About mid-way through Drive-in Liminal

[wolvering]

Hi everyone! This is Pod, if we haven't been introduced yet. I've been thinking about the Forstfolk from Yensid and what they could do. Magic brews like that are really useful, and I think I remember how to make them and what they do, but...

Well, my overlay found out the hard way that they don't work quite the same on humans, and if we're going to use them, we should know what they do first! Does anyone want to help me test what different ones do on different people? I can only turn into a couple other things besides human, so the more help the better. And it will go faster if I don't have to wait for the effects to wear off each time. If you want to learn how to make the potions too, we can work on that together.

Actually, I know it's not the most exciting thing, but it's always good to have backup, and I know my herblore very well by now! If anyone wants to learn about healing plants and what to do with them, I'm happy to teach. I don't think I can teach my magic, but the herbs will probably pass beneath notice in more places than magic would anyway.

[There's a long pause.]

One last thing... My overlay had some kind of magic power that let her convince other people to give in to what she wanted and I think I kept it too. Could somebody help me test that out? I want to be sure exactly what it does.

((OOC: a log if anybody would like to thread out experiments or get a teaching proof, etc))

Comments

[leftbehindagain]

I can help out with brewery tests, Touwata-chan.

[wolvering]

That would be wonderful; thank you! Your overlay was really good at that--

[And Pod stops suddenly, because she's just stumbled on some bad memories she hasn't quite shaken from the jaunt.]

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[leftbehindagain]

What's wrong?

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[wolvering]

Just some bad memories. Hazel was... really lost. Um, not just physically either.

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[leftbehindagain]

I dare say I know the feeling.

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[wolvering]

[After a long moment of silence.]

They didn't come back.

[She's pretty sure Naoki will understand, given his overlay's sister.]

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[leftbehindagain]

I'm sorry.

She'll find a new home, I'm sure.

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[wolvering]

She already has one; she just can't find her connection to it. I just want to-- I'd box her ears for her, if I could. It's all right in front of her and she doesn't understand it.

...and somehow it hurts worse to have and to lose, then never have at all.

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[leftbehindagain]

She's had different experiences to you. She'll get there in her own time.

It does and it doesn't, in my experience. There's still something worth treasuring even after someone's gone.

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[wolvering]

At least she won't have to worry all the time about going feral anymore.

[There's a sigh.]

It was new, I'll give them that. I'm just-- It makes me think about what will happen when this game is over, I guess. I have to go home, but what if... Nevermind. I'm probably worrying my head over nothing.

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[leftbehindagain]

We don't know who's going to be setting the terms at the end. You may not have to go home, and if you do go home, you'll have the chance to build something new for yourself.

[pretentiouself]

What kind of side effects are you expecting? No one came across anything long lasting, right?

I'm not human, though, I'm an elf born to human parents. I don't know if that would be particularly useful to you.

[wolvering]

Nothing bad, and they won't last long. But the thing is, every potion works a little differently, depending on who takes it. For example, my overlay was making potions to change the color of fur--hair, I mean, and skin to hide better. But when a human tried it, she turned bright pink for a few minutes instead.

And it will be useful if you ever want to use a potion! There are healing potions too; those are probably the more important.

[pretentiouself]

...I'm not sure I feel like being pink, even for a few minutes. I guess sacrifices have to be made though.

Do you have an idea how to test healing potions without actually being injured?

[wolvering]

I don't know; I think you'd probably look good pink!

[There's a little laugh.]

And I'm working on the last part. Unfortunately, waiting until someone is sick or hurt before experimenting isn't a great idea either.

[runs]

You're Hazel!

[First things first, we can go about actual contents of anything later.]

[wolvering]

Uh--

[There's a feeling of almost befuddlement for a split second.]

My overlay was Hazel, yes. I'm Pod. Oh, I think I recognize your voice. You were the cat who spied on the meeting with Hazel, weren't you?

[runs]

Well [okay] you're Hazel like when you meet someone again after a Carnival party and you go "oh you're Elvis!" Like you aren't, but you were wearing that when you met last.

[Anyway.]

Yeah. I'm still Kitty! How old are you now? [Just to make sure. You never know who turns ancient out of overlay.]

[wolvering]

Oh, yes, I get that. Hazel was just a little... harder for me so I'm trying not to think of myself as her right now.

Well met, Kitty! You'll need to meet Kiga, he's my brother-in-fur. And, um, I'm 15 or 16 I think?

[runs]

Because she was too similar?

[It hasn't really happened to her - she's had one infiltration and that was very different - but she absolutely gets having difficulties with multiple people that are too much you.]

...........What fur? [Please don't tell her Kiga is a dog. And she sounds a bit dejected when she continues.] Oh. Then you're almost an adult already.

[wolvering]

Kind of. It's complicated.

[Pod really doesn't want to talk about it, so she barrels on. Kiga is a much safer topic.]

Well, other people call them familiars, but that's not quite right. We're not witches or anything. Kiga is a woods dog--um. I think in most worlds they call his kind wolverines? But now he's also sometimes a dragon from Jangwa! We both like flying a lot.

And I'm a Journeywoman, so yes, almost! I'd be doing my solo trek at home now, but I'm here instead. I guess it counts, but I don't think the Masters will believe me if I tell them.

[runs]

[Kitty thinks she gets it. Sometimes other people can only say wrong things.]

...So he's like, a big dog? [Wolf dog?]

You can always only tell them about parts of it.

[wolvering]

Closer to a badger or a marten than a dog, I think. I'm not really sure why they're called woods dogs. They look a little bit like a small bear with a longer tail, but up close you can tell that they definitely aren't bears at all.

[There's a little laugh.]

I'm kind of thinking I'll have to, but I still don't think it'll count unless they can confirm where I've traveled.

[runs]

...That's better.

[She's too much of a cat for this.]

Maybe one of us can visit your home and confirm for you. [She still works with all of this being somewhere in the Hedge, so it'd "just" be a question of finding the right exit out of it and then going back into it and finding the way back once the confirmation has happened.]

[wolvering]

Oh, do you think we'll be able to visit each others' homes? That would be such a wonderful thing!

[Pod is completely distracted by that prospect, especially after being hazel.]