therookery | (no subject)

FORM: written message delivered by couriers
SENDER: Sina
RECIPIENT: All members of the Rifts & the Veil research contingent.
WHAT: An invitation
WHEN: Late Kingsway
WHERE: an unoccupied room in the Gallows' mage tower
NOTES:

Fellow researchers of rifts & the Veil,

I have arranged for Atticus Vedici to investigate my shard, under the escort of Templars and with as many of you present as you like. As both colleague and friend to most of you, your presence would mean a great deal to me, and perhaps, if any are willing, we could first investigate someone's hand.

I would not ask you to volunteer for this. I recognize that in this situation I am somewhat uniquely imperiled. But your aid and witness would be welcome.

If you'd like to come, let me know and I'll give you the day and time. Please understand that I do not want this to be common knowledge, both for my privacy and to reduce the possibility of someone trying to stop us.

Siuona, First of Clan Dahlasanor

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Do you know how often Church has had to write letters? Not often.]

I'll be there but I don't like it and actually you're being a fucking moron and I hope you don't actually do this. If someone else is dumb enough to try it on their hand, that's at least better right? If he opens a rift out of you I'm blaming you fully just fyi.

If something goes wrong are they going to take off his head? Because that seems like a good immediate effective solution. Don't do this. Bad idea.

Church

Church,

Have we any hand volunteers? It is common sense to ask for one, and I did, but I will not force it.

Whether or not the experiment on my own shard succeeds is irrelevant to me now. Perhaps we can glean something useful from it for the sake of future research.

Sina

A hand is a lot better to fuck around with than a CHEST. If something happens, you can survive without a hand. You kinda need a chest to live!

[a few words are heavily crossed out] Do you need me to be the dumbass volunteer? I can't promise I won't punch him out though. Seems like it might be deserved.

Church

I know the risks.

If you volunteer I think the others will find it reassuring, even if we discover nothing-- it will be a step in the direction of understanding our common affliction. Having said that, the choice is entirely yours, I will not press you one way or the other.

Sina

Do you know what specifically is involved? What specifically he's going to DO? Are there waivers to sign, do you have a ~~doc~~ healer on hand, just how prepared is this?

Church

I don't know, that's why it's research. I had planned to ask Anders to attend, but if you prefer someone else that's fine too.

What's a waiver?

Sina

Legal document saying you take responsibility for your own shit if you get hurt that sort of thing. I don't know if you guys have lawyers here. Not important.

Point is, before he does anything, he should tell you exactly what he's going to do in case you change your mind and tell him he can fuck off instead. There's 'research' and then there's 'reckless endangerment', in this case to yourself.

Church

I see. It sounds like a sensible custom, though it matters little in my case. I'm dying, Church. There's nothing Atticus will do that will change the fact.
If you still choose to volunteer, the others with shards in their hands will likely be grateful. My only aim is for my remaining days to be less painful, to see if anything can be done. If not, I only hope the rest of you are able to find a solution before your own afflictions can spread beyond recovery.

I'm sorry I had to tell you this. I would appreciate if you kept it between us.

Sina

Oh shit. Is it because of the one in your chest? Is it killing you faster? Shit I didn't know. That's fucking awful. There's nothing anyone can do? What if he's able to take it out of you?

Actually no screw that I want to make sure he doesn't hurt you. He can have my hand. Not like literally, I would still really like to keep my hand. But if he's going to be a Venatori fuckhead and do something awful just because he can, he'll have to deal with me first. I will knock all his teeth out of his head if I need to.

Church

Various reasons, none of which need detailing right now. There was perhaps something to be done, but we've long since passed that point, and anyone who may have been capable of doing anything has since gone away. Perhaps Solas or Adelaide will return someday, but I know better than to hope for it, and by now it would be too little, too late.

Your offer means so much to me. It will not be forgotten.

Sina