"Yeah. I remember from the phylactery negotiations," (and, arguably just "being in Riftwatch") "how much rifters don't agree on much out of the gate. Though I suppose this time, not everyone has to come to the same conclusion." Presumably about the amputation question.
She exhales, idly, tapping her fingers on the edge of the desk. "The findings about handling lyrium were interesting, considering a lot of my personal research. Since the anchor shards have been shown to have more macro-level defensive properties, at least for some of us, I wonder if that's connected, or if they're fully different phenomena." She's more speculating than expecting Wysteria to have an answer, though she's not against input if the other woman has any offhand.
"I'm not altogether certain. Although it does seem as if those rifters who are most often engaged with the practice of managing rifts or most frequently exposed to arcane forces also tend to be those whose anchors develop additional powers. Not without exception, of course, but given that we know rifts which produce rifters are typically located near deposits of raw lyrium—"
A small shrug, a turn of the hand (which frees the little white dog to return to his dedicated upholstery sniffing).
"It seems unlikely to be entirely coincidence."
Here, a pause. It is albeit a brief one, characterized by a certain shifting about as Wysteria clearly means to add something to—
"You're not displeased, I trust. With the recommendation to amputate, I mean."
She laces her fingers together. "Not displeased, no. It's." She considers for a moment. "I'm not ready to press to make it a requirement. Not when, as you note, there might be ways to effectively Silence the connection that we haven't yet identified or explored. It's no little thing, losing a hand, and bodily autonomy matters to me. A lot. That said, I've known a lot of people, including me, who vanished. It's hard every fucking time."
After a minute, a little quieter, she adds, "Unlike a lot of newer rifters, I also was here when Sina Dahlasanor died. We were in the infirmary together a lot, I was being treated for a chronic condition at the time. So I got to see up close what an anchor shard can do when it gets somewhere more critical than your hand. I'm not convinced we all have infinite time, even if we don't disappear before it comes to that." She sighs. "I think it's a recommendation with both goodwill and evidence behind it. I just don't know how many people will have the stomach for taking an immediate loss in lieu of an uncertain but worse outcome."
"And we do, for better or worse, require the power of anchors to do Riftwatch's work. The truth of the matter is that we can hardly cut them all out," is a far more mercurial assessment of the affair, yes, but no less true. And maybe if the rest of the company were similarly rational—ready to recognize the immediacy of the danger—, there would be less cauterwalling about the whole matter.
Still. It is heartening that someone see the justification of the thing. That's two, perhaps three, whole someone's just this day.
"Enchanter Averesch suggested it might be possible to possess an amputated limb in possession of an anchor and have the spirit do the closing of Rifts. Obviously it wouldn't be anyone's first choice, but I believe the idea has merit. As I told him, and as you will know from Mister Dickerson and I'd earlier papers, it takes some time for the anchor's power to fade fully. There is a window. And as for who may or may not have the stomach for it—"
She pauses only briefly, allowing herself to add, "This has nothing to with Averesch's suggestion, for the record. I intended to discuss it with her before. But I did speak with her, Madame de Cedoux I mean, on the subject." A further pause, not so long but certainly present. Then, "You might also give it some consideration, your position being what it is."
"It'd suck to lose the head of Research twice in a row? Yeah." It's rueful, but certainly not insulted. "I don't know where I am yet, but I'll think about it sincerely. I can promise that much."
She leans forward. "I did think about that, too, though: the rifts. It's in our name, we can hardly just abandon that part of our mission responsibly. Do you think Averesch's suggestion has real merit, or is it wishful thinking?" She's not taking Wysteria's word on the matter for gospel, but her opinion on it is useful, considering her unique perspective.
(Cedoux was interesting. Cosima should probably make a point to chat with her; they've both been in Riftwatch a long time, but their work has seldom overlapped.)
The little dog takes this moment to give up its sniffling and snorting. With a last huff, he flops sideways across Wysteria's lap. It makes for a respectable filler for the longer pause Wysteria takes to consider Cosima's question, and to construct her answer accordingly.
"I'm not terribly familiar when it comes to bargaining with spirits, but Averesch seemed to think it was at least worth attempting and I believe he is well versed in the sort of practices which see spirits coneyed into objects and corpses and so on. And it's true that there is a period of time after removal from the host in which the anchor seems to maintain its powers. So no, I don't believe it's entirely wishful thinking.
"However,"—there is always a However, isn't there?—"I think it would be rather unpopular with certain institutions who are generally somewhat against lending spirits any measure of power, much less the kind capable of poking holes through the Veil. So I imagine if it were to work that the practice would need to be quite secret."
"There is that. Riftwtach's wider reputation might not be super helped by a reputation for dismemberment or spirit-dealing, but on the other hand, it's a lot of people to be keeping a secret among. Not a decision to make lightly." Stating the obvious, and she knows it, but a lot of this now is just thinking out loud anyway.
"It occurred to me, when I was reading your report. Talking about something that could Silence Rifters' connection to the Fade without amputation. It made me think about the Blood Plague of 9:44. At the time, we had theories that natives were forgetting us and that we were physically fading because our connection to the Fade was weakening. But obviously, you haven't suffered the kind of effects we were seeing with the lyriophages since you had your shard removed. I just feel like maybe there's something there, with the nature of Rifters. We're still missing some information I wish we had."
"Well those rifters all retained their anchors at the time, I believe. So perhaps it was something to do with the illness effecting—not the rifter, precisely, but rather the parts of them form being drawn on or defined by the energies of the anchor itself. We have seen how the anchor influences and transmutates the flesh around it. Who's to say its Fadiation doesn't reach further?"
Which is not blood shark territory. It is just magic, and therefore reasonable.
"Maybe. The templars were sick too, but with a different suite of symptoms." She's less concerned with the line between science and magic, frankly, than trying to work out consistent causes and effects. Magic can come to the party if it will behave. "It's just a frustratingly small sample size, really." She takes off her glasses briefly to rub the bridge of her nose.
"And I'm also going to be frank — Riftwatch is the organization's name. We're going to have to do better than 'might be possible' for ways to close rifts without active anchor shards before I'm going to advocate this step for anyone other than the actively enthusiastic. A quick way for everyone to stop wanting to cooperate with rifters is to make the argument that native shardbearers have to keep theirs for the greater good but rifters should all ditch theirs for self-preservation. And I know that's not exactly what you're saying, but it's going to be easy to read that way." She exhales and puts her glasses back on. "You and I have both been here long enough to see the occasional outcropping of why should I care, it's not my world sentiment, and this could appear to dovetail with that in a really unhelpful way if we're not careful."
"Respectfully, I suspect it would take a great deal of consideration with respect to the war effort and their place in Thedas for a Rifter to give serious consideration to the removal of a limb. Appearances aside, I can't imagine it would be particularly difficult to refute that particular objection were it to arise."
Maybe she says this just a little primly. Not that she has an entirely subjective opinion on the matter or anything.
"Though I don't believe it will. I very much doubt many Rifters at all will seriously consider the possibility. For obvious reasons, most people rebel at the idea that they will be the person gone tomorrow."
"Fair. I mean, it's not like most people are wild about dwelling on their own mortality, even outside this situation. It already happened to me once, and I'm still not sure what I'm going to do yet on a personal level."
Which does support the idea that they're not going to have every rifter in the company sign up for amputation next week, presumably.
"It's good information to have, though. A good start. We've certainly come a long way from rifters are demons, probably which was one of the prevailing native theories the first time I arrived."
"I've heard it said, yes. Though not for many years. At the very least, no one is saying it to our faces."
Or she's going to less parties. That may be equally true. In any case— "I believe Viktor wishes to continue to pursue possible curative effects of lyrium on rifters. As for me, I don't see the way forward with that particular inquiry, but you might discuss it with him. He may have some meaningful theory."
"I'll talk to him about it. I know the Venatori were interested in that line of inquiry at one point, though I don't know if they had any reason to think it was promising or if they were just casting a wide net. Not that I'm ... I'm not worried about Viktor's ethical approach, it's just worth touching base."
No one going mad scientist on her watch is one of her top five Research Division Head priorities.
"I feel like I was making a lot of headway on lyrium for a while and less recently," on a less dire note, "so maybe fresher eyes."
Were it someone else discussing ethics and noting a lack of concern regarding Viktor's work like, say, anyone who had ever expressed a particular concern about her own ethics— Well. She might be offended. But happily the note passes across and beyond Wysteria without snagging on any little bristling shards of ego.
"He seemed quite adamant on the subject, so I imagine you will have fresh and enthusiastic eyes to hand. I'm relatively certain Doctor Strange might be persuaded to assist as well."
"Strange is going to start avoiding me if I have a new project for him every time we see each other. But point taken."
(He probably wouldn't. Strange gives Cosima the impression of a man who'd rather have as many tasks as possible.)
"I'll talk to Viktor, though, thanks for the suggestion. And." She exhales. "Thanks. This was a lot of work, and whatever it translates to in policy, or doesn't, it's useful for all of us to know." 'Us,' in this case, rifters especially, though she supposes the rest of Riftwatch is better off for the information as well.
Wysteria sits a little straighter. The little white dog at her side slips a little deeper into the space between her side and the chair, his button eyes squinting at the inconvenience of it all.
"Oh," his mistress says. "Yes, of course. You're most welcome. Would that we'd have managed to have the study done sooner."
"We've all got a lot on our plates," is frank but pleasant enough. "But I think ... you know, no one outside here is doing studies on rifters, really, so I think it makes sense to keep it in mind when we're considering our focus."
(Well, the Venatori might be involuntarily experimenting on rifters when they get a chance, but that certainly doesn't count for these purposes.)
"Keep me posted, if you end up having follow-up ideas, and I'll reach out if I end up with more questions. But I appreciate your time."
This sounds like a dismissal, and so Wysteria gathers the little dog out from the space he's squelched into. With a squirm, the animal first clambers into her lap and then launches off of it. Wysteria follows up from the chair shortly thereafter with a swirling of skirts.
But there she pauses. It's only for a moment—
"You will consider it, won't you? Doing away with the arm."
The genuine concern softens Cosima's expression some. "...I will. I promise. I can't say for sure where I'll come out, but I can promise you I'll give it serious thought. It deserves that."
There is just the barest instant of examination in which Wysteria looks at her and seriously measures this statement. Yes, it does deserve that. The she nods, a brisk little thing, and squares her shoulders.
"Very good. Should you need anything else I am of course at your disposal, Provost."
Then, in a flurry of skirts and the excitable bouncing of the little off white dog—finally! They're off to run up and down more stairs! Or to sniff more smells! Or to bother Viktor, whose trouser hems he loves to nip at!—, Wysteria scuttles from the office.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
She exhales, idly, tapping her fingers on the edge of the desk. "The findings about handling lyrium were interesting, considering a lot of my personal research. Since the anchor shards have been shown to have more macro-level defensive properties, at least for some of us, I wonder if that's connected, or if they're fully different phenomena." She's more speculating than expecting Wysteria to have an answer, though she's not against input if the other woman has any offhand.
no subject
A small shrug, a turn of the hand (which frees the little white dog to return to his dedicated upholstery sniffing).
"It seems unlikely to be entirely coincidence."
Here, a pause. It is albeit a brief one, characterized by a certain shifting about as Wysteria clearly means to add something to—
"You're not displeased, I trust. With the recommendation to amputate, I mean."
no subject
After a minute, a little quieter, she adds, "Unlike a lot of newer rifters, I also was here when Sina Dahlasanor died. We were in the infirmary together a lot, I was being treated for a chronic condition at the time. So I got to see up close what an anchor shard can do when it gets somewhere more critical than your hand. I'm not convinced we all have infinite time, even if we don't disappear before it comes to that." She sighs. "I think it's a recommendation with both goodwill and evidence behind it. I just don't know how many people will have the stomach for taking an immediate loss in lieu of an uncertain but worse outcome."
no subject
Still. It is heartening that someone see the justification of the thing. That's two, perhaps three, whole someone's just this day.
"Enchanter Averesch suggested it might be possible to possess an amputated limb in possession of an anchor and have the spirit do the closing of Rifts. Obviously it wouldn't be anyone's first choice, but I believe the idea has merit. As I told him, and as you will know from Mister Dickerson and I'd earlier papers, it takes some time for the anchor's power to fade fully. There is a window. And as for who may or may not have the stomach for it—"
She pauses only briefly, allowing herself to add, "This has nothing to with Averesch's suggestion, for the record. I intended to discuss it with her before. But I did speak with her, Madame de Cedoux I mean, on the subject." A further pause, not so long but certainly present. Then, "You might also give it some consideration, your position being what it is."
no subject
She leans forward. "I did think about that, too, though: the rifts. It's in our name, we can hardly just abandon that part of our mission responsibly. Do you think Averesch's suggestion has real merit, or is it wishful thinking?" She's not taking Wysteria's word on the matter for gospel, but her opinion on it is useful, considering her unique perspective.
(Cedoux was interesting. Cosima should probably make a point to chat with her; they've both been in Riftwatch a long time, but their work has seldom overlapped.)
no subject
"I'm not terribly familiar when it comes to bargaining with spirits, but Averesch seemed to think it was at least worth attempting and I believe he is well versed in the sort of practices which see spirits coneyed into objects and corpses and so on. And it's true that there is a period of time after removal from the host in which the anchor seems to maintain its powers. So no, I don't believe it's entirely wishful thinking.
"However,"—there is always a However, isn't there?—"I think it would be rather unpopular with certain institutions who are generally somewhat against lending spirits any measure of power, much less the kind capable of poking holes through the Veil. So I imagine if it were to work that the practice would need to be quite secret."
no subject
"It occurred to me, when I was reading your report. Talking about something that could Silence Rifters' connection to the Fade without amputation. It made me think about the Blood Plague of 9:44. At the time, we had theories that natives were forgetting us and that we were physically fading because our connection to the Fade was weakening. But obviously, you haven't suffered the kind of effects we were seeing with the lyriophages since you had your shard removed. I just feel like maybe there's something there, with the nature of Rifters. We're still missing some information I wish we had."
no subject
Which is not blood shark territory. It is just magic, and therefore reasonable.
no subject
"And I'm also going to be frank — Riftwatch is the organization's name. We're going to have to do better than 'might be possible' for ways to close rifts without active anchor shards before I'm going to advocate this step for anyone other than the actively enthusiastic. A quick way for everyone to stop wanting to cooperate with rifters is to make the argument that native shardbearers have to keep theirs for the greater good but rifters should all ditch theirs for self-preservation. And I know that's not exactly what you're saying, but it's going to be easy to read that way." She exhales and puts her glasses back on. "You and I have both been here long enough to see the occasional outcropping of why should I care, it's not my world sentiment, and this could appear to dovetail with that in a really unhelpful way if we're not careful."
no subject
Maybe she says this just a little primly. Not that she has an entirely subjective opinion on the matter or anything.
"Though I don't believe it will. I very much doubt many Rifters at all will seriously consider the possibility. For obvious reasons, most people rebel at the idea that they will be the person gone tomorrow."
no subject
Which does support the idea that they're not going to have every rifter in the company sign up for amputation next week, presumably.
"It's good information to have, though. A good start. We've certainly come a long way from rifters are demons, probably which was one of the prevailing native theories the first time I arrived."
no subject
Or she's going to less parties. That may be equally true. In any case— "I believe Viktor wishes to continue to pursue possible curative effects of lyrium on rifters. As for me, I don't see the way forward with that particular inquiry, but you might discuss it with him. He may have some meaningful theory."
no subject
No one going mad scientist on her watch is one of her top five Research Division Head priorities.
"I feel like I was making a lot of headway on lyrium for a while and less recently," on a less dire note, "so maybe fresher eyes."
no subject
"He seemed quite adamant on the subject, so I imagine you will have fresh and enthusiastic eyes to hand. I'm relatively certain Doctor Strange might be persuaded to assist as well."
no subject
(He probably wouldn't. Strange gives Cosima the impression of a man who'd rather have as many tasks as possible.)
"I'll talk to Viktor, though, thanks for the suggestion. And." She exhales. "Thanks. This was a lot of work, and whatever it translates to in policy, or doesn't, it's useful for all of us to know." 'Us,' in this case, rifters especially, though she supposes the rest of Riftwatch is better off for the information as well.
no subject
"Oh," his mistress says. "Yes, of course. You're most welcome. Would that we'd have managed to have the study done sooner."
no subject
(Well, the Venatori might be involuntarily experimenting on rifters when they get a chance, but that certainly doesn't count for these purposes.)
"Keep me posted, if you end up having follow-up ideas, and I'll reach out if I end up with more questions. But I appreciate your time."
no subject
This sounds like a dismissal, and so Wysteria gathers the little dog out from the space he's squelched into. With a squirm, the animal first clambers into her lap and then launches off of it. Wysteria follows up from the chair shortly thereafter with a swirling of skirts.
But there she pauses. It's only for a moment—
"You will consider it, won't you? Doing away with the arm."
no subject
no subject
"Very good. Should you need anything else I am of course at your disposal, Provost."
Then, in a flurry of skirts and the excitable bouncing of the little off white dog—finally! They're off to run up and down more stairs! Or to sniff more smells! Or to bother Viktor, whose trouser hems he loves to nip at!—, Wysteria scuttles from the office.