She blinked and stared at the pink eyed white haired woman. Whose soft lips pursed in distaste. Eteri was not surprised that the woman found the stuff foul. It was fake. If the woman did eat blood like Eteri assumed, she would have to imagine that fake chemically synthesized stuff just would not work. “No good?” Eteri asked. There was a small pause before the catgirl continued as her hand disappeared under the counter and pulled out a notebook. She turned to the nearest blank page and began writing. Her own handwriting was poor compared to the meticulous script on the prior page. “One waiting please.” Eteri murmured as she slowly wrote one sentence. Her golden eyes re-read the three words over and over again as she slowly whispered the words. Clearly she was not adept at writing tradespeak. Still. The woman was slowly learning. ‘Need fix fake blood’ before shutting the book and looking up at the woman.

Eteri wasn’t sure what to make of her. How to help her. Her frustrations from earlier had disappeared as now they were finally getting somewhere and if truth be told. Eteri was incredibly curious about her. Her hair looked so soft and silky, Eteri wanted to run her fingers through it. Her lips looked soft, albeit a little dehydrated … but soft enough that Eteri wanted to poke them. Did they feel like marshmellows?

“We have real blood if that better?”

“In vials?” the woman asked, her face lined with worry. “But who are they from? Would you allow me to look at your records and see who the donor was?! How do I know they were not harmed in the process?” she sounded very nervous.

Eteri furrowed her brow at the slew of questions they came in quick melodic succession. “Uhmm…” her ears twitched as she slowly answered. “Eteri was going to just put her--ah.. No...my blood in vials. Can write name on paper for the record if like?” Eteri didn’t get what the big deal was. The girl was being so overly cautious and afraid. Was this blood thing new to her? Or was she ashamed of it?

Eteri wanted to know and when she wants to know something, you can be damn sure she’ll ask. Social cues were not the nekojins forte’.

“Why so scared?” She asked. “Am good.” Eteri gave her chest a small thump with a fist. “Eteri can make more blood than most.” She tried to explain it to the best of her ability, although with the language barrier it wasn’t quite articulate properly. “See.. Nevin uses blood lots. Eteri blood helps him get energy. Took lots. Body adapted, now is like.. Uhm...what is word for fountain?”

The pale women looked very alarmed and threw up her hands in a sign of innocence. They shook visibly. “I - that is very interesting information, but it's not entirely necessary. If you have no potion then I will find another alchemist. I just want a solution, I do not want to harm anyone. Keep your blood for your … boyfriend.” Then she paused. “Wait. He uses blood? For what?”

“Potions. Strength...Uhm…” Eteri crawled onto the counter and crossed her legs as she shoved her skirt into her lap then her hands. It was difficult to explain. Especially in a language that was not her own. “Nevin…” Eteri leaned back as her eyes darted across the store, briefly landing on different vials and potions as she mulled over the question. “Nevin… might be god of blood? No...uhm.... It… he can use it in special ways. You should definitely come back to Nevin when he here. No other Alchemist can do blood stuff.” Eteri’s eyes landed back on the timid girl. She gave a slow nod. “Mm… yes. No other will do what you wanting.”

Eteri perked up again with a smile. “Oh! No worry. No harms will happen. Eteri not bothered by blood being taken. Happens lots. Nevin will make potion with it Eteri bet!”

The woman looked alarmed. “I do not want a potion made from blood, I am looking to see if your Alchemist can make a solution that does not require me to drink it … at all. But rather able to give what nutrients I need from it in a fairly regular manner and dosage and …” she trailed off, her arms hugging her cloak a little tighter, as she took a moment and sucked in a large gulp of breath. “I need to drink it fairly regularly. What you suggest would just be a temporary solution. When will this … Nevin be back?”

“Not understand.” Eteri said bluntly as she leaned forward, the temptation to touch the other woman winning over any sense of social responsibility or tact. The catgirl reached out and pressed the pad of her index finger against the girls nose. “You. You drinking blood to live yes?” She didn’t give the stranger a chance to reply. “Then why not do it? Why make hard for you?”

Eteri sighed as she shook her head. “It like saying Eteri no eat meat...that crazy talk. You crazy you know?”

Eteri slid off the front of the counter and landed in front of the woman. Her nose wrinkled as the woman took a single step back. Eteri ignored the action and took another step forward. “Nevin be back in two or three days. We is closed tomorrow.”

The woman's eyes kept staring at the finger that had touched her nose. She shook slightly before she mumbled. “Two or three days … I don't have that long. Perhaps two but … I cannot guarantee that.”

She let out a sigh, looking up to Eteri, looking paper than before. “You might not understand but I don't want to rely on real blood.”

“But if you need… if it is how you are why go against that?” She was right. Eteri didn’t understand it at all. It sounded completely ridiculous. “Not have that long? Is you leaving town?” There was a pause as her mind slowly connected the rather obvious dots in front of her. “O..ooohh...you need food cause is hungry?” Eteri took a step back and tousled her hair with her fingers. “Gah...you so confusing to Eteri.”


Eteri turned her back on the woman. “If wanting to starve yourself go ahead. Not need deal with your crazy.” It was the pot calling the kettle black, really. Eteri wasn’t all too sane herself. When it came to Nevin, she was borderline obsessive at times.

“Life meant be fun. Not hard. If you want not rely on blood then Nevin is person who can fix.” Eteri disappeared as she crouched back under the counter, pulling out the note and paper again. “Come…” She beckoned for the strange pink eyed woman to follow. “Eteri not write good, need you help. Write to Nevin what wanting. He can make.”


The woman hovered for a moment, swaying slightly before she looked over. “Hmm?” She asked, eyes blinking a few times. Her eyes dropped down to the paper. “Ah yes, sure.”

Eteri smiled then leaned closer. Her nose wrinkling. Now that the woman was inches away the catgirl could smell her. The scent of a forest...no, a forest after gentle rainfall. It was an oddly unique yet definite smell. Eteri leaned closer still as the other wrote in Nevin’s notebook. “You smell.” There was a long pause as pink eyes slowly rose then narrowed at Eteri.

“Not bad! Like forest.” Eteri picked up a few strands of hair and lifted them to her nose. “Mmm like fresh rain on forest Eteri think.” She rubbed the strands between her fingers. “Much soft yes.”