nulli secunda

[witch_perfect]

Alli's out of Lethe's Bramble again. She found a reference to a potion- almost like a memory purge but backwards, it's a memory aid. But she keeps getting it wrong, and all she has to show for it is a lack of potion ingredients and distinct difficulty remembering the last three books she read.

She planned for that, at least; they're not school books or anything. But she wants to get this potion right,and more importantly, she wants to have it done before exams. So today she can be found in the Magic Box, digging through the herb selections.

"Ugh, least organized spices ever," she mutters to herself.

Comments

[keyed_up]

"Oh, that was from - where is it -"

[cross_and_bow]

"This book," says Bella, producing a book. "But the interesting one is the protection blessing. I guess the one to remove pests from the home could also be useful but unlike the protection blessing you can't just call an exterminator."

[witch_perfect]

She peers at the book. "Can I look? I've never cast a protection spell. My life's not really protection-spell-worthy."

[keyed_up]

Soph passes her the book. "I like this one. It's easier to follow than some of the others. I wonder if there are actually a bunch of kinds of witches and only the basics overlap in places?"

[witch_perfect]

"We're like doctors, but way cooler."

[keyed_up]

"Dibs on, um, what's a nongross doctoring specialty. Physical... therapy?"

[witch_perfect]

"Heal people with magic! Two birds, one stone, all that crap."

[keyed_up]

"Yeah, I'm trying to learn some healing too."

[witch_perfect]

"Geez, healing spells too? Your dad's job must be such shit."

[keyed_up]

"I'm trying to be versatile. I've barely started, what am I supposed to do, decide that I want to do divination and nothing else forever? And Dad doesn't get hurt that much but if he does it would be nice to fix it."

[witch_perfect]

"I guess. Scrying's kinda fun, though, that was how I figured out the Magic Box was legit."

[keyed_up]

"Oh, I just went in and showed them a book I was working from and saw if their advice worked."

[witch_perfect]

"At least it wasn't someone clueless who was right by accident?"

[keyed_up]

"That would've been embarrassing! But they were right and now I can float stuff."

[witch_perfect]

"You said you hadn't done any potions yet, right? Did you want to come over to help? I can always use more people to chop, Lethe Bramble is tough."

[cross_and_bow]

"I might. If it works right how good is it going to be for the memory? How long's it last?"

[witch_perfect]

"So I think- I might be reading the damn thing wrong, it's such a mess- it gives you better memory for a while after drinking it. Not photographic level or shit like that, definitely less than a day... other than that, I guess we find out?"

[cross_and_bow]

"Retroactive or going forward - like, is that one day or so really clear in your memory afterwards forever, or do you have better recollections of things while you're under the influence?"

[witch_perfect]

"Second one. I think. See previous disclaimer."

[cross_and_bow]

"What kind of expiration date do potions come with?"

[witch_perfect]

"Depends a lot on the potion. And the books are awful sometimes, it's like- imagine you're trying to make dinner, and you are making chicken from a recipe. And you do the marinade, or whatever, and then the last step is just 'cook until done'. No time frame, no temperature, no nothing. That is potion making."

[cross_and_bow]

"So this isn't necessarily something I can keep a vial of in my back pocket for a mnemonic emergency - if I am a total dud will it mess things up if I chop your ingredients, I wonder?"

[witch_perfect]

"I doubt it. I've used spices from the grocery store before and it worked okay, and those cannot possibly all be Magic Safe.

[cross_and_bow]

"Unless duds are very rare. But okay, I'll come over and help - how do you get home usually?"

[witch_perfect]

"Walk if it's nice, bus if it's not. Soph, you joining? Learn a potion?"