, totally. I mean, thank you. I assumed all my stuff from before was long gone.
[She reaches out to take the ring.]
What kind of nuances?
Oh man, yeah, totally. I mean, thank you. I assumed all my stuff from before was long gone.
[She reaches out to take the ring.]
What kind of nuances?
There's probably precise records, but I was here a little more than three years, I think. Unfortunately, I can't tell you much about leaving, though. It was sort of like coming in reverse, but demon-free. I just went to bed and woke up at home. I didn't have any memory of Thedas so it was just ... a normal morning. I hadn't lost any time at all.
[It's a little weird to remember not remembering, now, but it's easy enough to keep straight in her head with a bit of concentration.]
Um, high-level summary. OK. I did some work on rifts' effects on the landscape and ecology. But the bulk of my work right before I left was on the nature of red lyrium. It's really wild in that if lyrium were a mineral like I'm used to, it couldn't be infected with essentially a magic disease, but that's what the Blight is so ... anyway. High level. Nature of lyrium, what it does and doesn't do, etc. Ideally, long term, I'd love to know if we could cure it, for lack of a better word, but I wasn't close to that before I left so it's more a hope than a short-term goal.
[It's a little weird to remember not remembering, now, but it's easy enough to keep straight in her head with a bit of concentration.]
Um, high-level summary. OK. I did some work on rifts' effects on the landscape and ecology. But the bulk of my work right before I left was on the nature of red lyrium. It's really wild in that if lyrium were a mineral like I'm used to, it couldn't be infected with essentially a magic disease, but that's what the Blight is so ... anyway. High level. Nature of lyrium, what it does and doesn't do, etc. Ideally, long term, I'd love to know if we could cure it, for lack of a better word, but I wasn't close to that before I left so it's more a hope than a short-term goal.
If you focus on it, it can produce a bright burst of light - sufficient to stun someone, I think.
( She’s glad to let Cosima take it, the smile small but lingering. )
There may be more to it. It— I wore it for comfort, more than to explore its limits.
( There is a pause, during which Franklin turns his attention to Cosima, hopping at her in the hopes she might let him up onto her lap. )
Would you— uh.
( Why is this so difficult )
If you are so inclined, I would be honoured if you joined me for dinner. Only if you wish to, not— there is not obligation or expectation.
( She’s glad to let Cosima take it, the smile small but lingering. )
There may be more to it. It— I wore it for comfort, more than to explore its limits.
( There is a pause, during which Franklin turns his attention to Cosima, hopping at her in the hopes she might let him up onto her lap. )
Would you— uh.
( Why is this so difficult )
If you are so inclined, I would be honoured if you joined me for dinner. Only if you wish to, not— there is not obligation or expectation.
I'd like that. A lot. Look ... things are complicated, and they're gonna be for a while, I think but what's not complicated is you're the person I know best here, and I care about you. That part isn't confusing.
[There's more that is complicated, and they both know it but ... baby steps. One at a time.]
Besides, [teasing] if I avoided you too long, Franklin would just come and shout at me until I thought better of it.
[There's more that is complicated, and they both know it but ... baby steps. One at a time.]
Besides, [teasing] if I avoided you too long, Franklin would just come and shout at me until I thought better of it.
( A little smile flickers at the corner of Herian’s mouth. )
I think... for me at least, my first impulse is to turn to you. Consulting you for guidance on how best to contemplating and approach matters directly involving you seems a little tactless, but now you are here again, it feels strange to not—
( She gestures a bit uselessly. There isn’t really anything adequate for it.
Franklin, for his part, is trying to lovingly chomp on Cosima’s hands. More attention pls, thank u. Herian raises an eyebrow at the useless boy. )
He is very persuasive. Perhaps I should mirror his approach.
I think... for me at least, my first impulse is to turn to you. Consulting you for guidance on how best to contemplating and approach matters directly involving you seems a little tactless, but now you are here again, it feels strange to not—
( She gestures a bit uselessly. There isn’t really anything adequate for it.
Franklin, for his part, is trying to lovingly chomp on Cosima’s hands. More attention pls, thank u. Herian raises an eyebrow at the useless boy. )
He is very persuasive. Perhaps I should mirror his approach.
Hey. It's not tactless to check in with somebody if you're not sure where things are at, you know? We've been apart a long time, of course we're gonna have to play catch up, some. That's not a failing, that's just, I don't know, life.
[She shifts so she can give Franklin the demanded ear scritches he so richly deserves.]
I don't know a way to find out what we missed with each other without, you know. A little at a time. Dinner's a great start.
[She shifts so she can give Franklin the demanded ear scritches he so richly deserves.]
I don't know a way to find out what we missed with each other without, you know. A little at a time. Dinner's a great start.
[There is a funny thing that Wysteria does as Cosima speaks where her hand continues merrily along, scratching long lines of shorthand notes on the papers even as her attention is fixed as if they are simply in conversation. If there are instances where she writes over a line or two, or overlaps with a question on the survey, she seems untroubled by it.]
Were there Wardens here at the time? I believe they're experts in the Blight; if you didn't work closely with them then, you might consider discussing the matter with them now. I have found the members of the Order presently in our company are the very height of helpfulness.
[But that's neither here nor there; it's hardly relevant to the survey.]
Do you recall then how long you were here previously? And had you developed any, let us call it talents with your rift anchor shard while you were here?
Were there Wardens here at the time? I believe they're experts in the Blight; if you didn't work closely with them then, you might consider discussing the matter with them now. I have found the members of the Order presently in our company are the very height of helpfulness.
[But that's neither here nor there; it's hardly relevant to the survey.]
Do you recall then how long you were here previously? And had you developed any, let us call it talents with your rift anchor shard while you were here?
There may have been some Wardens here. I think, uh, Alistair? Maybe a few others, but a lot of them at the time were very "Warden stuff for Wardens only" about it so it's nice if they've loosened up a bit.
[She considers her hand at the other two questions.]
I could probably pull exact dates from Riftwatch records if they go back far enough to have some Inquisition overlap. But I want to say a little more than three years. Maybe three and a couple months. As for the shard ... I was starting to crack it, I think. Or at least part of it. I can remember what I did, but it's like the uh, muscle memory is gone, I guess? I should probably take some time to train with it more consistently.
[She considers her hand at the other two questions.]
I could probably pull exact dates from Riftwatch records if they go back far enough to have some Inquisition overlap. But I want to say a little more than three years. Maybe three and a couple months. As for the shard ... I was starting to crack it, I think. Or at least part of it. I can remember what I did, but it's like the uh, muscle memory is gone, I guess? I should probably take some time to train with it more consistently.
( You know that happy grumbly sound dogs make, and the unhelpful way they lean they full weight on the hand giving them scratches? That’s what’s happening. )
True. I cannot fault any part of that, and yet— it feels strange.
( She glances down at the woven flowers she was working on, adjusting one slightly, smoothing over the stems with her thumb - a needless, self-soothing gesture. Perhaps she is over thinking, could make this awkward if she dwelled too much. )
Do you have much planned for the rest of the day?
True. I cannot fault any part of that, and yet— it feels strange.
( She glances down at the woven flowers she was working on, adjusting one slightly, smoothing over the stems with her thumb - a needless, self-soothing gesture. Perhaps she is over thinking, could make this awkward if she dwelled too much. )
Do you have much planned for the rest of the day?
Nothing major. I'm still trying to work back through the notes from when I was gone, see what I missed. There's lots of them, which, you know. Good because lots of information, bad because a lot of it to sift through. But all of it will be there tomorrow. How about you?
[She religiously takes a note on her papers.]
Will you keep me updated should that change? I should like very much to know if the ability returns, given that you're one of the few returning Rifters in our company. To my knowledge, anyway.
[She skips the contents of her survey then, mentally marking off various questions answered succinctly by 'Nothing similar to magic in the Thedosian sense at all'--]
Had you had any trouble with it at all? Your anchor, I mean. Before you left. Any adverse effects such as intense pain or anything like it. I have heard they are quite dangerous and ought to be treated cautiously when placed anywhere but an extremity, but we've seen little evidence of anything...mortal, let us say? In recent years.
Will you keep me updated should that change? I should like very much to know if the ability returns, given that you're one of the few returning Rifters in our company. To my knowledge, anyway.
[She skips the contents of her survey then, mentally marking off various questions answered succinctly by 'Nothing similar to magic in the Thedosian sense at all'--]
Had you had any trouble with it at all? Your anchor, I mean. Before you left. Any adverse effects such as intense pain or anything like it. I have heard they are quite dangerous and ought to be treated cautiously when placed anywhere but an extremity, but we've seen little evidence of anything...mortal, let us say? In recent years.
( One would be forgiven, potentially, for thinking the regard shared between them was different than in years past. It was, to some extent, and yet unchanged in others. Time and complications and so many other things to be taken into consideration that Herian would gladly grant them both reprieve from ever needing to list them again.
She makes a quiet sound as she awakens - one arm sprawled over Cosima’s waist, head resting on her shoulder, while Herian’s own shoulder is stiff and protesting. )
How long did I sleep?
( A couple of blinks, as she rubs her eyes with the heel of her hand. She remembers leaning against Cosima as she was reading, but dropping off to sleep had not been the plan, and she smiles, sheepish. )
Did— you sleep?
She makes a quiet sound as she awakens - one arm sprawled over Cosima’s waist, head resting on her shoulder, while Herian’s own shoulder is stiff and protesting. )
How long did I sleep?
( A couple of blinks, as she rubs her eyes with the heel of her hand. She remembers leaning against Cosima as she was reading, but dropping off to sleep had not been the plan, and she smiles, sheepish. )
Did— you sleep?
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