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[armd]

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a survey;

[heirring]

[As threatened, deposited in Abby's mail cubby in the dining hall is a packet of papers with a handwritten (distinctly lovely handwriting at that) questionnaire. The following instructions are pinned to its cover: 'Welcome to Riftwatch! Please fill out the following survey to the best of your ability and return it the Project Felandaris offices, to the attention of Wysteria de Foncé. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out for clarification. Best Wishes, W.A. de Foncé, Research Division.'

The following survey is...expansive.]

Questionnaire Section A
Of and Relating Specifically to the Rifter Population in the Gallows (Kirkwall, The Free Marches, 9:47)

Question 1A. Conceptually, how familiar are the Fade and the Veil to you? Are there similar phenomena (however minor the resemblance) in the place from which you came?

Question 2A. If yes, is energy drawn and/or emitted from or through it? Do cognizant beings (spirits, full bodied manifestations similar to a Rifter, and so on) pass through it?

Question 3A. Does "magic" exist in your world?

Question 3A.(i). If "magic" exists in your world, is it somehow tied to or sustained by this other space?
Question 3A.(ii). If "magic" exists in your world and there is no such alternative dimension as referenced in Question 1A., from where does it originate?

Question 4A. Given the opportunity to objectively estimate your own physical conformation and comeliness against the general populace of the world from which you came, where on a scale of one through ten might you be ranked (for the purposes of this survey, please consider the numerical score of five (5) as average for your home world)? Disregard. This question has been deemed inessential.

Questionnaire Section B
Rift Anchors, with Respect to All Who Presently Possess Them

Question 5B. How long have you had your rift shard? Irrelevant; it is assumed you received it upon arrival through the Rift. However, you are welcome to detail any notes you may have on it here.

Question 6B. Are you able to perform any supernatural acts with the power of your rift shard beyond closing Rifts? If yes, please detail these abilities. Irrelevant; recorded with your personnel file. Please update W.A. Poppell should your rift anchor develop any additional effects.

Question 7B. Do you have any other abilities, such as mage talent? If so, has the presence of the rift shard or your time in Thedas affected your ability whatsoever (please note whether this is a negative or a positive effect)?

Question 8B. At what point would you take surgical measures to rid yourself of your anchor shard?

Question 8B.(i). Would you permit scientific observation of the process?
Question 8B.(ii). Would you permit samples to be taken from the limb?

(PLEASE NOTE that the authors of this survey do not advocate for preemptive amputation unless strictly recommended by a trusted medical professional.)

thank you this is hysterical

[armd]

(oh, wow. okay. is this homework? abby reads the survey over while she's eating dinner, chewing her way through all of the questions in her head. the handwriting is very lovely, that's certainly true. even the paper has a bit of weight to it, like she didn't rip it out of a book, or a folder first.

abby fully intends to dedicate only two minutes to this, but it's clear that she gets into the spirit of it once she's started, evidenced by the answers slowly lengthening down the page. she writes on both sides, cramping her handwriting up so she doesn't have to waste any of the paper. old habits, etc. wysteria will receive one (1) page in reply, folded neatly into quarters and handed into the project felandaris offices bearing her full name.)

𝘈𝘣𝘣𝘺 𝘈

1𝘈) 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳. 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦
2𝘈) 𝘕𝘈
3𝘈) 𝘕𝘰

5𝘉) 𝘐𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺.
6𝘉) 𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵?
7𝘉) 𝘕𝘰𝘱𝘦. 𝘕𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘐'𝘮 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮.

8𝘉) 𝘐𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦. 𝘖𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵
8𝘉 𝘪) 𝘜𝘩𝘩𝘩𝘩𝘩𝘩𝘩. 𝘕𝘰? 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘦.
8𝘉 𝘪𝘪) 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵. 𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦? 𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦?? 𝘐𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘨𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬; 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵

𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵? 𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘳-𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘈𝘭𝘴𝘰, 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺.

UuU*

[heirring]

[A few busy days later and a cream colored envelope appears in the dining hall cubby assigned to Abby. It reads—]

Dear Miss A,

Thank you for taking the time to thoroughly fill out the survey and return it. I thoroughly appreciate the attentiveness with which you treated the contents; would that everyone was half so responsible and reasonable as yourself.

Due to the completeness of your responses, I have no follow up questions. However, I am happy to address the ones which you yourself raised. I have reproduced them here for reference, should you have forgotten their exact wording.

5𝘉) 𝘐𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺. I have assumed that this was meant as a question. In which case, yes. This is quite typical and nothing at all to be concerned with. You should be aware that should you spent long periods away from other anchor bearers that you may begin to develop some discomfort. This is also perfectly usual, albeit a sign one should arrange to return to the Gallows (or find company with other anchors) sooner rather than later. The onset of this discomfort is typically slow and should not prohibit you from travelling from the Gallows in the course of Riftwatch's work.

6𝘉) 𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵? Copies of this survey were written prior to their distribution. Future copies will not reproduce the struck questions. It would be a waste of perfectly good paper to do away with these copies as is.

8𝘉 𝘪𝘪) [...]𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 [the anchor] 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦? 𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦?? 𝘐𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘨𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵[...] Yes, it is believed that the only way to remove the anchor is to sever the limb (or body part) to which it is attached. I have never seen such drastic measures taken myself, but over time the anchor will eventually entrench itself more deeply into the body and thus cause negative effects. There are reports of an eleven woman whose anchor was in her chest, which ultimately caused sickness and death. But that is happily a very rare case, and there are many rifters and non-rifters (myself included) who have had their anchor shards for many years without any incident.

No. Madness is not a side effect typical to the possession of an anchor. While it is true that a great percentage of Riftwatch's population seems to suffer from some measure of instability of character, I do not believe this has anything to do with their proximity to anchors.

With respect to your comments—

There are non-rifters with anchors. See: Madame Baudin (who is unlikely to recieve direct inquiries politely), Miss Smythe (the alchemist, not her battlemage sister), Miss Bearhold (I cannot recommend her brother, however the young lady herself is perfectly decent companionship), and Enchanter Black (the acting Seneschal; I will not comment on his demeanor). To my knowledge, the "catching" of an anchor by a Thedosian native involves being in close proximity to a Rift, but is not guaranteed. There have been a great many members of Riftwatch or others abroad who have been close to a rift without receiving an anchor; however, I have never met a Rifter without one. I believe the anchor is therefore a remnant of our passage through the fade, and that indeed it may be part of what ties us to this place. The woman whom I referenced above who died from the side effects of her anchor was, I believe, native to this world.

I hope that I have covered all your questions in their totality, however should I have missed anything (or if more have arisen in their shadow), you are naturally most welcome to contact me at your leisure. Otherwise, welcome once more to Riftwatch. I look forward to working with you further in the future.

Warm Regards,
Wysteria de Foncé
Research Division
Project Felandaris

crystal

[armd]

(although there is an... odd appeal to passing letters back and forth (and not because it feels like being in pride and prejudice, how dare you think that), abby recognises that she'll probably get a quicker answer if she simply messages so:)

If we use the anchors to close rifts, does that mean we can use them to open them too?

(because who better to ask, than somebody in the research team? are they dedicating time to this? not once in her introductory lectures did anybody ever mention how to leave thedas, and go home.)

[heirring]

[Some time after the question has been posed, suggesting that Wysteria is quite consumed with some other activity, the connection (if such a word can be used when referencing the magical link between two enchanted rocks) crackles back to life with—]

I believe a study was conducted regarding that very idea not long ago. Yes, there have been instances with anchors have been used to open rifts. But it is all very clandestine, and typically reserved for opening seams where the Veil is already weak and likely to fail so that it might be stitched closed stronger and not surprise anyone by bursting unexpectedly.

crystal;

[illithidnapped]

[There's no mirth in his voice. No feathering sweetness or lilting patterns. Only darkness, deep and warning— the antithesis of everything he normally projects.]

I found her, by the way. Your assailant.

[armd]

(it doesn't bother abby. after five minutes of waiting patiently she packs up on it and goes about her day, assuming her message will be answered in due course. and, sure enough–)

... Okay. (so she can cross that budding idea... out. fair enough. she rubs her nose, thinking, before she asks again:) And the anchors all have the same level of power? You haven't found any instances of– some people having weaker anchors, than others?

[armd]

(... with the air of somebody who knows that they're fucked either way,)

Thought you would have figured it out faster than this. Somebody else already beat you to the punch.

[heirring]

They are begin at similar strengths, yes. Although there are some anchors which have developed certain additional abilities which, while not strictly tied to the longevity of its...ownership, I suppose, does seem to be one of the factors which may affect its mutation. Take Madame Baudin, for example. Her anchor is strong enough to close a rift on her own. Other talents on record are creating shields or a sort of concussive force with it.

[illithidnapped]

Oh I'm heartbroken. How will I ever recover. [Flatter than the ground beneath his feet.]

Or, for that matter, how will you, I wonder.

It must be difficult, having your enemy so close by. Possibly even terrifying.

[armd]

(abby has to take a moment to swallow and ensure her voice will level out before she answers,)

It's none of your business. Never was, never will be.

[illithidnapped]

You don't want to talk, that's fine. I'm more than happy to do it for you.

I'm generous like that.

[He clears his throat, and it's almost like a flipped switch, how quickly he reverts to that otherwise cheerful act. Ever so congenial.]

You see, I don't care much for secrets. Mmph, well, that's not entirely true. I do love a good, scandalous tale just as much as anyone else— but when it comes to the people fighting at my side, surprises are the last thing I want welling up behind my back.

So let's make a deal, you and I.

Play nice. Don't get any ideas whatsoever about even making eye contact with her, let alone trouble, and I'll happily keep all this to myself. And by this, I mean the fact that I witnessed the entire altercation with my own two eyes. That you started it, and exacerbated it, and clearly had every murderous intention of utterly ruining the life of one of our own.

And— oh, I don't know. I have a feeling a report like that might upset our dear leaders. Especially if the only other party involved isn't willing to talk about it.

[armd]

(she'd guessed that ellie had astarion in her pocket but she didn't know how deep in there he truly was. having it confirmed like this is– nasty. it's unfair, and made even worse because abby knows that if she opened her mouth and let every single ugly detail spill out of it, he would let her say her piece. maybe he would understand it. all that joel took from her, and ellie, finishing off the job in his stead. abby holds all of it for a long, deliberating moment, right on the flat of her tongue, and–

swallows. she isn't going to use her dead as some kind of sick gotcha.

that's the difference between her, and ellie.)

Fine. (her voice breaks over the word. it's absolutely infuriating to be blackmailed into something she was already planning on doing– and she can't even call his bluff, ask him if he really thinks they'd believe him over her. of course they would. she's newer, younger, and she has barely any footing in riftwatch. he's the only person who saw her injured.

after a soft hiss of breath she adds,) If you stay the fuck away from me.

[illithidnapped]

Why my dear, I’m hurt.

[It’s soft, the way his tongue hits the back of his teeth. In someone else’s hands, this might even sound sincere.]

I thought we were friends.

[armd]

Does she know you're doing this?

(because it doesn't fit what abby knows of her, even though only a handful of time was spent with ellie at her throat. what was it that she had rasped out at abby in the dark red of that basement? you're mine.)

[illithidnapped]

Of course not. Why, are you going to tattle on me?

I’d advise against it. [The words are smooth and cool, punctuated by an easy chuckle that rolls between sharp teeth. He isn’t afraid. Not of her, not of being caught, not even of all the potential consequences that might come tumbling down from tightly pulled strings.

Consequences, after all, are someone else’s misery to endure.

Not his.]

After all, I might get the itch to go running to our division heads all the more quickly if I start to feel a little pressured.

But— it isn’t all bad, really. Your life won’t change, will it? And you’ll have a new purpose here.

Her happiness.

Because as long as she’s content, and safe, you’re going to live the best of lives, both of you. If you think about it, I’m practically doing you a favor.

[armd]

(it's really one thing to be told stay away and another for it all to lead into this. abby holds her indignance as best she can but it's a close thing. she wants to spit and swear at him just as much as he doubtlessly wants her to.)

Don't push it. (she has to grit the words out from between her teeth.

another message like this and she might just throw her crystal out the fucking window in response,) I said I'd do it.

You can go now.

[illithidnapped]

As you wish.

And— in the meanwhile, do let me know if you need anything. Anything at all. I’m here for you just as much.

[...and just like that, he’s gone.]

Voice;

[notathreat]

[After this.]

The fuck are you doing?

[armd]

Could ask you the same question.

[notathreat]

Wh-

[The fuck did SHE do.]

You're the one going around asking about how to fight someone with magic. How the hell am I supposed to take that?

[armd]

Oh for fuck's– it wasn't about you.

Did you forget that we have a common enemy who knows magic??

[armd]

I'm guessing that you've got that information on record, (abby hedges, placing her bets now,) and that it's... private.

[notathreat]

[That is... a good point, unfortunately. Ellie lets out a soft, frustrated huff, catching herself.]

Yeah, well... our enemy is gonna be made of Thedosian mages, not Rifters with magic.

[So stay away from Glimmer.]

[armd]

(no.)

I know, I'm just– trying to get a leg up, okay. I want to know what I'm up against.

(a beat, and the next bit is more of a bitter mutter than anything,) I get what it looks like, but I'm telling the truth. (since that seems so hard for anybody to believe these days!!)