open: "accidents" will happen.

[aberratic]

WHO: Ness Tavane (aberratic)
WHAT: An "accident" and an amputation
WHEN: Backdated-ish to mid-March
WHERE: The Gallows/Infirmary
NOTES: CW for amputation of a limb, illness from infection in said limb, confusion and disorientation as a result of fever. Lmk if you need any other cws and I'll add them!

It's early morning one balmy day in the middle of Drakonis, and the central tower of the Gallows is quiet. A few early risers have already made their ways to their offices, not to mention those who fell asleep in their offices—or those who never slept in the first place—but most of Riftwatch is still asleep, or at least milling about the dining hall. Coffee and tea are still brewing, breakfast is still being served, the work of the day is still at least an hour away for most.

This is purposeful; it means there's no one near the Quartermaster's office to see what happens. There is only silence, and then a sudden cacophonous crash to break it, and a high, sharp scream.

Comments

[aberratic]

Ness doesn't even try to suppress her sigh—no one wants her to work!—but it remains good-natured, and she smiles through it. Not even the mention of lyrum experiments serves to bring her down—if anything, she looks excited.

"Two is more than one. We can begin to see if patterns emerge, at least, and that's more than we have now!"

She looks at Cosima, pale and unkempt and maimed... and yet it wouldn't be a stretch to say she's never looked happier, more energized. A future stretches out in front of her now, no more uncertain than anyone else's. She might die at Venatori hands in a month, she might fall to a fatal accident tomorrow, she might drop dead of a sudden apoplexy in the next five minutes—but she's not going to disappear.

"I can't wait to see what we learn. I can't wait to see how Thedas changes because of us."

She gets to stay.

[youwonscience]

"I think we've already changed Thedas a fair amount," is not unkindly said. Cosima doesn't want to depress Ness, or even really to chastise her. (It's not as if Ness isn't aware that Cosima wasn't thrilled with the make it look like an accident component of the plan. There's no need to belabor that now.)

"What has Doctor Strange been saying about your recovery? Any prognosis so far, or is he still keeping that close to the vest?" It's not, under the circumstances, a change of subject so much as a reminder that all of the many experiments Ness is picturing will remain theoretical for at least a while to come.