Day 293

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

Who: Rob, anyone
When: Day 293
What: Rob's Alchemy skill has increased. Or just grab him to talk if you want.
Where: Anywhere in the Bastion
Format: Will match
Warnings: None

For Colin

Rob's been spending a lot of time in the laboratory area this past week. He told Colin what he was doing - trying to make an invisibility potion from various ingredients that Paarthurnax bought in preparation for learning to make healing potions - but he hasn't been offering updates on how that's been going. If asked he's been having trouble processing the plants into reagents correctly, along with a few minor issues with a brewing process that's beyond what he ever tried to do in science class.

Today though, while Colin's back is towards the stairs, Rob comes down as quietly as he can (and of course because he's trying to be quiet he's louder than he normally is) and approaches Colin from behind with an open bottle in his hand. Assuming Colin doesn't respond to his incredibly obvious approach, he'll cough loudly. Either way, as soon as Colin starts to turn his head during this process, Rob will quaff the contents of the bottle. When Colin's gaze finally passes over where Rob's standing, there won't be anyone visible. For the next 17 seconds. Homemade invisibility potions in Skyrim don't last very long.

For Paarthurnax

When Paarthurnax looks like he isn't busy with anything, Rob crosses the bridge to the Dragonfield and approaches him.

"Hey, uh, Paarthurnax? Can I show you something?"

For Everyone Else

There's a tough-looking long-haired man walking around in mammoth-hide sandals, cargo shorts, a tank top, and a rabbit skull and leg bones strung out on a necklace around his neck, the faint blue glow of a shard coming from each eye socket. He's clinking slightly as he walks, which may be related to the bulges in the cargo pockets of his shorts. Whether you've seen him around before or not, if you want to talk to him now's a perfect opportunity.

Comments

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

Rob will just stand and let the two of them look cute together uninterrupted for a bit. Anything he has to say or do here can wait for a bit.

[daughterofursa]

Well, Kizuna seems okay, so Zuko finally calms down herself and looks back at Rob.

"Thanks for finding her." A pause. Yeah, is he looking at her funny? "What?"

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

"No problem. Nothing. Though actually..."

He reaches into one of the cargo pockets of his shorts and pulls out a bottle of transparent red liquid, holding it out to her.

"Here. It's an invisibility potion I made. Lasts for 17 seconds. Might be useful on the Skyway."

[daughterofursa]

She takes it, looking confused. What is this and why is he giving it to her?

"Invisibility potion?"

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

"Yeah. I made it from the nirnroot and ash creep plants that Paarthurnax had the Monument make. I've been teaching myself his world's alchemy for the past couple of weeks and I finally got it to work."

[daughterofursa]

No, just back up again.

"You're telling me that if I drink this, I'll be invisible."

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

Rob grins and produces another bottle from his pocket, filled with an identical liquid. He removes the stopper, raises it for a moment like he's making a toast, then downs it.

One second Rob's there, the next he's not.

Well okay there's a very slight distortion in the air if one looks closely, and if Kizuna can see body heat he'll still be visible to her, but aside from that he is indeed invisible. He begins moving in a circle around the two of them, the grass bending under invisible feet if she's paying attention.

[daughterofursa]

Zuko starts back a little and Kizuna makes a little noise of surprise. Where did he go?? She crawls from one shoulder to the other, baffled.

Despite being firebenders, Rob's body heat isn't exactly a heat source that either of them is capable of sensing. But Zuko is a good enough tracker that she does notice the movement of the grass, and she tracks his footsteps with her eyes.

"...it'd be almost perfect in the dark."

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

So far, both of the people he's shown this to have been able to tell where he is. This isn't boding well for its usefulness. He stops walking once he sees her following his footsteps.

"So long as you're not up against Colin. Turns out he can see body heat, so this invisibility doesn't work against him."

[daughterofursa]

At least Kizuna seems to have lost track of him?

Zuko frowns at the mention of Colin. "I know. I'm not interested in sneaking up on Colin anyway."

Frankly she's not interested in having much of anything to do with him.

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

"I'm not convinced that sneaking up on him is even possible at this point. But yeah, something like this might be useful as a distraction in battle. Create an opening," he reappears suddenly, "while they're caught off-guard seeing you vanish."

[daughterofursa]

There he is! Rob has Kizuna's rapt attention. She seems very impressed.

"Or an opening to get away."

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

Rob smiles at Kizuna.

"That too. But yeah, I figured you'd be able to make good use of it. Besides, you put up with my flailing around every day. I figure I should be giving you something in return now and then."

An invisibility potion is probably more valuable to Zuko than an apple.

[daughterofursa]

Zuko nods and tucks it away into her belt sash. She isn't quite sure what she'll do with the potion, but she's never had the option of being literally invisible before. Just very sneaky.

"Thanks. You are improving though. I don't think I'd call it flailing anymore."

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

"Still not that good though. Haven't had much real-word experience lately either; the squirts and gasfellas don't bother me much when I'm with Colin."

[daughterofursa]

"There is a big difference between training and actual battle. You improve a lot faster when you have to."

She pauses, remembering what she'd thought when Jane and Anna told her someone was sneaking out at night. "But that doesn't mean you should go looking for a fight."

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

[/reads that thread, laughs]

"I know, and I'm not. Especially not after Colin telling me about the squirts."

But there is that part of him that pictures himself charging into an epic battle while being out of bubblegum, despite the rest of him objecting to the idea on various grounds.

"I just... feel like I'd be better if I had more experience outside of training."

[daughterofursa]

"You probably would be," Zuko agrees. "But, maybe you should consider it a blessing if you never get it."

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

"Maybe. But if I ever need that experience and don't have it..."

[daughterofursa]

"Just... make sure you're never on your own. You should be all right."