--- Kat ---
Kat was wondering if this was a step too far. Sure there were still rooms but it was just... a lot. She was making dinner and she had quite a few mouths to feed. Still within her skillset... but part of her thought it was a bit much on Steel’s food stores. The other part of her mind was pointing out that alongside the ingredients for Appoline to make the potion there was also a crate filled with random foodstuffs. A subtle indication that it was fine?
Regardless, they now had the main three, herself, Hedera and Lily. Then there was Appoline who had invited Tweedle along once again... then there was also Tanisha and Furen. Apparently going ho would be a massive problem considering it ant either making dinner herself without both arms, or going to see her parents and breaking the horrible news. She wanted to do neither and that... sohow resulted in her coming along?
Regardless, the food was given to her personally by Steel before he ran off... though not until after he grabbed one of the ready made als left for him in the basent. He didn’t SAY anything, which is what muddled the ssage slightly but that had to be positive. Even still... *How did we end up with so many people?*
[Well Appoline is here so she doesn’t get kidnapped again, and Hedera is part of our group. Those are the obvious few. Furen was added to that number because there’s a worry she’d be kidnapped as well... it’s the last two that are a bit weird. However, there was so worry about letting Tanisha go by herself and you caved pretty quickly when she asked for a al. Finally, Tweedle is here again because Appoline is planning to teach her how to make the anti-scar potion.]
*Huh... I would’ve thought she’d want to keep that more secret?*
[Nobody asked but we can once she’s called in for food.]
*Well I’m nearly done with the cooking, most of its already ready so I guess grab everyone and... hmm... might have to use the big table actually. Too many people for the one in the kitchen.*
[On it.]
Kat started to use her tail to help with finishing the prep while she bundled away the rest of the food in her storage bracelet for the mont. There wasn’t space to keep it all there longer term, especially not with all the plates and things... but just for a quick trip to the dining table? That was fine. Even if Kat did have to leave a few other things she’d picked up on the table in the kitchen. It really was a lot of food.
When Kat made it to the table, Lily had already gathered everyone. Kat didn’t ask HOW she’d gathered them, but considering Tanisha was pouting in Lily’s direction it probably wasn’t bundled in shadows. Or maybe it was and Tanisha was pouting over the fact Lily had stopped.
As Kat was dishing out the food she asked, "So, Appoline, I was curious as to why you’re showing off that scar repair recipe. You ntioned that a lot of the costic stuff is where you make your real money for research and that seems like sothing that would fall under that umbrella. Though you also do like to teach... but then why just Tweedle in that case?"
"Ah, you’re correct on both accounts. The main reason for giving it away... is that it’s simply my version of soone else’s recipe. It’s not an original, just one I’ve made better... if harder to brew. I’m hoping that by teaching it to soone I can learn how much harder I’ve made it and if it’s to the point that I’d need to rework it for wider distribution.
"As for the money side of things? I’m sowhat using this as an advertising opportunity. I need a LOT of funds to start remaking my lab and I’m essentially using Tweedle to show off. If she knows a, theoretically, valuable recipe then when I offer to teach others for a large upfront sum they’ll understand that it’s safe and vetted by the guard, while also acknowledging that I WILL hand the thing over. Plenty of alchemists simply will not or will lie about their recipes to avoid needing to.
"As for why Tweedle specifically? While I have been giving her a few tips and tricks she didn’t start her alchemy career learning from and that’s better in that case. I’m essentially hoping to see how hard she finds the recipe, if I can claim to teach this to ’any competent alchemist’ or not, and lastly... I am fond of the little thing." Tweedle made a high pitched whining sound like a steaming kettle but Kat decided to ignore it.
"Fair enough," agreed Kat with a nod. "So this isn’t experintal?"
"Not at all... assuming the ingredients haven’t been tampered with. I had a brief look over them and they seem to all be correct so I’m not worried but a proper investigation before brewing sothing as delicate as this will be needed. Oh, though I HAVE already made a proper healing potion so Furen should be able to talk now," Appoline levelled a glare at the other elf who just shrugged. "Don’t you shrug at . I know you can talk now."
"What if she’s got damaged vocal cords?" asked Tanisha.
"I could fix those if they really were damaged, but I’m nearly certain she just enjoys not speaking for so reason," Appoline comnted. Furen wiggled her eyebrows while giving a smug grin to the rest of the table.
Kat nodded, it seed Furen wasn’t even going to try hiding it. "Fair enough. What else are you planning to sell?"
"I’m not certain. It depends how I want to go about it. I could hold an auction for so recipes, I could publish a book, I could make individual deals, either for single recipes or multiple. I might decide to share exclusives, promising not to teach anyone else or I might simply try to teach as many people as can afford to pay . Depending on what I decide while change what exactly I decide to sell.
"Generally, the harder a recipe is, the less I risk handing it over. Doesn’t matter if it’s a potion everyone wants to learn, if it’s so hard to make that the failure rate is above fifty percent, I’ll still have plenty of business even if I charge more. Well that or I’ll have a better profit margin. Depends how the other alchemists price things. So like to make it a price per attempt," explained Appoline.
"Per attempt? Why would anyone pay that?" asked Kat.
Appoline shrugged, "If there is a potion you need and no alchemist is confident they can manage it, sotis people pay just for the attempt. Especially if they’re the ones with the recipe. A fresh recipe might take a few tries even if it’s all written in plain language. Making sure it all mixes isn’t always easy or obvious how you go about it. Sure a recipe can be quite specific but if you mix sothing into a ball instead of cube or only need to half mix it during one step and fully mix it during step five... sotis you just have to get in so practice."
"Right... still seems weird that they’d pay for the potion multiple tis even if they’re not getting it more than once," sighed Kat.
"Well if the recipe is available most alchemists are willing to try ’at cost’ so to speak. Price of ingredients and not much more. Getting to practice harder brews is a rare thing. Not all alchemists are innovators like myself, even if many wish they could be. The chance to test a difficult potion on soone else’s money is perfect," explained Appoline.
"I... um..." Tweedle paused after registering the newfound attention. It took her a mont to gather her courage, but she managed it. Perhaps because she was agreeing with Appoline already. "It’s true. I know plenty of alchemists who... well they just don’t make enough money yet they dream of big things. They... well they’re mostly lazy because health potions really are good money if you’re willing to make them.
"Still, for a lazy person to have a shot at the big leagues... and soone else is paying for it? So many agree. If they can manage it once they tend to get the weird idea they can actually sell the potion from that point on... even if they only succeeded on like the tenth try or whatever. It’s a bit delusional..."
"Eh, people can be like that in any profession," added Tanisha. "Much as it hurts to say my bro thought he was good at combat. Didn’t matter how many tis I had to bale his scrawny ass out. He ’succeeded’ in the mission so obviously he was good. My backup ant nothing. Guess it was going to catch up to him eventually,"
Kat swallowed her bite of food. *Bit morbid for a dinner conversation... but... err... hmm... nevermind.*
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