crystal;

[heirring]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Richard Dickerson & Wysteria de Foncé
RECIPIENT: You All
NOTES: The highly scientific results from studying a not-so-recent amputation, and a call for volunteers (don't worry, it's not volunteering to get your limbs chopped off). Wysteria is in blue. Richard is in green.

Hello everyone. This is Madame de Foncé speaking, accompanied by Mister Dickerson. There is a whole report written up on the matter which we wish to discuss today. Anyone curious will find it filed among the Project Felandaris records. However, we agreed [sure that's the word for 'Wysteria bullied Richard into it'] that discussing the broad points in a more public venue might do some good.

Go ahead, Mister Dickerson.

Dissection of Madame de Foncé’s arm revealed extensions of the anchor growing outward along the vascular system, confirming the existing supposition that as much of the affected limb should be taken as possible to ensure an anchor is truly separated from its host.

[ There is an odd beat where it seems likely Mister Dickerson is hoping for Wysteria to chirp back in before he continues: ]

It further appears that lyrium has an affinity for -- [ more quietly ] Rifter flesh, for lack of a more delicate distinction. When exposed to Madame de Foncé’s arm it made a fleeting attempt to regrow the parts of her that were missing. [ So the rest of the Wysteria? Another pause. He doesn’t deign to specify. ]

We believe it may hold promise as a healing agent for Rifters if applied topically.

[Which brings them to the true aim of this whole endeavor, the enthusiasm for which has Wysteria's clipping in so briskly after him that there's almost no pause at all between 'if applied topically,' and—]

And so Mister Dickerson and I would like to make a request for volunteers from among the Rifter population. We would like to make a more thorough study of the effects of lyrium on us. I have prepared a sort of sign up form and have posted it on the door of Project Felandaris' office. If you would please add your name to it, Mister Dickerson, and myself, and indeed the general record would be most grateful.

That's all. Thank you. Ask whatever questions you wish to.

[Slightly muffled then, as if the crystal has been lowered away from the general nexus of conversation, Wysteria continues on in the same breath, 'You see, Mister Dickerson? That wasn't painful in the slightest. I hardly see why you were so hesitant—']

Comments

[heirring]

[The notes she's taking certainly appear to be fairly voluminous, if the number of marks on the page and the tempo of the pen's metal nib scratch is any indication. They are a brisk, succinct summary of symptoms, already combining with a slew of little marginalia which suggests an intent for follow up questions—if not for Cosima specifically, then certainly to be raised over the course of their forthcoming work.]

Yes, that was going to be my question too, [this, echoed, without looking up as Wysteria scribbles some further mark.

It's going to make for a respectable cheat sheet.]

[youwonscience]

[Whether Cosima's discomfort comes from their reactions, returning to a fairly traumatic memory, or both is unclear. After a short pause, though, she does answer.]

It's been a long time, and I wasn't in any shape to take a lot of notes then. But my memory is that it was largely a mix of paranoia — bugs under my skin, eyes in the walls, that kind of thing — and disorientation in time and place. Seeing people I knew at home who aren't in Thedas, confusion about who it was who was torturing me and why.

[nonvenomous]

[ Dick’s nod catches mid-tilt at the transition from bugs in the wall to people at home. It continues on after a pause, hung up on the grass burr catch of his curiosity. ]

Thank you, [ he says, upon tracing back over the last minute or so of discomfort. ] This will help us to know what we should look out for. [ And how best to phrase any warnings they issue to volunteers in such a way that the experience doesn’t sound like torture. ]

[heirring]

[Wysteria is still scribbling down the dregs of notes as Mister Dickerson arrives at Thank you. It prompts her to look up, an inhale fueling an insistent question that she hasn't yet had the opportunity to ask and is right there behind her teeth.

But there's something in the look of Cosima's face, or maybe the particular tenor of Richard's gratitude that compels her to exhale it as air and to instead adopt an air more or less angling in the general direction of sympathy and reassurance.]

Yes, exactly so. I'm certain everyone will be pleased to know that we have been made aware of the limitations of the whole inquiry.

[youwonscience]

I'd be interested in reviewing whatever experiments you set up.

[Definitely because she's a member of Research who works a lot with lyrium, and definitely not for forceful intervention.]