avalononline | video; got any mushies?

[ For the first time, Emet-Selch is trying out a video post instead of his usual text. The feed shows a man in his mid- or late-30s with long, dark brown hair that has been tied into a loose braid. His streak of white hair hangs free and frames the right side of his face.

He clears his throat and sits straight, looking at his device's screen (and therefore not into the camera, as the more tech-savvy would). ]

Greetings. I am-- My name is Hades. I am an alchemist...and a goldsmith. I manage a business known as Polydegmon's Lapidary and Brew within Camelot City. In light of the sudden surfeit of mushrooms this season, I would be willing to purchase any unusual or magical fungi you may happen across as you forage. I will also accept the more common varieties used in potion-making.

[ He pauses, glancing slightly off to the side as though reading something. In the background, something that appears to be a flying betta fish with iridescent scales glides past serenely. ]

Ah, I do take custom commissions on potions and jewellery, provided they are not used for nefarious purposes. And I have a grimoire that new alchemists may peruse should they visit. I do believe it is 'that time of the month' again.

[ With that, the video cuts off. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Eeehh~? We've never met before! [Though it doesn't take long for Floyd to put all the pieces into place, he's well used to it. He had just needed a moment to squint at the video to confirm he doesn't remember this guy.] Oh, you must mean Jade, he's my twin. [As for fickle, yes, that's still absolutely true for Floyd, his emotions can flip at any moment without warning. And everyone else around him just has to deal with them.]

I'm not surprised, he's obsessed with all sorts of plants, but especially mushrooms. He better keep them out of our room!

Okay~! I had to do it back in school, but I haven't done any here, but it good to know just in case, right? Though I bet there a whole bunch of new ingredients that I donno what they even do here.

[OOC: It is. I sadly am very canon blind on him, so ended up going with that after our first thread, heh.]

You have a twin?

[ He stares incredulously. Then leans closer to the screen to peer at Floyd's face. Come to think of it, their eyes are different, aren't they...? ~~He's absolutely not going to remember this.~~

He sits back with a scowl. How can a pair of near-identical twins be so different?? ]

Yes, the herbs and such here are quite far removed from what I am accustomed to as well. I won't be sharing the recipes of the potions I sell of course, but if you are struggling then perhaps I can share the properties of some of the more common ingredients here.

Yup! [At first glance those differences were subtle enough that it was easy to mix them up; that difference in their eyes, that little black streak of hair, that they wore their earrings on the opposite sides. And their personalities, unless of course they were messing with people and pretending to be each other. That was fun.

The main differences came down to how they interacted with the world; Jade was the planner, Floyd was the spontaneous one. It's why they made a perfect team.] I'm Floyd, he's Jade.

Ehh~, it's ok. I donno what I would really need for myself right now, ya know? I got no plans to mess with anyone, and I ain't got anything I wanna do to myself with a potion. Oh, maybe water-breathing potions for others later on, but not right now. [Then a bit of a 'heee~' laugh.] Oh yeah? What'd it cost me? [Stuff like that can't be free, not if he's smart...]

[Wait! There was something he would want!] Oh, or something fun! A silly potion, like making my voice super deep or something! [Yes, Floyd is still stuck on that desire, since Azul lost his Unique Magic and can't make a contract with Floyd to give him that voice back now. He loved that deep voice. Shame Azul didn't allow him to keep it.]

[ Of course it wouldn't be free. Although, Emet-Selch is not as fussed about profits as he may appear. His brow furrows - in thought this time. ]

A water-breathing potion ought to be simple enough. I need to check my stock of aquatic plants.

[ If Floyd is willing to harvest what's necessary himself then he would only be charged a nominal fee. ]

As for one to make your voice deeper... I cannot say that is a request I have had before, but I doubt it would be too difficult. It wouldn't be the most unusual suggestion I have ever heard.

[ A pause. ]

I do have other 'silly' potions as well. For children, mostly.

[Oh, yes! Can you see Floyd's face light up even more at the idea of that.] Yes! The deep voice one! I really want my deep voice back! [Azul will be so 'thrilled'...] You let me know what it costs and if I need to get you stuff for it or something, okaaay~?

Oh, what other silly potions? [Well, Floyd is 17, that could still be a kid, right? Or at least he's curious to know what these potions are. They could be fun!]

[ He lets out a small huff of amusement. ]

Very well. I shall look into how I might create a voice changing potion for you. We can discuss payment when I am confident in the result.

As for the other potions...

[ He leans to one side to pick some small vials up, checking the labels. ]

I have one which makes the drinker skip about everywhere for five minutes. Another which has the drinker ramble on for fifteen without pause. One which causes mild prickling all over the body. And...I suppose one which turns your skin rubbery such that anything rebounds off it, much like the slimes in the library's dungeon.

Great! Let me know! Oh, don't tell Jade though, I want it to be a surprise! [Plus Jade might try and stop this. Or encourage it, it's hard to tell. It really depends if he felt it would annoy himself or Azul more for Floyd to sound like that.

As for those other options, Floyd looks less thrilled.] Ehh, nah, those sound boring. I mean, maybe if I used them on other people, ya know? But I gotta have a target worth using them on. [And so far there's no one he really wants to mess with like that. He can't against his brother or Azul, they would get him back ten fold. Maybe Taichi... but nah, he can see Taichi liking the skipping one, he already talks too much for the rambling one, and that prickling one is not worth it. And that slime one...] That slime one's weird. Why ya even got that? You into that or something? [Also note that Floyd has less of a filter than Jade does...]

[ Bold of Floyd to assume Emet won't accidentally mix the twins up again and tell Jade his potion is ready-- ]

Hah! Nothing so crude. I created it with the intent of making one impervious to weapons for a short time. The result was not quite what I wanted...but the children seem to enjoy using it to bounce off one another. Or off the walls.

[But Emet! How could you mix them up? They're so different!

Whatever, if it happened, no doubt Jade would find it amusing enough to let Floyd annoy Azul with it for awhile... before he also got annoyed with it too.]

Ahhh, I see. [Then a moment.] Like a jellyfish... but you can hurt those too with enough force, or with stuff that's super sharp. They not worth it though, not as fun to eat. [But fun to catch sometimes. Also, Emet's talk of it is actually winning Floyd over with that potion.] Really? How would it work with Kinetic magic? Does it make your bones all squishy too, or would it be SPLAT and then CRACK if you ran into a wall with magic?

[ He pauses thoughtfully. ]

I never tried... It did not occur to me to test the limits of it by throwing myself off a dangerous height. [ A wry smile. ] Perhaps you would like to test it for me? I could give you a sample.

[Here's the thing... Floyd's not stupid. He just gets bored easily. And is a bit of an adrenaline freak. He loves being able to move around fast and throw himself into what could be dangerous situations, but able to pull out of them under his own skills and abilities without getting injured. So this...] This sounds fucking stupid.

[But still,] But I kinda wanna try it. But I would want a healer 'round, and start at like, small height first and work my way up. Like... I donno, one story building or something. Not like a cliff top or anything.

You sure it makes everything all springy? Like, wouldn't hitting anything real fast make everything move around inside me? And even then, what if it doesn't all go back into the right place, and the potion wears off, and I bleed out or my stomach ends up in my spine or something? [See? He still knows to ask the important questions.]

[ Perhaps two years ago, Emet-Selch would have dismissed all of Floyd's very valid safety concerns. But he's a lot more reasonable now. (Sort of.) ]

Hmm... As far as I am aware, from my own testing, it causes the skin to turn springy and elastic, much like that of the slimes which form the core of this potion. The harder and faster something strikes it, the more recoil it experiences. I don't believe it affects the drinker's insides.

Don't worry, however: the potion has a very consistent effective time of about fifteen minutes.

video; got any mushies?

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woops I thought I sent this

all good!

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new xiv update consumed me!!

haa, hope it's going well

finally crawling away from it ahaha