( Straightforward, matter-of-fact, definitely with his metaphorical Head Healer hat on today: )
Orlov, hello. I’ve a matter to discuss whenever you have a moment. Somewhat delicate and medical in nature.
( The opening message is a little stiff and stilted. Thanks to their trip to the village of Cledwyn and his chat with the seneschal, he knows Vanya was a templar; doesn’t know, yet, that the topic he’s about to broach is already moot. )
As Head Healer, I’m doing the rounds to speak to all the templars about their lyrium usage. I understand if this is a personal matter between you and the Chantry, but in the interests of ensuring that our templars maintain access and don’t run into any inadvertent difficulty— specifically, if you’re ever ill or incapacitated and unable to administer it yourself, it would be best to have some contingency plans in place. To do that, however, I’d need your permission and to know a bit more about your current regimen: how often, and how much.
( This was the last of the three templar conversations he’d been tackling, and as awkward as they’d all been to broach, there had still been some routine to it by the end: rehearsed patter, practiced words, a particular shape to the conversation.
This, on the other hand, is like descending a stairwell in the dark only to realise there’s one less step than you expected, suddenly hitting the floor, losing your pace. Strange had the next arc of his schpiel ready and so he has to pause, exhale, catch his breath, what: )
Oh— huh, well, that simplifies things.
Con…gratulations, I think, if you’re willing to accept congratulations? That can’t have been easy.
It wasn't pleasant. But I figured if Cullen could manage it, over at the Inquisition.
[The thought is left unfinished, but probably easy enough to fill in.]
And, as you said, there's the matter of potential incapacitation or matters with the Chantry becoming complex. I'd already resigned as a Templar a few years back, and it seemed prudent not to rely on them handing over an expensive substance forever out of the goodness of their hearts. It's not meant to be something you quit.
[He doesn't specify "lyrium" or "The Templar Order." Probably both of those things.]
( He’d been prepared for more recalcitrance: perhaps these men getting ornery and touchy about a rifter sticking his nose in their deeply personal religion-slash-healthcare. So it’s a small, relieved noise which bleeds out of him now, the unclenching of his jaw, this understanding at the last. )
Exactly. It just seems— either a glaring vulnerability that someone could purposefully exploit in you, or which could cause inadvertent trouble simply through sheer bad luck or bad timing. Even ordinary trade routes have been fucked lately, and we all know it.
And at the very least, individuals shouldn’t have to wrangle that burden alone. If I had a patient who needed ongoing opiate care for a busted leg, a healer would have been involved.
Were you a very involved doctor, back where you come from?
[Presumably based on that last comment, though it's equally possible he isn't keen to talk about how much care Templars did or did not generally receive. Still, he seems interested.]
( How many cases had he rejected simply because they didn't seem interesting enough at the time? )
I was a specialist. Only paid attention to a very, very narrow and specific type of problem. Becoming Head Healer has meant assuming a rather broader mantle.
Curiosity, I suppose. I think we can take rifters for granted, sometimes; you're here now, you're part of Riftwatch. But remembering you have a whole life, sometimes abilities, that you don't bring with you. I suppose it's something that makes me thoughtful.
I sometimes find myself yearning, annoyingly, for it. I’d have been of much more use to Riftwatch as I was— as the original me was. But I suppose there’s no use crying over spilt milk, and the only thing we can do is move onward. Focus on the here and now. What we can actually do and contribute.
( His own brief pause, considering how bluntly curious and candid to be in return, then: )
Do you miss your templar abilities, or are you simply glad to have quit?
I think it would be the odd man who enjoys feeling weaker, [finally.] I made the choice and, as you observe, it has advantages. Practically. But there were things I could do for Riftwatch with my abilities I can no longer do without them.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
crystal.
Orlov, hello. I’ve a matter to discuss whenever you have a moment. Somewhat delicate and medical in nature.
( The opening message is a little stiff and stilted. Thanks to their trip to the village of Cledwyn and his chat with the seneschal, he knows Vanya was a templar; doesn’t know, yet, that the topic he’s about to broach is already moot. )
no subject
Alright. What do you need?
fantasy drug talk obvy
no subject
[It's businesslike, though there may be a small hint of pride in the tone.]
no subject
This, on the other hand, is like descending a stairwell in the dark only to realise there’s one less step than you expected, suddenly hitting the floor, losing your pace. Strange had the next arc of his schpiel ready and so he has to pause, exhale, catch his breath, what: )
Oh— huh, well, that simplifies things.
Con…gratulations, I think, if you’re willing to accept congratulations? That can’t have been easy.
no subject
[The thought is left unfinished, but probably easy enough to fill in.]
And, as you said, there's the matter of potential incapacitation or matters with the Chantry becoming complex. I'd already resigned as a Templar a few years back, and it seemed prudent not to rely on them handing over an expensive substance forever out of the goodness of their hearts. It's not meant to be something you quit.
[He doesn't specify "lyrium" or "The Templar Order." Probably both of those things.]
no subject
Exactly. It just seems— either a glaring vulnerability that someone could purposefully exploit in you, or which could cause inadvertent trouble simply through sheer bad luck or bad timing. Even ordinary trade routes have been fucked lately, and we all know it.
And at the very least, individuals shouldn’t have to wrangle that burden alone. If I had a patient who needed ongoing opiate care for a busted leg, a healer would have been involved.
no subject
[Presumably based on that last comment, though it's equally possible he isn't keen to talk about how much care Templars did or did not generally receive. Still, he seems interested.]
no subject
No. Not like here.
( How many cases had he rejected simply because they didn't seem interesting enough at the time? )
I was a specialist. Only paid attention to a very, very narrow and specific type of problem. Becoming Head Healer has meant assuming a rather broader mantle.
no subject
no subject
Yes, but not exactly for that reason. I'd already shifted away from medicine, back home, when I became a sorcerer instead. Chose sorcery instead.
I used to be more powerful, magically— I miss that part. Coming through the rift felt like being de-clawed.
( Is this a wise thing to say to a former templar? No matter. He tends to run his mouth off anyway. )
no subject
no subject
( Where is this going— )
Why do you ask?
no subject
Curiosity, I suppose. I think we can take rifters for granted, sometimes; you're here now, you're part of Riftwatch. But remembering you have a whole life, sometimes abilities, that you don't bring with you. I suppose it's something that makes me thoughtful.
no subject
( His own brief pause, considering how bluntly curious and candid to be in return, then: )
Do you miss your templar abilities, or are you simply glad to have quit?
no subject
I think it would be the odd man who enjoys feeling weaker, [finally.] I made the choice and, as you observe, it has advantages. Practically. But there were things I could do for Riftwatch with my abilities I can no longer do without them.
no subject
Also, selfishly, this makes my job simpler. ( Har, har. )