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A few days after she’d taken out the recipes she’s wanted to try, Kallisto returned to her home in the green district with a few large bundles of supplies. Having selected a beginner’s, novice, and (because she liked the potion) an advanced potion Kallisto’s kitchen looked more like a laboratory then a proper kitchen once everything had been set up. The kitchen had been separated into three different sections, one for each of Rainwater, Live Wire, and Demon’s Dance. Cracking her knuckles, the sanguine sat down at the central table and looked her collection over… she was missing something, she knew it. And she wasn’t about to start if she was indeed missing a vital component.

Grabbing her notebook with the recipes she’d learned, Kallisto browsed the requirements and the various conditions. Demon’s Dance she couldn’t start yet anyways, as she had to retrieve the various items on different nights and start eight days before a full moon … which left Rainwater and Live Wire. Looking them over, she decided it was best to do Live Wire first and then move onto Rainwater as it would get a full day’s exposure to sunlight while drying that way.

Ah! That’s it! She’d forgotten to set out a heater! Laughing softly, she dug through a closet until she found the hotplate and set it out with a stabilizer for jars that she could rest a container in without risking it falling over. It was evening already and that wasn’t particularly conducive to the production of her potions. With a yawn, she wandered up to the bedroom and flopped into the bed.

The next morning, she rose with the sun and hurried into the kitchen to start things off. With recipe book open before her, Kallisto set out the bronze pot and chopped up the whole onion bulb then set it aside and started on crushing the rose hips. Once that was done, she set the pot of water on to boil and sat back to wait. So far, so good. The onion was separate from the rose hips and the water was just beginning to boil. She hadn’t screwed up yet.

With the boiling of the water came the addition of the onion which she set to boil for ten minutes. Attentively watching the timer she’d bought, right at the ten minute mark she added the crushed rose hip and started stirring continuously with bronze ladle. Fifteen minutes later, she put the pot’s lid on and let it stew for the required three hours.

For the majority of that time, she played with Cecil and Jadeite or worked off the energy that had come with the good breakfast she’d prepared. A short time later, she checked the clock and nearly panicked. The three hour mark was almost upon her! Racing into the kitchen, Kallisto sagged in relief that her timer read a minute or so until the three hours had gone by. Making sure she had a piece of muslin prepared and that the hot plate was heating the dropper bottle, she took the pot from the stove and strained the liquid into her chosen bottle. Next, she placed the remains on the muslin and set it out in the sunlight to dry. Smiling and proud of herself, she retrieved the obsidian mortar and pestle she’d bought and sat down to wait. Almost done.

Once the stewed onion and rose hips were dry, she carefully rolled them into the mortar and pestle to crush into powder. It was well past noon at this point and her stomach was beginning to rumble but she ignored it, determined to finish this potion properly.

<< Roll : 81 [rolled in real life when internet was down] >>

She needn’t worry, however, as the potion was completed nicely and just as potent as it should be. Although she’d constructed it using things others had made, this batch of Live Wire was nonetheless just what it needed to be.

Corking the mixture, she set it aside and turned to her Rainwater recipe.

A challenge. That is what this would be and it was for that exact reason that Kallisto had decided to attempt this potion. It was stretching her abilities but how was one supposed to improve if you didn't practice after all?

Checking off her list of things to get for Demon's Dance, the sanguine bit her lower lip. The mandrake would have to be bought... but the rest she could get from the flora gardens if she asked Quenda. In nine days there was a full moon so it was the perfect time to start this little endeavour. Tonight then was.... a quick check revealed that belladonna was the first thing to be picked. And then Mezerian the following night.

Laying down for a nap, Kallisto waited for night to approach. It was hard though, waiting when you wanted so much to get these things done. Thus when night finally fell, she grabbed a stone knife she'd borrowed from Tryna and set out for the gardens. It took a bit but she found the appropriate plant, rooted around a bit to find the best looking piece and cut three blossoms from that section, placing them in a canvas bag she used to store clippings before using them in potions.

The next night was similar. Taking a sprig of mezerian with a piece sharpened glass. Cursing when she cut her finger, Kallisto spent the next day with a bandaged finger. On the third night she collected the horn bean with her bare hands and added them to the collection of other clippings. Unsure about the mandrake, the sanguine decided to make a night time visit to the apothecary where she purchased a mandrake limb that had been taken at night.

When everything was collected, she spent the following day preparing the potion. Everything was wrapped separately in black silk and then placed in one common bag and tied with a black ribbon. It took a few hours to find the chunk of obsidian she'd collected for this endeavour and finally attached the ribbon to the volcanic glass.

Suspending the whole thing, she set it to turning counterclockwise for thirteen minutes and in the meantime heated up her crucible. After exactly thirteen minutes, Kallist dropped all of it into the crucible where she burned everything. When all that was left were coals, she put them into a container and let them sit out in the moonlight for four days.

On the final day, the day of the full moon, she read over her recipe and found she'd almost made several mistakes. Tense and excited she was pleased to see that she'd done everything right despite a few close calls.

She would just have to practice more.

Duel with Grave~

LINK

Aftermath

I find myself lost and confused. My world... what I thought should be was a fantasy - too good to be true. I sit here crying over the meal I prepared not for two but for one.

He's gone... left and faded. I know I said I'd be supportive, explore and discover philosophy with him despite my strengths lying elsewhere. But I never though it would go this far. I am alone again... abandoned. When faced with a choice he chose philosophy over me. Was I not good enough? Was there something I could have done? I didn't want to lose him so I tried my best to be supportive and still lost him.

It was fantasy. I was happy. I guess I'm not meant to be happy...

I cannot stay here. I am moving soon - to the red district and away from the green gardens that remind me so much of him. I feel lost... unwanted and set adrift. Back to before.

Maybe I'll talk to Grave. I don't know very many others - they never really paid attention to me. Or maybe I'll work on my fighting and cooking skillss... I've been neglecting them this past while but it is hard; the house is empty and the bed still smells like him.

Like my botanist.

My Yambati. My lover and confidant. The one I trusted completely and now he's forsaken me.

I love you Yambati. I always will.

May you find the answers you were looking for in your new endeavours.

I supposed it's silly to be writing this when he'll never read it... but stil it's better somehow to have this down, to know that I'm not dreaming.

My dinner is cold.

Reserved for Self RP - Developing an interest in Weapons.

Kallisto seeks out Gregor and comissions a sword from him based loosely on the concepts of swords she's seen in games and read about.

The sword looks like this:




Her sword's name is Seika (sacred fire).

-----

It had been some time since she had first taken an interest in the martial arts and Kallisto had advanced rather far into those studies, focusing almost exclusively on the disciplines of Martial Arts and Alchemy.

But the further she advanced the more she realized that she couldn't learn everything there was to learn. There was so very much to learn... some techniques better suited to certain body types and fighting styles... others better for magic casters and still more for those who wish to use weapons.

While Kallisto wasn't particularly interested in learning to fight using a weapon as she preferred her own fists and feet, the sanguine had come across a resource in the library entitled Soul Caliber in which the characters fought with a variety of unique and intriguing weapons. Among her favourites were the clawed hands and the whip-like sword.

As studying goes, she finished learning what she needed from that rental and returned it but the more she practiced the more she thought about how useful having some range might be. And Kallisto was certain that her opponents would not always fight with empty hands like she tended to which, of course, would be problem if she needed to block or deflect an incoming sword for example. Thus the sanguine returned to play that game and studied her favourites... drawing and doodling what she saw and pondering just what it would be like to wield something like that.

Further research revealed that the art of swordsmanship was a long and difficult one but very rewarding if you applied yourself. Thus, Kallisto - ever one to challenge herself - started to poke around the Arena to find and look at the weapons that were available for practice. When she picked up a chinese broadsword she loved the curvature and the flow of the weapon. It was balanced and, provided she could move fast enough, would be as a blur - deadly.

But that was not all... Kallisto remembered her doodles and how much she liked the whip-sword. What if... what she combined these two weapons? Exotic, yes, but then she would have her weapon of choice.

It became a matter of time then, to when she would start her training and commission Gregor for her sword - with the most difficult aspect being swallowing her pride long enough to speak to the brilliant weapon smith.

Moving On

I've settled into my new home on Choice Drive in the red district. It's a roomy place that I've altered so that the bottom is my my workspace while the upper floor is my private area. I opened a shop I call Magnum Opus that sells the potions the I make and the extra materials I gather. I chose the name Magnum Opus as a tribute to all craftsmen and alchemists - I hope to one day acheive my own magnum opus.

Auberon was completed recently. She is a wonderful golem, witty and mostly independant. This golem can duplicate and upgrade things which I know will be of vast help in my shop. I must thank Danna for the quick completion of my order.

As far as my own life goes... I find with time and space the wounds are healing. I miss Yambati greatly but I also realize, after speaking with Grave at the Banquet, that I do have friends and support outside my once lover. That alone is uplifting. I am also realizing that I do not need a significant other to be whole - I am doing quite while here on my own and intend to keep my independence. If ever I do find another that catches my heart, I will make sure to always keep my heart of hearts hidden away from the hurt and pain of separating. Hard lessons... but I have learned them well and I can lift my head and hold it high, proud of who I am.

I have taken to dueling and alchemy once more, even training those that desire my assistance. I feel as though I am finally becoming part of the city - useful in some way. Granted my attempt to stock up on potions for my shop was luke at best (I do not know why or how I screwed up several batches of Medea's Salve) but the fact remains I am giving back to the community in small steps.

I am ever growing closer to the title of Grigori and it is making me anxious. All of this training... all of this studying, has it been enough? When I finally enter the ranks, what will I encounter? I am truly excited by the prospect.

It shouldn't be too long now!

Reserved for solo regarding the advanced potions.

Work Log Roll

Booster Juice - Beech, Wild Oat and Onion to make Booster Juice.
Angel's Dirge - You will need Star of Bethlehem, Greater Celandine, Monk s Hood and Agrimony to make Angel's Dirge.
Aqeous Tide - You will need Water Violet, Blue Cohosh, Vervain and White Bryony to make Aqueous Tide.
Tauran Strength - You will need Impatiens, Walnut, Pine and Chestnut Bud to make Tauran Strength.