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astrocat · 04-21-2025, 03:48 AM

SPOILER!!: Nyle

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

The bell above the door gave a tired little jingle as Nyle slipped inside, already clutching his sleeve over his nose like a polite shield. The smell hit him straight away and it was pungent. Not necessarily unpleasant, but his nose could never quite decide whether it liked the mix of dragon liver, crushed, rosemary, and something definitely pickled that wafted through the air. He’d been here before, of course, but the scent always caught him off guard.

He let the sleeve drop as his nose adjusted, wide eyes drinking in the familiar chaos of the apothecary. Shelves full of bottles, pouches, jars, and powders stacked like chaotic little worlds. Clutched in one hand was a tiny carefully scribbled shopping list consisting of things mostly related to a summer project (he was attempting a mood-adjusting hand salve that shimmered faintly when someone was on the cusp of a brilliant idea), but also a few curiosity items that may or may not have emotional signatures. And also some knotgrass and lavender for a calming salve he wanted to try making. He also had a small hope (just a tiny one) that they might have moonstone or Valerian root bottled under a waxing moon. He didn’t need it for anything in particular—it just felt right to have ingredients that remembered light. He'd promised himself he wouldn't get distracted, but that was like planting daisy seeds and hoping for Devil's Snare.

Nyle was taller now, just a bit, but he still walked softly, as though the floorboards might have feelingsーa sentiment that had become almost overwhelming at home when he sat or stood in specific spots for too long. Something that did not appear to be a concern a the moment, the shop pleasantly busy and buzzing with murmurs and clinks of glass. Nyle rocked gently on his feet, swaying like a herb stalk in a summer breeze, humming tunelessly under his breath as he browsed. He was just as happy to people-watch, read labels, and maybe—just maybe—offer a pressed pansy to anyone who looked like they needed a little bravery.

He paused at a shelf of oddly shaped flasks, the glass catching the light like fireflies. "Excuse me?" he asked, soft but clear, directing the question toward the nearest shopkeeper or helpful-looking shopper. "Would you happen to know if any of these were bottled under moonlight? I think that might affect how they... feel." He hesitated, then gently tapped a jar with the back of his knuckle, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

Stemp House had a comfortable supply of typical potion ingredients that were available for Phoebe and other homeschooled residents to use, but if she was going to return to Hogwarts (which she fully intended to do, no matter what anyone said), she needed some of her own. So here she was in the apothecary, complete with her favorite overalls, a full face of makeup, and a baggy green sweatshirt that said Give yourself room to GROW.

She was perusing the shelves quietly, checking things off a little shopping list that had been unfolded and refolded enough to be falling apart- she wasn't a loud presence in the shop, and didn't intend to speak to anyone if she didn't have to. However, she couldn't help but overhear a younger year asking about the bottling techniques of some of the ingredients. And- and- Phoebe was no expert in potions- she wasn't even very good at all- but she hadn't taken her OWLs for nothing, and she'd stared at those ingredient bottles long enough to know a thing or perhaps two. And- she could never resist the urge to help, no matter how much she would rather keep to herself. "It says it on the label, at the bottom," she answered reflexively, turning around to face the other student. "It won't usually say if it hasn't been bottled under moonlight, but it definitely will say if it has been. And- it'll usually be reflected in the price too." He should definitely be checking the prices on that... everyone should, really... everything was expensive these days, so you would only be finding the most basic ingredients in Phoebe's back to school cart.

04-21-2025, 03:48 AM	#35 (permalink)
astrocat Puffskein Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: New York City Posts: 2,177 Hogwarts RPG Name: Cameron Rhodes Ravenclaw Fourth Year Hogwarts RPG Name: Phoebe Calypso [s]Dupont[/s] Slytherin Seventh Year Hogwarts RPG Name: Charlie Fox-Matthews Hufflepuff Second Year	Which came first, the phoenix or the flame? SPOILER!!: Nyle Quote: Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie The bell above the door gave a tired little jingle as Nyle slipped inside, already clutching his sleeve over his nose like a polite shield. The smell hit him straight away and it was pungent. Not necessarily unpleasant, but his nose could never quite decide whether it liked the mix of dragon liver, crushed, rosemary, and something definitely pickled that wafted through the air. He’d been here before, of course, but the scent always caught him off guard. He let the sleeve drop as his nose adjusted, wide eyes drinking in the familiar chaos of the apothecary. Shelves full of bottles, pouches, jars, and powders stacked like chaotic little worlds. Clutched in one hand was a tiny carefully scribbled shopping list consisting of things mostly related to a summer project (he was attempting a mood-adjusting hand salve that shimmered faintly when someone was on the cusp of a brilliant idea), but also a few curiosity items that may or may not have emotional signatures. And also some knotgrass and lavender for a calming salve he wanted to try making. He also had a small hope (just a tiny one) that they might have moonstone or Valerian root bottled under a waxing moon. He didn’t need it for anything in particular—it just felt right to have ingredients that remembered light. He'd promised himself he wouldn't get distracted, but that was like planting daisy seeds and hoping for Devil's Snare. Nyle was taller now, just a bit, but he still walked softly, as though the floorboards might have feelingsーa sentiment that had become almost overwhelming at home when he sat or stood in specific spots for too long. Something that did not appear to be a concern a the moment, the shop pleasantly busy and buzzing with murmurs and clinks of glass. Nyle rocked gently on his feet, swaying like a herb stalk in a summer breeze, humming tunelessly under his breath as he browsed. He was just as happy to people-watch, read labels, and maybe—just maybe—offer a pressed pansy to anyone who looked like they needed a little bravery. He paused at a shelf of oddly shaped flasks, the glass catching the light like fireflies. "Excuse me?" he asked, soft but clear, directing the question toward the nearest shopkeeper or helpful-looking shopper. "Would you happen to know if any of these were bottled under moonlight? I think that might affect how they... feel." He hesitated, then gently tapped a jar with the back of his knuckle, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. Stemp House had a comfortable supply of typical potion ingredients that were available for Phoebe and other homeschooled residents to use, but if she was going to return to Hogwarts (which she fully intended to do, no matter what anyone said), she needed some of her own. So here she was in the apothecary, complete with her favorite overalls, a full face of makeup, and a baggy green sweatshirt that said Give yourself room to GROW. She was perusing the shelves quietly, checking things off a little shopping list that had been unfolded and refolded enough to be falling apart- she wasn't a loud presence in the shop, and didn't intend to speak to anyone if she didn't have to. However, she couldn't help but overhear a younger year asking about the bottling techniques of some of the ingredients. And- and- Phoebe was no expert in potions- she wasn't even very good at all- but she hadn't taken her OWLs for nothing, and she'd stared at those ingredient bottles long enough to know a thing or perhaps two. And- she could never resist the urge to help, no matter how much she would rather keep to herself. "It says it on the label, at the bottom," she answered reflexively, turning around to face the other student. *"It won't usually say if it hasn't* been bottled under moonlight, but it definitely will say if it has been. And- it'll usually be reflected in the price too."** He should definitely be checking the prices on that... everyone should, really... everything was expensive these days, so you would only be finding the most basic ingredients in Phoebe's back to school cart.