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Sienna Aurélie Linslee
BEAUXBATONS ALUM POTIONS MASTERY POTIONEER SLUG AND JIGGERS ORDER OF MERLIN - SECOND CLASS
292 posts
played by Jenny
Who were you before the world told you who to be?
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last online Apr 26, 2024 10:26:26 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Nov 18, 2020 9:23:49 GMT -7
Post by Sienna Aurélie Linslee on Nov 18, 2020 9:23:49 GMT -7
Rhys’s description was…disturbing, at least in the sense that Sienna would never be able to personally relate to it. She knew werewolves lost a sense of control during their transformation, which made the Wolfsbane Potion necessary. And even with that, some advocates within the Ministry and wizarding society at large claimed they were too dangerous to be around ‘normal’ people (clearly they’d never spent much time in Muggle London, because Sienna could safely say there was very little about the wizarding world that was ‘normal’). But she’d never considered exactly how much pain the transformation must cause, or the loss of control a person must feel during it. The Wolfsbane Potion made the wolf harmless during transformation -- Si hadn't been satisfied with that and wanted total control. But maybe that came at a price? “I wonder if something can be added to address the pain…” Sienna mused out-loud, leaning back in her chair as she glanced around the backroom for inspiration. “Something with healing properties…maybe unicorn horn or tail.” It was something worth considering and Si quickly wrote the thought down, along with more ideas for potential ingredients to explore. That was the more research-heavy portion of experimenting with potions – understanding the different properties of ingredients and how they might react together. Off the top of her head, Si could probably name a few dozen ingredients that had different kinds of healing properties. And there was already dittany in the potion. But you could never know how they’d react with other ingredients except through careful testing. At any rate, Si frowned a bit as she focused back on Rhys. “That sounds horrible. I’m sorry you have to go through it every month.” And for the second time (the first time had been with Jamie), Si probed and asked, “Do you think it’s better that you don’t remember much? Aware Wolf, over time, is going to give you more awareness during the transformation. Keep the human mind inside the wolf body. But maybe…you wouldn’t want that?” rhys alexander greyback
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rhys alexander greyback
HOGWARTS ALUM WEREWOLF CURSEBREAKER ECHO
1,168 posts
played by vanessa
the air around me still feels like a cage
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last online Apr 28, 2024 23:50:45 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Nov 18, 2020 9:34:16 GMT -7
Post by rhys alexander greyback on Nov 18, 2020 9:34:16 GMT -7
don't touch the doors of daylight cause you will never be free
February 15, 2025 Sienna Aurélie Linslee
She listened intently to his description and Rhys felt almost odd that she was listening so carefully, normally if he ever went into this level of detail he was met pretty quickly with horrified looks or worse, pity. People didn’t want to know what a werewolf went through and only saw them as different. They were, but there was still a part of them that was still human. Rhys was still a man, a wizard but an unfortunate affliction he’d never asked for. At least with the Wolfsbane he’d had the confidence he would never hurt anyone, or Merlin forbid, turn them. Sienna pondered about the pain and Rhys couldn’t say he wouldn’t have minded some relief from that, it didn’t seem to matter what he did there was always pain the next day.
He shrugged, wasn’t much that could be done unless a total cure had been found but then she had his attention again with a question he wasn’t expecting, and it made him think. His brow furrowed in thought. He had mixed feelings. He didn’t want to feel the pain but losing complete control of his consciousness essentially was something he’d always hated. Control was central to who he was. ”I never liked….not being awake for it all.” He admitted but it was a fine line for him, his own father quite literally lived like a beast. This almost wasn’t much different except that Rhys’ had the opposite intentions. ”I think its safer this way.”
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Sienna Aurélie Linslee
BEAUXBATONS ALUM POTIONS MASTERY POTIONEER SLUG AND JIGGERS ORDER OF MERLIN - SECOND CLASS
292 posts
played by Jenny
Who were you before the world told you who to be?
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last online Apr 26, 2024 10:26:26 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Nov 18, 2020 9:40:21 GMT -7
Post by Sienna Aurélie Linslee on Nov 18, 2020 9:40:21 GMT -7
Sienna wasn’t sure what she would have done if Rhys had agreed that it would be better not to be aware for it at all. Some people definitely bought into the whole ‘ignorance is bliss’ point-of-view, and this would have been a massive waste of her and Jamie’s time if most of their test subjects thought the same. So she was almost…relieved as Rhys confirmed that it would be better to be conscious of what was happening during the transformation, that he didn’t like not being awake. Jamie definitely felt the same way, and Si was sure she would have too. So she nodded slightly and said, “That’s what Jamie’s always said.” She didn’t elaborate much more on that – if the siblings wanted to have a heart-to-heart then they could (if they didn’t already) but there was confidentiality at play here. Picking up the quill again, Si began to write at a more sedate pace, noting down what Rhys had already said. “Okay,” she confirmed, to make sure they were both on the same page again. “And how did… this transformation feel compared to the normal. More pain, less pain? Do you remember things more clearly up to a certain point, or was it like…falling asleep?” She didn’t have a better way of asking that, since it wasn’t quite like falling asleep if your whole body was on fire but it wasn’t quite like fainting either. But this was ultimately the key here. This potion could have no side-effects at all, but it wouldn’t mean a thing if it didn’t actually do what it was supposed to. rhys alexander greyback
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rhys alexander greyback
HOGWARTS ALUM WEREWOLF CURSEBREAKER ECHO
1,168 posts
played by vanessa
the air around me still feels like a cage
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last online Apr 28, 2024 23:50:45 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Nov 18, 2020 9:48:21 GMT -7
Post by rhys alexander greyback on Nov 18, 2020 9:48:21 GMT -7
don't touch the doors of daylight cause you will never be free
February 15, 2025 Sienna Aurélie Linslee
Rhys nodded. He wasn’t surprised that Jamie had a similar opinion on the matter as it seemed this generation of Greybacks was intent on not following their father’s footsteps. As much as he wanted to discuss this more with her, he didn’t want to tamper his opinion of the potion either, though Jamie as a co-creator had an entirely different insight than just himself as a consumer of the potion. Sienna took more notes and Rhys waited for the next question, the aspirin really had worked a bit like magic and his head felt better, it didn’t hurt but he still felt the fog from his overall exhaustion. Still, nothing quite new to him overall in the days after the moon.
Rhys gather his thoughts again, trying to sift through details he hadn’t mentioned yet or that he maybe not thought were important. The details always mattered. The smallest thing could have unknown ripple effects. ”Pain was about the same.” He thought out loud, trying hard to compare this experience with what he’d experienced the first full moon of this year. ”But, I think I was so exhausted I just eventually fell asleep. I’m not sure what time.” He admitted, he hadn’t been keeping track. ”Transforming is exhausting, I was just awake for it.” Rhys wasn’t complaining, he would have honestly traded anything to be awake just so that he knew where he was and what he was doing. It was one of his worst fears after all, something happening during that state that he would hate himself for.
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Sienna Aurélie Linslee
BEAUXBATONS ALUM POTIONS MASTERY POTIONEER SLUG AND JIGGERS ORDER OF MERLIN - SECOND CLASS
292 posts
played by Jenny
Who were you before the world told you who to be?
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last online Apr 26, 2024 10:26:26 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Nov 18, 2020 9:58:31 GMT -7
Post by Sienna Aurélie Linslee on Nov 18, 2020 9:58:31 GMT -7
It made sense that the level of pain was about the same – Sienna hadn’t made any modifications in that regard to the original Wolfsbane Potion because she’d been more focused on adding the extra ingredients to change the transformation process, not just the beginning. But it was still a goal of hers…she could be incredibly ambitious and it had only gotten worse the last few years. The worse that the world got, and the scarier things became, the more Sienna sought to take control of the few things that she actually could. That was something her potions had always been for her – a way of taking control, and a way of balancing her Muggle upbringing with her magical education. Potions was really just chemistry, after all, albeit with some odd ingredients and for some odd intended effects. And it was something she was particularly talented at, probably because she'd never had to rely on magic the way wizards who grew up with it always had. The exhaustion – there was just nothing to do about that. That was why the valerian was in the potion, and Sienna hadn’t seen a reason to remove it yet. But she nodded to make sure Rhys understood she was listening as she wrote down question marks around the word ‘valerian’ in her notes. Maybe purposely making the werewolf sleepy wasn’t the right track. They’d be exhausted after transforming, but maybe better off not asleep. She wasn’t sure yet; there were still so many final decisions that had to be made, that at this point she was more focused on figuring out what to include and what was too ambitious for this potion to attempt. “Ok, don’t worry if you didn’t notice. This was your first time, after all, you had no idea what to expect.” It probably wasn’t much comfort, but he deserved it at any rate. It took a brave person to volunteer to test a potion that was still in the early stages and that attempted to do such a big thing. A brave person, or someone who just loved their sister very much. “I think I’m going to write down a list for you. Things to remember to watch out for during the next few rounds of experimenting with the potion,” Si thought out-loud. Symptoms to look out for, to catalogue their level of intensity, as well as different details that would be helpful to know and compare to previous transformations (timelines, memories, and so on). Sienna paused. “That is…if you’re willing to try a second round. You tried it once...you can walk away now if that's what you want.” rhys alexander greyback
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rhys alexander greyback
HOGWARTS ALUM WEREWOLF CURSEBREAKER ECHO
1,168 posts
played by vanessa
the air around me still feels like a cage
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last online Apr 28, 2024 23:50:45 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Nov 19, 2020 15:23:14 GMT -7
Post by rhys alexander greyback on Nov 19, 2020 15:23:14 GMT -7
don't touch the doors of daylight cause you will never be free
February 15, 2025 Sienna Aurélie Linslee
Rhys shifted in his chair a bit, he was still a bit sore from the night before last and even though it was uncomfortable, he was also used to it by now. It was the same every month, regardless of whether he took the potion or not. He didn’t ask if the potion was supposed to affect that aspect of it, he didn’t know much of the current composition or intent aside from being awake during the entire process. It was probably better that way. It was as if the less he knew the better especially because he knew he wouldn’t be able to help himself and do research on the different ingredients. He hoped he had given her enough detail at least for his first time trying the potion as he watched her take notes now and then when he spoke. The sensory overload had certainly been more intense that he could have imagined, and the sensitivity made a hangover during the holidays seem like nothing.
She assured him it was okay if he hadn’t made mental notes throughout the entire ordeal, it was the first potion after all but he had a better sense of what to look for next time, though he couldn’t exactly say he was looking forward to some of the side effects. Rhys nodded and felt a bit relieved, a list of what to think about would be more helpful especially since he remembered how hard it had been to focus on anything the previous day, there had been this painful type of fog clouding his brain. However, he gave her a curious look. The thought of backing out hadn’t crossed his mind, nor was in his nature to do so. ”I’ll continue.” Aside from the fact that Jamie would have sought him out, even if he’d run off to Egypt or something to ask him why he felt determined. This was supposed to be for the greater good and it was nice to participate in something that helped werewolves instead of added to their prejudice.
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Sienna Aurélie Linslee
BEAUXBATONS ALUM POTIONS MASTERY POTIONEER SLUG AND JIGGERS ORDER OF MERLIN - SECOND CLASS
292 posts
played by Jenny
Who were you before the world told you who to be?
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last online Apr 26, 2024 10:26:26 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Nov 22, 2020 3:03:08 GMT -7
Post by Sienna Aurélie Linslee on Nov 22, 2020 3:03:08 GMT -7
Sienna hadn’t really expected Rhys to actually accept her dangling question and quit now, but it was still a relief to get a verbal confirmation that he'd be in for the long haul. They’d only known each other a couple weeks at that point, and only actually met twice, but from the little she’d seen quitting didn’t seem in his nature (and also from what she knew about Jamie). He seemed work-oriented, and persistent in getting the job done right, and that plus the knowledge that curse-breaking required endurance and patience didn’t equate to someone who gave up easily. That was a positive thing for Si and Jamie, because the potion-testing wouldn’t get much easier from here on out. Over time, his body would get used to the new formula and that would hopefully address the seemingly extreme manifestation of symptoms he’d shown this first time...but the trial period was never easy on either the researchers or the test subjects. Besides, Si wasn’t completely done with the formula yet anyway – she already had thoughts on dosage changes for Rhys and tweaking the ratios of certain ingredients as well as adding something new for the pain – and every month would require a careful scrutiny of the transformation process to see what changed for the better and what needed improvement. It could wear a person down if they didn’t take the appropriate countermeasures early on – giving themselves time to rest after the full moon, keeping their stress levels low to ensure their body was working at maximum capacity to recover. But this first try with Rhys had been informative, both about how the potion had reacted with a different test subject and also learning more about the man himself, so Si and Jamie would just have to do everything with all proper diligence to ensure things didn’t spiral. Making sure they were ready before the next full moon meant she was on a tight schedule, but Sienna could make it work. “Great,” she said with relief as Rhys confirmed he was still interested. “I need a little time to go through your notes first, but I’ll have a new formula ready before March. Along with a list of things to watch out for,” Si added as an afterthought. That was definitely something she’d need to consult with Jamie on first, since her partner would know better what sort of symptoms to keep an eye out for and to prepare a checklist for Rhys as he took notes. They would be methodical about this. “And after that, well, you know the drill.” Sienna waved a hand idly in the air – take the potion a few days before, without his usual nightcap, and take notes the entire time. He still had the written instructions from the first time around, and with time he'd become a pro at it. rhys alexander greyback
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rhys alexander greyback
HOGWARTS ALUM WEREWOLF CURSEBREAKER ECHO
1,168 posts
played by vanessa
the air around me still feels like a cage
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last online Apr 28, 2024 23:50:45 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Nov 22, 2020 18:02:44 GMT -7
Post by rhys alexander greyback on Nov 22, 2020 18:02:44 GMT -7
don't touch the doors of daylight cause you will never be free
February 15, 2025 Sienna Aurélie Linslee
If this were a fully-fledged Potions trial, he wondered what the drop-out rate might have been with the Potion in its current state. He’d felt miserable enough that the thought had crossed his mind but never seriously. Since he been dealing with being a werewolf so long his tolerance was very high, and that was also useful in his job as injuries could be small or severe and somewhere in between. If he was deep in some cave he’d have to put up with whatever injury he had until he be treated beyond his basic first aid knowledge and sometimes that could take a while. Describing what he felt when he transformed was hard to put into words as he just couldn’t seem to find the right ones to describe what he was feeling. There was this beast inside of him, with a mind completely of its own though he always wondered how much of his own thoughts and feelings effected it. He nodded, so he’d have to come back in a few weeks before the next full moon though he hoped he looked much better than he did today. ”Right.” He responded, ”Any more questions?” He didn’t want to be premature in his leaving if she still had things to discuss with him. Once he settled into the routine of what he was doing concerning this trial then it would feel more normal—even the side effects. For now, he wanted to go home see what amount of whiskey he could stomach and bury his head under a pillow and go back to sleep. Rhys was also thankful he wasn’t working, or he’d have to step back considering he could barely step into the sun without getting a headache behind his eyes. That made him hope that the side effects wouldn’t be so bad the next time or at least he hoped in case he did have to work. He stood up and waited to see if she told him to sit back down. OOC: you can probably end it
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Sienna Aurélie Linslee
BEAUXBATONS ALUM POTIONS MASTERY POTIONEER SLUG AND JIGGERS ORDER OF MERLIN - SECOND CLASS
292 posts
played by Jenny
Who were you before the world told you who to be?
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last online Apr 26, 2024 10:26:26 GMT -7
WIZARDING ADULT
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Nov 23, 2020 8:00:39 GMT -7
Post by Sienna Aurélie Linslee on Nov 23, 2020 8:00:39 GMT -7
Sienna finished scribbling down her notes – temporarily at least – and set the quill down thoughtfully. She still had more in-depth research to conduct, and she was only slightly looking forward to getting that math done, but she definitely had enough information to work with for starters. But, to be on the safe side, she pulled a blank notebook towards her and flipped it open to the first page, before doing the same to Rhys’s feelings journal. Si pulled out her wand and, with a few taps, copied the contents of the journal on the empty pages before sliding Rhys’s back towards him. “Copies just makes everything easier,” she said by way of explanation, “but don’t worry, this one stays in a locked drawer.” To demonstrate, she picked up the copy and dropped it into the first drawer of her filing cabinet, locking it with her hand before turning back to Rhys. He had stood up as he asked if she had any more questions, and Sienna stood as well. “Not right now,” she responded cheerily. She hadn’t been in a bad mood earlier, just a little overwhelmed handling the typical workload by herself, but this meeting with Rhys had given her a few ideas for how to move forward with Aware Wolf – and ideas were always welcome. At least, she had a clear path for how the next few weeks would look, and a mental checklist of everything that needed to get done before his next visit. Speaking of… “I’ll have everything ready for you next time you stop by, and maybe some different instructions. But nothing too different.” He would definitely need to take a larger dose, and Sienna wanted to see if there was any noticeable difference to taking the potion during different times of day. So maybe this next time they’d try a morning instead of an evening. “I’ll walk you out,” Si suggested as she rounded the desk and gingerly opened the door to give Rhys some time to adjust before needing to step back out into the front. The aspirin seemed to have done its job, since he hadn’t been wincing so much during the last half of their conversation, but he’d probably want to make a speedy exit anyway. “And…thank you. Your participation is really going to speed things up. We might even make a breakthrough by the end of the year.” That thought enthused Si the most out of anything else so far, and she happily walked with Rhys to the apothecary’s entrance to wave him off. Aware Wolf was by no means ready for any sort of widespread testing yet, but they definitely had something here. It was just a matter of investigating and coaxing the answers out from the potion. Every brew gave up its secrets, in the end. rhys alexander greyback [End post Si!]
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