Perfume...or Poison?

[Vanari]

Vanari nodded sheepishly as Nolan went through all the various options at what felt like lightning speed. She barely suppressed a yawn, her eyes watering instantly, but she managed to give some semblance of a response. "Um, yes. I mean, distribute in the candles." Somewhere distantly her brain took note of how thick witted she just sounded. But, thick witted she was, what with all the work cutting into hours in which she would usually be sound asleep. Not only had she scrubbed every inch of that pot to the point where she could practically see herself reflected in it, she also pushed the crumbled herbs through the wutchamacallit, just like the man had asked. It had been a meticulous and downright frustrating process for someone as tired and impatient as the Vantha, who had to utilize every ounce of restraint not to simply dump all the herbs at once and be done with it. The results would have been less than pleasant, however, she knew, so instead she had carefully and slowly pushed through a bit of the herbs at a time, till her task had been completely finished. By then, it was all she could do not to curl up beside Vera right there on the hard, cold floor and pass out from sheer exhaustion. The day had been more than eventful enough for even a vagrant, and she could think of little else at the moment besides closing her eyes and not moving anymore. Alas, Nolan had one more thing to explain. Vanari tried to keep track of how many candles would be delegated to whom, but in the end she simply gave up and nodded vigorously. She would be happy with just one of each nifty little wick; she really wasn't keen on thinking beyond that at the moment. At his suggestion that she could sleep in the chair, she considered walking all the way back to Tarsin's for a tick. Just a tick. Maybe even possibly only a half. And then she tossed that idea clear out a mental window and picked up her pack instead. "That...seems fair, but we can set things in stone tomorrow. And I think I'm going to opt for the floor; my neck gets strange cramps when I try to sleep on anything smaller than me." She then proceeded to shuffle over to where Vera was still knocked out cold and began pulling out her second set of clothes to make a pillow for herself. It was a habit now, carrying all of her belongings almost every where she went, so much that she rarely stopped to think about it. One never knew when a daring escape was needed. Or rescue. Or adventure... Vanari fluffed up her makeshift pillow as best she could and gently tugged some of the cloak over herself. It was rather warm, and she found herself struck with an unbidden memory of Sania sneaking into her room during the worst of Talderan winters, burrowing her way under the covers, icy feet always jabbing her elder sister awake by accident. The Vantha froze for a moment, lost in the familiar haze of homesickness and the battle to suppress it. She binked out into the relative darkness. "Good night, Nolan." Then she laid down beside Vera and scooted closer, before her consciousness winked out faster than a flicker of candle flame would beneath a puff of breath.

OOC :

Well wudya know we pretty much all live in Tarsin's

[Inoadar]

Morning arrived suddenly, or so it seemed. If not for the light, Inoadar would not have believed he had even slept. Once he got up and started pressing the thick Kiv leaves, though, wakefulness caught up to him. So did the previous night's frustration as he once again found that he was taking the wrong approach. The dense green leaves were reddish on the inside, and when crushed, the sap mixed with the green pulp and the aroma soured.

He set the mixture aside nonetheless, and began cracking the stalks to find more of the sap inside. He got out his largest pot and collected a number of the stems and branches and started to boil them, intending to remove the sap by either skimming it from he top of the boiling water, straining the debris and collecting the sap through a cheesecloth, or distilling it from the condensation apparatus that he set over the top.

He gained nothing from any of these efforts, except for a fine, relaxing fragrance that filled the shop and kept him from growing antagonized by his failure with all but the last small bush. This was a positive sign though, and it left him with no course of action but to crack, wring and scrape the stalks for as much resin as he could glean. This he simply set over slow heat, along with the leaves. He found that the leaves split fairly easily after partial drying, and he was able to gain a secondary by-product form the interior of the leaves that seemed to act as a binder to render the resin into a burnable form, without spoiling the scent as it had when he had crushed them whole.

By this time, Vanari and Verennia were both up and watching him. He now had ten wicks soaked with "Intellect Mist" and enough purified residue to affect five wicks with Baltisce and five with Kiv. As he handed dirty pots and trays and grinders to the two girls he asked Vanari if she'd made up her mind how she wanted to use the last two residues. While he felt it was clear cut to keep the Kiv separate, being a relaxant, he needed to know if she wanted to combine the Baltisce with five of the Intellect Mist. As well as if she wanted to incorporate either the cinnamon or sage into any of them.

Once this was decided, he would take the wicks and the remaining residues to Black Tar's and have them made into 'Dispersion' candles.

OOCI think one more post each should do it.

[Vanari]

As they watched Nolan busying himself away once more, the two females shared a hard roll of bread between them, chewing slowly in silence. There was a sense of thrill knowing the candles would almost be done. What would they look like? Smell like? Feel like? But, there was also a sense of sadness as well. She had unexpectedly grown fond of the whole experience and was a bit unwilling to part with it. That, and she was still churning over what to do with Vera. She was pulled out of her train of thoughts when Nolan asked if she had made up her mind. For a moment, her heart leaped, thinking he meant with the girl. But then she realized he was clearly referring to the wicks, to which she responded, "How about five with mist alone, five with Baltisce, and the rest with just Kiv. Oh, and perhaps cinnamon with the Kiv and Sage with the others? Cinnamon always makes me feel more relaxed for some reason." She cut herself short for fear of rambling on, then cleared her throat as she continued with a more difficult subject. "Soo...Mister Nolan. Ever think of taking on an apprentice of some sort?"

[Inoadar]

Inoadar grouped the different essences in the combinations Vanari had listed. He set them in a box and gestured for Verennia to come and pick it up. Vanari had taken the words right from his mouth. His current assistant was suitable as a counter worker. But even that was not the true reason he had recruited her. Ariella was his slave, a Kelvic tiger slave. They'd saved each others' lives twice. Though Inoadar's had only been endangered because he'd come to her rescue.

He wanted Ariella because her Kelvic blood was a component of a valuable poison, "Wildleash". It was used to pacify shape shifting races, for easy capture. With the Kelvic research going on here in Ravok, it would be a real miza-maker. She was also a great bodyguard, a white tiger. But she had no head for crafting poisons or serums or philtering.

Verennia - "Vera", on the other hand, seemed to take to it naturally, at least the herbal side of it. Inoadar had no doubt she could pick up the subtleties of fungal, and aquatic as well. It remained to be seen how she'd react to milking a spider, though. He hated the little brutes himself. But he'd learned to deal with them while enrolled at the IHL. His gear would need to be modified if he was going to go into that line.

He stole a glance at her now, her eyes looking over the equipment with fascination. He looked over at Ari then, putting a doubtful look on his face, "I don't know. It would have to be someone young enough to truly develop along with the craft. Her mind not already unfocused by having grown into some other field that confused her direction. Someone that would understand that this sort of work is to make us all stronger, by ridding society of weak scum like that fat trader, that has to have little girls do his work for him. And hides it behind an illusion of being an old woman."

He walked around the edge of the worktable as he spoke, coming to crouch in front of Vera. He looked at her directly, "But someone that understands that the man who trains her expects her not to question him. That knows he will hear what she has to say, but should not then pester him with it. That his decisions will be made with consideration of what she has to say, but must then not be disobeyed, once made."

Vera's eyes were getting bright with hope. Inoadar rose to look back and forth between them both. "Someone who understands that I have no experience with children and may not always be too kind, but will always seek to make you better at the craft, and that it often takes discipline to do this. But who understands that this discipline is for her own protection from the dangerous chemicals all around us right now. Someone who wont get a snotty attitude about it. Someone who can understand that the sooner you submit to this discipline, the sooner you convince me that you can take a new step, or apply an old one without my supervision."

His expression had grown warm as he spoke, seeing in Vera a true protege. But now it hardened again. "Someone that can accept that this relationship would still be like slavery, but that I would not treat her badly, but that she must accept it nonetheless. And lastly, someone that realizes that my position as master would not be strictly legal, and that I don't know if I would be able to change her status, but that drawing too much public attention to herself could ruin the whole arrangement and put her right back into real slavery, like how it was a couple days ago."

Vera had been nodding her head the entire time Inoadar spoke. He now turned his back to her and asked Vanari, "Do you know anyone that fits that description?" He couldn't help but grin as the child tugged at his shirt and said "Me" over and over. He turned back to her. "Then you will have to carry the box to Black Tar's. You may as well start getting used to some of the places I have to visit. We'll see if the mystery voice scares you."

[Vanari]

The corners of Vanari's mouth curved higher and higher with each set of conditions Nolan gave. Half a day ago, leaving a child anywhere near the poisoner would have been out of the question. But now, having seen Verennia's affinity for all that Nolan did in his shop, as well as the man's own ability to be positively decent in his own sort of surly, twisted way, her mind had changed. This was a good place. A hard taskmaster only meant a more hardworking, competent student. Vera would flourish here, there was no doubt about that, and the child was no stranger to adversity. "Well, seems the problem is nice and settled. Though I have to ask, where will Vera stay? She can live with me for a while if arrangements need to be made; I have a comfortable room in Tarsin's, and it's high time you got a proper bath and hair cut young lady." Vera made a face at the word "bath," but she absently touched the tangled mass of her hair and a look of worry spread across her face. She seemed to mull over something for a moment, then said, "The...fat man wouldn't let me use any combs. He thought I could kill him with one if I tried." Vanari laughed outright at this. "Well he was a fool. Everyone knows you can kill a man with just about anything if you wanted to bad enough. Don't worry, we'll rescue your hair. Want to get it done and over with today?" Vera hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Nolan for approval. She was rather torn, not knowing who had superiority over whom when it came to such matters. "It can be quick and easy, less than a bell and she'll be all cleaned up. What do you say, Nolan? She can deliver the box afterwards--it would be worthwhile, I think, to have your apprentice show up nice and tidy in representation of her teacher, no?" Vanari gave the girl a wink.

OOC :

Ta da! Vera, if she got cleaned up

[Inoadar]

"Yes, you're right, that will be fine. And I'll get you some extra clothes as well. But I expect you'd rather pick them yourself. You go get your hair cut and get a good hot bath. Then I bet your Aunt Vanari would love to take you shopping for clothes. Nothing silk and satin, mind you, but a few sets of good wool of something comparable after the cost of the bath house and the haircut."

He handed Vanari twenty gold mizas. "That ought to be enough. If it takes too long, don't worry, we can take the box tomorrow." He saw a somewhat pained look on Vanari's face and remembered that these were a gift for someone. "Oh wait, that's right, you're in a hurry, aren't you. Okay, get the bath and haircut tonight and we'll get the box to Black tar when you get back. Then you can go shopping tomorrow. It'll be a couple days before the candles are done anyway."

He looked around the shop. There really wasn't any place for Vera to stay. Sure, he could put up a temporary mattress of blankets or straw, but nothing permanent that wouldn't be in the way. He really didn't want to have to pay for another room at Tarsin's. She'd have to settle for living in his room with him. He was paid through the rest of the season. Maybe if a cheaper room came available later, next to his, or just across the hall, he'd pay for that, but only if she was showing real promise as an apprentice. And he certainly wasn't going to volunteer that possibility at this stage. It would be an offer to use as a reward when she got older and needed privacy.

He still had to introduce her to Ariella also. He got the feeling, though, that they'd hit it off with no problem. He doubted she'd be that comfortable among many of his other associates at first. But he figured that would be the first step in her growth toward greater strength, not to be intimidated by scary grown ups. As she grew in the craft, they would be intimidated by her. He smiled at the thought.

[Vanari]

Vanari nodded vigorously at Nolan's words and was already pulling Vera out the door before the man had even finished uttering his last word. It was still bright and early outside, people milling about their usual business as various smells invaded the Vantha's nose. Smells of fresh bread, of morning dampness, and of chamber pots being emptied. She wrinkled her nose in distaste. Such were the daily realities of cities, and Ravok was no exception. An icy breeze snaked by, bringing with it signs of the slow but inevitable approach of Winter. Vanari pulled her cloak closer around her, made sure Vera was adequately bundled in her spare shirt, and the two set off down the street hand in hand. It was a short trip, as the place Vanari had in mind was neither a shop nor tavern. She rapped the wooden door three times and waited. A few ticks later, it swung open and the face of a rosy cheeked, portly women appeared before them. "Morning, Mrs. Abney! Sorry to bother you so earl--oof!" She was cut short as Mrs. Abney wrapped two fleshy arms around her slim frame and squeezed the air right out of her chest. "Oh, Ari, it's so good to see you dear! Look at you, rattling in your clothes like a sack of bones. My, my, and who is this? Such a scrawny little thing, just like you. Wait, oh goodness, is she..." The woman's cherub face lit with shock as she whispered, "Is she yours? Rhysol take me, and you unwed and alone--" Vanari waved her hands in front of Mrs. Abney as she laughed and shook her head. "No, no. She's the, uh, new apprentice of a friend of mine. Needs a bit of cleaning up you see, and maybe some hot food in her stomach if you're not too busy. I'll help with anything you need of me, of course." The woman threw her head to one side and made a funny noise. "Nonsense. The two of you come in right this tick! I've a hot broth boiling as we speak and some fresh bread. I'll have Myrtle draw up the bath. Myrtle! Up with ya now, no loitering around in this house. Go boil some water, and don't forget to to use the other tub this time! That last one was leaky." A mousy, teenage girl bobbed her head and rushed off to do as she was told. The sounds of water being sloshed around and a metal tub dragged about could be heard as Mrs. Abney commanded the two girls to take a seat and get some soup and bread in their bellies. Neither did so much as think about disagreeing and wolfed down their breakfast with gusto. Vanari imagined it had been some time since Vera had anything nearly as wholesome to eat, but she made no mention of it. Ten or so chimes later, the bath was ready and Vera ushered into a small room filled with a light mist of steam. Together, the women helped her out of her ragged clothes and into the hot water. Vera yelped as her skin made contact, but sank greedily in without protest as the grown ups scrubbed her pink before they sat down to tackle her wild mass of hair. "Not to worry," Mrs. Abney chirped, "a little bit of rose oil and soap and she'll be as good as new. Here, you work on this half while I do the other." For at least half a bell, the three of them sat in pleasant camaraderie, the women patiently working out the tangles in Vera's hair as the child sighed happily in contentment. Mrs. Abney, Vera soon learned, was a devout follower of Rhysol, a doting mother and wife, and a secret enthusiast of danger and aventure. However, given her obligations and responsibilities, she wasn't exactly in a position to go gallivanting across half of Mizahar, as Vanari and so many other youngins had done, so instead she settled for what small joys she could afford. Plays, ballads, books--anything that could get her blood going, even when her feet were grounded as she nursed the new baby or prepared yet another feast for her ever growing family. Auntie Ari had been just the kind of person Mrs. Abney liked. The Vantha was no danger to the children, had a nice look about her, and told the most outrageous stories--oh, oh, the portly woman chuckled, such stories! For fresh bread and a caring ear, Vanari would repay the woman's kindness with a story. She did her best to take Mrs. Abney away to far off lands, and to inject a smoldering dreamboat or two when she could. It was always worth it to see the distant, blissful look in the woman's eyes; Vanari felt as though she was actually doing something truly good for someone else, which was always the best part of what she did. So, as was part of their unspoken agreement, the Vantha told Mrs. Abney a story. Except this time, there was no fabrication. Vera's story deserved nothing but the truth, Vanari had decided, and the girl was too shy to tell it herself, so her "auntie" did it in her stead. When Ari finished, Mrs. Abney sniffed, wiping some steam from her eyes, and happily declared Vera's hair officially rescued. ---------- Vera quite liked Mrs. Abney and her circus of a house, as Vanari had described it. It was a bit like Mama Ona's orphanage--kids everywhere, yelling, screaming, and wreaking havoc, but not too much havoc or they'd go to bed hungry, and of course only after they'd done all their chores. It wasn't a bad kind of crazy, she decided, even though Auntie Ari said it made her head want to explode. It was more like...a happy kind of nuts, and Vera was willing to embrace any kind of happiness, so long as it wasn't in chains. Mrs. Abney was very nice. She gave her hot soup and bread--the best hot soup and bread she'd ever tasted! Then Mrs. Abney and Auntie Ari helped her take a nice bath--the best bath that she had ever had! Her new clothes were actually Myrtle's old ones, but they were the best clothes she ever wore. In fact, Vera could confidently say this was the best day overall of her life. She wished, with a pang of sadness, that her brothers could share it with her. But they were gone, and there was only her now. No. Not only her. Now there was Mrs. Abney, Auntie Ari, and Master Nolan. When they left Mrs. Abney's circus house, Vera was still in shock over her own transformation, having seen herself in a mirror for the first time in her life. But she hugged the portly woman all the same, and Ari as well for good measure. And when they stepped back into Ino Vations a second time, she gave Nolan a hug as well, knowing he might throw a fit but not giving a fig. Vera would've hugged Rhysol, too, if she could. She was that happy.

[Inoadar]

Inoadar nearly fell over when Vera slammed into him with a hug. He stood in genuine speechlessness as Vanari grinned. He reached down and ruffled her hair, "Is this Vera?" he gasped exaggeratedly. "I wouldn't have even recognized you if Ari wasn't here too." It was a strange sensation to feel good about a child's happiness. Normally he associated a child's joy with noise and nuisance.

However, he was not about to come off as some sort of softy. "Now, now, Vera. Don't you know better than to wrap yourself around a man who works in a poison shop? There's no telling what sort of toxins I may have gotten on this apron! You're going to have to be smarter than this if you want to work for me, child."

He suddenly noticed the clothes. "Hey now, I thought we were going to wait to get the clothes after...Hmmm..." he bent and examined them more closely. "I bet you didn't spend a single copper of those mizas I gave you, did you?" Vera's look sank and she looked down. "Be honest with me, girl." he warned, looking at Vanari, whose smile had also faded. "Both of you."

"No sir, Master Nolan." she said plainly, looking back up at him. "Mrs. Abney had clothes left over, and thought it would be dumb to let them rot in the closet, so she gave them to me."

"I see..." Inoadar began, "Well, that's very sensible, so I'll tell you what we're going to do. It wouldn't be right to take mizas from me on a promise to buy clothes and then keep it all..." His brow furrowed and he sniffed at her face. "...And a meal as well." he stood up, looking cross. he flashed a wink at Vanari as he turned away from Vera for a moment.

He turned back, looming over the girl as if he was about to administer some harsh punishment. "I want the two of you to march right back to Mrs. Abney and tell her that Master Nolan insists that she be paid for her trouble. A bath and a meal AND three changes of clothes is no trifle, child. Tell her that she must take half. If you can get her to do this, then you and your Aunt Ari can split the other ten. I will take these wicks to Black Tar's while you are gone. You can meet him some other time."

By the time he finished speaking, the grin which had taken over Vera's face had infected his and Ari's as well. "Yes sir, Master Nolan!" Vera cried happily, waiting at the door for Vanari to join her.

"The candles should be ready in two days," Inoadar said to Vanari. "But don't come too early to pick up yours, maybe about fourteenth bell." Watching Vera bounce on her feet in joy filled him with a strange feeling. But he found that he liked it.

OOCWell, so much for that "one more post each" bit I said 6 posts ago, but I AM done now

[Vanari]

Vanari folded her arms and watched in amusement as Nolan winked, then feigned the role of finicky, impossible-to-please taskmaster. It was a fair trade; Mrs. Abney had been generous enough for ten lifetimes, and her husband struggled to scrape by with that many children as it was. Granted, the woman herself would cause hell if they tried to go back and give her the mizas. They would just have to make an anonymous donation, knock on her door and make a run for it. Vera would probably find it thrilling, as if they were a pair of vigilantes leaving good deeds where ever they went in secret, and Vanari would be spared the agonizing process of trying to shove money into the stubborn woman's hands. Vera was already beaming and bouncing on her feet at the door, waiting for her auntie to join her. The girl's excitement was contagious. Vanari found herself sporting an identical grin as Nolan explained how soon the candles would be ready and when she ought to come pick them up. Two days, after fourteenth bell. Not a problem. Vanari nodded her thanks and went to take Vera's hand in hers again as they stepped outside of the shop for the second time that day. He was fair, and he could compromise, she noted happily to herself. That he had been able to turn the circumstances into a valuable lesson, as well as accommodate to a change in plans with neither resentment nor anger, were good enough signs. Better, in fact. "Hey Vera, Uncle Nolan is a pretty decent guy, don't you think?" Vera grinned deviously up at Ari. "Yeah, but don't ever tell him that." The Vantha burst out laughing, and the two made off down the streets once more to complete their mission. ----Flash Forward, Day 83, Fifteenth Bell---- Vanari was kneeling on the floor of Ino Vations, hugging Vera as tight as she dared. A box of nine, finished candles lay beside her feet. Nolan was there, too, likely peeved that the two females in his shop were taking so long to say their goodbyes. "Will I see you again, Auntie Ari?" the girl asked, her voice muffled as she buried her small face into the Vantha's shoulder. "Oh, Vera..." Vanari sighed, holding back tears she had not shed in a very, very long time. "You know I can't make any promises. At least, for the next few days, I can come visit, but beyond that I don't know what will happen. I am what I am, remember? And you belong here with Uncle Nolan, where you will learn to become something legendary, I'm sure of it! And who knows? Maybe I can come back to see how fast you're growing up now and then. Where ever the w--" "The winds take you," Vera finished. She pulled back just enough so they could see each other face to face. Her eyes were a bit puffy and red-rimmed, but she did not cry. Brave little one, Vanari mused for what felt like the hundredth time. Braver than me, braver than most. The Vantha took one good, last look at the child's fearless face. Her skin, without all the dirt and grime they had found her with, was an even, olive complexion, and her eyes were dark and wide, glittering with intelligence and ambition. But there was also something there, something not to be discounted--a compassion, Vanari fancied, a desire to reap the fruits of good will. She desperately hoped such an attribute would not be lost in the harsh, demanding environment of Ravok and circumstances of apprenticeship, but if the girl had made it this far with her spirit and heart in tact, it would take much worse for her to break. Or so Ari hoped. Oh, how she hoped. Each steeling their wills, they broke their embrace at last and stood to face each other proper. In Vera's small hands, there rested a wooden carving of a clever looking little fox. Vanari had made it for Ria originally, but with the finished candles now in her possession, she saw no need to hold onto the fox. It was still unpainted, and she had imparted to the girl that, should she ever feel compelled to paint it, it could be whatever colors she wanted. Even violet! Vera had beamed at that and nodded eagerly, as she so often did these days. Last but not least, the Vantha turned to Nolan, who had proven to be far more worthwhile of an accomplice than she could have ever imagined. She reached into her pack and pulled out a third of a pound's worth of cocoa, as well as a bag full of candied honey drops. "So, since I didn't really need anything, and you had us split the last ten gold mizas, I figured I'd get something you and Vera could share... You know, maybe as a reward if she does well. Have her make a batch of chocolates or hot cocoa or something, who knows? I did hear from a little bird that you happen to have a sweet tooth, so it could be something you'd both enjoy. And, as an added bonus, I got you these as well! There are ten drops in there so you can share...or not." She winked at the girl, who had stuffed her face behind her hands to keep herself from giggling. Vera had already received her own portion of ten honey drops, which were stashed somewhere amongst her new things, but it was a secret. For now. Vanari figured the girl would share them anyway, being as doting as she was on her new master already. With that thought, she handed over the cocoa and sweets, then shook Nolan's hand with genuine warmth. It was no small thing, what he had done for them both. She prayed silently, in that moment, for all the benevolent gods she knew to grant the man and his new charge a safe and prosperous life. "Thanks for everything, Nolan. Be well, and be safe." And then she turned to walk out of the shop, her heart filled with the familiar, bittersweet mix of pain and joy that always came with difficult goodbyes.

OOC :

-1gm for me for the candy
We can totally be done now, unless you succumb to the temptation to finish with one super-seriously-last post

[Abstract]

Grade Awarded!

Vanari

Skills

~ Investigation - 2
~ Teaching - 1
~ Observation – 2
~ Herbalism - 1

Lores

~ Nolan's Reasons for Poison Making
~ Vayt: God of Diseases
~ Poison: Intellect Mist
~ Verennia’s Past
~ Verennia’s Preferences

Other

- 1gm

Inodar

Skills

~ Teaching - 1
~ Observation - 2
~ Philtering - 3
~ Intimidation – 1
~ Negotiation – 1
~ Perfumery - 1

Lores

~ Appearance of Cinnamon
~ Chop Alterid – Don’t Boil
~ Verennia’s Preferences

Other

N/A

Notes

I was cursing myself in the last thread that I didn't add the slave papers... now I realize it would have been pointless anyways XD

Anyways, I am SO sorry about the delay on this… erg… really… but it’s here, right?

Inodar’s getting sentimental! Awww!

Otherwise… you guys are so adorable! Vera really brings out the good stuff in Ino, doesn’t she