RP:Carnal Cluelessness & A Comforting Concoction

Summary: Lanara invites Penelope to lunch at the Enchantment Apothecary where they share a heartfelt reunion after having spent a year apart. The chatty girls discuss the events that transpired in Lithrydel and in Kelvar, before moving onto talking about their frustrating love lives. Lana shows Penny how to brew milk of the poppy, which is useful in relieving a patient of pain or rendering them unconscious. The women part with plans for making their men possibly swoon, and with promises of a friend-date catered by Chef Gordyn Whamsey.

Part of the Lunar Tides and Silver Linings Arc

Lanara sits at one of the long lab tables to the rear of the room, staring into space and seemingly lost in thought. A picnic blanket lies draped over the left side of the table and an assortment of finger sandwiches, a bowl of fruit salad, a platter with cut up vegetables, and a tray of fresh baked brownies, has been neatly arranged in the center. Various dips and condiments, napkins, plates, silverware, and cups have been set out for two, and a pitcher of spring water with lemon is available for drinking. To the far right of the table rests a small cauldron, a mortar and pestle, and various herbal ingredients, as though the witch were about to brew a potion after having some lunch. Lanara has stopped by Yerrel’s Hut a few days prior and seeing that Penelope wasn’t there, she had left a note with details about meeting up today with Ruari, and hopes that her friend will show up. The witch is a familiar figure to most citizens of Lithrydel, though she only considers a select few to be in circle of closeness, and Penelope Halifax is one of those people. “She’ll be here soon, I can sense it…” Lana speaks to the tikifhlee that sits beside her chair; having shrunken into her housecat sized form so that she didn’t destroy the apothecary. After all, Forath had been kind enough to rent the place to Lanara for the day, to afford the witch and her lunch date some privacy! The woman wears a simple gray sweater dress and black knee-high boots, with a lavender scarf around her neck, and has pulled her hair into a ballerina’s bun atop her head. A hint of makeup and the faint scent of perfume would be noticed on the witch, as well as the fact that she had lost quite a bit of weight in her time away from the land. Curves are less pronounced and her cheekbones stick out slightly more than usual, but aside from being underweight Lanara looks much the same as when she last had lunch with Penelope.

Penelope received the letter from Lanara days prior. It was the day she had returned from her voyage at sea. One where Lionel, Kasyr, and her were recruited to find a protective shield on an island full of goblins and… froads? The letter that was given to her by Ruari almost made Penelope’s jaw drop. “Ruar, Lanara is back?! Did you –read- this?!” Ruari just blinks at the freckled Ardelian and shakes his head. “Nel, she was here. At Yerrel’s. She gave me the letter…?” Only thing was is that Lanara Banks did not even give Ruari a second glance. As in… the flirtatious kind, and he was rather salty about it. Skipping forward from that moment of received letter, today was the day to meet Lanara, and Penelope had easily located the apothecary. There was a mystical and lush ease of Enchantment. One that made the Ardelian giddy at the thought of travelling there—even if it was next door to Kelay. As the girl walks in the potion shop, she halts and her eyes drift across the room. The healer was draped in a grey chunky sweater, black pants, black boots, and a camel coat to bite the chill. Penelope had also been thinner, but not underweight. Just toner than usual due to the heavy travel and adventures that she had been wrapped up in. Moss eyes officially land on the witch one that had appeared thinner than before, and it had been the unhealthy kind. The underweight kind. Nel’s brain, however, does not register it yet because her eyes grow big, her grin grows from ear to ear, and her feet start padding in an excited little girlie dance. “Aaah!” It was the good scream. The girlie kind. “Hi!” The girl squeals and arms are open wide because ready or not, here Penelope Halifax comes for a fat hug.

Lanara is just about to pour herself a glass of water when the door opens and the chimes give their telltale jingle that someone has entered the shop. Was it Penelope? Equally as excited to see her friend, the witch cannot help but giggle at the excited girlish glee that escapes the healer’s mouth, as she answers with a squeal of her own. A few drops of water fall onto Cinder’s head as Lana places the pitcher back upon the table and readies herself for one of the Ardelian’s tight hugs. The feline is –not- amused by any of this and storms off with a disgruntled meow, as she had enough of the wolf boyfriend, that healer man that ogled her witch mama, and the shrieking hippie. Couldn’t Lanara surround herself with people less annoying, Cinder wonders? Meanwhile, Lanara wraps her arms around Nel and gives her a squeeze, “I’ve missed you!” Her tone is crisp yet soothing, as she realizes that Nel is the first one she didn’t have any reservations about embracing. Touching had been awkward for the witch, but she was slowly warming up to allowing friends in for a hug or acquaintances with a handshake. Tiberius had been the only exception to the rule, along with every other rule the witch had made up in her mind. “How have you been? I stopped by to see you and Ruari just sort of stared at me? And then he read the note and frowned! I hope he isn’t upset that I didn’t include him on the invitation?” Lana releases Nel from the hug and motions for the woman to sit opposite her, “So! I brought us some lunch… And I have a little surprise set up over there!” She motions to the designated ‘lab’ area of the table, before she piles some food onto her plate, “Tell me –everything- that has happened in the past year! How are you? How are things with Lionel? Linken?” She pauses before asking the next question, “Did… Did Kyori pass away? I visited Nancy at the tavern in Kelay and she said that he’s no longer staying there?” The last time she had seen the spellblade hadn’t been a fond memory, as he had fallen into a coma after sustaining some serious injuries.

Penelope wraps the fragile woman in a friendly embrace. Lanara seemed smaller. The girl pulls back, smile and all, and eyes sort of trace the figure of the witch. There was a note, but no show of worry. “I’ve missed you too! Holy cow! This last year has been –insane- without you!” The enthusiastic girl then frowns when Lanara mentions Ruari. “Oh, he’s just ticked because he has the hots for you. He has this imagination of me setting you two up, and literally you –just- got back. Boy needs to chill.” The Ardelian ogles at the table before taking a seat across from her. “Oh my goodness, this is so sweet and thoughtful. And a –surprise-? Please, you’re enough.” Knowledge did strike the cat, however because Nel cannot stop glancing over at the lab. Such a sucker for knowledge. Literally. All Penelope did was suck knowledge in like a sharknado. “Wow, you’re the first person to ask me how I am in so long. It’s like people don’t know what courteous small conversation is anymore. It’s all we gotta destroy this, search for that,” the babble mouth cannot stop talking. Maybe that was a good thing for Lanara’s sake, but then mention of the three blonde men have her stumped. Her lips sort of gape. Linken… “Uh, Linken,” there was something off, and the topic had led to heaviness. “Let’s just start with Kyori,” she says quickly, but at that name red creeps up her neck. “He woke up, Lanara. There was a kid who led me to him. I was able to save him in time, and he woke up. He’s well, but I haven’t seen him in quite a bit.” Basically, he kiss and ran in her mind. Most men did not that she minded. The aventurine stone ring on her finger is twirled. She knew, though, that she could tap it and he would come to her, but for some reason, she had not. Perhaps keeping men at a distance had been easier for her. “But he’s good. Alive. Healthy. Rest assured.” The girl then squints, “Lionel, well, wow, we are not even three minutes in,” she reaches out to pour a glass of water. The room was thickening in her eyes because a lot has happened regarding men. Trauma, heartache, romance, all-the-works. She gulps down some of the glass. “Here tell me something about you instead. So, how are you? You made it! How’s your daughter? How’s the return?” Beat. “Talyara told me Kelvar was in plague. Did you find the cure?”

Lanara keeps smiling as Penelope seems so obviously thrilled at her return, and it’s the most flattered she’s felt in the longest time. Of course others had missed her, but this had been the most heartwarming reunion to date. Meri had poked and pinched her, thinking she was an apparition; Tiber had mixed emotions about seeing the witch but after a few days they were back on track; Taly hadn’t even been home when she first stopped by; and Khitti had been giving her the silent treatment for whatever reason! Penelope’s excitement has touched the witch so dearly that she pauses mid-bite into her cucumber and cream cheese finger sandwich, “My year has been insane without –you- in it! I’m so happy we are together again!” Even if only for a few weeks, she thinks, unable to bring up the fact that her life force is slowly fading. Lana’s pentacle is no longer worn, as it’s been replaced by a unique hourglass pendant, which is covered by a scarf. She wasn’t taking any chances, as out of all her friends, the girl from Ardelia is the most perceptive! “Ruari likes me in that way?! I’m… Wow. I’m sure this will go to his head, so don’t say anything, but he is really handsome!” The man was good looking, but not her type, as she only had eyes for a certain lycan. “However, Tiber and I officially got back together about two weeks ago.” The two women are notorious for being chatterboxes so it’s no wonder that the moment Lana stops talking, Penelope kicks up, and the circle continues to repeat for hours on end! “It’s okay if you don’t want to discuss Linken…” She senses it’s a sore subject for her friend and reaches out to place a reassuring hand on Nel’s arm, however it’s at that second that Kyori is brought up that Lana’s hand smacks the table in astonishment. “Wait, what?! KYORI WOKE UP!? Ohmygoddess that is the best news I’ve heard in a long time!!! He’s well, and he’s healthy, and all that jazz? Yes! That makes me so happy!” It would be difficult to explain what happened to Natianara to the boy, as he was great friends with her deceased daughter, but she refuses to dwell on that right now. The flush in Nel’s cheeks is noticed, and like a cat about to pounce upon a canary, the witch leans in conspiratorially, “Don’t think I haven’t noticed your blushing Miss Halifax! Details, please!” Were Kyori and Penelope an item? Did she ever have that date with Lionel? Lana doesn’t even have a moment to inquire about the Catalian as the inquires are turned upon her own lap, “Oh. Uh. Um. I’m… Great? Natianara is…” The happy reunion with her friend is suddenly diminished by vocalizing the name of her recently departed daughter, and Lanara knows that talking is the best therapy. Meri knew that Sharna and Nat had perished, but no one else, and Lana trusts that Penny will keep her secret, too. She will just leave out the part about –her- pending death! “Natianara died, sadly… As well as my Aunt Sharna. I didn’t find the cure in time… The plague is contained.” In her own veins. “Kelvar has been sealed off so there aren’t any contamination issues, and a few dozen refugees are residing in Enchantment.” Chocolate hues swim with tears, though none manage to fall, “I’m just going through a lot regarding what went on in Kelvar, but I’m getting back to my old self.” It’s their first pause in the conversation, and Lana busies herself by making Nel a plate. There’s so much food, they could feed a small army, and most of it is placed before the healer. “So! Back to you! How have your studies been going? The Guild?”

Penelope (1/2):: There was a lot that was slipping out of Lanara’s mouth. A reassuring squeeze—that the Ardelian appreciated by the way and made a sign of relief wash over her. There had been new scars with Linken. Always scars. This time, on her collarbone and stomach. Thankfully they had been covered by garments because if Lanara found out that Penelope almost died, well the Ardelian could not imagine. Just as she could not imagine if Lanara did either. Anyway, the witch makes note about Ruari, Tiber, and even the curiosity of Nel’s blush. As Lanara bounces on the fact that there is a blush, the girl flushes in the opposite hue of white, but her nose then crinkles. “Before you share and before I talk more about Kyori, you think Ruari is –handsome-?” Well, the Ardelian had been the most oblivious because of men in general. The girl takes a moment to contemplate. Okay, Ruari was tall, easy on the eyes, dark lush hair, and well, if the good noodle really thought about it, yeah Ruari was a killer in the game of looks and personality. “Well, oh my gosh you can da—“ and then she is cut off by the sound of the name “Tiber”. The Ardelian wanted to groan, but out of the positivity of being a friend, she knew she had to hold her tongue—this however, was Penelope. “The hippie hater?” She then moves on, but in good faith, any move that Lanara makes is one that Penelope trusts. The woman listens to Lanara and cants her head. An intent look of curiosity, gracefulness, and sorrow appears on her face, and a hand reaches out. “Lanara, my condolences. I,” she can tell the pain in Kelvarian’s tone, but she know there are no words for death of the loved. “Plagues are wretched awful curses, but I’m glad you made it. With the rest of the refugees, and I hope you and them find peace while here in Lithrydel. We’ve been waiting for you to come back home, Lanara.” For the Ardelian knew that Lanara had made a home here after growing up in Kelvar. “If there is anything I can do for you or the refugees, let me know. I know it’s hard to adjust.” The girl then sighs before leaning back to look at all the food. The girl had been hungry. She was always hungry.

Penelope (2/2):: Before the healer addresses her studies, she dabbles back onto Kyori and the Catalian. “Oh before the studies topic, Kyori and I, uh, kissed. Kyori was there for me the most when I needed him. He made me laugh and let me lean on him when I needed another eye. We had this… bond. This understanding.” She could not go into complete detail due to the secrecy of their connection. “I don’t know where he is, though. I haven’t seen him in quite some time,” a part of her wondered, but a part of her knew she had to move on. “It’s complicated though.” She shook her head. “During the two month span of helping Kyori, Lionel had been kept trapped on this archipelago. That’s where he went after our date. He couldn’t get to me. But, uh, somehow, after that travesty, we are now… dating. Distantly. It’s been sort of hard because Lithrydel is kind of at-stake with no time to really dabble in what is happening in our… relationship? Of course, now you’re back and you’re hearing this.” Beat. She grabs the plate of food and shoves a forkful in because stress-eating, and then begins to talk while eating. “Which brings me to studying and the Guild. I’m helping the Warrior’s Guild to, uh, save Lithrydel. Lots of travelling. Adventuring. Studying. Training, even. It’s a lot, Lanara. You really don’t want to know anymore.” Penelope could not even fathom what her life was right now. Chaos.

(Post 1 of 2) Lanara wonders if perhaps Penelope should look into having her eyes checked by Yerrel, because it boggles her mind that her friend didn’t find Ruari easy on the eyes! “Wait. You are –just- realizing this?! But, you’ve worked side by side for years and are super close!” Before Lana had truly come to know Nel, she had assumed the duo was dating, but now she realizes that poor Ruari is the dude that keeps getting friend zoned time and time again. “Hm. Maybe we can set him up with Venin at the Sanctuary.” She was fond of younger men with dashing looks and easy smiles… But, she also had the personality of a wasp and didn’t inherit much beauty. The two continue to eat and chat and it’s when Nel confesses that Kyori kissed her, that Lanara finds her mood perking up immensely, as her worries about Kelvar and all that happened are pushed from her mind. Death was a fact of life, a necessary step in the endless circle, but newfound love? Crushes? A kiss?! This is the sort of topic that Lanara live for, as she’s in love –with- the aspect of love! “Ooh! Kyori kissed you?! That is so cute! Soooooo! Is he a good kisser?” A sip of water is taken as she listens to her friend gush over how the two of them had formed this unbreakable bond and Lana gives a knowing grin, “It seems that he is rather taken with you… I know Kyori is a good guy, he has a guarded heart but once he lets you in, I think you’re in forever. It’s a shame that he’s off adventuring again… And Lionel, too?!” The witch isn’t all that surprised to hear that the warrior is finding a way to save Lithrydel and is off fighting demons in another dimension, because in truth, that’s Lionel’s life of work. The man was born a freaking hero and she can recall two occasions where she had to step in and help him in a bind! “Lionel is –also- a great man…” Penny and Lionel are dating? Long distance? “Long distance dating is really tough, because you never know when the person will return.” She doesn’t say anything to put a damper on their relationship, but it’s obvious Lana is far more excited to hear about Kyori’s kiss than she is of romancing the Catalian. Perhaps the one who is constantly facing danger is the safest bet, and that’s why Lana prefers the opposite for her healer friend. “Yes! Tiber dislikes hippies. Don’t fret, he called me a tree hugger like five times this week.” She laughs, “We crashed a wedding and we saw Meri and got matching tattoos!” A hand lifts to lower the scarf so that Nel can admire the ink upon her flesh, just behind her left ear, there is a crescent moon and some stars. “Things have always been serious between us, but I can’t tell if Tiber is in –love- or if he will ever get there… I mean, the guy is sleazy in his line of work, we all know this… He’s handsome, a charmer, wealthy, everything a girl would want! So, obviously, he has probably been with like fifty women, but he hasn’t even –tried- to make a move on me and it’s been two years off and on, and I sleep in the same bed.” Lanara is a little frustrated about this, thinking there is something wrong with the lycan’s sex drive, or perhaps that she’s not desirable. The witch bites into a brownie, the perfect cure for boy woes, “You’re in the Warrior’s Guild?!” She blinks, as she didn’t think she’d return to find Nel wooing two gentlemen, saving the world, behaving like a badass, and so much the same yet so different. “I guess we better move onto your surprise then, because it will really come in handy… For the healing, tending to wounded, and even for yourself should you require some relief from pain.”

(Post 2 of 2) Lanara waits for the two of them to finish their lunch and drinks, making some small talk along the way about a few things that were going on in the lands. It’s strange that the witch moved so swiftly into the discussion of her time in Kelvar, of her heartache, and now she was babbling about boys and medicine. Clearly, she didn’t wish to dwell on things she couldn’t change, and losing her daughter had taken a far deeper emotional toll than she’s willing to admit. Lana wraps the platters once they have finished, but she keeps the brownies available, as they both could use the extra calories and chocolate should never be turned away. “If you want to bring some of that back to Yerrel and Ruari, feel free! Let’s go wash our hands and then head over to the other side of the table.” A basin with warm water rests in the far corner of the room, with a bar of fragrance soap, and after the two had sanitized their hands, Lana would lead Nel over to the array of items she had set up on the lab table. “I’m going to teach you how to brew milk of the poppy, today. I’m sure a few others in the land could teach you, but I have my Aunt Sharna’s recipe and it has less of the addictive properties and the dosage tends to last a bit longer.” The witch points out the ingredients, “Poppy seeds, lemons, rose petals, water, honey, almonds, milk, and willow bark! The first thing we need to do is begin by warming the milk, so I will add that to the cauldron and as that heats up, we can work on the rest.”

Penelope (1/2) Penelope shrugs at the idea of Ruari dating a Venin? She knew no such person, but Lanara was always playing matchmaker, so the healer normally just went along with it. Penelope knew jack-squat about dating 101. Lanara then asks if Kyori was a good kisser, and Penelope really scarfs down a cucumber finger sandwich. Holy cow, Nel, slow down. Her cheeks are bulging. “I mean,” it is hard to hear the Ardelian before she swallows. “It was…” passionate. “It was wow.” I mean, anything was better than her ex, right? Linken, the used-to-be charmer, had strayed far from her romantic mind. Kind of. Aeric and Alexia, his children were still in her home. She would leave that out though. “And I don’t say that often, I mean, I haven’t been that breathless since Lionel kissed me before the finale of Kahran.” What was this man spiral Nel was on? It felt so strange. “I feel like there is so much to open up with Lionel that I’m not seeing. But maybe it’s because he’s on the battlefield all the time, and that’s his vulnerable world? But there –has- to be more. I know you’re thinking distance might be hard, but… I mean, I don’t know. We don’t know. I think the man is just as clueless as me.” The woman scratches her head before shaking it. Time to move on. Moss eyes watch Lanara before canting her head with a smirk on her face. The way Lanara talks of Tiber, Penelope squints. “Maybe it’s all fake,” the amateur romantic says. “Maybe Tiber actually –hasn’t- been with any girls, and that’s the problem. Maybe he doesn’t know how to –you know-. Honestly, looking at Lionel, it seems to be a Catalian thing? Maybe Tiber is just some awkward nelly even if he puts up this hard, sleazy, charming front.” The girl also reaches for a brownie before filling her mouth. Chocolate resides on the corner for a minute or two before she licks it away. “Maybe he doesn’t know what love is because he has never been with someone.” The girl concludes. Penelope should just stick to books, really. This was not her line of work in romantic advice. The girl then widens her gaze at Lanara’s spurt of surprise towards Penelope in the idea of the Warrior’s Guild.

Penelope (2/2):: Penelope grins at the thought of learning a pain relief surprise. A healer’s delight. The girl nods along with the brownies comment even though she wanted to hog them for herself. Penelope helps where she can with the clean-up. She then moves to follow the witch. She washes her hands in the basin to sanitize herself before moving to the table with Lanara. The Ardelian is finally met with the surprise of learning milk of the poppy! Yay! Surprising that is not something that she has learned yet, which was a key ingredient for people injured—especially in battle. Since the healer is always prepared with her medical bag, she pulls out a journal and some charcoal to etch notes as they go. “Wow, you really know how to make a girl happy. You’re saving my behind. Literally in a few weeks, we are getting our first attack. This is going to come in handy.” The girl then claps in intellectual enthusiasm. The girl jots down a few notes. “Warm milk, check,” the healer exhales. “What’s next?”

Lanara is delighted to step into teaching mode, as it’s been a while since she’s taught someone a piece of her craft, and first and foremost, witches were healers! “As you know milk of the poppy is used to treat extreme pain, and in high enough doses it can render someone unconscious if you need to prepare them for surgery. It works very quickly so those that have been mortally wounded will benefit most from this drink. However, once you make a batch, it must be used within three days! It can lose its effectiveness fast.” The poppy flowers are motioned to, as Lana gently extracts one from the bunch and points to the unripe pod, “We want to make a slice here, and the seeds will pour out.” She lifts her boline and makes the cut in the designated place, and as the seeds pour out, they are tossed into the bubbling cauldron. “Okay, so you work on the rest of the flowers, and while you do that I’m going to dice the almonds and squeeze some lemons into the mixture.” A glance at the vial of rose water is given, as she explains, “To make rose water… You must pluck roses as soon as they exit their budding phase, those are called the ‘hips’ of a rose. You take the petals and you place them in a jar of water and leave them outside on the night of a full moon.” Lana thinks for a moment, before continuing, “It pays to have a few on hand from time to time, because you never know when you will need to make a batch of milk of the poppy.” The healer makes mention of an ‘attack’ happening in the next few weeks and the witch instantly thinks of her friends and family, her brows furrowing in concern. Lana won’t be here to witness such an attack, but she doesn’t want anyone she loves to die, either! “I’ll be sure to write up a recipe for you and drop it off… The amount of ingredients needed and the dosage is different depending on how many people will require it and their age and weight.” Nel would know that mathematics often went hand in hand with chemistry, and the stuff Lana is showing her is just the tip of the iceberg. “So the willow bark is mostly used to stir the mixture! It has some great uses to help reduce inflammation, too. You just break off a piece and if a few shavings drop into the milk, that’s fine, it won’t hurt anyone.” The water and the honey are measured carefully, and tossed into the cauldron, “Okay, so now we wait. It should be a creamy texture, milky in color, and the smell should be sweet.” Nel’s cutting skills are observed and Lana encourages the woman to pour in the seeds, and to practice stirring with the willow bark, “I generally let it brew for about thirty minutes, and then I remove it from the flame and let it cool before giving it to any patients. You can store it in any container; just make sure the lid is on tight!” As Nel writes down the list of ingredients and takes notes, the witch thinks on what she said regarding Tiberius being a virgin, “Honestly… I asked him if he’s into men and he said that he wasn’t, so maybe you’re right!” Khitti and Meri told her to punch him and see if he was into the rough stuff like most Catalian’s, and there was the entire mishap regarding her makeup, but she makes certain not to mention these things. “Maybe I should buy him some flowers and candy, a little bit of wine, some sweet talking… I don’t know about these things, I’ve never had to deal with an inexperienced male, before.” Lanara shifts the focus from Tiber’s lack of lustful habits to Penelope’s love triangle, “Well… It seems to me like you like both men enough to be in a relationship, but not enough to be content. I know a guy… His name is Gordyn and he’s an amazing chef! He’s a little rough around the edges, but he’s a nice guy. Blonde, too, much like Lionel and Kyori… And he may not wield a sword but boy can he swing a spatula!” Of course her advice when in doubt with two men is to just add a third to the mix, as if that will solve anything! It seems Nel and Lana are both equally as lost when it comes to love!

Penelope listens to the witch carefully. The Ardelian newb witch keeps her eyes on each step. Her hand scribbles the notes that Lanara addresses about the mixture. Three day use before expiration and slicing the pod for the seeds to flow. The girl takes the boline before moving to continue to slice open the rest of the pods, watching the seeds pour out before throwing them in the steaming cauldron. Rose water had been something she had made in the past, so she thought. Maybe it was a fancy drink she made called ‘rose water’ because there was no full moon step until now. Penelope, during the time, is awfully silent, but if Lanara were to look at her gaze, it is squinting and focused—serious. The Ardelian could flip on a coin and be engaged in a new lesson, for the woman was a fast learner. “That would be great to drop off the recipe. I’ll take the notes, I just need the amount varying on the patient.” The cutting skills are smooth, for the woman had practiced on actual living flesh before, so that was a breeze with cutting the flower. The girl takes the bark and stirs the mixture, waiting for the milk to become creamy. She watches the concoction carefully as it brews. Time ticks, and Penelope knows that she has to wait for the thickness and the sweet aroma. The girl etches down a few more notes before taking the willow bark again from Lanara as the witch talks. “I’m telling you, Lana. He’s probably nervous because first relationship? It’s common. Not saying Lionel hasn’t been in others, but I’m just saying. It’s not –unlikely- that Tiber hasn’t been. Especially because it seems like there are a lot of flags regarding that.” The girl watches the solution. Still not creamy. Not enough time had passed. As Lanara mentions flowers and candy, her nose sort of crinkles. “I don’t think boys like that. Try like something… obvious. If I were you, some wine works. And maybe a sultry dinner and some candles. And maybe even a hot outfit! That screams ‘hello, I want you’, right?” It was correct. Penelope and Lanara knew nothing about love. As Lanara mentions Gordyn, the twin witch frowns. Not in a disturbed sense, but in a sense of uncertainty. “I don’t know. I’m pretty content with dating Lionel and seeing where things end up. After all, he is a good guy, handsome, a –great- kisser… well, when he wants to kiss my lips. Maybe I should kiss him. Maybe I should wear the pants.” It was a thought. “Either way, I want to get to know Lionel. Even if Lionel knows more about me than I do him. Do you know that future me wanted to marry him?” she pauses from stirring and gives Lanara a look, “Long story. Don’t ask. Whatever, I guess I’m just skeptical.” She shakes her head. “I don’t know how much I should really look into your Gordyn friend. I do like food though. Maybe he can cook –us-, as in, me and you, dinner,” she smirks. The solution is now becoming thick. “I think the milk of the poppy is about there!” The healer chimes.

Lanara is pleased that Nel is taking such good notes and paying close attention to the task at hand, the woman is a true natural at anything having to do with healing and she cannot wait until she opens her own practice. Yerrel had a wonderful healing center in Sage, but Enchantment could use someone with Nel’s talents, as could various other parts of the realm. Lanara doesn’t have the gift of Sight that some witches are given, as her blessing had been animal empathy, but she can see good things in store for her best friend. “I’m just so happy that you are here and that we were able to get together today! I think a dinner with Gordyn will be wonderful, and I’ll be sure to send him a letter soon!” Already, she’s plotting out a menu and an excuse for why she will have to leave early, to give the chef and the healer some time to be better acquainted. Lana isn’t the worst when it comes to relationship advice, which is likely why she misinterprets Nel’s next statement, “Wear his pants, hm?” Pour some wine, light some candles, feed the lycan, and try to make a move while wearing his pants? “I think that’s a great idea!” It’s worth a shot as nothing else has worked, yet! Lana is mumbling to herself about how she’s going to try and wrap her body up in Tiber’s trousers, but Nel is so focused on stirring that solution that she likely thinks that Lana is in agreement about it all. “Definitely make a move on Lionel. I think there’s something in the blood of these Catalian’s that has them lacking passion! I suppose we could brew a love potion one day, but I would rather have the real deal.” Karma is totally wagging a disproving finger at Lanara right now, but she is too busy taking a peek into the cauldron, “It’s done!” The flame is ceased as the witch puts on a pair of thick gloves and gently pours the milky concoction into a large bottle, “You can take this with you, Penny. Test it out!” After the bottle is sealed and the table is cleared off, Lana pulls her friend in for a tight hug, “I have to run, but I’m SO happy we did this! I will drop by soon with the instructions for the milk of the poppy and to let you know when Gordyn wants to cook for us!” Lana winks, “And maybe I will have some updates on romancing Tiber, too!”

Penelope gives her witchy friend a graceful smile. “I am so happy that we are together today too. I missed you, truly, Lane. Literally reminds me how much I actually need to spill my guts on some things.” Lanara made it easy to trust someone, for the two were both chatty. The two, however, were good at keeping secrets when needed to, so she knew this conversation would stay between the two of them. As Lanara says that she is going to wear her boyfriend’s pants, she frowns, but she does not say anything about it because well, did the idea hurt? Maybe wearing a man’s pants was a turn-on? “I guess, but a move? Who even knows what that means? Whatever we will figure it out, or maybe not! Either way, at least we have each other to run back to if things go south.” It was true. The girl’s mind wanders on the thought of brushing lips against the Catalian’s. Maybe a kiss that would not be so brief for once. Then again, their lives were rushed always to the next place. There was no time for passionate romancing between Lionelope with Xicotl on the urge of gobbling up Lithrydel. The woman pulls out the willow branch at Lanara’s yip of happiness of the concoction. “Yay!” She lets Lanara take on the next steps of pouring and sealing the strong mixture. One that could either do good or bad. The woman helps clear the area before being swept into the embrace. “Oh my –gosh- you have no –idea-!” The two witches are enthusiastic in their goodbyes. “I’ll see you soon! Keep me updated on your boyfriend, and I’ll do the same for you. Freakin’ Catalians,” the girl shakes her head. And with a wave, she is casting a goodbye until their next friend-date. This is a Healer's Guild RP.