(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

[youwonscience]

"Yeah, it's not... we don't work from the assumption that there was a personal will behind what happened, at home. Our working theory, which I think is pretty sound, is that the animals that are better at having offspring who survive into adulthood are the ones who pass on their heritable traits. So if an animal happens to be a little faster or better at eating certain kinds of plants or something, they're more likely to survive long enough to have kids who have those advantages."

She shrugs. "Science is a method. It should work here as well as anywhere. We're just working with a different framework."

[coiledscales]

"That does make a certain amount of sense when explained so simply," Alacruun makes a low noise of approval, "That sounds... well, it is a relatively simple concept. Easily grasped and there's logic to it. I'm sure you've more evidence for it than that, but even just hearing it, I can't say that it necessarily sounds wrong."

He cocks his head to one side to regard her for a moment.

"I cannot say I am a scientist with any reasonable degree of seriousness; I'm a scholar, if anything. A researcher. But I think you and your companions in your homeworld do a service to your people."

[youwonscience]

She looks pleased, as much at getting her point across well as at the praise. "All sorts of research are important. I know really little about magic, for what it's worth. But yeah, I've been thinking. If -- when -- we get Corypheus taken care of, I can't do exactly what I did at home. It needs equipment that I can't duplicate in Thedas. But maybe I'll work on seeing if there's evidence that evolution works the same way, here. Become a naturalist."

[coiledscales]

"An admirable goal, but..." He cocks his head. He's curious and his eyes spark.

"You don't think they'll find a way to send us back after this is all over? Resigning yourself to life here?"

A pause.

"Or is it you would rather not go back?"

[youwonscience]

She rubs the back of her neck, absently. "Neither, exactly. It's, um. I've been here for more than two years, and I've seen a lot of people come and go. But I haven't seen anything to convince me that they can send us back on purpose, or that we can control how that works. Maybe that'll change one day, or maybe I'll go involuntarily, but I can't plan for that."

Cosima shrugs, a bit. "No one knows, yet, how long one of us might be here. But I think my time is better spent assuming I might stay than hoping I might go and not having anything to do about it."

[coiledscales]

"That is... unfortunate. Or maybe not unfortunate, just frustrating. I'd hoped to be able to go home one day, but..."

Alacruun shrugs, "If I don't, I can't imagine that I'll be too put out. Things are... better here, even with the thread of annihilation hanging over all of us."

[youwonscience]

"It's different for everybody, I guess? Where you come from, what you're leaving. Though I hope you're not offended if I point out things must have sucked pretty bad if Corypheus is a step up."

She's not trying to pry, but it's an invitation to share. If he wants it.

[coiledscales]

"It's a long story. Suffice to say I was unjustly imprisoned, with very few prospects for escaping..." Alacruun's expression tugs into a frown, "Here, at least, I have the capability of free action. I am at relative liberty. It is... much better. Even with the threat of annihilation hanging over one's head."

[youwonscience]

"Hey, I'm sorry. That's rough." She's quiet, then adds, "I'm sick, and they can treat it here, even if they can't cure it. There's not a treatment, where I come from. So... I don't know. If I'd go if I was given the choice." She smiles, quick and almost apologetic. "Kind of a downer topic, but... I think it's something not a lot of Rifters talk about. That some of us might be better off here."