Flashback [The Docks] Patience is a Virtue. (Eridanus)

[Ricky Maze]

"Ingredients?" Ricky wondered where Eri was trailing off too, and yet even though Ricky had the idea he was talking about cooking he wasn't sure if that was where Eri was leading. When he asked Ricky if he would like to try this "crazy idea" though Ricky could not refuse, after all who would turn down the opportunity to bring more flavor out of your meals? Certainly not Ricky! With a humble and intrigued grin, "Absolutely! What to ya need me to do?" He was cheerful when he asked this, eager to learn whatever new things Eri would provide. "Ruff Ruff!" Odis joined in with excitement, apparently he too was eager to help. It brought Ricky great pleasure seeing the dog so energetic, and he was alreadh taking a liking to Eri. A good indication for Ricky all together, it proved to him that Eri was a good friend to have. Someone that had enough principles to a point where you could rely on them, and he had this mystic air about him as well. One that made him seem not just educated, but wise as well as intelligent. That kind of person was quite rare to come by, as they can be invaluable friends in the time to come. Getting back to the point though, Ricky was ready to learn what Eri had to show. Experiment or not he had caught Ricky's attention, as he would no doubt play an important role in it.

[Eridanus]

The carefree air exuded by both man and dog was rather refreshing to Eridanus, and he felt somewhat infected by their enthusiastic and joyous mood. It was a simple joy that seemed foolish to possess in a world when one's burdens were great, but yet it was so relieving and therapeutic to have companions possessing this trifling but rare ability. In a way, it made the vantha lower his guard somewhat to this fisherman and his dog and made him want to be friendlier to the duo.

"Well, you need to catch a fish, basically. And to cook it. I am attempting to add certain... mixtures to the result, and it is my hope that we end up with something grander and... awesome than just a simple dish of fish," He explained, the ideas already concocting in his brain as he considered what reagents and materials he would need on his part. "More importantly, the fish has to be really fresh, and we have to cooperate closely during the entire cooking process. I'm not even sure if it will work, but it's worth a try, isn't it?"

[Ricky Maze]

He sounded quite interested in this idea, and it was no doubt a good one at that. Ricky would need to catch them a fresh fish, something that would require patience on Eri's part. "So fishin and cookin is on the agenda then?! Well look's like we better get our rod." He looked to Odis with a grin, the dog leaped up and down in excitement. "Ruff Ruff! Ruff Ruff!" He cheered as he spun around in his gleefull bubble of energy, Ricky laughed at the dog before looking back to Eri. "Yer welcome to tag along if ye want, and I, even have a spare rod at home should you wish to join in." He humbly invited the wise scholar to come along, seeing as how it would be friendlier to do so. He already started to trust Eri somewhat, even if they had just met, and it was clear to Ricky that he was bound to learn a bit from Eri. Should Eri decide to follow they would return to Ricky's old wooden shack, but if Eri wished to wait Ricky would understand and humbly respect it. Either way he was going to retrieve those rods, and should he be going without Eri he would make it a swift trip.

[Eridanus]

"Ah, it's fine, actually," Eridanus declined, though he acknowledged the man's friendly intentions with a grin and a nod. "It'll be faster without me being a burden, yes? I never really liked ships... and the sea..." Oh yes, he had mild seasickness, but of course he never had that diagnosed. All he knew was that he could only truly feel comfortable with his two feet planted firmly on the ground.

"How about you meet me in the University? Look for... Philtering Laboratory 1 in the West Wing. I'll prepare there," He finished, and patting the man on his shoulders, he headed straight to the University.

-= One Bell Later @ Philtering Lab 1, West Wing, University of Zeltiva =-

Eridanus had requested permission to use the lab from the administration. No doubt he had some sort of privilege as a student of the Magic Department, and somehow the staff automatically assumed that he was planning to work magic with the chemicals. Well, he was planning to, but not in the strictest sense of the word. It was less 'technical magic', and more 'oh wow magic' he hoped to achieve.

The glassware were all in place, with the beakers and alembic laid out carefully. In the shelves labelled "Reagents" there was a ready stock of chemicals, with their labels printed on their flasks in clear, block letters. The brass pot that was the directed heater had a ready supply of flammable fat within, and there was a small pile of resin stopgaps on a tray. A candle that measured time stood on a small desk that told Eridanus how much time he had to use the lab, and it also served as a secondary fire source.

"Right, so I need to concentrate the Wood Liquor," He muttered to himself as he poured the flask labelled as such onto a glass dish. Placing it above an iron-legged tripod stand, he used the timing candle to set the directed heater alight, then pushed the brass pot beneath the dish. Immediately, he quickly poured more water to mix with the Wood Liquor, using a glass rod to mingle the contents.

Counting to himself silently, he then took the flask that said "Essence of Fruit" and began to pour some of it into an open mouthed beaker. He then continued to mingle the dish as the contents disappeared in heat, then began pouring the liquid from the beaker into the dish.

"I'll need the alembic soon," He mumbled to himself as he continued.

[Ricky Maze]

As Ricky wondered around lost at the university, he couldn't help but feel bad for bring the fish he caught in to the University. The place was new territory for him and Odis, and as he followed his companion's lead to find Eri he felt way out of place. The fish he had caught was a very nice salmon, it's aroma of freshness filled his nose as they walked; yet that aroma must not have been pleasant to the others that he passed. Their faces showed disgust as he carried on by, their eyes mainly revealing a bitter reaction to the smell of the fish. It was enough to dampen Ricky's spirits had he been there for another reason, but Eri was the only person whose opinion he was concerned about. When they arrived at the west wing, Ricky stuck close to Odis as the dog would zigzag to keep on Eri's trail, the dog keeping an excellent track on the man's scent. It wasn't longer before they finally found the door to Philtering Lab 1. Before entering Ricky thought it best to knock, opening the door with a slight hesitance. When he saw Eri was in the room though he didn't wait for him to be invited in, instead he eagerly came inside and shut the door. Odis was the first to come in though, immediately heading over next to Eri and sitting with a grin. To Eri he could probably see the dog thinkin that they were playing hide and seek, and that Odis had finally found him. "Sorry I'm late, we got lost along the way." He said apologetically as he came over to Eri, presenting him the salmon with a loose grin. He had hoped Eri liked salmon, or at least fish in general, when he did so; after seeing how the other "universitarian's", as Ricky called them, thought otherwise.

[Eridanus]

"Woah, mind that dog!" Eridanus exclaimed when his new friend came along with the shaggy mutt right into the room. The dog became instantly curious above the variety of scents and aromas emitting throughout the room, by virtue of it being a philtering lab holding various chemicals, that it began wagging its tail and moving about enthusiastically.

His eyes trailed the dog's movement warily, commenting warningly to Ricky, "Stuff here is mostly glass... and very expensive. It's not the glass that's expensive - well they are - but some of the liquids within are intermediaries made after countless amount of philtering sequences and likely worth more than my head and yours combined. We don't want to mess anything up here."

[Ricky Maze]

"Harnnnh?" Odis' tail wag energy dulled to a halt as he cocked his head to the side at Eri, Ricky patted the pup on the head witha rub behind his ears.

"Shyke then we best be careful," Ricky down looked Odis and with a snap he pointed to the floor, "sit Odis, sit down." Odis' eyes followed his master's hand as he obeyed, as he sat his bottom on the floor with another tail wag. "Good boy."

"Rur!" Odis cheered with a low bark as Ricky gave one more head rub, and then he turned to Eridanus with curiosity.

"Oh here be the salmon," he held the fish out for the scholar to take, "what's this experiment for again?" He asked with intrigue, his eyes now locked onto the variables on the table. He had never been in the University, nor seen philtering tools and its process. So his curiosity was evenly matched with his furry companion's, minus the would be need to sniff everything if he didn't have to sit.

[Eridanus]

Eridanus continued to stare at the dog with a measure of uncertainty, but when Ricky proved his control over the animal he relaxed slightly, acceding somewhat, "Well, I suppose if he can behave himself he can stay."

Glancing over at the incomplete set-up he had placed over the table, he continued, "Well, I figured that sometimes fish has that... fishy smell? Some people don't like it, and for me it merely makes me tire of it. Furthermore, they spoil easily. I have read about a means of getting rid of these two unwanted properties in one go, but I'd like your help in doing so."

He picked up one of the glassware on the shelf, carefully pouring its contents into a beaker as he slowly swirled it, the liquid gradually changing color as it was being exposed to the air. As he worked, he gestured with one hand towards the fish and a wooden board that he had placed upon the table with a handy knife.

"If you don't mind, you could start by skinning and gutting the fish and basically preparing the flesh in a nice, solid shape."

[Eldritch]

Thread Graded! Ricky : Skills Socialization +2 Land Navigation +1 Observation +1 Lores -Playing Fetch with Odis -Eridanus, the student -Navigating the University Eridanus : Skills Socialization +2 Philtering +1 Observation +1 Lores -Used in Zeltivan Politics -Ricky Maze, man with a dog Notes : I couldn't really award too much here as it was a rather short thread and was incomplete. However I gave out everything I could find, I also thought it was a great thread. Shame it wasn't finished. If you have any comments/questions/concerns about your grade please PM me and we will work something out. Keep on writing!