[ OPEN ] June Catch-All & Quest Log

[tryhard]

Who: Waver Velvet & various
When: throughout June
Where: here and there...
What: June catch-all for shenanigans including event prompts, quests, and general settling in
Warnings: will add as needed!



(( ooc: catch me on plurk @ gunsandchocolate, discord @ lenafish#3861 or PM this account if you want to do any quests together, plot in general, or if you want me to set up a starter for you! ♥ ))

Comments

part timer quest!

[reenforces]

[So far the duties outlined have been... pretty standard. Measure this, mix this, add some kind of reacting agent so it actually stops being inert... It's all stuff that Mikleo has some familiarity with, even if the reagents themselves are different. And judging by the way Waver has taken to this, he's a dab hand too. Some potions require actual magic to make, which Mikleo has in copious amounts-- but his coworker isn't quite so lucky. This also means that properly testing their skills against one another is made slightly more difficult by this handicap.

However, the main task of the day is to make some fire-breathing potions. The ingredients are magical and volatile enough that they don't actually need to jumpstart any chemical reactions with magic, so that's good. Mikleo reads over the recipe again. It's somewhat advanced from making the usual poultices and salves, but nothing that he can't handle.]

... Hey, Waver. [He holds up the recipe book.] Why don't we see who can make the better potion?

I want to see how much we've improved.

[tryhard]

[ At first, Waver had been eager about the job as a whole, relieved to have found -- or, rather, been allowed into -- a position that he could still consider something worthy of a mage. Even if it was nothing luxurious, and even if it was sometimes strange compared to what he'd been used to, at least he could understand alchemy. He felt more himself here, and that feeling along with the distraction of having to focus on his duties was enough to ease the pervasive dread and anxiety that had been steadily building since their arrival in this place. Sometimes, it all still feels like a dream.

For now, he still looks himself, not really any different from any of the other human employees at the apothecary. For now, he can almost even pretend nothing will actually happen.

It's just those reminders of the fact he has no control over mana anymore that really get to him, though. Waver had never been much of a mage in terms of raw power, but he'd worked hard for what little he'd had. He'd meticulously stoked that tiny spark of his own magical potential, pouring all his efforts into bettering himself as a mage, and now--

All that was gone. As if to add insult to injury, this place had taken even that from him. Learning he was no longer quite human had been a terrifying, surreal revelation; learning he was no longer and could never be a mage was somehow even worse.

Not that he's told Mikleo any of this, of course, at least not in any detail aside from muttered whining here and there throughout the day, the way he grumbles to himself that he's supposed to be able to do all this, magic potions included. Even if it's only in the spirit of a fair competition, it's a good thing Mikleo was sensitive about which potion to choose for a contest like this.

Waver is just finishing shelving the bottles he'd been organizing when Mikleo speaks up, and when he puts away the last item, he turns, leaning over to look more closely at the recipe book. ]

You want to have a contest? [ His lips purse thoughtfully, though that habitual furrow between his brow makes the expression look more sour than it really is. ] Did they order two or more potions of this type? I'm not keen on wasting ingredients on a whim.

[ ...but he's certainly not saying no, now is he? ]

[reenforces]

[Mikleo is unaware of all Waver's existential angst, but they'd had a conversation about maybe being tested. Sorey was also unable to do magic when they'd first arrived despite all the studying and Mikleo along with him, so... it's something he's prepared to deal with. But he doesn't know Waver is having all this trouble with it, and he's not the type to pry unnecessarily.

He doesn't see Waver as weak. Waver's a keen mind, like his own, and a coworker here. A little friendly competition never hurt anyone, and he wants to push his own limits; he knows he needs to work on his alchemy.

His smile turns a bit sly. He thought Waver wouldn't turn him down, and he was right.]

They ordered four. Apparently it's going to be a longer trip outside the wall, and they wanted to be prepared.

So, what should we judge on? Effectiveness, stability, and um... appearance?

[tryhard]

[ Now that's a good number to get some practices in and have a competition. Waver has no reason to argue now, does he?

He nods, smirking a bit in reply to Mikleo's smile.]

That sounds fair. To keep appearance from getting too subjective, though, let's break it down to consistency and color. Compared to the guidelines on the recipe, of course.

How are we going to test effectiveness? Someone would need to try it.

[reenforces]

[It's on.]

I'll accept that. Consistency and color. We can't do much about presentation since it's not a meal, but we can at least grade those.

[He curls his hand beneath his chin.]

It only seems fair that we would try our own potions, correct? I can put out any accidental fires with a spell.

[tryhard]

[ Waver looks a bit leery at that. He doesn't really want to breathe fire, and frankly thinks this type of potion is a bit ridiculous, and out of the scope of the usual alchemy he would be interested in dealing with. It all seems a bit... fantastical, rather than practical. But it's what the customers ordered.

...and maybe he's a little curious, on top of being skeptical. He purses his lips, considering, and finally shrugs. ]

Sure, fine.

[ ... ]

You don't think it matters if the user is a mage-- er, a Witch, I mean? Or not? The instructions here don't mention it.

[ He's still getting used to the sort of magic he can and can't interact with, as a... Monster. He hates that word. ]

[reenforces]

[Sometimes people just really want to breathe fire!!! Not Mikleo, though, he's good. But it's for SCIENCE, so he's fine with testing it out. As long as it's temporary.

He arches an eyebrow at that, but shakes his head after.]

If it was something that was meant to augment one's natural spell strength, then maybe, but this essentially bestows a temporary enchantment. One of the best things about potions is that they're accessible to people who aren't gifted with magic. We can't depend on magic all the time.

[He starts grabbing ingredients out of cupboards.]

Now where's that drakeroot... [It's the middle shelf and he can just barely reach it if he stands on his tiptoes.]