Solo or RP Format Counts as 5 RP growth Points Solo word minimum is 750, RP post minimum is 7
Magical potions are a bit of a risk in Tendaji, believe it or not. It might be because most are used to working with natural items, or that many potions don't always have their intended effects. Some of the more dubious ones have been rumored to cause scales to grow, or blindness. So if you pass by someone in a back alley saying they have a potion to help you grow two feet taller, it's often better to look the other way.
Or is it?
What would you find if you looked over at what they had to sell? Is it really all that strange? Or maybe you'll find a fun hidden gem worth taking home.
[ What might you find someone selling if you approached a back-alley potion shop? Note: Potions that change appearance with growths are event-limited and may not be purchased/used from this prompt ]
As Sylvirah walked around the seaside market she looked every bit a miserable, heavily pregnant woman. Her long, thick hair was pulled up onto her head in a messy bun that was barely contained by the two sticks she'd shoved into it. Instead of wearing anything charming or alluring, as she'd done when they first arrived she'd donned a simple, breathable dress that may have given shape to her breasts and hips if not for the rather massive baby bump.
She was used to being uncomfortable and cold during her pregnancies; not uncomfortable and warm. Sylvirah's normally purposeful stride was no a waddle at best as her ankles were twice their size. Matori was cursed, she was sure of it, but she'd been promised something sweet that day and she'd be damned if she didn't get it. She lifted her coin satchel up to check through it's contents and accidentally dropped a few onto the street.
...Well, now they belonged to Matori.
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 12:29 pm
Painted Moose
Zyphire was enjoying the ocean breeze, the Shifter relaxed with only leggings and a loose silk tunic on so that he could fully embrace the sun that warmed his skin. Unfortunately he knew that he was probably the only one enjoying the heat, a glance towards his heavily pregnant partner confirming that fact, and so Zyphire tried his best to keep on top of helping her out. He had recently stopped by a merchant's stall to pick up a wooden fan before noticing the coins rolling down the street. "Oh my." A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he chased after the coins and pocketed them before joining Sylvirah on the street. "I'll just hold onto those for you." He mused before flicking his wrist to unfold the fan, the man moving quickly his hand quickly as to fan the iceling.
"You know we could always go to a nearby cove before the afternoon sun gets horribly bad." Zyphire noted even though they were currently out and about to look for streets in the foreign market. "There's a shallow pool there that you could put your legs in and the trees keep it shaded from the sun." The Shifter kept fanning Sylvirah as he looked around, his expression shifting into a small frown as he studied the stores. "The bakery used to be right on this corner...why is there a place with bottles instead?" A potion store? Oh Sylvirah would not be happy if they couldn't find sweets. Zyphire took a deep breath before offering a smile towards his companion. "We could cool off and look around in there while I ask about the new location of the sweet store? They surely only relocated...that's all." If not then he would be finding anyone's house and begging them to let him bake something sweet for a few hours before he lost his own life today.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 1:02 pm
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"If you wanted to go for yourself you could just say so." Sylvirah grumbled, but found herself pausing to lean into the fanned air. The breezes may have been plentiful in Matori, but so few of them were cool enough to suit her. She'd gone as far as to close her eyes just to enjoy the sensation when his wording caused her eyes to snap open. "You're kidding me." Was this another one of his jokes? If so she wasn't in the mood for it and - Oh, so it was real.
Sylvirah was a mixture of absolutely put out and enraged. Why was it the one time she'd instigated a shopping trip the one thing she wanted wasn't there?! "Out of all the-!" Sylvirah tossed up her hands and practically snarled at the storefront with all the ferocity a woman of her size could muster. A few unsavory curses were tossed out, some in the common tongue and others in her own, before the woman took a deep breath.
"Fine. We'll go in. They sell potions, yes? Maybe they can have something to help with sleep." Because she'd been getting so much of that lately. "And you'll ask? About the bakery?"
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 1:18 pm
Painted Moose
“Not when I want to do everything for you. So it’s together or not at all.” Teased Zyphire as he boldly leaned forward to place a kiss against Sylvirah’s cheek while he kept fanning her. It was a quick and playful movement, one that barely lasted a second before he started walking again while continuing with the fanning motion towards his partner. His amusement died though when they both realized that it was truly a potion store staring at them and not the bakery that he had expected. Spirits only knew what was inside, but Zyphire hoped the building would be cool enough to offer Sylvirah some respite while he figured out the new location for the bakery. All he could do though was watch with a quirked brow as she cursed the store. Here’s hoping she actually didn’t doom them or something. He knew enough of the iceling’s native tongue to piece together some fresh phrases that he would surely keep in mind, but then she agreed to move forward and Zyphire simply nodded before opening the door and gesturing her inside.
A slight ding of the bell was all he got before he found himself staring down rows of various objects, including shelves of differently colored potions, some familiar and others far more questionable in nature. The inside was surprisingly dim compared to the bright day that they had just escaped from and Zyphire figured it was to help keep the contents of the potions cool, something he did not complain about considering their situation. “Feel free to look around…where is the shop keep?” He mused with a frown before glancing at Sylvirah a final time and snapping the fan shut as he started walking down the rows of shelves, trying to see if there was any life actually within the store.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 2:29 pm
Sabra Knight
Sylvirah gave a pout and smacked him away, but the action didn't hold any real power. If anything she undermined her own efforts with he rueful grin that sprouted as she waddled along behind him. She didn't think she would ever get used to bells above doorways, and visibly reacted to it by craning her head upward. Still, she kept moving and didn't actually stop to observe the space until she was well within.
Thankfully it was blessedly cool compared to outside so Sylvirah was more apt to actually give the space a chance. Even if indignation still ran hot in her blood and she would rather had smashed every vial in that room if it meant getting a snack in her hand that very moment.
As she reached out to inspect a vial of blue liquid a chipper figure appeared from the back of the shop. A burly Matorian hybrid with the brightest pink hair Sylvirah had ever seen came around the counter with a smile. "Welcome, welcome! Is there anything I can help you with or are we just browsing today?"
"Actually we're-" Sylvirah turned to look for Zyphire when another potion was held up to block her line of sight. She leaned back and away from it, though that didn't seem to stop the shop keep.
"Looking for something to help with swelling? Worried about pain from the birth? Sunburns? You are looking a little violet, dear."
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 2:36 pm
Painted Moose
Hmm…Zyphire tilted his head as he found himself distracted by a shimmering potion. Something about being able to breathe underwater? His hands closed around the bottle before he simply placed it back. He had been down that route several years ago when dealing with a situation and the thing had tasted horribly bitter and almost gave him the sensation of drowning before he actually found that he could indeed breathe underwater for a period of time. He doubted Sylvirah would be interested especially considering her current condition, but maybe in the future? Zyphire simply shook his head before realizing that there wasn’t any shopkeep near him. “Hello?” The Shifter raised a brow before hearing voices from around the corner.
Oh! His expression brightened as he realized that the shop keeper had found Sylvirah. Then that expression shifted more as he realized that Sylvirah was alone with someone trying to sell things in a potion store. OH no. Zyphire quickly turned on a heel and started taking long strides back towards Sylvirah, trying his best to hide his panic as he approached and got close enough to hear whatever they were discussing. Healing salves? That didn't sound nearly as bad as what he had feared. Zyphire let out a soft sigh before pausing to glance at another potion, his gaze thoughtful as he picked up a golden bottle before quickly putting it back. Maybe not that one.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 2:55 pm
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"Perhaps you're more in the mood for a-"
Sylvirah raised her hand and made a slicing motion over her mouth to indicate silence. "I am not here for your witchcraft. There was a bakery in this shop and I want to know where it is."
"Oh, well, they just relocated, love. Next street over actually; the building's a little bigger so they could service more fine folk like yourself." Although his smile never dropped there was a not-so-subtle shift of his gaze toward Zyphire as if silently asking for help. "But since you're here you may as well have a look around, right? Take a break from the sun?" He reached around her, careful to stay just out of Sylvirah's grasping range, to bring back a vile of green liquid.
"Tell me; is this your first child?"
"It's not." She answered sharply.
"Would you like more? Maybe multiple at a time? Less of this -" He made a general gesture to her expectant form -, "with more results?"
Well...Her brow furrowed, expression still tense, but...more curious now than anything. She looked around for Zyphire for a moment, then paused and turned back to the liquid, "....And this could guarantee it?"
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 3:12 pm
Painted Moose
Okay, so he thought it was just going to be a simple conversation. Zyphire had even given a slight shrug as Sylvirah jumped right to the point and asked about the bakery. Just answer the question and we’re out of here. He thought with a quiet chuckle before placing back another strange bottle and slowly moving closer to Sylvirah and the shopkeep, one bottle at a time. Then childbirth got brought up along with a new bottle and Zyphire’s panic returned. Oh boy. Suddenly the potion bottles along the way seemed a lot less interesting and the Shifter found himself quickly moving forward to snatch the vile from the shopkeep.
“Interesting, but not needed.” Zyphire offered as he quickly placed the vile on the shelf, a small smile crossing his lips. “I think we’ve had plenty of children to raise and surely don’t need a potion. Maybe some aloe for sunburns, but anything else…” He glanced at Sylvirah with concern. Surely not. She knew better than to buy some strange potion here, right?
The shopkeep gave a slight shrug before reaching back to grab the vile and twisting it back and forth. “I hear large families are good for children to grow up in. Never had much of one myself and hated it.” He offered with a small smile. “Three babies at once surely would be a better result from nine months of pregnancy than just one.”
“Three babies with five eyes each with something strange like that.” Protested Zyphire, especially since he saw some rather unappealing flecks of something floating in the brew. “Aloe is something I know will work against burns so I really insist we just get that.” Even if the potion was harmless, the Shifter was not willing to take the risk nor did he enjoy the idea of another pregnancy after this one with three more potential children at once.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 3:32 pm
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Sylvirah's eyes widened at Zyphire's lightning quick reaction before narrowing with a frown. "Just hold on. This heks may have something." The clan was still so small, and although she loved her children dearly their singular births had always left her questioning, especially after Ergon's wife had twins. She'd tried to slip in a few herbal roots into Zyphire's food stores, but he was either more adept at finding them than she thought or his shifter blood was keeping the magic from working. "How does it work?"
"It's simple, really." He twisted the vial around in his fingers, lowering it just enough so that it was closer to Sylvirah instead of Zyphire. "All you have to do is give it a living creature and then eat it's heart seven days later. It can be anything; a fish, a roati, some sort of cattle..." He waved his free hand. "Aloe anyone can provide, but this...this is unique."
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 3:46 pm
Painted Moose
Zyphire just stared at the shopkeep before glancing back to Sylvirah. “Aloe is something necessary, not this.” He insisted with a chuckle. “Seriously? This gets fed to a creature and we eat the heart? While I’m at it I should go pray to Aisha for blooms like the Aishans or dance under a full moon naked because I have more faith in that.” He shook his head at the very idea. It was one thing to drink fertility teas and the like, but another thing entirely to trust some weird bubbling brew! Just because Ergon may have needed some extra boost to get it up and going with his wife it did not mean that they needed it.
“Sylvirah.” Zyphire took a deep breath and studied his partner with all sincerity. “Jeg ønsker å elske med deg.” He started before gesturing to the potion. “But this is a stretch. We’re already happily expecting and shouldn’t need anything more to boost what we have.” The Shifter smiled and reached out to touch Sylvirah’s cheek, his thumb brushing lightly over the skin there in a loving gesture. “If fate wants us to have twins like your brother or even triplets then we will and if not then we will love the children that we do have. Your brother's family took so many fertility potions just to try to get started while we’ve been blessed with two children already in addition to this little one. Why should we mess around with strange things when we’re doing fine?”
“Or you can go for three next time for just a few coi-”
Zyphire stepped down hard on the shopkeep’s foot without even looking backwards despite the quiet yelp of pain as the Matori hybrid took a step back from the couple. "Please have faith in us, Sylvirah. We don't need anything else besides maybe a few sweets from that bakery around the corner." Zyphire joked lightly though his gaze was thoughtful as he waited for his lover's decision.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 4:07 pm
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Sylvirah pursed her lips. It was his idea to come into this shop and ask for directions when there were others around. It didn't hurt to try something, especially not if it was coming from a local heks. Besides, she'd eaten her fair share of roati hearts before and if that meant she could have third at once instead of one then the trade off was worth it!
"Du er ikke den som ser ut som en oppblåst søye." Maybe it was just the heat getting to her? Normally she was so much more on point with what she needed verses what she wanted, but pregnancy had a way of twisting that. "You're right, I know you're right. We really are blessed to have what we have and I know that we shouldn't mess with what Chi has in mind for us." She may have been jealous of his brother's ability to have twins, but how long had it taken the boys to come? How many nights of worry had passed between Iriyana and Ergon that it would never happen? Nights that Sylvirah and Zyphire took for granted with their boon of children.
"Should we still get the aloe?" Looking around Zyphire, she cast a speculative eye to the shopkeep, who seemed to be nursing some kind of...ailment? "Are you alright?"
"Oh I'm fine."
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 4:16 pm
Painted Moose
Zyphire actually dared to chuckle at the comment. "Beste søye jeg noen gang har sett. I can't take care of you as well if I shared the same condition, but I'll do my best to make it up to you during this time." He complimented with a small grin, especially since he knew that he would love her no matter how much her body swelled during pregnancy. If anything he was more attentive than usual knowing that she had come to Matori in this condition for him and was enduring the strange land like this. "Maybe Chi will surprise us with twins in the future as well and then we can really show off to your family." He added with a playful wink before glancing back at the shopkeep, his expression changing from loving to deadly when he shot the man a glare while his partner wasn't looking.
"Aloe it is." A few muttered words were issued under his breath as he hobbled away but the Matori hybrid eventually returned with a bag of the requested salve and took the coin from Zyphire who simply smiled at the shopkeep.
"So what type of pastries are you wanting? Some of those chocolate cakes or something more fruity?" Zyphire opened the door so that he could escort Sylvirah back outside into the sunlight, the fan coming out once more as Zyphire prepared to fan off his companion as they continued through the heat.
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 4:29 pm
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Sylvirah rolled her eyes with a smirk. Best ewe indeed."Denne gangen og neste og neste etter det." While the shopkeep hobbled away her eyes trailed back to the fertility potion with an almost wistful look, but Sylvirah kept her mouth shut. It wasn't worth the risks, both to their potential children and their own health, but the temptation...Just remember how hard it was for Iriyana to carry two and that was in Zena. You're struggling with one in Matori; it could be so much harder. Spirits above is she had three right now then Sylvirah would have been hiding in a cave with a thousand locals fanning her day and night.
"Fruit, I think." They didn't have much of it in the North so that was a definite perk to Matori. "Though the chocolate sounds nice...Do you think they make both? Or maybe we could get some chocolate to bring back and I could eat it off you."
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 4:36 pm
Painted Moose
Zyphire nodded with a smirk of his own. He would take care of her as many times as needed...in every way necessary. Their family could continue to grow in its own way without the potion. Zyphire knew that he was happy with the three children that they had but if Sylvirah was happier with a larger family then so be it. If anything he simply felt guilty for leaving for part of the year to roam the world and do his own work until the winter snows went away. Still, Zyphire would always do his best to make it up to his family and to keep them safe.
"We can get fruit tarts and they do cover some fruits in chocolate..." Her next sentence had him nearly stumbling forward, his gaze widening as he dared to look at Sylvirah. "You can't say things like that." A playful shudder went up his back as he started fanning Sylvirah again, only fanning himself once as if acting flustered from the comment. "Gjør det vanskelig for meg å gå." He managed with a grin, his mind already drifting to the possibility of buying a lot of chocolate for later when the others weren't around at the villa.
