Hi to you, too. Give me a minute. [Don't mind the shuffling of him going to find a slightly more private place for this. 'More private' in this case mostly means somewhere else in the library, at the moment.]
Let me guess. This has to do with the good Madame de Foncé.
Great. [Muffled as though through a hand scrubbing his face, mostly because he's scrubbing his face.] Good. Can't argue any sense into that woman. Lyrium and its addictive qualities seem dependent on a whole load of factors. You don't see every other mage that downs a potion get the shivers for it. And, yeah, what we do with the philter is kind of a mix of purifying the stuff and concentrating it down. Getting a big whammy for the first infusion definitely does the trick in addiction.
Would I recommend taking a potion every day for a year? No. Do I think a couple of drops over a week will do anything? No. What we've got in the stores is refined enough to use for all kinds of purposes without hurting anyone. But I also wouldn't go injecting it straight in your arm, for instance. And I don't care how detailed her notes on, running around giving a bunch of people lyrium that have no use for it just to see what happens sounds like not only asking for trouble, but inviting it inside for tea after having it RSVP.
I’d rather hear more thoughts versus too few. ( Sometimes picking Wong’s brain had been like pulling teeth, to get him to say anything past a gruff disapproving grunt. At least this gives Stephen something to work with. So. He contemplates that. )
It’s reckless, for certain, but a couple of us healers are going to be standing by to monitor the effects for safety. And I think it’s worth the research to see what those effects are, and to understand a little more about anchor and rifter physiology; there’s a certain amount of existential anxiety in not knowing what I actually am and that I might fade away any day, to be frank. But I just wanted to check beforehand about— well, I mean, I’d rather not emerge from this testing with a crippling magical addiction.
Look, I don't even disagree that it's a worthwhile question to pursue. I just think she gets in over her head and plays with fire. Nobody's about to [and here he lowers his voice even more] inadvertently become a Templar, but it can't be overstated how dangerous this stuff can be.
I mean. Some would find the idea of negative side effects worth it if it gets us on the way to figuring out how to get these things to stop eventually being a death sentence, even if it's years down the line. Just keep an eye on things.
That’s the plan. I’ll try to ensure that I go last, so that I can stay clear-headed and observe the others first, and then there’ll be other observers besides. I’ve used lyrium potions before to enhance my magic when in dire need, but this is— understandably a little further beyond that.
( then, wryly: ) Can I just say, I think we should be proud of me for reaching out and asking you in the first place.
If we lose a doctor to some wacky experiments, we don't really have any good replacements at the moment. Don't let her bully you, and don't take everything as a challenge. Try not to. I promise the ego will survive.
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crystal.
How addictive is lyrium, exactly?
— also, hello, it’s Stephen, I hope you weren’t busy. Probably make sure you have some privacy for this conversation.
The kind that templars take. It’s a more concentrated form than what we encounter in lyrium potions, yes?
no subject
Let me guess. This has to do with the good Madame de Foncé.
Great. [Muffled as though through a hand scrubbing his face, mostly because he's scrubbing his face.] Good. Can't argue any sense into that woman. Lyrium and its addictive qualities seem dependent on a whole load of factors. You don't see every other mage that downs a potion get the shivers for it. And, yeah, what we do with the philter is kind of a mix of purifying the stuff and concentrating it down. Getting a big whammy for the first infusion definitely does the trick in addiction.
Would I recommend taking a potion every day for a year? No. Do I think a couple of drops over a week will do anything? No. What we've got in the stores is refined enough to use for all kinds of purposes without hurting anyone. But I also wouldn't go injecting it straight in your arm, for instance. And I don't care how detailed her notes on, running around giving a bunch of people lyrium that have no use for it just to see what happens sounds like not only asking for trouble, but inviting it inside for tea after having it RSVP.
...That was more than you asked for.
no subject
It’s reckless, for certain, but a couple of us healers are going to be standing by to monitor the effects for safety. And I think it’s worth the research to see what those effects are, and to understand a little more about anchor and rifter physiology; there’s a certain amount of existential anxiety in not knowing what I actually am and that I might fade away any day, to be frank. But I just wanted to check beforehand about— well, I mean, I’d rather not emerge from this testing with a crippling magical addiction.
No offense.
no subject
Look, I don't even disagree that it's a worthwhile question to pursue. I just think she gets in over her head and plays with fire. Nobody's about to [and here he lowers his voice even more] inadvertently become a Templar, but it can't be overstated how dangerous this stuff can be.
I mean. Some would find the idea of negative side effects worth it if it gets us on the way to figuring out how to get these things to stop eventually being a death sentence, even if it's years down the line. Just keep an eye on things.
no subject
( then, wryly: ) Can I just say, I think we should be proud of me for reaching out and asking you in the first place.
no subject
If we lose a doctor to some wacky experiments, we don't really have any good replacements at the moment. Don't let her bully you, and don't take everything as a challenge. Try not to. I promise the ego will survive.
no subject
You sound like Wong. The real one.