I solemnly swear. He won't know what hit him. [Is he tempted to watch from a distance though? Yes. Yes he is.]
Oh right, that thing. Well, I'll never turn down good food if it's on offer. [It's not only a clone trooper's favorite thing, it's half their black market economy.] Be there soon, then.
[He trots up to the old teahouse a few minutes later. Yes, food might've made him speed up a little.]
[That he's up to no good? The expression is nostalgic and makes her smile a little bit, but she is content to just wait.
Well. Wait, and put her cauldron away, clear the space in her room as it were. Make some tea, even, as if she's entertaining an esteemed guest, and not awaiting some sort of revelation of a secret.
When she's done, she brings the chocolate stolen from Taravast kitchens before the siege, and sets it on the table in the centre, then takes a peak outside the window. Right on time.
[He smiles.] Oh, thanks. Makes it feel like the study group. [Tea always just seemed to appear there.]
Probably should've asked you more about potions there already. I read a bunch of local stuff about magic back in Taravast, but then the library shut down on account of monster invasions and revolution. [Which was valid, but still. Not helpful. Taravast was the first time he'd really gotten access to textbooks outside of training, and he'd floundered around for a while. There had to be useful stuff in there, but he'd had no idea where to start.]
[It doesn't just appear, Slick. A lot of nerds and bookworms just cling to tea like it's a lifeline, apparently.
But her room is neat and welcoming enough, with the scent of peppermint in the air.] I wasn't really brewing publically there, so don't stress about it. I doubt I would have told you much... [Her attempt to replicate Polyjuice Potion from memory had nearly gotten her killed by the Attaryl witches, so she kept herself quiet. Without Harry or Ron around, it's quite easy for Hermione to fade into the background, most times.
She gestures at him to take a seat, and pushes a plate with ounces of chocolate towards him.] Give it a try. It's meant to work wonders, especially on people whose sugar levels drop suddenly.
The local supplies were giving you trouble, right? Has that gotten any better? [He remembers having a conversation about that. He still doesn't understand the logic behind some of it, but he's not a chemist.]
Thanks. [He sits, picking up a piece of the... well, it looks like a brown brick. Not too dissimilar from a dried ration bar. He gives it a curious sniff. There's a bit of a dusty smell, and something sweet.] I'll try anything once. [He breaks off a piece with his teeth. It's dry for just a moment, then starts to dissolve a little on his tongue...]
...And I'm gonna try this at least twice. [This is good.]
Oh, it's been easier now - I received a book from Wrathion on local herbs, which has helped understand more what I'm playing with. It just means less experimenting.
[She grins at that, and gestures at him to have another ounce if he wants to, busying herself with pouring them tea.]
I'm glad you like it. If I had more, I'd melt it into milk and make hot chocolate, which is a lovely drink but...ah well. Maybe in another place.
[Who knows at this point where they will go next, if they go.]
But you're here for something specific, aren't you?
[What the hells does this taste like? He can't really compare it to much of anything. Maybe caff? It sort of has that bite to it, but it's milder, mixed with other stuff he doesn't have words for.]
Yeah, and unfortunately it's serious. [Not that it'll stop him from having more of the chocolate, though. Most of his life's been centered around stuff like this--there's decorum you're supposed to keep, but discussing life and death matters won't keep a clone from eating when they've got the chance.]
I just had a chat with Wration--he says the Huntsman's likely going to put in an appearance here. His lot were bad enough in Taravast, but here, with a smaller population and fewer fortifications? It's not going to be pretty. And there's a chance the Huntsman will specifically target Wrathion for brainwashing. [Wrathion said Hermione's been told enough to understand why that's a big problem.]
[She nods there, expression serious.] He will, it was discussed by Sairen and his revelry...
[She realises she hasn't considered everything that the Beastmaster can do, because she hadn't drawn the connection. Between his arrival, and the fact that Wrathion was not human.]
Oh. Oh - [Softer, grim.] What is it that he does, that scares you both? And more importantly, how can I help?
The drunk guy? I guess I shouldn't have tuned that out, then. [Can anyone blame him though, when a guy who sounds completely hammered starts broadcasting on all channels?]
I know from experience, if the Beastmaster's troops get you immobilized for long enough, you're joining them. There's no resisting it. [That's finally the thought that puts him off the chocolate for now.] Obviously we don't want anybody getting brainwashed by that freak, but we need to protect him specifically--and be ready to protect us if he loses control. That means securing a defensible position and fireproofing everything we can. [Because Wration is very, very good at fire.]
I was hoping some magic or potion stuff could help out with either of those problems.
[The worst case scenario in that case fills her with dread. She doesn't want to lose anyone to the Beastmaster - once was enough, and she remembers how much it took out of Lily...
She doesn't know what the Merchant is playing at, setting them up in the Beastmaster's territory to begin with. She want to know, however. Very much.
She thinks of what Slick is asking, and frowns.] I know more spells that start fires than those that put them out, but there's ways to summon water out of thin air.
I wish I could ward people against his mind control, specifically, but I don't think it's Occlumency. Ah - [softly:] shit.
I have a potent potion to knock one single person out. And binding spells, stunning spells - magic you'd use in battle, worst case scenario, but for this...?
[She pauses, and pins Slick with a Look.] I don't have the stomach to plan how I'd kill my friends if they turned into the Beastmaster's pets. I don't operate like that.
[It's a shame, it hits her, that they can't just run and hide. A shame she doesn't have the tent anymore, or any of her books from home. Wait.]
What about if he's not in the village when and if Beastmaster comes?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Instead, she nods, then adds:] Don't warn him. Let him learn. [A wave of her hand.]
I was going to show you what chocolate tastes like. I'll check, but might still have some.
> action;
Oh right, that thing. Well, I'll never turn down good food if it's on offer. [It's not only a clone trooper's favorite thing, it's half their black market economy.] Be there soon, then.
[He trots up to the old teahouse a few minutes later. Yes, food might've made him speed up a little.]
action;
Well. Wait, and put her cauldron away, clear the space in her room as it were. Make some tea, even, as if she's entertaining an esteemed guest, and not awaiting some sort of revelation of a secret.
When she's done, she brings the chocolate stolen from Taravast kitchens before the siege, and sets it on the table in the centre, then takes a peak outside the window. Right on time.
She goes to fetch him from the entrance.]
Hello. Come in, I've set some water for tea.
no subject
Probably should've asked you more about potions there already. I read a bunch of local stuff about magic back in Taravast, but then the library shut down on account of monster invasions and revolution. [Which was valid, but still. Not helpful. Taravast was the first time he'd really gotten access to textbooks outside of training, and he'd floundered around for a while. There had to be useful stuff in there, but he'd had no idea where to start.]
no subject
But her room is neat and welcoming enough, with the scent of peppermint in the air.] I wasn't really brewing publically there, so don't stress about it. I doubt I would have told you much... [Her attempt to replicate Polyjuice Potion from memory had nearly gotten her killed by the Attaryl witches, so she kept herself quiet. Without Harry or Ron around, it's quite easy for Hermione to fade into the background, most times.
She gestures at him to take a seat, and pushes a plate with ounces of chocolate towards him.] Give it a try. It's meant to work wonders, especially on people whose sugar levels drop suddenly.
no subject
Thanks. [He sits, picking up a piece of the... well, it looks like a brown brick. Not too dissimilar from a dried ration bar. He gives it a curious sniff. There's a bit of a dusty smell, and something sweet.] I'll try anything once. [He breaks off a piece with his teeth. It's dry for just a moment, then starts to dissolve a little on his tongue...]
...And I'm gonna try this at least twice. [This is good.]
no subject
[She grins at that, and gestures at him to have another ounce if he wants to, busying herself with pouring them tea.]
I'm glad you like it. If I had more, I'd melt it into milk and make hot chocolate, which is a lovely drink but...ah well. Maybe in another place.
[Who knows at this point where they will go next, if they go.]
But you're here for something specific, aren't you?
no subject
Yeah, and unfortunately it's serious. [Not that it'll stop him from having more of the chocolate, though. Most of his life's been centered around stuff like this--there's decorum you're supposed to keep, but discussing life and death matters won't keep a clone from eating when they've got the chance.]
I just had a chat with Wration--he says the Huntsman's likely going to put in an appearance here. His lot were bad enough in Taravast, but here, with a smaller population and fewer fortifications? It's not going to be pretty. And there's a chance the Huntsman will specifically target Wrathion for brainwashing. [Wrathion said Hermione's been told enough to understand why that's a big problem.]
no subject
[She realises she hasn't considered everything that the Beastmaster can do, because she hadn't drawn the connection. Between his arrival, and the fact that Wrathion was not human.]
Oh. Oh - [Softer, grim.] What is it that he does, that scares you both? And more importantly, how can I help?
no subject
I know from experience, if the Beastmaster's troops get you immobilized for long enough, you're joining them. There's no resisting it. [That's finally the thought that puts him off the chocolate for now.] Obviously we don't want anybody getting brainwashed by that freak, but we need to protect him specifically--and be ready to protect us if he loses control. That means securing a defensible position and fireproofing everything we can. [Because Wration is very, very good at fire.]
I was hoping some magic or potion stuff could help out with either of those problems.
no subject
She doesn't know what the Merchant is playing at, setting them up in the Beastmaster's territory to begin with. She want to know, however. Very much.
She thinks of what Slick is asking, and frowns.] I know more spells that start fires than those that put them out, but there's ways to summon water out of thin air.
I wish I could ward people against his mind control, specifically, but I don't think it's Occlumency. Ah - [softly:] shit.
I have a potent potion to knock one single person out. And binding spells, stunning spells - magic you'd use in battle, worst case scenario, but for this...?
[She pauses, and pins Slick with a Look.] I don't have the stomach to plan how I'd kill my friends if they turned into the Beastmaster's pets. I don't operate like that.
[It's a shame, it hits her, that they can't just run and hide. A shame she doesn't have the tent anymore, or any of her books from home. Wait.]
What about if he's not in the village when and if Beastmaster comes?