The Amell Legacy: Transgressions

[Varric]

"...probably yeah. But why go that high? Salamander liver, fire elemental ash... red or gold dragon blood... way cheaper and just as strongly aligned," Varric proposes, then frowns. "Well, maybe not the ash... gold dragon might be best, if you're going for a mental boosting effect- avoid alien or non-sapient sources."

[Marian Hawke]

"Because of the transmutive element. Gold dragons have it, but it's uncontrolled. The phoenix feather is more manageable."

[Varric]

"So toss some powdered bedrock in there," Varric says with a shrug. "Some basalt will not only stabilize the lot of it, but also reinforce the fire aspect a shade. Add some stone, sure, but that shouldn't hurt anything."

[Marian Hawke]

"It will, though. It-- I can't explain, it will-- Hang on." She digs in her bag, yanking out a sketchbook and scrubbing down some figures in a mad rush. "You see? Small effect, but it compounds, until it's nearly undone the difference."

[Varric]

Varric mutters to himself slowly, then nods. "Yeah... yeah okay, you're right. Damn. Let's see..." he says, running back up to the top and reading it all again. "Hmm. What about..." He taps about a third of the way down. "This is temperature based. Can't lower the temp of the entire potion during the brew- would ruin the sage and salts from maturing- but what if you froze the stone dust first? Compressed it into a ball with some of the springwater based- just take it from the starting amount- so it would defrost and disperse slowly. Need to increase the amount by a pinch or two but..."

[Marian Hawke]

"But.. that would..."

She frowns, deep in thought; a moment later, her face lights up. "Oh! I see!"

Then, with no further warning, she's out of her chair, racing up the stairs, eager to get back to her alchemy set.

[Varric]

Varric smiles as she races off, then sighs softly. "...I miss that."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Children?" asks Helene, tilting nir head a little.

[Varric]

"What? Gods no!" Varric shudders. "Children are... prototypes or something. No, I mean being that... excited by things. I get a jolt from a break-through, sure but not like that. Not anymore. Getting jaded I guess."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene nods. "Children have so little fixedness to their minds, they are more flexible. As such, they see the world through new eyes every day. There is much they can learn, so much to excite them -- and so much they can do, having never been taught otherwise. But we teach them hatred before we teach them mathematics. And so much is lost."

Seems some rest did Helene's language capabilities considerable good.

[Varric]

"Yeah," Varric agrees with a wan smile. Never really thought much about kids. "You... seem better."

[Helene Dakesh]

"Improving," ne says, with a small smile.

[Varric]

"Glad to hear it. Literally in this case," he adds with a grin. Without thinking much about it, he adds, "missed hearing your voice and our talks."

[Helene Dakesh]

Ne blushes, just a little. "Agreed. This one was frightened."

[Varric]

"...it was... rough," Varric agrees, eyes drifting out the nearby exterior door.