011 :: Video

[hulkbusted]

[The video feed opens to the network after Bruce has already situated the camera to his satisfaction. His lab is as brightly lit and gleaming as one might expect. What one might not expect is the Christmas display in the center of the camera's optical field.

It's a tree built of various glassware and equipment from his lab, colored water (yes, just water) providing the festive component in the clear glassware.]

We did this when I was an undergrad. Don't ask how long ago that was. As long as you're just using nontoxic colors and water, it's pretty eco friendly.

I guess I wanted to put my own spin on things. I know the City's been treating us to every-other-day 12 Days of Christmas-themed treats, but it's been a while since I was settled enough to do something myself.

So happy holidays. I hope that those of us who want to go home, find our way home soon, and for those of you who are happy here, I hope the curses are more kind than cruel.

Comments

[hexuality]

Are those potions?

[She knows they aren't. But still.]

[hulkbusted]

Just colored water. What kind of potions would look like that?

[hexuality]

[She's actually carefully considering this, okay.]

Yellow could be a Volubilis Potion. If it were gold and less opaque, I'd say Felix Felicis, but that's bloody difficult. Red could be a Blood-Replenishing Potion, blue... maybe a Sleeping Draught. Green—maybe a Hiccoughing Solution.

Of course, there's hundreds of them, so your guess is as good as mine.

[hulkbusted]

Does Volubilis make you talk a lot and Felix Felicis is luck?

[He hasn't considered potions, but the pseudo-Latin seems descriptive.]

[hexuality]

Felix Felicis is luck, yes! You were close on the Volubilis—you're thinking of a Babbling Beverage. Volubilis just alters your voice, it's great for undercover stuff. Not that I have any experience in that whatsoever.

[So painfully innocent it's obviously a pack of lies.]

You know your Latin.

[hulkbusted]

It's too bad I can't learn how to brew potions, that would be useful back home.

[He'll let her have her secrets if she lets him have his.]

Latin's useful for biology, having at least a passing understanding makes classes much easier.

[hexuality]

Not all potions require wandwork. Most of it's up to the ingredients and precision—though the ingredients are almost always magical which is probably why not everyone can do it.

Latin's a big part of spellwork for us. Maybe science and magic aren't so different after all.