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portalling) wrote2022-04-02 01:17 pm
portalling) wrote2022-04-02 01:17 pm
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( Deep breaths. Don’t just hang up on her again. )
You know what’s great? Personal development. Riftwatch is rife with opportunities for personal development. Chances are you’re eventually going to be touching far worse things than locks of hair; no time to get used to it like the present.
You know what’s great? Personal development. Riftwatch is rife with opportunities for personal development. Chances are you’re eventually going to be touching far worse things than locks of hair; no time to get used to it like the present.
Blood? Guts? Melted abominations? We are a field-ready organisation in the midst of a war, Arany. We do occasionally see combat.
( oh you sweet summer child )
I regret to inform you that that’ll often happen regardless. We don’t always have the luxury of standing on the sidelines.
I regret to inform you that that’ll often happen regardless. We don’t always have the luxury of standing on the sidelines.
( His own voice gentles, ebbing back from that initial annoyance. There’s few things he appreciates more than someone who’s willing to learn and at least try. (The sandwich, too, has helped. He’s less hangry. Julius is no longer maybe-dying.) )
In a sense, no, because a real emergency scenario will never be exactly the same as a test run,
but in another sense, yes, because training can at least help you prepare for it. Gather a better sense of what to do, have that muscle-memory sitting ready. Vyrantium— You’re from Tevinter? Are you a mage? If so, have you ever used your magic in battle?
In a sense, no, because a real emergency scenario will never be exactly the same as a test run,
but in another sense, yes, because training can at least help you prepare for it. Gather a better sense of what to do, have that muscle-memory sitting ready. Vyrantium— You’re from Tevinter? Are you a mage? If so, have you ever used your magic in battle?
Agreed. It's a risk we probably wouldn't even take with a non-rifter, to be honest, but it's not like he asked to be stuck here. We're going to need a long term solution that's not "lock him in every night," especially if he can do magic.
[She exhales.]
I know your hands are full, so I hate to kick this your way. But I also feel like until the decision comes out to tell the whole organization, I'm worried about the precedent of pulling more people in one at a time. Do you think you've got the capacity for us to tag-team pursuing this?
[She exhales.]
I know your hands are full, so I hate to kick this your way. But I also feel like until the decision comes out to tell the whole organization, I'm worried about the precedent of pulling more people in one at a time. Do you think you've got the capacity for us to tag-team pursuing this?
( Tav had mentioned that before, but Strange had inadvertently glossed over it with so much other alarming information to learn about the elf; this time, he perks to attention. )
Healing magic? Oh, yes, this I want to see.
And, shortly after, the doctor’s immediately made his way to the other rifter’s room, abandoning his day in the infirmary to head back to the Gallows and climb those stairs. Strange eventually appears in the doorway, pokes his head in, raps his knuckles on the door.
“Head Healer, reporting for duty. —And also intellectual curiosity.”
Healing magic? Oh, yes, this I want to see.
And, shortly after, the doctor’s immediately made his way to the other rifter’s room, abandoning his day in the infirmary to head back to the Gallows and climb those stairs. Strange eventually appears in the doorway, pokes his head in, raps his knuckles on the door.
“Head Healer, reporting for duty. —And also intellectual curiosity.”
[By the time Strange reaches him, Tav has unwound his bandages and laid them out on his knees for inspection. To say they are torn up is an understatement. He had apparently fough tooth and nail for freedom and even dislocated his thumb in the process. The skin around his wrists is filled with fluid and limited scabbing has taken place.
When Strange arrives, Tav nods him in and makes room on his bunk for the doctor.]
Rope burns. [He gestures with his head down to the fluid-filled sacks on his wrist.]
When Strange arrives, Tav nods him in and makes room on his bunk for the doctor.]
Rope burns. [He gestures with his head down to the fluid-filled sacks on his wrist.]
( Suspicions are thick around the Gallows, people on the lookout for any unusual behaviour, although it’s hard to tell with Tav when everything about the elf is already so unusual— and so the reply is just a: )
What? Why?
What? Why?
( A beat. )
We’re in lockdown, Tav. No one’s to leave the Gallows until the security threat’s passed and we’ve sorted this out.
We’re in lockdown, Tav. No one’s to leave the Gallows until the security threat’s passed and we’ve sorted this out.
( There’s a twinge at the corners of his eyes, a downward curve to his mouth as he looks at those blistered burns. These everyday sorts of injuries were never the doctor’s specialty, although he’s been making it so, since becoming Head Healer. )
Well, so that’s another reason the rope thing isn’t gonna be a good idea long-term. How do you feel about padded shackles?
Well, so that’s another reason the rope thing isn’t gonna be a good idea long-term. How do you feel about padded shackles?
[Tav sighs, feeling defeated, even as he readies his spell. Turquoise light builds at his fingertips.]
I would rather it not happen again at all.
[And then,] Te curo!
[The spell doesn’t completely heal the sore, but it shrinks the blister, the fluid drying down in most places. Tav is left panting, but he thinks he may have one more in him.]
I would rather it not happen again at all.
[And then,] Te curo!
[The spell doesn’t completely heal the sore, but it shrinks the blister, the fluid drying down in most places. Tav is left panting, but he thinks he may have one more in him.]
( A small snort: ) If you think that’s taking it out on me, then think again. I’ve put up with worse.
I overheard some of that public conversation. People are high-strung, and your frustrations are understandable. You can’t go out right now, but if you can sit tight until the present danger’s passed, then we’ll see if we can arrange a daytrip for you to get some decompression out in nature. Safely.
And on the cure front— Niehaus and I have been brainstorming, and we have a few ideas which seem promising. There are things we can try. We’re determined to not have you like this forever.
Just— y’know, after we’re done actively hunting actual literal demons.
I overheard some of that public conversation. People are high-strung, and your frustrations are understandable. You can’t go out right now, but if you can sit tight until the present danger’s passed, then we’ll see if we can arrange a daytrip for you to get some decompression out in nature. Safely.
And on the cure front— Niehaus and I have been brainstorming, and we have a few ideas which seem promising. There are things we can try. We’re determined to not have you like this forever.
Just— y’know, after we’re done actively hunting actual literal demons.
[Tav blows out a breath, takes another, and works to calm himself down. ]
Alright. [Another breath before, quieter,] Alright. Thank you. For listening, despite my coming in angry as a bull.
And I appreciate looking for a cure. I want that more than anything.
Alright. [Another breath before, quieter,] Alright. Thank you. For listening, despite my coming in angry as a bull.
And I appreciate looking for a cure. I want that more than anything.
( Not missing a beat: ) Yeah, that’s fine. I’ve been speaking to him about it quite a bit, so I was already invested in pursuing the matter.
It’s maybe one of the weirder… conditions… I’ve ever had to manage, but it makes sense for us to work on it. A cure’s a cure is a cure.
It’s maybe one of the weirder… conditions… I’ve ever had to manage, but it makes sense for us to work on it. A cure’s a cure is a cure.
So… ( a beat, ) I started to assume as much, but if there’s a certain risk involved in the attempt. If, at absolute worst, it might unravel you out of existence entirely. You’d still be up for it?
[Tav sighs again.] Can’t be worse than having a multi-planal tadpole shoved in my eye also causing me to sweat.
[Wait. The tadpole.]
The tadpole. The tadpole! It can cross planes! I didn’t think I still had it because I didn’t feel it wriggling around, but there’s no one from home for it to react to.
[Tav is moving away from his crystal, pacing fervently.]
You’re a healer, you could remove it, and maybe that could break the connection with my father.
It’s somewhere in my brain, if it’s anywhere.
[Wait. The tadpole.]
The tadpole. The tadpole! It can cross planes! I didn’t think I still had it because I didn’t feel it wriggling around, but there’s no one from home for it to react to.
[Tav is moving away from his crystal, pacing fervently.]
You’re a healer, you could remove it, and maybe that could break the connection with my father.
It’s somewhere in my brain, if it’s anywhere.
( He’s watching carefully, taking mental note. This is the sort of thing he’d sought for so long, back home: a way to fix what’s broken. Contemplatively: )
I’m assuming you haven’t had the opportunity yet to test it on something larger, here? Broken bones and open wounds and the like?
I’m assuming you haven’t had the opportunity yet to test it on something larger, here? Broken bones and open wounds and the like?
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