On Customer Service

[Nevin]

Nevin groaned and stretched out his back. The last few days had been rather tense for him - not because of any problem in particular, but rather because of his current 'employee'. Of the last five days, Ezra had come in twice to work, or rather to study and observe Nevin interacting with his customers, dealing with some of the hassles that they tried to throw at him. As the town's only Alchemist Nevin got away with a bit of heavy-handed dealings with them, as they would try to push for something or another that they wanted but didn't need - and the Alchemist would handily put them back down, not quite rudely but most definitely firmly. He had warned the white-haired construct that she might not be able to get away with the same kind of attitude towards the customers, but Nevin didn't know if the warning had taken root or not. But it had been.. strange to have someone observing him throughout the day - even in the aftermath of the Goblin assault, the people who had come in to watch him work had only stayed half an hour or so before changing out. Ezra however, had been watching him with those strange, fascinating purple eyes through the entire working hours.

If he hadn't been knowledgeable about Ezra's true state, it might have gotten awkward for him to be the subject of such intense scrutiny. He also hadn't asked what it was she was thinking while she observed him, the 'woman' still hadn't gotten a hang of social niceties so sometimes she would come out with the most unsettling (for a chaste man such as himself at least) statements, always said in the most innocuous manner. Worse, he knew she didn't mean any thing by the double entendres, but that didn't stop them from happening. At least she usually kept the statements to herself while there were customers - though she had developed the unfortunate habit of barraging him with questions and comments as soon as the shop was empty of guests.

He had already had to defuse a couple of rumors about the young woman suddenly working in his shop - at least three different people in the space of half an hour had come in, asking if there was anything more going on between them, and why had he suddenly taken on an employee when before he had seemed rather adamant against it. Careful, quick explanations of an alchemical oddity that the white-haired girl had brought to his attention had served to pacify these questions, though the townsfolk had gotten disappointed when he refused to tell them what that oddity was, saying that as the girl's discovery it was not his place to share it.

But now, six days after starting her part-time employment, today would be the first day that Nevin let her interact with customers, and vice versa. Again he had warned her that if they asked her too much, or got to be too rambunctious, she was to send them to him immediately. He knew she was probably already waiting outside of his shop, ready to begin - she always seemed to be an earlier riser than he was. He drained the last of his tea and rinsed the cup out, leaving it in the sink before he stood up, pulling on his coat and gloves, then headed towards the front. The sign was flipped around and he unlocked the door. A deep inhale, and exhale - and he opened the door.

[ArcanaFate]

Ezra had awoken before the sun had risen.

It was an old habit, one they had developed when they had lived on the farm. The elderly couple had often risen before the light had crested over their property and the Homunculi had watched many sunrises with them before beginning their day. So, when the alchemist told them to arrive 'early' on their first day, they had stayed true to the word. The night sky was barely fading when they had arrived, and after rousing the man from his rest, was told not to return for a few hours. The Homunculi had questioned Nevin's instructions, and the man could only sigh before insisting the white-haired construct go home and once again return in a few hours after 'proper sleep', whatever he meant by that.

The next few days had been a blur; they couldn't stay to observe Nevin every day as they still had to assist Nan so there had been a few gaps in their learning experience. But on this sixth day, Ezra was told that they would start their actual employment. No longer would they simply observe, but they would now be working with actual customers and interacting socially with them. Occasionally, during their observation period, villagers would come in and ask about the Homunculi's presence in the store and how odd it was that they were going to be working there when the alchemist had insisted on not hiring additional help. Nevin would often diffuse the rumors with how Ezra had an alchemical find they were studying, but felt awkward when they were then bombarded with questions and had the attention shifted onto themselves instead of the wares in the store. They would offer no answer, which would often make the villagers frustrated or more insistent on answers. They would often just go silent at that point, and wait for Nevin to distract them to stop the questions. Telling the villagers 'no' and having them continue to pester was something that the alchemist warned them about, and being able to give them a firm 'no' was a technique they would have to learn. Hopefully today they could master that art.

As the door to the shop swung open with a still-seeming-to-wake-up Nevin at the door, the Homunculi was already at the front step. A small smile hung on their face, and they were in a simple tunic and slacks, hair in a tied, almost professional braid. They made their way inside the store, only giving the man a simple, "Good morning, Sir Nevin." before making their way behind the counter and leaning over it. They did their best to keep their attention focused on the man's face, but it was plainly obvious despite not physically showing that they were excited to work.

[Nevin]

Ezra was, Nevin decided, an example of the worst kind of people that the world had to offer. As someone who typically worked later into the night, long after the rest of the townsfolk had gone to bed, Ezra was his polar opposite - except she wasn't because he doubted she even actually needed sleep aside from helping to maintain her facade. Still, as 'she' walled in, with a bright smile and a slight skip in her step, Nevin had to bite back a slight groan. In the end, she was, after all,...

"A morning person." The words slipped from his lips unintentionally, filled with exasperation as he trudged back over to the counter where she was now leaning. It would be at least another twenty minutes before he was fully capable of dealing with people - most of his regular customers at this point knew coming in in the afternoon would get them less surly service. He caught the slightly quizzical tilt of her head and sighed.

"Whoever 'raised' you apparently did not mind being awake in mornings - or you developed the habit elsewhere. Some people can operate well in the mornings, other operate better at night. I myself am in the latter category. You may want to decide which you prefer and stick to that whole here - it is more natural to be more active during a certain portion of the day and less so at another, so emulating that will help you fit in better. Just be aware that people who fall into the latter category tend to get irritated with those who are bright and chipper in the mornings." With that, weary foot steps carried him into the kitchen, where he rescued the mug from the sink and began brewing more tea. Over his shoulder he called out to her.

"Would you like any tea or juice today?" A polite offer - one he didn't know if she'd take him up on. Even as he made it though, he was keeping an eye on the door. It was only a matter of time now before the first customers of the day began to trickle in. He fully intended to let Ezra handle as much as they could, but was ready to intervene if it looked like the white haired girl was getting overwhelmed.

[ArcanaFate]

"...I 'grew up', for lack of better terms, on a farm, Sir Nevin."

Ezra frowned at the explanation, pushing back a random strand of hair that had decided to not obey. Of course Ezra was aware that humans had different sleep schedules and that could affect how they ran their businesses. Town guards worked day and night shifts, so it wasn't impossible for others to follow that sort of sleep pattern. However, the information regarding how people who enjoyed sleeping in didn't like the 'bright and chipper' personalities of the early risers. They would make note to tone down their excitement for the alchemist... if they ever got that excited. They turned to watch Nevin walk into the back room, gaze focused intently until he disappeared from sight. It would be a rather different chain of events today, as instead of getting to watch Nevin, the man instead got to watch them. A rather odd role reversal of sorts.

At the mention of a beverage, Ezra blinked and looked towards the doorway where the man had wandered into. "How about tea today, Sir Nevin? I do not need any cream or sweetener in it, as I prefer the bitter taste." They called, looking to the front door of the shop. Weren't people supposed to be coming in now? "Sir Nevin, are we expected to have many customers today or will we have little work? I am still rather curious as to what you have discovered regarding our joint research project." The Homunculi had been rather busy with Nan, so they couldn't devote a lot of time to the research. The alchemist, however, would have had much more time when the shop wasn't busy or after he had closed up for the day, so perhaps he had found new information to share? One could only hope.

The Homunculi waited for a moment, then threw out another question towards the man. "...Have you eaten breakfast, Sir Nevin? If you do not have a healthy breakfast, you will not function throughout the day very well. Lowered productivity will not do either of us any good. If you have not, I can prepare a quick meal for you. There is no substitute for proper nutrition, despite your talent in alchemy." They let out a sigh, glancing between the front door and the doorway into the kitchen. If there was time, Ezra would likely remove the man from his own kitchen and actually make him eat real food. They had no intention of letting their new mentor die due to malnutrition.

"Answer honestly. You know I can find out if you lie to me. I may be lacking in social cues, but I am not oblivious."

[Nevin]

Nevin poured two mugs of tea, pouring some of his nutrient potion into one, and brought the two mugs out to the counter where Ezra was at. He set the undosed one down by her and began sipping his mug as he frowned in thought. It was good to know that she had been acclimatized enough to think of it as growing up - whoever had crafted her had certainly done their level best to make her as human as possible. He wondered if they had had any time with their creation before... What, exactly? He would have to ask when they weren't busy or expecting customers. Speaking of which...

"It's the fifth of the week. Usually there are a few customers, but not too many. Part of the reason why I chose today for you to start interacting with them -
you shouldn't be too bored, but at the same time it should be easy enough to keep from being overwhelmed." He drummed the fingers of his empty hand against the counter as he drank more of his tea-breakfast, his fingers twitching slightly as if they were holding a graphite stick.

"As for your more personal project.
I believe I have identified another of the schools of magic. It is often considered dark, but I can assure you that it is hogwash." He was about to say what it was when the Homunculus asked him if he had eaten, and the alchemist blinked, looked down at his tea that contained his nutrient solution, and slowly lifted it up, staring into those purple eyes as he drank the brew.

"I have consumed an adequate amount of nutrients for the day, yes." He was not going to answer the accusatory look in those eyes, and slid his dark gaze towards the door, hoping a customer would come in to rescue him by distracting her.

[ArcanaFate]

Well, Nevin's kindness certainly knew no bounds.

First, he offered a nice cup of tea, the flowery scent reaching Ezra's nose before he had even set the cup down. Second, the alchemist had intentionally picked a slower day as to not have the Homunculi get overwhelmed by the villagers who might have questions outside Ezra's expertise. It was the perfect training day, so to speak. They hoped that the day would go smoothly, for both their sakes.

The discussion for the personal project perked the Homunculi up immediately, and their attention went full focus. Apparently, the alchemist had made some headway, despite how busy he could have been. The man had found out another school of magic that helped bind the Homunculi's body together, but before he could mention what it was, Ezra had asked about his eating habits. The man hesitated at the questioning, which, to be fair, might have thrown him off his train of thought, but he slowly drank his tea before answering. Something didn't feel quite right about that.

...'Consumed an adequate amount of nutrients for the day?' Why did he speak like that? It was much too formal for their usual social interactions. His gaze shifted to the door, and Ezra's brow furrowed. Between the wording and the refusal of eye contact, the similarities between Nevin's answers and the little child who had wandered in here and tried to trick the alchemist for more candy were too identical.

"Oh, is that so, Sir Nevin? What did you have for breakfast? Because if I find out you are attempting to lie to me, I will have no choice but to tie you up and teach you a lesson-" They paused as the door opened, and a gruff, older looking man stumbled in. It was clear by his clothing and build that he was one of the local miners, and Ezra gave a gentle curtsy and smile to the man.

"Greetings, sir, and welcome to Herbal Magick! Please do not hesitate to ask us any questions!" As soon as the man turned his back to look at one of the shelves, Ezra whipped their head around towards Nevin and stared at him intently, keeping their gaze locked. "We shall discuss this later."

[Nevin]

Nevin was extremely grateful that the miner, a man named Eustace, had come in when he did. This gave him a chance to try to figure out how to respond to Ezra's question. Cobalt, it was enough that he had the necessary amount of nutrients, right? It wasn't his fault that when he tried to do anything related to cooking beyond juicing things that everything ended up on fire, or just ruined. His nutrient potions got him through the meals where he couldn't get to the local tavern to get a decent meal, and that suited him just fine.

He doubted the construct would agree though, with the way she had shot him a glare before focusing on Eustace. The man was an older miner, one who apparently operated best in dark conditions, and in the well lit interior of the shop he actually had trouble seeing. He asked the white-haired girl where the Miner's Delight potion was, as his lungs had begun acting up a bit again, and Nevin watched as Ezra gently guided the man over to where the potion rested on the shelves.

A gentle, firm hold on his shoulder, and Nevin frowned as he tried to place where he had seen similar mannerisms. He had to twist a laugh into a cough and drank some of his tea, which was now almost empty, and waved the other two off when they looked in his direction. Ezra was acting like a farmer trying to guide a willing calf to water, firmly leading it where it needed to go. The two came back over to the counter and Eustace grumped about unnecessary changes sometimes being alright, then paid and left.

As he left a small child came in, rushing up to the counter with bright eyes and a bounce in her step. She smiled big and bright up at Nevin and Ezra, showing that two of her teeth had fallen out recently. She put a few coins down on the counter and asked politely for a few strawberry candies for herself and a grape one for her brother. Nevin leaned back, content to let Ezra handle this as he tried to figure out how to answer her without lying.

[FennWenn]

Fenn clung to Daugi’s scruff for dear life as the enthusiastic direwolf bounded over Stonevale’s cobblestone streets, the wind rushing past her tangled fur and his frost-speckled skin. Since Stonevale — and Nevin — were “mildly accustomed” to Daugi after the flea incident, there was no reason to leave her behind. Besides, direwolves could be a very useful aid in the art of persuasion. Should he need it. Which he shouldn’t. But he could. A shudder ran through the young puck, from his toes to the top of his head, and he gripped his companion’s mane all the tighter. What he needed to obtain today was, well, not a typical thing for him. Or for anybody, really.

Unless maybe you were a super sneaky assassin person. But, Fenn did not consider himself a super sneaky assassin person. He was not feeling entirely comfortable about this... request. All the same, if Banri needed it, he'd deliver.

Arriving at the cozy little shop that was Herbal Magick, the wolf slowed to a scrabbling stop and wuffed with pride. Jelly-kneed and a bit dizzy from the prolonged ride, Fenn slid off her back and wobbled his way over to the door. So Nevin had replaced it after last time! Soon as his hand touched the knob, the door opened up from the inside and smacked him up the noggin, sprinkling stars across his sight. “Oh, ‘scuse me!” the girl leaving the shop apologized -- then looked up to see the direwolf looming behind him. Her eyes bugged out of her head. “Aieeeeeeeeeeee!” Fumbling with her handful of candy, she took off in the opposite direction.

Sighing, Fenn rubbed his sore head and watched her flee. You’d think she’d never seen a big mutt before.

Leaving Daugi to lounge outside the shop -- and potentially scare off anyone who might want to interrupt her tiny pup’s shopping trip -- he pushed open the door and peered inside. As always, Herbal Magick was filled with all sorts of useful potions and medications. A moment was spent admiring the shiny, pretty, colorful bottles. An atmosphere of peaceful organization permeated the shop. Yet, there was just one thing that made Fenn pause; the person behind the counter was not Nevin.

If he hadn’t been a bit prepared beforehand, Fenn might have been worried. As it was though, the puck had caught a few rumors about a new apprentice. Perhaps this silver-haired androgen staring back at him was that. They seemed a bit like a porcelain doll brought to life. Flawless skin, symmetrical features, and something funny about their eyes. It was hard to place, like their he-or-she-ness. No amount of squinting would help him discern that. Snorting, Fenn shrugged it off and let the door close with a ding of the bells. Eh. Was this curious androgen that much weirder than a thirty-year-old boy? He doubted it.

“Oh! Greetings, child, and welcome to Herbal Magick! What might you need?” they called out to him. Their tone reminded him of Banri, somehow. He couldn't place it.

Shrugging off his initial observations, Fenn bounced up to the counter with a cheeky grin. It was tempting to rib the new not-Nevin a bit. So, before even bothering to inquire about what he needed from the alchemist, rib Fenn did. HELLO! he scrawled on the counter in a frost that naturally spread outward from his touch. NEV HAVE NEW LOVER? NICE OF YOU TO HELP HIM WITH SHOP!

[ArcanaFate]

Aiding Eustace with his need for a Miner's Delight potion was simple enough. The elder man had quite the nasty cough from his time in the mines, but the Homunculi knew that the potion was a common buy in the town. A lot of the miners enjoyed the reprieve from the chest pains, and Ezra had ended up trying one of the potions as an experiment, and rather enjoyed the minty flavor it contained. The Homunculi could never understand how the brews Nevin created could be so delicious yet the man could not cook to save his life. Another thing for Ezra to fix in the man's life to make sure he could sustain himself if they ever had to separate.

The little girl who came in next wanted candy, and showing off her missing teeth left Ezra somewhat confused. Why would someone who has already lost teeth want to eat something that would promote more teeth loss? They opened their mouth to ask, but the alchemist shook his head and they could only shrug in response. The little girl had the coin to pay for the candy, and it wasn't Ezra's decision to deny this little girl when she was being nice and buying candy for her brother too. As the little girl made her way out of the store, Ezra called out to her, "Do not forget to keep your teeth clean after ingesting the treats! Enjoy them!" They turned to Nevin for a confirmation of a job well done but only got the man with tea cup in mouth and eyes looking anywhere but the Homunculus. They sighed, slumping slightly against the counter. They thought it was a good thing. It was informative and to make sure the little one stayed safe? Why was it a bad thing?

The girl's scream as she fled from a rather large dog brought Ezra back into focus, and a small blonde child made their way to the counter. The child hadn't responded to their greeting, but instead took a finger to the counter and began writing out words onto the wood. Ezra blinked at the insinuation of being Nevin's lover, looking at the man for a long moment before letting out a small sigh. How did this child seem to know more adult topics? Calling someone your lover was a rather serious accusation, no? "I am sorry, little one. I am not Nevin's lover, as you have claimed. I am simply an apprentice for alchemy, and he is my mentor in that field of study. If I was his spouse, I assure you that the shop would look much more presentable, as would he. Never mind the fact he would be on a much healthier and much more consistent diet consisting of vegetables, proteins, and grains. But, I digress."

As Ezra spoke and kept their focus on the little Fenn, a flash of imagery appeared in the Homunculi's mind and begin to play out. They could see a small child in their arms, no more than a year in age, with pointed ears and raven-black hair. The little one's eyes were bright green, and a toothless smile shined brightly. A voice that sounded so similar to their own kept asking how their 'little dragonfly' was, and the infant would continue to respond in smiles and coos. As soon as the memory had appeared, it vanished and a single tear streaked down their cheek. The Homunculi continued speaking, apparently unaware of what had occurred. They, however, seemed to pause after their question, and their face contorted into one of pure confusion.

...Where had that come from?

They shook their head and let out a breath. "How may we assist you today?"

[Nevin]

Nevin had watched quietly as Ezra handled the two guests who had come through. Her manners were stilted, but that just made her seem older and more formal than she would otherwise come across as. Still, she handled them well enough, with a parting warning to the girl about her teeth. Nevin looked to one side, keeping the comment that it looked like the girl had had her teeth fall out as she was growing up, to himself for the moment, because he had seen movement outside the window. So as one person ran inside, Nevin's gaze was outside, on the window - and on the massive direwolf that was currently lying in the street, dozing in the sun. His eyes widened and shot to the person inside - yes, it was the boy. Fenn. Oh, this would be an interesting situation.

The Alchemist was already on his way to the counter when he heard Ezra reply, and it took a great deal of concentration not to scowl. Those Cobalt-taken rumors again, only this time he couldn't ignore them like he did when they targeted himself. The fact that they were now including Ezra was too much of a hassle. Thankfully the Homunculus shut that one down quickly, though... he did actually scowl at the denigrations against his shop. He placed one hand down firmly on the counter, leaning his weight on the arm as he leveled an irritated glare at the part time worker.

"While my appearance and my diet might be in question, dear Ezra, I would greatly thank you to not talk poorly of my shop. If it is so disreputable, you are welcome to move on." His tone was cold and forceful as he spoke. This shop took a great deal of work from the man, and the slight against it stuck in his craw like a spike of acid. He switched his gaze to the small child on the other side of the counter and managed to work a somewhat more passibly pleasant , though it was clear that the expression was strained and false. "Now, Fenn, what can we do for you? You certainly don't need more flea solution, do you?"

[FennWenn]

Outside the window, Daugi wuffed concernedly at the daft- er, unhappy alchemist. A warning bark of sorts; be nice to my pup.

And not without a good reason... Was it just Fenn, or did Nevin seem grumpy today? Really grumpy. Really super very grumpy. The little Fae shrank back from him a little bit, almost afraid to ask for what he needed, what with that stern face glaring so grinchedly! It was probably because this Apprentice Ezra person was lippy. These sorts of snippy exchanges were why it was probably for the better that the boy’s ability to communicate was hampered.

A bit more meekly than before, Fenn refreshed the frost on the countertop with a flick of his hand and wrote anew. Admittedly, his frost came out jagged, anxious; his magic's form always seemed to reflect his emotional state, whether he wished it to or not. IS A FUNNY STORY. VERY FUNNY, VERY LONG. DAUGI IS WELL, I AM WELL. SEE, NEED A THING, BUT IS NOT FLEA-FIXING STUFF OR HEALING STUFF. HARMING STUFF, IT IS, ACTUALLY. NEED POISON THAT WORKS ON FAE. YOU HAVE, OR NO? IS IMPORTANT, GOOD CAUSE, DOES PROMISE, the boy finished anxiously. DO NOT INQUIRE OF POISON USE PLEASE.

Phew. It was nice to have that out of his system.

Now that he had that out of the way, Fenn could afford to be distracted. In fact, he would much prefer to be. It was best to not think too hard about what he had just ordered. Candy flicked across his mind, but very quickly flicked back out. His last time nomming Nevin’s candy had not been pleasant. Wait… His liquid green eyes flicked over to Ezra. Specifically, to their gleaming braid. YOU SHINY HAIR. SHINY IS GOOD. I LIKE SHINY.

Shiny distracting. Yes.

[ArcanaFate]

Ezra blinked.

Apparently, they had hit a soft spot with Nevin as he seemed rather irritable for some reason. Perhaps he hadn't had enough nutrients today so he was a bit more emotional that usual? The Homunculi made a note to ask about his emotional well-being after the store was closed. The priority now, however, was the small child's request, whatever it may be. Perhaps some kind of potion for the large beast outside. Nevin mentioned something about flea medicine... did the creature have fleas?! By the Fates, what kind of demonic entities would even attempt to bite at that monstrosity? Ezra opened their mouth to ask a question, but closed it immediately as the ice child began writing out their request.

The jagged ice writing was slightly difficult to read, but upon closer examination, the Homunculi could only stare in disbelief at the request the child was making. Why would this little fae boy want poison? Specifically poison designed to kill other fae? When Fenn asked that he not be questioned on why he wanted said toxin, Ezra shifted their gaze back to the alchemist. They almost carried a look of worry, and placed their hand on the counter.

"...Do you actually make poisons, Nevin? And why is this small faerie child asking for such things? Are we able to sell said product to such a youngling?" They turned quickly back to the blonde child. "Where are your parents, little one? Your guardian? You are quite young to be travelling all on your own. Do you have a place to stay this evening?"

The compliment on their hair was quite the distraction, and the Homunculi stared in confusion. Most people found their looks to be strange and far from ordinary, but here this child chose to mention that they found their hair quite beautiful. They remained quiet for a moment, then tried their best to give a polite smile. "Th-thank you, little one. I appreciate your compliment. I like your ice writing. It is very good writing."

[Nevin]

Nevin frowned for a long, long moment at Fenn. The small Fae was doing his utmost best not to look at anyone, but the Alchemist merely sighed. He could tell that this would be troubling, and he hadn't intended for Ezra to get mixed up in a client asking for a more.... risqué, product. But, needs must when Cobalt flows, he supposed. At least she wasn't bad-mouthing his store anymore.

"You're more accurate than you know, Miss Ezra. Fenn is a Fae, and much older than he seems, despite appearances to the contrary. And yes, I do make poisons, I just have to custom male them as they're not very appealing to have on the shelves. Now Fenn." Nevin had lost any of the irritation as he pulled over his note book and flipped to an open page, twirling his pencil in long fingers.

"You say you need this to work on a Fae. If they're the same race as you, would that hallucinogenic from last time work? I can combine it with a sedative so that the victim falls asleep and has intense dreams as they pass on. I can even combine it with honey flavoring if necessary." His tone was brisk, businesslike, and he showed no signs of hesitating in the least in this rather morbid task. What he would tell Ezra later is that the poison would only work on a Snow Fae - so it was no threat to him if the blonde was being deceptive.

[FennWenn]

A compliment to his writing? Clearly, this new-apprentice person was optimistic — or a little bit of an idiot. Fenn’s writing was unabashedly awful.

DREAMING AND SLEEP IS FINE, the puck wrote hesitantly. Banrion hadn’t been very specific on what kind of poison she needed. Her only requirement was “causes death”. But, there were some practicalities that had to be applied, considering what he knew of the circumstances which called for the poison in the first place… HONEY FLAVORING VERY GOOD. WAS GOING TO COMBINE WITH BLACKBERRY AND PUT IN TEA. WON’T DO ANYTHING FUNNY TO POISON, RIGHT? ...so he wasn’t going to be judged for this order? Nevin was just going to handle this as if it was normal?

A breathless grin split the fae’s face. Huzzah!

At the same time, Ezra’s concerns struck Fenn with a curious realization. So, that was why their voice reminded him of Banrion. They were the motherly, scolding type. That was it.

As Nevin glanced over the boy’s writing and seemed to mull the concerns over. Fenn went back to scrutinizing over the androgen. Something about this apprentice continued to seem very off to the young puck. He would know uncanny, being the child-not-child that he was.

Curiosity stirred in his chest. Very strong curiosity. Without thinking it through, the boy was set into motion. For a brief instant, Fenn’s icy fingers reached across the counter to tap Ezra on their hand. It ended almost as soon as it began. Yet, the guilty-faced fae came away with his suspicions confirmed. They — Ezra — were shockingly warm to the touch; not physically, but in that funny extra sense that Fenn had trouble describing to other people, the one that vibrated his bones like dowsing rods. Ezra themself was magic-bright.

IS EZRA FAE TOO? he scrawled with a curious twitch of his ears. DON’T THINK EZRA IS A HUMAN. VERY MAGIC-BRIGHT, ACTS NOT-RIGHT— OFFENSE NOT MEANT.

Offense not meant, but answers wholeheartedly sought.

[ArcanaFate]

Ezra glanced between Nevin and the little Fae, brow slightly furrowed. Apparently, there was more to alchemy than just the usual potion and transmutation. It would make logical sense, though, that he was able to create poisons with ease. If one could make an antidote, it would be reasonable that they could create a poison as well. Although the worry still hung over their head as the idea of having been too trusting with Nevin held tight. If he was willing to make this poison for a supposed not-child, how far would he be willing to go in other aspects? Would he turn on Ezra at some point to experiment? They shifted uncomfortably as they leaned on the counter, but made sure to give room as the frost-Fae wrote out further questions.

...Fenn planned on poisoning someone's tea? Well, that was assassin-esque.

But an icy touch made the homunculus recoil in surprise, their body subconsciously pulling their hand away quickly. What was that cold feeling that had just washed over them? They glanced down, realizing that the little Fae had given them a quick tap to the hand. As Fenn scribbled out more questions, Ezra couldn't help but watch the little twitching of his ears. It was a rather endearing trait, and a rather odd urge to pat the not-child on the head was starting to fight its way through.

At the mention of being a Fae, Ezra blinked. It was a common mistake; with their somewhat odd appearance, they were often considered to be some sort of magical entity. Which wasn't far from the truth, in all actuality. If they didn't know better, the argument would hold some merit. From what Ezra could remember, the Fae had an extremely high threshold for magic and most of them could, in theory, become some of the most powerful spellcasters in the world due to their high mana storing capabilities. They gave a small look to Nevin before answering the little Fae.

"No, little Fae, I am not one of the Fair Folk such as yourself. However, you are correct in your assumption that I am not a human. It is... rather complicated to explain, but it is nothing of interest for you, I can assure you." They paused.

"And no offense taken, little one. However, you still have not answered my previous questions about your current lodgings. Are you currently without a residence to reside in for the evening?"

[Nevin]

Blackberry.... Hm. Nevin drummed the pencil against his notebook as the other two spoke, running through interactions in his mind to see if the numbing agent - a potent, and lethal, hallucinogenic for Snow Fae - would react adversely. No, no it shouldn't. Nor should it or the sedative be affected by being dissolved in tea. He nodded and focused his gaze back on the two.

"No. Unless there is something you aren't telling me about the subject, the blend should make them drowsy, and then sleep. They might see a few strange things which should be put off as exhaustion,
and then pass in their sleep if nothing interrupts it. If they're kept awake, they'll descend into a hallucinogenic state similar to what you experienced. Now then. This will have to be custom made, so I'll need you to come back in a few days to actually pick it up." Nevin sneezed and rubbed his nose with a frown of irritation.

He wasn't about to interject himself into Ezra's answering as to her nature - that was not his secret to share. It was... Strange to think about though. Nevin had been working on deciphering the alchemical runes - and while he couldn't process what the necromancy runes were about, he had seen a few that dealt with nullifying rejection. Just what had gone into the Homunculus' construction?

He would also need to talk with the androgynous one about what he would be working on for Fenn. No need to have her be freaking out about one of the darker aspects of Alchemy. He hadn't intended on introducing her to it yet, but he wasn't about to shy away either.

[FennWenn]

It was a relief to hear that Nevin was able to make the not-remedy. Fenn sighed and wilted gladly against the counter. A thumbs-up was flashed the alchemist’s way.

But, that he would have to come back here again in a few days? It wasn’t something he had expected; honestly, the puck had imagined Nevin would be able to just whip something up on the spot all magic-like. Nevin not doing that meant the boy was going to have to hang around town a while longer than he planned. He’d adapt though. His eyes squinched half shut as he tapped his chin and made mental calculations. There were probably enough unguarded wallets to go around to pay for any food he might need — both ones already in his bag, and ones as of yet to be illicitly obtained.

Experience taught him that it was not wise to directly steal food unless he wanted an adventurous run-in with the authorities.

As for the apprentice...

Fenn was burning up a little inside at being not told more about their unusual nature. A disbelieving stare was shot their way, followed by an irked puff of his cheeks. Knowledge being dangled out of his grasp? That was always very much of interest to the nosy little fae.

WANT KNOW MORE. MORE KNOWING IS GOOD. INFORMATION EXCHANGENESS. ANSWER QUESTION SO YOU KNOW MORE; AM SLEEP OUTSIDE, he wrote with dismissive cheer. WHO NEEDS RESIDENCE? NONE. HAVE DAUGI. VERY SOFT, GOOD FRIEND, SCARES AWAY MEAN CREATURES. Fenn had slept in beds before. In the time he had been under the care of a group of thieves, and whenever he visited John, he made use of them. Even so, he didn’t see why they would be a necessity. Grass worked just fine if you had a bag for a pillow and a cloak for a blanket.

[ArcanaFate]

"You are not sleeping outside for a few days while waiting on this toxin, Fenn. That is not healthy, regardless of your fae lineage. Your 'daugi', as you say, is a mighty powerful beast. I can easily tell that just by looking, but it would be better if you had an actual home to reside in while you waited for your product to be completed." Ezra stated, arms crossed over their chest. They had seen how the village mothers had spoken with their children when they misbehaved, so the homunculus was going to do their best to enforce some fair but firm discipline with the small frost fae. They leaned over the counter, arms still crossed over their chest.

"You can stay with me until your... elixer is complete, little one. I would rather have you close by in case there are issues that need to be addressed." They paused. "Also, my past is complicated. I was once human, I think, but arcane complications arose and now my appearance is of, well... this. I could not tell you in entirety of who I am, because I do not even know the answer to that myself. It is a mystery I am hoping to solve soon. For now, you can just consider your question as answered as there is nothing more to say on the matter."

Turning to Nevin, they raised their hands and began to stretch their fingers out individually. A few made small cracks, and the homunculus seemed to stare past the alchemist towards the back room where they knew his brewing station lay. They could only guess at the plantlife that would be need for such a specific toxin, but they had a few ideas of what Nevin might use. However, the potion would most likely require fine flakes of iron, if the old rumors were true about the Fair Folk's weaknesses.

"Sir Nevin, I assume you have all the ingredients needed for the elixer? Do you need to visit the blacksmith for iron?" They asked, placing their hands behind their back to stand at attention. "Or do you perhaps have a remedy that does not require said metal? As much as I personally dislike this choice, I cannot imagine you would do this for anyone. I wanted to learn the art of alchemy from you, and although I was not aware of it, this too is a part of the process and I shall assist however needed." They turned to Fenn, moving around the counter to stand over the smaller fae.

"As for you, what are your intentions with this potion? I only ask because I am concerned that such a young one would want such a vile thing is quite uncommon. Do you plan on drinking said potion to pass away peacefully? Or is intended for someone else? Perhaps another faerie who is currently hunting you? I do not feel that you should be dealing with such aggressive forces on your own, even with your canine companion outside."

[Nevin]

Fenn would live with Ezra? That was... The alchemist quirked his lips into an amused smirk. He wondered if the Homunculus was remembering that she lived with Nan. Of course the old woman would love to have a small child there, and he could already see how she'd be treating the blonde kid. Oh well, he wasn't about to butt in. The ever-so-logical construct had probably already considered all of this before making the offer. It wasn't like they'd act impulsively, right?

But, to address their concerns. He folded his arms across his chest, and let out a sigh. If he had his choice, he wouldn't talk about this with Fenn still present - but at the same time, the blonde was the precipitator of this conversation. So he could grin and bear it, even if he wasn't particularly interested in it. So Nevin shook his head after she asked if he needed to visit the blacksmith or the forge.

"No, I do not. The reactions of iron upon a Fae are too well known and documented. If someone was to check, the poisoning in that regard would be child's play to detect. Instead, we will be using something here in the shop." Nevin reached out and picked up one of the candies from the bowls on his counter, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth.

"This is, as you've probably surmised,
not Fenn's first visit to this shop. He is in fact, someone I've encountered several times now. We found d out though, the first time he came here, that the simply numbing agent that I have been using in these candies acts as a potent hallucinogenic upon at least the Snow Fae. If I had not acted swiftly, he might have perished on this very floor. That agent, combined with a sedative, will see this task complete. And Fenn was actually told to thank me for saving him at that point - though I know not by whom - so I doubt his own demise is in his plans. He hasn't purloined everything not nailed down, after all."

[FennWenn]

Fenn winced as iron was brought up, his hand unconscious grabbing his wrist for an instant, as if to protect it. Iron was a very bad thing to put into a sneaky-sneaky poison. Any frost fae who touched it to their lips would immediately recognize the burning sensation — and that their drink was compromised. Horrible injury became likely, but death less so. No no, that wouldn’t do. In any case, Ezra’s sterness was a bit startling. POISON NOT FOR ME. A FRIEND NEEDS. HAS PLANS, I NOT KNOW ALL, BUT I TRUST. It was certainly not the whole of the truth, but it was a particular version of truth nonetheless. Fenn sighed waved his hand dismissively, as if to waft the matter away. That was how Banri did things. LIKE YOU NOT KNOW ALL THE THING.

Though hopefully he’d know “more the thing” next time he talked this over with Banrion. He had no idea how deeply her plans went. How much was she winging, and how much had she mapped out?

Fuck, now he wanted answers of his own order.

When offered a place to rest the next few days, Fenn visibly startled. His ears flicked uncertainly as he mulled over the offer -- the command, really. Up, down, up, down. He didn’t know whether to smack down some sass on the criticism of his typical sleeping habits, or...

The fae bit his lip, looking a little cross-eyed as he kept thinking. Well, he could accept the offer. He supposed. If this was a temporary thing, that would be fine, right? Why on earth anyone would invite a grabby-handed street urchin ordering poison to their house baffled him, but sure, he could roll with it? Admittedly, a part of him felt as if it would be just like when he was with Raster — a part he very quickly smothered within his chest. The more practical side of him had a very different thought. MEALS FREE? FOOD IS GOOD. OOD INVITATION, WHY WANT ME?

Speaking of food! His next bit of scrawl in the sparkly ice was directed at Sir Alchemist Potionpants Nevin. ALSO YOU HAVE TASTY CANDY NOW THAT NOT MAKE ME SEE THE SCARY BRIGHT COLORS? OR IS ALL COLOR CANDY?

[ArcanaFate]

Ezra listened calmly to Nevin's explanation of the candy and the negative effects that it had had on the little fae. They watched as Nevin placed one of the candies in his mouth, and instinctively raised their hand to slap it out of his mouth. If it had been near fatal for Fenn, why would the alchemist eat the candy that nearly killed the Fae? Their hand faltered as they realized his words a little more carefully. It was poisonous to Fae, but he said nothing about humans. So maybe the candy was fine? The homunculi reached over as far as they could, grabbing one of the other candies from the container. The wrapper was a faded pink in color, and they could only stare at it for the longest time before slowly unwrapping the confection and placing it into their mouth.

Sweet.

Far too sweet.

With a noise of disgust, the homunculus spit the candy out of their mouth as quickly as possible, the orb speeding into the counter and bouncing a few times before coming to rest near the edge by Fenn.

"That was far too sweet. It tasted like pure sugar with some sort of berry juice. Strawberry, perhaps? And people actually like to ingest said treats?" Ezra asked finally, staring at the candy with disdain. "People are quite strange."

They turned to Fenn, whose message they had caught glimpses of in between their bout with the candy. "Of course I will feed you, Fenn. You would be my guest, so of course food would be provided. And why do I want you?" They blinked, looking between Nevin and Fenn for a long moment. Honesty was important, and lying was something that wasn't good. They weren't sure why, but the idea of lies in general often left them with a sick feeling in their stomach. Not telling the whole truth was an entirely different matter, but actual lies were bad. But do they mention the vision? That deep down, the idea of taking care of a child was something they were drawn to? Ezoreth had no heirs to speak of, so where was this feeling of parental instinct coming from? Did it have something to do with that vision they saw of the infant? Was that a sign?

Ezra realized that they had remained motionless and quiet for far too long, then looked down at Fenn. "To be honest, Fenn, it is... complicated. I suppose the easiest explanation I could give you is that I believe a child deserves a roof over their head and to be assisted to survive in a world where the darkness is lurking around every corner. I have seen less than desirable things on my travels and the idea of a child travelling alone, regardless of your fae abilities, concerns me about your well-being. But, I would also like to learn more about you and your kind, as I have yet to meet a faerie until this point. So would you be so kind as to listen to my inqueries?"

They turned to Nevin. "And, Sir Nevin, why would you put a numbing agent in the candy? Was it to dilute the overly sweet flavor of said candy? Because it is far too sweet."

[Nevin]

Nevin stared at Ezra for thirty seconds, his eyes wide, before he began chuckling loudly. This dissolved into him leaning on the counter as he laughed, and it took him almost a minute before he had calmed down enough to actually think straight and breathe deep enough to speak. He had taste tested all of his candies so he had never thought of how sweet they were - and as far as he knew, he was the only adult that had tried one. Well at least until now.

"Ezra, they're meant as treats for children. If anything, the village kids would like me to make them sweeter. The one you had was strawberry, I would suggest going for one of the yellow or purple wrapped ones next time, they are honey or grape, in order. And no, the numbing agent is to entertain the kids by making their mouth feel strange. Ahem." He pointed at the two baskets that sat on the counter.

"The basket Ezra and I just took candies from do not contain the numbing agent that affected you, Fenn. The other basket does contain it. Ezra, I didn't notice a difference between the two in terms of flavor, but I also don't think of the candies as overly sweet in either case, so my judgment in that regard may be skewed." With that he stepped back and let the two speak as he considered Ezra from behind.

The Homunculus could taste. Could actually taste, and wasn't just mimicking what they saw people do. If that had been the case, they wouldn't have thought of the candies as anything other than palatable - because he hadn't acted any other way, and neither had the children the construct would have seen eating one of the candies. That was astounding, regular Homunculi could not do that, they merely acted as they saw others do or as they were instructed to. It must be a result of the other school of magic involved in Ezra's creation - it seemed to have made her more real, more alive, than should have been possible.

The mysteries about his apprentice just deepened with the more he watched her.

[FennWenn]

Fenn was halfway tempted to lick the candy that had come to a bouncing stop before him, especially after Nevin clarified that it wasn’t a danger to him. He tentatively tapped it with a finger. Its sticky mess froze to the counter. The only thing that really stopped him from giving it a taste was that it was strawberry, when honey was obviously the superior choice. Thus, he ignored the strawberry-gob and reached for some (non-hallucinogenic) honey candies to munch for himself. They were swiftly unwrapped -- wrappers stashed in his bag -- and crammed into his mouth. Ezra was given a slightly bewildered look, and one of the honey-candies was pressed into their palm by insistent, frigid fingers. They had to try it; it was for their own good.

Who on Althanas didn’t like sugar? Concentrated sugar was the best. Failing that, they had to like honey. This could not be questioned.

Meanwhile, Ezra's reasons for wanting to take him in reeled through his mind. Psssh. Child. Psssh, in need of protection. He had plenty of parental surrogates in the past, and none of them had ever quashed his knack for getting himself into binds.

Come to think of it, how many had he gone through by now?

The puck noted them on the tips of his fingers. Zero. Raster, deaddad. One. Daugi, wolf-mom-friend. Two. Vincent..? Hadn’t talked to in a while. Nix for now. Two for real. Banrion, snake-y fae… grandma? She seemed far too old to be a mere parent. The boy puckered his lips into a frown. It was probably best to stop counting there. When one ends up as old a child as Fenn happened to be, one would naturally accumulate a lot of parental figures along the way. Was... “child” even the right word? Banri used it, and he kind of assumed that she was an authority on what fae were actually supposed to be like, but ironsting if he was going to accept that conclusion.

Wow, these candies were delicious. Maybe Nevin would let him have them for free. Y’know, after the last batch had almost maybe killed him. It made wonderful sense -- free was an acceptable price for any good.

NO WORRY OF ME. SURVIVES MONSTERS, EFFICIENT IN OBTAINING COIN AND FOOD, the puck scrawling, puffed up with pride as he sucked on the sugar. FACE DEATH AND FLEE VERY STRONGLY. BUT WILL ACCEPT YOU HOUSE AND QUESTIONS. FOOD IS MUCH LIKED. SOLITARY FAE, MAY NOT HAVE THE BEST ANSWERS. WILL LEARN ANSWERS THOUGH. LEARNS ALL THE THINGS.

A pointed look was given to Nevin. It was the sort of look that said, “I know you have secrets”.

EZRA TRY THE HONEY. IS GOOD FOR YOU, AM THINK.

[ArcanaFate]

"...Interesting."

Ezra had remained quiet between Nevin's explanation of the two batches of candies and Fenn's agreement to reside with them while the alchemist worked. It was rather exciting that the fae child had agreed to stay close as well as answer the questions they had. It was not often such a unique source of information wandered into town, and most of the readings that the homunculus could remember had very little in regards to the fae. Most said to never take a deal with a fae if offered, but they were inclined to being pried with gifts for good fortune. They were shrewd negotiators, but also followed through with promises of their own and would repay kindnesses given in some form. Although the readings hadn't been clear on the different types of fae, only mentioning the two courts of Summer and Winter. The differences between the courts would provide fascinating data, even if it was a minor difference of the culture in the courts.

"Fenn, I am quite sure any answers you give me will be more than satisfactory. We can discuss any knowledge you have over supper this evening. Is there something you would prefer for your meal tonight? And of course, Nevin, you are invited for supper as well." Ezra said with a small smile, but glanced over at the gold colored candies sitting in the container. The strawberry flavoring had been rather unpleasant, but if the little fae was recommending it would be good for them, who were they to refuse? Carefully reaching over, they pulled one of the confections out of the jar and pulled the wrapper apart. Staring at the little gold candy for a few moments, they dropped the gold orb into their mouth to compare the taste.

They blinked in surprise as a smile formed; but not one of their unusual and off-putting shows of emotion. Their face was relaxed and Ezra almost seemed in a tranquil trance for a moment before looking to Nevin.

"Thish. Thish ish much better tashting than the other one." The homunculus nodded, still enjoying the sweet candy in their mouth. "Almosht remindsh me of my old home."

[Nevin]

"Ah - I'm not sure I'd be safe from Nan if I joined you." Nevin's tone was light and amused as he leaned back, folding his arms across his chest as he watched the two of them. It was good to see Ezra interacting with Fenn. It was also interesting for him to note that their interactions with the small blonde were more...natural than most tended to be. For some reason, being motherly to the small Fae was sitting right with his apprentice, more than most things did. Another piece of the puzzle that was Ezra, they were almost instinctively motherly. The information was tucked away for consideration - he would think about what this portended at a later date. When he wasn't being threatened with dinner with his apprentice and their house-mother - Nan was entirely too forward, and had approached him a few times away from Ezra about 'when he was going to make an honest woman out of her'. No, no thank you. He laughed under his breath as Ezra took the candy from Fenn's hand.

This was probably going to go the same way the strawberry treat had. Aside from the natural source, he hadn't changed anything in the recipe for the different flavors so there were the same amounts of sugars and other chemicals in the two. He was already preparing to catch the candy when - a look of quiet contentment came over Ezra's face, tense muscles slacking a bit as their eyes drooped slightly. Nevin's jaw tensed up, to prevent it from dropping, as he stared with wide eyes at this. That... should not be the case. Why was...? He frowned slightly before wiping the expression of confusion away as Ezra slowly looked in his direction. When they spoke, there was a quiet....and distinct something, to their words that wasn't normally there.

"Well. You're always welcome to help yourself to one or two throughout the day my dear. And I'll teach you how to make them - so you can make them for yourself and your new...houseguest." He grinned and tilted his head towards the blonde Fae. "I'll warn you now, they do happen to be his favorite. I'd suggest having him collect the ingredients when he wants some. Else you're likely to always be working over the pot to make more for him." His tone was teasing as he winked at Fenn.

[FennWenn]

The fae lit up upon seeing Ezra happy-looking over the honey candy. Squeak. He wasn’t quite sure why they seemed blissed out on the honey candy, but he decided that it was probably just because honey was the most delicious thing there could be. It didn’t need the pretty-colors ingredient to be awesome.

He also stuck his tongue out at Nev for the teasing. The alchemist was probably right, though; any source of deliciousness was going to be milked for all it was worth.

More cheerful than before, Fenn laid down a new patch of frost on the counter. AGREE THEN. NEV MAKE POISON, WILL PICK UP. STAY WITH HUMAN-NOT-HUMAN NICE EZRA IN MEANWHILE. Between lines, he picked up a handful of candy and slipped it into his satchel for later. HONEY AND OATMEAL IS GOOD FOR MEAL. BEST MEAL.

A list of things to do in town to keep himself entertained while he was stuck here reeled through the boy’s head. Hear rumors, spread rumors, Glamour himself as Nevin, Glamour himself as spooky things, Glamour himself as famous people, see how much free stuff he could weasel out of the general populace by being cute, see how much he could steal without getting too many feathers ruffled, accompany Daugi on a hunt, learn more about Nevin, learn more about Ezra.

In short, test the limits of patience and common decency in this area. That ought to be enough to do for a few days.

Or he could do other, slightly less crazy things. Maybe. That didn’t sound as good though. Patience was not Fenn’s most prominent virtue, and his lack of it was going to manifest itself splendidly at any significant waiting period.

TOWN HAVE ANYTHING INTERESTING, OR I MAKE IT INTERESTING?

One of the main principles of thieving was that of distraction. While one hand wrote words, the other did it’s own thing. Stealthily, Fenn reached over to take a singular one of the color-making-ingredient candies, and popped it in his mouth. He had learned from the few left over in his satchel from the last incident in Nevin’s shop that they weren’t too bad if you only had one at a time. Making the world a tinsy bit more colorful-swirly never seemed to hurt anything!

He wasn’t sure the other two would approve though.

[ArcanaFate]

"Nonsense, Nevin. In a combat capacity, I am quite certain I could defeat Nan in combat. She is not even dangerous, so you will be most safe while you have dinner with us."

Ezra gave a few nods of confirmation before looking back at the small fae. He had wanted oatmeal and honey for his meals? That was somewhat surprising, as the homunculus figured that the young one would have a craving for more fruits or vegetables as a fairy. Perhaps that was just a stereotype from simple folks who didn't know any better? They shifted slightly, eyeing the puck with a curious gaze before looking back to Nevin once more. Not only was the alchemist going to teach them about alchemy, they were going to learn about making candy? What a curious turn of events. Ezoreth would likely be chiding himself if he was continuously getting distracted by such 'frivolous' activities instead of focusing on his tome.

Yet, the homunculus was alright with that.

They weren't learning as quickly, true, but they were adapting to society once more. They were immortal, in theory, so the education process would go on as long as it needed to. They could wander the world and learn from everyone and anyone, and truly become the perfect magus. Ezra blinked, looking almost stunned in revelation. Perhaps that immortality was Ezoreth's goal all along? Learn to live forever and continue to research and study and simply know everything about magic? It was a rather ideal dream, but perhaps it could be achieved! Now that the homunculus had understood their purpose, the research could move on ten-fold! Although, was that actually the plan? There might have been another idea Ezoreth was looking into, but that could wait. For now, gathering as much information from Nevin and possibly even Fenn would be the start.

"Fenn, the town is a small mining town. You would do well to make sure things do not become too interesting. There is an old saying about curiosity killing the cat, you know." They had barely read what the fae had written prior, but the fact he was looking to find something 'interesting' in the town did not bode well for others. Ezra had met people like that once upon a time, and it had not been the most pleasant experience. There had been enough trouble with the recent goblin attack; the homunculus had no intention of having more trouble and distracting from their research. With a small huff, they placed another of the honey candies into their mouth and ate it.

[Nevin]

"Alright, alright, off you two go.
Fenn, I'll be making your product and bringing it to Nan's house in the next few days - it might take me some time to gather all the ingredients you asked for, and test to make sure that it is actually effective. We can discuss payment when I actually have made it - I won't charge for something I haven't created yet. Now, shoo you two." The redhead stepped out from behind his counter as he shook his head with a smile on his face. Ezra had missed the point of his comment about not being safe at Nan's, but then again he couldn't exactly blame the Homunculus for not understanding - with only a loose understanding of their own emotions, they would probably be confused if Nan was trying to force them into a relationship.

At least with Fenn around, there would be someone else for the old lady to focus her attention on. He waited until the other two had left to go back and double check the list that he had made while they were talking about what Fenn wanted the poison to do - it was certainly something within his capabilities, and he was only missing a few of the ingredients necessary to make it. Tonight then, he would head out into the woods to gather what he needed.

[Breaker]

Thread Title: On Customer Service
Judgment Type: No Judgment

Nevin receives 1170 EXP and 110 GP!

ArcanaFate receives 880 EXP and 110 GP!

FennWenn receives 821 EXP and 77 GP!

Congratulations!

[Breaker]

All rewards added.