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 Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2023 11:33 am
Back Alley Potions
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 ]
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2023 9:11 pm
Sabra Knight via Discord
It had been a couple of days since Aleksi had his first encounter with the beautiful foreigner and the young mage couldn’t seem to stop thinking about her. Thankfully he had not been lying about getting her and her sister into his father’s production and so Aleksi had gotten a glimpse of her that night before simply going along his way and allowing the pair to enjoy the performance. There may have been flowers left behind in the seat that Shierra had for the night, but Aleksi did little else other than help backstage during the performance before going home to check on things there. All he could do is hope that the little note attached to the bouquet had been read and accepted else he would be pacing back and forth in front of the lower markets for no real reason. Would she show up today for another outing or would he never see her again? Maybe he should have opted for poetry on the card instead of simply asking Shierra to meet him here at this time?
“It was always a lot easier when others were flirting with me at school.” Aleksi teased quietly as he settled back on the bench in front of the market square, the mage crossing his arms as he studied the various figures walking past in the crowd. He did so enjoy trying to figure out what was happening with the others around him, especially when he saw things like the pair of younglings causing chaos for their poor parents as they tried to get them back on the street and away from the stray duruf they wanted to chase. Then there was the pair where the girl had a lingering gaze on everyone but her companion…hopefully that won’t be someone I know later. Aleksi joked again before surveying the street, the mage doing his best to appear relaxed even though he was waiting to see if Shierra would even arrive. A new alchemist had set up a potion store in the lower markets and he hoped that it would prove entertaining enough to browse the wares with a friend, especially someone who had a penchant for making murderous jokes. Would his life still be on the line if she wasn’t amused? Aleksi chuckled softly at the thought, shaking his head because he most definitely doubted the history that Shierra had presented last time. Hopefully this time though he would start getting a better understanding of the hybrid from Matori.
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2023 9:12 pm
Part of Shierra was a little too excited that Aleksi had asked to see her again. For one thing, he was nothing short of interesting with his connections and rivalries. For another... frankly, no one had ever given her flowers before and the gesture tickled her in a way she would never confess to anyone.
The interesting experience from the first meeting was the driving force that had her walking to the market. She wanted to experience as much of Belrea as she could, and Aleksi's guidance held much more promise than just walking around on her own. She either got lost or found access limited due to being a foreigner. Her sister was helpful, but her tours just didn't have the same kick...
Her playful smirk rose when she caught sight of Aleksi. She snuck around to creep up behind him and purred into his ear. "You're a bold man, Aleksi." Then she straightened up and chuckled. "Nice to see I didn't scare you off the first time."
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2023 9:14 pm
Despite being startled by the sudden purring in his ear, Aleksi instantly perked up at the sound of Shierra’s voice. It would be a lie to say that his heart hadn’t jumped in his chest with the surprising appearance but Aleksi was delighted by it even if it had caused him to nearly drop from the bench. The young man’s expression only brightened more as he turned around to grin at the foreigner, his excitement and amusement obvious. “Nice to see that you returned. I do so enjoy pressing my luck.” He teased with a grin before standing up and offering a playful half bow in greeting. “I was afraid that you would watch the show and run away, but this gives me hope that my presence somewhat entertains you.”
Straightening his jacket, the brass buttons shining in the light against the brown leather of one of his finer outfits, Aleksi simply studied Shierra for a moment more before chuckling. “Sorry, I had to give my heart a moment. You startled me, but looking at you kept my pulse racing so perhaps I should have looked away instead.” Not even worried about how his flirtations would be taken, Aleksi simply turned on his heel to give her a moment while he studied the street once more. If they took that path down towards the right then it should lead them straight to the shop…this time he hoped that they wouldn’t have any disturbances so that surely they could enjoy browsing through things together. Not that he minded racing through the streets with Shierra, the experience despite its upsets had been rather exhilarating and fun for the mischievous mage. “How do you feel about trying out some potions today?” He found himself asking, peering over his shoulder towards Shierra to check out her reaction.
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2023 9:16 pm
Pleased with the effect she'd had, Shierra grinned in return. "Myrtle says you're nothing but trouble," she teased, referring to the shop owner from that first day, "so I'm hoping that means you're worth a second visit." There was no denying that the first meeting had been full of excitement and turned out to be fully worthwhile. The shameless flirting earned a hearty eyeroll. "Well, hopefully worth a second visit." Still, a smirk of amusement curved her lips as she stared at Aleksi's back. She wasn't one to fall for such banter, but it was still interesting to hear. Most guys tried flirting once and quickly gave up on trying. This guy was definitely worth seeing again.
The question had her brow arching quizzically. "Did you say 'try' potions?" She pressed her lips and looked Aleksi up and down. "Are you sane? You expect me to just go and try some random concoctions that you've picked out?" She snorted and flipped a hand dismissively. "I'll watch you sample that nonsense to your heart's content, but don't think I'm going to be an easy trick." She fixed him with a firm look. Of course she was curious, but damned if she was going to taste-test potions in a foreign world!
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2023 9:19 pm
"What's wrong with a little trouble?" Aleksi quipped back with a grin. "It's better to keep others on their toes than getting slow and lazy." He wouldn't be interested in a second meeting with Shierra either if she had been more like some of those who scattered away at the sign of any danger or what he would consider real fun. This though was something that made Aleksi eager to try to flirt even if his attempts were simply shoved away. He was stubborn like that after all.
"What?" Aleksi teased Shierra as she dismissed his idea. "Belrea is known for its alchemy and so the potions should be top-notch." He raised his chin in defiance. "If you don't have the courage to try something then I'll demonstrate one or two. When I was a child I drank an underwater potion before visiting southern Belrea and we explored an underwater cave with it." Though it was probably because of his family's connection allowing him access to such a notorious brew the experience had been fun. He had just wished that Eliazer could have come on that family expedition as well. Still, it was one of his best memories with his father who was constantly working and away from home while Aleksi was growing up. Admittedly there could be some really strange brews, but even Aleksi knew to avoid those for the most part. Once he had dyed his skin blue for a week, but that had faded away eventually!
"If anything they do have healing salves and the like if you need for the future. It wouldn't hurt to look around and at least see what they have." Aleksi added with a grin towards Shierra as he motioned for her to start following him down the street. As he walked he kept thinking about the options until the building appeared around the corner, the terracotta colored bricks surprisingly bright with amber glass windows despite the dimness of the store within. A wooden sign 'Yvette and Cog's Miraculous Elixirs and Common Goods" was sketched in cursive with colorful bubbles painted around it.
"Time to explore." Aleksi opened the door, the thing barely letting out a creak with its freshly oiled hinges, and peering inside he already saw a few people wandering aisles of shelves full of tomes and potions with another general area on the right side. Was that cooking necessities? A soft laugh left his lips as he realized that they were not kidding about the common goods part of the sign.
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2023 9:21 pm
"It's not about the quality. How do I know you're not going to try slipping me something sneaky? You might try to knock me out, or make me grow an extra arm." Maybe the extra arm was unlikely, but she was just making a point. It didn't stop her from following along either. "You're gonna need a healing salve if I end up with scales," she huffed in a mock-growl of warning.
Though, an underwater cave did sound pretty cool...
The store front was quite cheerful looking. "Yup. Definitely trouble. That looks way too cute to be legitimate." Inside was just as cute but also functional and stocked full of.. everything? "Well, we're bound to find something here to enjoy." She turned her attention to the potions and ran her fingers over a bottle of bright pink liquid. "Let's see... 'Rise and Shine.' Guess it gets you awake. Are you a morning guy or prefer sleeping in?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2023 9:24 pm
Aleksi simply raised a brow and looked back towards Shierra. "Why would I ever do such a thing?" He asked as if almost disturbed by the thought, even if he was just messing with her. "Unless I'm just looking for an early grave, I would rather try to have a fun date in hope that we can have many more. Unless you're into strange growths..." He teased before disappearing into the store, the chiming bell covering his own chuckle as he started down the first aisle he saw. Aleksi's fingers danced across the shelves until he grabbed at two bright green vials, the label for healing written in cursive Belrean that he easily recognized. Turning, the young mage grinned towards Shierra. "I'm just going to go ahead and take these since you seem intent upon me needing them at some point." Another tease, but still one that he stuck with since Aleksi pocketed both vials to purchase whenever they were about to leave. It never did hurt to have some quick healing items at the ready, that much he had learned fairly early on in his life.
"Also, welcome to Belrea. Not everything has to look dreary and drab to be interesting. Cute is nice as well." Aleksi winked at the thought before chuckling. "Please don't torment me with an early morning, I prefer my late nights far too much." Not technically a stretch considering his late night ploys when he was growing up with Eliazer and avoiding his studies, but probably a bit of a stretch since he had somewhat started behaving after deciding to hone his new found abilities. Most training took place in the early afternoon and Aleksi did not enjoy waking up and diving straight into the courses, rather opting to actually sleep at a more reasonable hour since his own friend was away and too busy for their childhood pranks. "Though if I'm waking up next to a pretty lady when its sunrise it may be worth chugging a bottle of that."
Aleksi moved so that he could reach a potion that was just above Shierra, the mage just barely brushing against her for a moment before pulling back with a new bottle. The potion itself was separated into brown, silver, and gray layers that reminded him of stone. "Climbing? Looks like drinking this would let us cross a mountain without any issue. How do you feel about heights?" He questioned Shierra with a grin, the hybrid shaking the potion slightly and noticing that the colors refused to even budge and stayed in even layers while most liquids would have swirled together with the gentle shaking motion that he continued doing. "Interesting."
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2023 9:26 pm
Shierra looked her companion up and down again with a smirk of her own. "Well, I'd guess being cute is probably part of what's kept you alive so far. Must be all that sleeping in you do." She kept her focus on the glasses as though she hadn't just complimented Aleksi and put the bottle back onto the shelf. "Well, guess you won't be needing this then," she teased.
The soft touch sent a little ripple along her skin, and she spent a moment wondering whether or not that was done on purpose. He really was a sneaky thing. "The higher the better," she mused with a chuckle. "Maybe not, but I don't mind them at all. I probably wouldn't have made it to that café if it was a problem." She glanced at the bottle and cocked her head slightly. That.. really was interesting. Almost as interesting as the purple and blue swirling concoction next to it. Ever swirling and blending, but somehow always clearly two different colors at the same time. "'Dream Walking?' Now we're talking." She peeked over at Aleksi with an earnestly contemplative look. "What would you do if you could control your dreams?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2023 9:27 pm
"Mmm." Aleksi couldn't help the grin that crossed his lips at the subtle compliment. "I also think that if I had someone next to me that I could sleep in much easier. Lately though I can't seem to stay in bed since I have so much motivation to go out and about for things like this." He playfully teased before moving again towards a new bottle that was slightly further down the aisle, the warmth from their contact still making his heart race a beat faster despite his own teasing. "I may get the climbing potion, just in case we go venturing into northern Belrea. The sunrises are beautiful there and my family does own a small cottage out in the mountains." There was a clearing with waterfalls nearby that a potion of climbing would make into such an easy journey, the long hike suddenly becoming quick and painless if everything actually worked like the brew promised. Even if Shierra didn't actually stay that much longer in Belrea it was nice to imagine having a date there in the future...if things did so happen to align that way. The very thought was almost unnerving to Aleksi. As much fun as he was having playing around with the lovely foreigner there was a momentary pause in his step, the hybrid frowning thoughtfully as he studied the new potion without actually seeing it since his mind was so occupied with the actual realization that he was growing attached to Shierra. Was that possible? If so then...what did he even do going forward? It was one thing to play around with dates like this but another thing to ask someone to stay longer in a foreign country or for him to even leave his own for something so uncertain. Was that a good word? Alek pursed his lips before blinking at the question of dreams.
"My dreams? They're a bit of a mess, but it would be nice to travel within them. If I could somehow get images and sensations from the minds of others who have actually seen foreign landscapes then I would love to take a vacation while napping. Much better than nightmares or anything like that." He teased lightly. "What about you? Do I dare ask what dreams you would have if you could control them?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2023 9:29 pm
Shierra felt herself pause. 'In case we go venturing..' She assumed he was referring to his family, but part of her couldn't help entertaining the idea that he meant the two of them. A silly idea to entertain. She was going to leave back home for Matori. She was only visiting Belrea for her sister; not to make friends that she would be leaving behind. This was just a little side fun. "Sounds neat."
She raised the bottle to look closer at the swirling contents. "Interesting choice. If you did that, you wouldn't need that heights potion either." She pursed her lips and gave the topic a moment of thought. "Well.. after terrorizing the dreams of everyone who's been a jerk to me, of course, I'd use it to check on my family. There's a lot of us and we're spreading out to different places. I want to make sure everyone's okay.." It sounded so cheesy, but it was true. Her expression lifted and she stepped back from the shelf with the bottle in hand. "Guess I will be trying one of these."
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2023 9:32 pm
Even if Shierra was ignoring his hint, Aleksi couldn't help the little badump of excitement at the response. "If you think so then linger around. It's only a few hours north of the city, if you utilize fast transportation." He found himself stating with a casual shrug despite how interested he truly was in her answer. Was he asking her on an actual vacation instead of another simple date like this? Yes. Was it pushing his luck? Perhaps. Honestly Aleksi knew that Shierra was going back to Matori at some point but even he didn't know how far away the hybrid's departure was. Did her sister need to stay here for a few more weeks? He could easily schedule something then if Shierra didn't think he was planning on notorious things up in the mountains. It would be nice to get some fresh country air, especially since it had been a couple of years since he had last went to see that little cottage. His parents went once a year, but the last couple of trips Aleksi had been too busy with his final years of school and didn't feel right leaving certain others behind. Even if he did recently go on a trip without me. The thought had the young mage pursing his lips before he simply shook his head and looked at more potion bottles. It was best to keep wandering about the aisle since it gave his antsy fingers something to touch, his hands moving from bottle to bottle instead of fiddling with his vest or something like that.
"Fair enough, but there's something more to actually experiencing a sight for yourself. I could dream about it all that I want, but some of the sensation would be missing." Even the most vivid dream wouldn't have everything, right? Aleksi shook his head after pondering the thought before glancing back towards Shierra as he listened to her desire. A small chuckle escaped his lips at the mentioning of terror, but the gleam of amusement quickly faded as he thought about family. "How is it to have such a large family?" He found himself asking quietly. "It's only really been me and my parents so I honestly have no idea what it must be like to have siblings spread out across the world. I'm sure you miss them." It was a bitter reality. Even if her siblings were spread out surely that was back on the main continent. Being in Belrea would be even worse for Shierra, right? Her potential for visits would be cut in half with how slow ocean ships were and with the schedules of the airships. It was far different and more complicated than simply traveling across the main continent, especially since a flying mount could easily bring someone miles within a day. Taking a flying mount across the huge ocean though? Impossible. Definitely not for someone who wants to visit family often, that's for sure. He admitted quietly the reality taking the brightness from his smile. Why should it bother him so much? He was simply having a good time with Shierra while he could. Aleksi had never expected more, not when he was so prone to flirting with others like this. Dammit, why was he so bothered all of a sudden?
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2023 9:36 pm
The offer earned a cocked brow. It.. was tempting to accept. Not only would it be a little more time with Aleksi, but she would also get so much more exploring in. Who knew when she would be back in Belrea? He had a point anyway. There was nothing quite like experiencing a place firsthand. She gave Aleksi a hard look for a long moment before she relaxed her posture completely and shrugged with a light smirk as though she had no concerns. "Eh, why not? Might as well see everything I can while I'm here." Oh, Kyril was sure to flip out a little when she heard...
"Meanwhile, I have no idea what being an only child would be like." She had seen it in other families around her, but she could never imagine it for herself. She looked back at the shelf and "It's.. hmm.. It's fun but challenging. Thankfully, my family is pretty cool. I'm right in the middle of seven kids." She could tell something had changed about Aleksi's demeanor, but it was subtle and she couldn't pinpoint it. Perhaps it was time to change things up?
A wicked grin rose on her lips. "Here's the deal. I will go with you to the cottage and tell you all about being swamped with siblings if you give this a try." She plucked a neon green potion off the shelf and held it out challengingly. "You said you wanted to sample things today, and I want to see what you look like with horns."
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2023 9:37 pm
"Wow, seven." Aleksi blinked in surprise even as he processed the fact that Shierra seemed to actually be considering his offer for a trip. Not wanting to push his luck, just yet the young mage studied a few more potions instead before pausing at the revelation of how big her family actually was. "That's a lot of siblings. You definitely had a busy childhood whereas my home felt a bit too empty. A single child can be very spoiled, but I had no one else to blame whenever some mischief went wrong." He gave a slight shrug as if to shove aside his loneliness. "Not like I had much of a choice when it came to siblings. My birth in itself was a miracle with my mother's health, but thankfully I have a friend who is basically my brother." Eli had endured a lot of Aleksi's antics growing up, so maybe in a sense it felt like Aleksi had a mature older brother who dragged him out of more troublesome situations.
It would be a lie to say that his gaze didn't brighten again even with Shierra holding out the potion in front of him. Was this really going to be a thing? Aleksi couldn't help the excitement that brightened his mood whenever Shierra accepted his offer. He just had to focus on enjoying the now, nothing else. The future would be later and what did he even care about it? He never had before so why now? The mage plucked a second climbing potion from the shelves and secured it within his belongings before turning back to study the neon green brew. "I'll just grab a second climbing potion then. We'll need it for a picnic by the waterfalls." Already he was planning out a whole afternoon in the mountains and whatever else they could do while in the countryside. It would probably be best if it was more than simply one day. "Do I get at least two days at the cottage with you?" Aleksi teased lightly as he took the green potion from Shierra. Vaguely he recognized the brew, it was something he had tried out on a dare whenever he was a younger teen and the headache from the horns definitely had been a pain. It would be worth it though if it secured a trip with Shierra. "Regardless this sacrifice is worth it."
Aleksi uncorked the bottle and took a big swig of the brew. "I'll go pay for things now and by the time..." He winced as the pain already started in his forehead. "By the time we get to a cafe for lunch you should see some horns." The urge to make any horn joke was on his lips, but for once Aleksi behaved. "That blue potion over there can make your skin glimmer in the light, we could make quite a pair in town then." He teased lightly before taking a final drink of the potion and tucking the empty bottle in with the rest of his belongings so that he could include it in the count for payment when they headed out. "I'll pay for it, just in case." Aleksi teased as he headed away towards the cashier, the mage's steps already lighter at the promise of more time spent together.
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2023 9:40 pm
Shierra felt the pinch of empathy. Life could be lonely enough even with a house full of people. "I know I'm pretty lucky. Some people end up with pretty awful families. It's not about how many there are, as long as they're there for you." She had the best of both worlds. A big family that was also supportive and loving. She knew full well how lucky she really was.
All thought ceased when Aleksi's mood flipped like a match, and heat crawled along her cheeks. She hadn't expected him to get so.. so darned excited about her willingness to go. He was just scrumptiously adorable... "Two days?" She gasped out as though she was being asked to cross the ocean right then and there. "You sure you can handle-?" She would have said more, but her words were cut off by a shriek of surprise while her hands snapped out to chase after the bottle far too late. She hadn't actually expected him to drink it! "You are utterly crazy!" she blurted out with a laugh of shock and delight.
A brief look was given to the blue potion before she snorted and headed to the counter with her previous find. She was already leaving with more than she had expected; there was no need to glitter as well.
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