(Open) They'll steal your patents for the sun

[youwonscience]

WHO: Cosima and YOU
WHAT: Open post/catchall
WHEN: Kingsway
WHERE: Gallows and environs
NOTES: Prose or brackets are fine. If you want to talk about another scenario/your wildcard ideas before diving in, DM me or hit me up on plurk/discord. All comers welcome!

I. Infirmary

It's almost easy to forget that she's not in good health, sometimes, which Cosima supposes does credit to spirit healing. But she also never misses her twice-monthly appointments, too conscious of the potential consequences. Since she's here anyway, she brings a few goodies from the kitchen for people well enough to have them but not well enough to fetch them on their own. She's conscious of people who seem to want to be left alone and people who could use a friendly word. And of course, by now she knows the regulars, staff and otherwise.

II. Cosima's lab, the Gallows

Damn, Cosima, back at it again with the microscope. Ever since the phylactery negotiations -- and arguably, since Tevinter, though Cosima wasn't even there herself -- she's thrown herself into her work, harder than ever. They still have so much to learn, and it feels like the conflict is multiplying faster than they can keep up sometimes. She's doing her best, and frustrated she can't do more, though she keeps the latter sentiment to herself.

III. Docks

There's nearly always activity at the docks, so it takes some doing to find a spot that isn't in anyone's way. But Cosima has managed it, and is using her find to watch the water. She's alert enough to her surroundings, since it never pays to let your guard down out and about in Kirkwall, especially as a rifter. But the water makes her feel better. Not like home. It demonstrably isn't home. But as if it's a place that at least makes sense to her.

IV. Wildcard

[Choose your own adventure.]

Comments

Closed to Herian

[youwonscience]

The evening is unusual only in that they are both in Kirkwall, neither with work drawing them away. Which is why, Cosima insists, it's a perfect night to take a walk in Hightown. No more curfew means they can watch the sunset and then get something to eat after without worrying about ferry times, and they are both overdue for a break.

Cosima's fingers are tangled with Herian's, and she thinks, briefly, that it all feels very concrete. Real. It's comforting, when she sometimes has the impressions she might just blow away one day. (And it really is a lovely sunset.)

Eventually, she says, "You'd think Kirkwall would have more date night options. Not that I'm complaining."

[dashing]

She is guilty of being caught in her head, letting all the events of the past months stew, so she is all but mired in them. Getting out is a good way to escape it, avoid an evening of Borodin as she tries to find pleasing god solutions to situations that have no likelihood of such things.

Herian makes a quiet sound as Cosima’s comment snaps her out of another quiet slide towards the mire, thankfully, brings her back to the oranges and purples that are painted across the outstretched clouds and highlighted in crests of coral pink and sunflower yellows, as though the sky were a canvas for all of nature’s most vibrant wonders at once. A little smile, and she squeezes Cosima’s hand gently.

“What would you propose, if we were in your world?’

[youwonscience]

"Oh man, good question. Hm." She makes a show of thinking. "Roller skating," she settles on, after a moment. "They've got these special boots with wheels on them, and there's this super highly polished floor, usually a big loop. You glide along, you hold hands. It's nerdy and kind of retro by my time, but it's fun. They play music, sometimes there are lights that flash in different colors. You know, for atmosphere."

I'm pretty sure Borodin was meant to be brooding and my phone tried to make a fantasy protag instead

[dashing]

Her smile widens as Cosima goes on, a mix of delight and bemusement.

"Roller skating sounds— adventurous," and she stops and tugs Cosima just a little closer, conspiratorial. "Can I count on you to safeguard me against the perils of it?"

HAHA I figured that was autocorrect of some kind

[youwonscience]

"Honestly, unless something goes really wrong, the worst you can expect is some bumped knees and loss of dignity," she says, with a small grin. "You could hold onto my arm until you got the hang of it, I'm sure you'd be a pro in no time." She leans up and presses a kiss to the corner of Herian's mouth. "Do you have ice skating, in Thedas? It's roller skating's much more dignified cousin."

III

[coiledscales]

The docks are not Alacruun's usual haunt, but there are times where even he needs to pull his head out of his books and go walkabout, if only to mull over thoughts in his own head. Things have changed for him over the months since his arrival. He's not sure if any of it is for the better, but things have changed. And walking clears his head and helps him think. The sea is something a bit familiar; he spent a great deal of his youth in a salt marsh and the screech of seabirds and the smell of the sea is at least a little comforting.

Seeing another rifter gives him pause. He is not the most social of creatures, but he may as well try.

"Do you take inspiration from waves?" It's an innocent enough question, although he certainly looms a little. He is qunari.

[youwonscience]

She's been in Thedas long enough that qunari don't startle her anymore by default. Of course, they're still tall, even when you're not already sitting down; she cranes her neck a bit to meet his eyes.

"I don't know about inspiration, exactly, but I like watching the water. I grew up on a boat, I find it kind of comforting. You want to join me?"

It's an easily given invitation, for all they're strangers. (She doesn't immediately register his voice from the time she briefly lost Franklin.) The docks are public, and she doesn't mind a bit of company if he's inclined.

[coiledscales]

"I... suppose," Alacruun seems a bit taken aback by the invitation. He's not one to just stare at the water. He does need something to take his mind off of everything that's been happening lately, though. Maybe he can get certain people off of his mind...

With that settled, he carefully sits down alongside her, feeling a touch out of place.

"I grew up near the ocean, not on it. It is a bit nostalgic, I suppose..."

[youwonscience]

"It's nice. I mean, we're all busy most of the time, as we should be with the cultists and the wars and everything, but... sometimes it's nice to take a minute and look around, you know?"

Maybe he doesn't, actually, but she still thinks her point is valid.

"And, hey. Lots of things in this world aren't familiar, but the ocean is still an ocean."

[coiledscales]

"I... suppose. I don't usually allow myself time to relax. If I spend too much time idle I begin to get a bit..."

He pauses, not sure how to phrase this. He didn't really intend to go down this route of conversation, but it's started all of a sudden and here he is.

"...stir crazy? I start wanting to do things. Not just... sit. No offense intended, of course."

II

[aceso]

Christine should be a familiar face in Cosima's lab, for all the times she's come to talk about the latter's progress, or simply inquire what she's working on today. But today Christine doesn't come in with a stack of notes and a harried expression, but a plate covered with a kitchen towel.

"I do hope you are ready for a break, or else these cookies will all have to be eaten by me, and we don't want that." She reveals a plate of cookies: some oatmeal, some plain sugar, and some cinnamon sugar.

[youwonscience]

"Oh my god, you're the best boss." Her other project doesn't have a leader right now, but that's beside the point. She puts down her notes immediately to come investigate the cookies. "These look amazing, thanks. What's the occasion?"

[aceso]

Regardless of Cosima's other project being leaderless, Christine gets a little boost on hearing that. There are occasions where she worries she's become unapproachable, always holed up in her office trying to track down red lyrium deposits and the like.

"There really isn't one, but there has been talk lately of hobbies, and I have been teaching someone to bake, and I feel since I enjoy it so, I should share what I make." Leaning in like she's sharing a secret, she adds, "And if I do not share outside of home, Church will expand until he fills the whole house."

[youwonscience]

"Oh, well, if I'm eating the cookies for charity." She smiles and takes another bite. "How are you two doing? We haven't really talked about not-work stuff since, uh. Everyone was sick."

Since she and Church deep-friend every potato within reach and then started fading into nothing, yes, that time.

[aceso]

Christine smiles, glad Cosima enjoys it. That plague was a difficult time for everyone, but at least they learned more about lyrium as a result of it, and no one died.

...Except maybe that Rifter who disappeared.

"Very well, thank you. I have recently moved my mother to Kirkwall, but not into our place. I know she and Church would kill each other within a day. The lead up to the move was a stressful time for me, but Church was very supportive, as always. And yourself? How have your days been when your eye is not to the microscope?"

iii

[motherfucking_ghost]

Being part of the forces division means a whole lot of different things. And one of the many things it could mean is general labor. Which sounds like it'd be tiring and boring, but Church definitely prefers that to standing around guarding, for example. And maybe he would rather not be out there in the world on any non-rifter missions at the moment, seeing as how, great googly moogly, it's all going to shit.

He sets down a wooden crate from one of the docked ships, spies Cosima. Trying to be out of the way, and she's managing it, but it's...kind of weird? Is she okay? He goes back to the ship, carries and deposits a couple more supplies, and she's still there, so you know what? It's time for a break.

"I think you need more to catch fish than just a hard stare and some willpower."

[youwonscience]

She laughs, glancing up. "The fish are totally safe from me, both by intention and practical limitations. Am I in your way?" He looks like he's actually here for a compelling reason, which is more than she can say.

[motherfucking_ghost]

"Nah. You just looked very...somewhere else. Like you need someone to stand around and make sure you don't get shoved in by some ne'er-do-well." He elbows her playfully. "I'm taking a smoke break without the smoking. You good, little lady?"

[youwonscience]

"Man, I was until you mentioned smoking. When's a box of high-quality weed going to fall out of one of the rifts?" She's teasing. Mostly.

"I'm OK. Maybe a little homesick, but mainly I just like watching the water."

[motherfucking_ghost]

"Dude. If it ever does, you have to share it with a bro." Though, now that he thinks about it: "Don't they have a plant here that basically works the same way? No matter the universe and no matter the time, you always have people figuring out how to smoke plants and get high. I've never actually tried it? The one here or legit-ass weed. I'm a giant square." Also he hadn't had a mouth in a long time before falling out of a rift and even when he did have a mouth, he was in the middle of a hot fucking gulch in the middle of nowhere subsisting on military supplies.

iv;

[foxsays]

Araceli's nursing a brandy by the time Cosima gets there as if she might have come straight from the Gallows; she's got quicker ways to get from place to place after all. Not drunk, not tipsy but there's something unsettled under her skin enough to easily be mistaken for one or the other when she spies Cosima.

Back to a corner, good view of the door and the bar, comfortably tucked of the way of loud conversation.

"Thanks for coming, I didn't want it to be over the crystal and drinking alone seemed foolish. What would you like?"

[youwonscience]

"Hey, drinking alone is like, the third most popular hobby for Inquistion members," Cosima points out with a smile, sliding into the seat opposite. "I think I'll just have some wine, unless you're recommending anything else."

Behind her smile, she's assessing a bit. Araceli had sounded shaken over the crystal, not without reason. She's not entirely sure yet what conversation they're going to have.

[foxsays]

"If someone ever went around to find where I've hidden the alcohol in the Naval Presence office they'd think I have a problem." But her problem is more the sudden influx of pirates than anything else, people who tend to be able to sniff it out unless it's properly tucked away out of sight. Leaning over at the first passing serving girl, Araceli asks for wine for Cosima, nodding at her glass. "I only do wine with dinner if someone else picks it, I wasn't raised with it, I still don't know what I trust in Kirkwall. I've tried some of the local cocktails."

Bad times. Maybe it was bilge water for a mixer, maybe that's what a rifter special was meant to be, little inside joke.

"So…" And she is not going to worry her thumb, her hands are on the glass, they're occupied, there's less temptation to do anything. "Have you-- have you talked about it to Herian? I mean not just after it happened but after after? When you couldn't see it on you and when people think oh it's better because they don't talk about things here."

[youwonscience]

Cosima doesn't look uncomfortable, per se, but it's a question she wishes she had a better answer for. "She and I weren't actually together yet, when it happened. So, um. I mean, it's not like I'm thinking Oh no, I can't talk to Herian about this, but it's not a topic that's... come up, really?"

Herian has bad dreams too, after all. Easier to comfort one another in the moment than to probe at the underlying wounds.

"I mean, I don't bring it up, so. I guess that's on me, a little. What about you, have you talked to anybody? Beyond, like, the healers making sure we're not mutating or anything." (Maybe that's just Cosima, since she's seeing the healers regularly anyway.)

[foxsays]

"Oh." Maybe Araceli should have known that or she just-- Herian's all honour and nobility, maybe there's some unfair expectation lurking in what she's not saying as she tips the waitress. That it'd come up. But no, it hasn't, so some other part gets to feel relieved because how does it come up really? It doesn't.

(That's the problem. You have to actually do it. You have to lance the wound, dig out the shrapnel. Necessary but painful even for the onlooker.)

It's a bad time to be raising her glass, almost dropped out of her hand with all her easy grace forgotten at that question. "I-- what? No I saw healers, I had to make sure my leg would let me climb and run properly but it happened. I mean I told people I was taken. Me and others but I didn't name them because some of them are so foolish, they think they can do as they please and the world will just shrug it all off. It's not like that." Araceli uncomfortable with magical healing enough that she won't even drink a potion squirms, tapping out a staccato beat against the table. "I thought the plague was that at first. That it was back."