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[youwonscience]

Incoming messages and correspondence for Cosima Niehaus

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[youwonscience]

I mean, the Venatori would have come up eventually, they're one of the Inquisition's biggest headache. They're just not my ... favorite topic of conversation.

[coppelganger]

Why? What have they done?

[youwonscience]

[Right, Sarah's perceptive, that's... what it is.]

I mean, a lot of really bad shit. But I don't like talking about them personally because I was with a group that got captured by them. Not quite two years ago.

[It's not something she talks about, really. Nearly everyone else who'd been with her was gone (or dead; she'd heard Martel had died at the Winter Palace and wasn't sure if she was allowed to mourn him). Just her and Araceli. Besides, everyone was so busy. So much had happened since. She's almost surprised to find out the memory is still painful.]

[coppelganger]

[ There's a sharp intake of breath, but Sarah doesn't say anything, not immediately. There's several long seconds before she asks, ]

What happened? Were you alright, Cosima?

[youwonscience]

It was a long time ago.

[So... no, not really.]

Have you heard about lyrium yet?

[coppelganger]

[ She knows not to push, but it still hurts that Cosima won't really talk to her. It's just another reminder that as far as Cosima's concerned, the two of them barely know each other. Sarah misses the way they'd talk, the easy friendship. ]

No, I haven't.

[youwonscience]

Okay, it's this substance... creature? It's sort of like a mineral but it's sort of alive. Long story. The short part is that processed lyrium is used in magic, but it can have bad side effects if you get too much exposure or handle it wrong.

The Venatori were experimenting on those of us with anchor shards, using lyrium. It wasn't good. At all. But... no lasting effects, I got a clean bill of health from the healers. Or as clean as I started with.

[Her voice is admirably steady, but muted. She's trying not to shut Sarah out, but it's clearly also something it's hard to dig into deeply.]

[coppelganger]

Cosima, what the fuck? "No lasting effects"? How the hell can these people be sure of that?

[ Sarah has her head in her hands. Kidnapped, experimented on. She's horrified and furious at the same time. ] Things are really no better here than they are at home, are they?

[youwonscience]

They have more experience with lyrium than we do, for one. But it's been... Sarah, it's been literal years since this happened. To be honest, I'm more worried about the anchor shard, day-to-day.

Lots of things here are fucked, but the Inquisition isn't Dyad. They didn't drag us here, and they're trying to stop people like the Venatori. Most of us are making the best of a shitty situation, especially people here in Kirkwall.

[coppelganger]

[ Sarah is having to force herself not to follow her first instinct and demand more answers of Cosima. It happened two years ago, and Cosima's not freaked out about it, and so neither should Sarah be. Right? Right. ]

I'm sorry that happened to you. [ She briefly pinches the bridge of her nose, though she doesn't have the start of a headache, just some latent anxiety. ] I don't mean to, like— [ be so Sarah, tbh— ] It's been a theme lately, that's all.

[youwonscience]

No, look, it's a lot. I know it's a lot. I wasn't trying to hide it from you, it's just... I don't think about it a lot. I try not to.

But I just wanted you to be careful before handing anybody your blood. Also, that dude is creepy.

[It's a joke -- while he is creepy, her tone suggests it's something of an offering. A way to show Sarah she really is alright.]

[coppelganger]

Well if you wanna set me up with someone less creepy, be my guest.

[ oh wait that might actually be horrible and she has immediate regret ]

As long as there's no strings attached.

[youwonscience]

I don't know if I know anyone single you'd like, but I feel like "better than that guy" is a low bar. I think he may be selling actual snake oil.

But you know, I honestly don't think sleeping with him is dangerous, it's more the "giving him bodily fluids in a form he can sell them" that's worrying. Also, I know fuck all about Thedas' STD situation, so.

[Kind of a weird conversation, but still way better than talking about Venatori torture.]

[coppelganger]

Well, that's a relief.

[ Which is kind of a response to... all of that. ]

[youwonscience]

Look, I just... sorry. I wasn't going to say anything about having run into him at all if you hadn't asked. It's not like I don't know it's fucked we're trapped here.

[She's been here longer, so it's more complicated, but not so long she has trouble understanding why Sarah's got stress to work off one way or another.]

[coppelganger]

Cos, it's fine. Do you know how much Felix judges my boyfriends? He hates basically all of 'em.

[ TO BE FAIR TO FELIX, almost all of Sarah's boyfriends are horrible in one way or another. ]

I can live with you not liking him. It was just a bit of fun. I won't give him any blood.

[youwonscience]

Alright. As long as you're not, like, suggesting a double date or anything.

[...no Sarah, pls.]

[coppelganger]

I'm not dating anyone.

[sangsues]

( damn right she's not, no one can keep this majestic manbeast tied down )

[youwonscience]

[She actually laughs.]

Of course not.

Though you should get to know Herian, eventually. Not like, actually double dating, but just in general.

[coppelganger]

Oh.

[ It doesn't take a genius to pick up on how stiff Sarah's voice is all of a sudden. ]

Yeah. Eventually.

[youwonscience]

...what?

[coppelganger]

Nothing. I've already talked with her a couple times.

[youwonscience]

I know she helped you get back to Kirkwall. But, uh. They weren't great talks, I take it.

[Sarah may know Cosima a bit better than Cosima expects, but she knows Sarah well enough to read that tone.]

[sangsues]

( what is this sudden feeling of nausea and horror )