Potions Championship I Partners in Brewing (For Now) PV Oliver Armani

Potions Championship. No other words had been needed for Oliver to be interested. He loved potions, and he wanted to be a champion. Perhaps then his family could be proud of him, he just needed to be sure he would win. He didn't need the money, nor the potion doses, really he didn't need anything from this 'game'. Nothing but the satisfaction of winning. The rewards would just be a sweet bonus on top of the label as potion champion. He had been fully prepared to do it on his own.

Full prepared, that was until a fellow first year had pestered and bartered with him to be his partner. He had initially been fully against it, as he'd seen Mamori's skills with potions, very- if he was trying to be nice, trashy. It had been clear to him potions was not this Hufflepuff's best subject. Yet, before Oliver could decline it he'd been told he could keep the winning potion, and caldron. Should they win. Oliver, he couldn't really say no to that.

Oliver had let the task of finding a potential third for there group to Mamori. He'd wanted to work by himself at first, but if he was already one teammate in might as well allow another. Yet it seamed no one had been interested, or the boy had forgotten to ask. Oliver didn't care enough to ask, nor know. He felt there were a few people Oliver knew that may have been interested, but again. He had wanted to do it by himself, and the people he knew, he wasn't overly fond of.

So just Mamori it was. He was fine with that. The boy had pretty much sworn to do everything Oliver would tell him to do. Normally he wasn't super on board with nicknames. But 'boss' had a nice ring to it. "Good, I've seen your skills in class, so do exactly as I say." He said looking over the ingredients that Mamori had gathered. Nodding as he saw everything accounted for. He was pleasantly surprised that his teammate had done that. "Nice job on getting the ingredients, far as I can tell everything is accounted for. And yes, Dogbreath is what we agreed on."

A rare complement he deemed necessary he hoped that if Mamori thought he was doing good with Oliver's praise, they would have higher chances of winning. Oliver pulled out a recipe sheet from his bag that he set on a chair nearby. He had to admit, the great hall made a great potions lab. Sectioned off for all the years and a practice area. He could applaud the effort. Smoothing out the list, it was color coded with all the steps, one color for himself, and the other color for Mamori.

"Here's how I divided it." He gave most of the easy steps to Mamori, just so he had something to do. He would rather do most of it himself. But, he was feeling nice that day. "I hope you like it, because I'm not super up for changes in the plan. This color is you, and this one is mine." He said pointing to the colors on the parchment. "If you could start by adding the water, and chopping the bat spleens. That would be great, I have some things that may help in my bag."

He was not cheating, never. This was to important to cheat. Oliver did not wait to hear any confirmation and hoped that he could trust Mamori to do the simple task. Grabbing some of his notes from the class they learned to brew said Dogbreath potion in. Notes clean, neat, and of course, perfect. Just a few hints here and there, some reminders, and what the potion does. "Feel free to refer to these if you need, just be extra carful with them" He told the Hufflepuff placing the notes next to the list of steps.

Reducio

DOGBREATH POTION
INGREDIENTS: 3 Fluid Ounces of Fire Whiskey, 3 Bat Spleens, 1 Fire Seed, 1 Valerian Root

KEY: Oliver / Mamori

• Add 10 fluid ounces of water to the cold cauldron
• Chop 3 Bat Spleens and add to the cauldron
• Stir once, clockwise
• While wearing protective gloves, add one Fire Seed to the cauldron
• Wait for 5 minutes while the Fire Seed brings the cauldron to a boil
• Stir once, clockwise
• Pour 3 fluid ounces of Fire Whiskey into a ladle and slowly incorporate into the potion (The use of a ladle serves to prevent the potion from accidentally burning the Brewer)
• Stir slowly, clockwise, until the surface of the Potion begins to burn with a blue flame
• Immediately remove the ladle
• Wave your wand over the cauldron
• Allow the potion to burn for 120 seconds
• Meanwhile, chop 1 Valerian Root into fine cubes
• Add the diced root to the cauldron
• Stir 2 times, anti-clockwise (the potion should have stopped burning at this point)
• Wave your wand over the cauldron to complete the potion

OOC - Thanks to Mamori for dividing the steps up! :3

OUTFIT & INVENTORY Reducio Notes from potions class, list of steps to brew, wand.

OOC NOTE & STATS/ABILITIES Reducio Fearless - Oliver does not scare easily, not effected by terrible presence or unsettling aura { Stamina: 7 }{ Evasion: 5 }{ Strength: 10 }{ Wisdom: 3 }{ Arcane Power: 2 }{ Accuracy: 8 }

Interacting : @Mamori Anezaki |||| @n/a : Mentioning

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GREAT HALL
mid october before fall ball (15th~18th)
@Oliver Armani

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A quick glance at Oliver's color-coded recipe sheet told Mamori everything he needed to know about his partner's trust level — or rather, the spectacular lack thereof. His assigned tasks basically translated to "thou shalt not approach the cauldron for more than 10 seconds at a time." Fair enough, considering his track record. Though he did notice with mild amusement that he'd been assigned both wand-waving steps — how thoughtful of Oliver to keep him involved. At this rate, Mamori might have actually felt touched by the gesture if he didn't suspect Oliver just wanted to avoid looking like he was hogging all the work. "Crystal clear, boss. Love the color coordination," Mamori chirped with an exaggerated salute, burying his snark under layers of manufactured enthusiasm. As the saying went, time is money — and the faster they finished, the faster he could secure those precious sickles. Thank Merlin that Oliver had chosen a potion that wouldn't keep them hovering over a cauldron for hours. It was almost too perfect. Without missing a beat, Mamori poured exactly ten fluid ounces of water with surgical precision and proceeded to transform the bat spleens into perfectly uniform cubes. The diced organs followed shortly after. "All yours for the stirring business," he announced, stepping back to give Oliver complete dominion over the cauldron. During this brief respite, Mamori made the grave error of peeking at those sacred notes Oliver had laid out — and his eyes widened involuntarily at the sight. Sweet Merlin, the handwriting alone was enough to give him a headache. Every 'i' dotted, every 't' crossed, with enough detailed annotations to write a small book. Absolutely useless to him, of course. He wasn't here to exercise his brain cells — he was here to follow orders and collect his silver, thank you very much. He quickly shuffled the notes back into their original arrangement after five seconds of exposure, quite certain that was all his brain could handle for one day. Well, perhaps a few brain cells were required after all — or was it merely precision and concentration he needed? Whatever it was, he'd better have enough of it to avoid repeating The Great Fire Seed Incident from last month. Who knew something barely larger than a snitch could cause such chaos? One slight fumble, and splash — there went precious fluid ounces of their base mixture, turning their carefully balanced potion into something that would have been better off used as garden fertilizer. This time, Mamori approached the task with comical care. He donned the dragon-hide gloves with the gravity of a Muggle doctor preparing for surgery, lifted the Fire Seed as if it were made of the finest crystal, and lowered it into the mixture with all the delicacy of a mother putting her firstborn to bed. The relief when it slipped beneath the surface without mishap was almost embarrassingly obvious. Now came the best part — a solid... what was it, ten minutes? Twenty? He hadn't actually paid attention to that detail in class, but it was definitely enough time to stand back and watch Oliver do all the work. "Have at it, boss," Mamori said with a small bow before settling into a comfortable position, ready to perfect the art of looking attentive while doing absolutely nothing.

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This boy, Oliver had some mixed feelings. So far the only things he knew about him was his lack of potion skills and his ability to follow instructions. One skill had been less then subpar, and the other seemed to be a maxed out sat, if this was some kind of dorky muggle game they were in. Oliver was sure Mamori would have had maxed out in 'obedience'. And the complements, Oliver pushed down a smile at them. He couldn't help it, he just loved being loved. The salute though made it easy to hide the smile.

A quick, curt nod was given to Mamori as he stepped up to the potion, he had watched very closely with his work of the first steps. They had been simple enough, Oliver just could never be to sure. He always kept a close eyes on things that may effect him if he could. It had been done with much more accuracy then he had expected from the Hufflepuff. Spleens chopped rather accurately, and the whiskey was pored nicely done as well. Simple tasks Oliver was pleased to see done correctly.

He picked up the spoon that had been grabbed to stir the potion. He made sure to practice the motion, to be sure he had the direction right, before he went in to stir. No more then once, he removed the spoon and set it right next to the brewing potion where it had been resting prior to him picking it up. "Alright. Your up again." He said to Mamori backing up allowing the two boys to switch places once again. This step, he could admit he was a little worried about.

Trying to act like he wasn't worried at all; and that he had full trust in Mamori to complete the step without any hiccups (He didn't, he was extremely worried that something would get messed up, and the potion would blow up in there faces, and everyone would laugh at them, and they would have to start over, and everyone would know Oliver couldn't do it first try.) But he pushed those thoughts down, and tucked the notes he had back in line. Having seen the look of confusing, perhaps amazement at the neatness at it all. It had been clear to Oliver that Mamori wasn't interested in using them. Then again, Oliver did give him the more easy tasks. So who could blame him for avoiding them? Poor lad would just get confused.

By the time they were straightened out, Ollie looked over to see the progress made with placing the seed in the brew. And saw Mamori taking plenty of care with placing it in, gloves on, And much care. As much care as a mother hen. He nodded a small smile on his face. "Nice one, I must admit I'm pleasantly surprised." He had not had very high hopes when the pink haired boy approached him, yet he was finding this temporary partnership a learning experience for him.

He again nodded as he took his place back in front of the cauldron it felt right to be in front, to be in charge of the potion. There was a certain air of being in front of cauldron that felt perfect for him, it had been five minutes since Mamori put the seed in, it had begun to get a nice broil on it, and again Oliver picked up the spoon from here he had placed it. Also again did he mock the motion before siring clockwise.

Now, was the other 'harder' step. The fire whisky. Having to pour into a ladle first, done with upmost precision, at least as much as he could muster. Then as if making a soup he added it into the cauldron, slowly as he did so. Soon after it was all added he had used the ladle to stir clockwise, not able to mock the motion this time, he did this for a bit of time, until the surface caught fire with a blue flame. As it said, he pulled the ladle out, and stepped back. Mamori's turn to wave the wand.

Oliver would have done this part, but his spell casting wasn't great, he didn't know this effected potion's brews but was not willing to take any chances, and just hoped Mamori had better luck with wands. "Your up." He told him, nodding at the potion, looking at the boy who seemed to get quite relaxed in the time Oliver spent with his parts of the brew.

OUTFIT & INVENTORY Reducio Notes from potions class, list of steps to brew, wand.

OOC NOTE & STATS/ABILITIES Reducio Fearless - Oliver does not scare easily, not effected by terrible presence or unsettling aura { Stamina: 7 }{ Evasion: 5 }{ Strength: 10 }{ Wisdom: 3 }{ Arcane Power: 2 }{ Accuracy: 8 }

Interacting : @Mamori Anezaki |||| @n/a : Mentioning

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GREAT HALL
mid october before fall ball (15th~18th)
@Oliver Armani

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Taking advantage of his blessed freedom from any tasks at all, Mamori's mind finally wandered from potion instructions to reality — something was definitely off about Oliver today. Where was the perpetual scowl he'd seen in their previous interactions? The eye-roll he'd expected to follow his theatrical compliance? The hovering and nitpicking he was practically certain would shadow his every move near the precious cauldron, given Oliver's reputation? None of that had shown up. Instead, they'd been working together with an efficiency that would've been absolutely brilliant — if it wasn't also kind of freaking him out. And then — sweet Circe on a chocolate frog card — Oliver had actually praised him. Normally Mamori would've taken it as sarcasm, but paired with what he could've sworn was a genuine upturn of his lips? This was the same Oliver whose default expression during class suggested life itself was an inconvenience. Until today, Mamori hadn't even been sure Oliver knew how to smile at all. Either someone had slipped something in Oliver's pumpkin juice at breakfast, or something far more sinister was at play. No, it couldn't be Polyjuice — even an imposter would know to keep up the trademark expression. Maybe it had something to do with that spirit possession chapter he'd read in one of those books he probably shouldn't have been poking around in at home. Back in his father's homeland, this sudden personality shift would have the local Miko already reaching for their ofuda. But direct questioning would probably just make him the spirit's next vessel. Running away seemed sensible — though those twenty sickles... Maybe he could outrun a spirit if he had to? His conflicted contemplation of spiritual safety versus sweet, sweet reward money was cut short by Oliver's curt reminder that it was his turn — apparently, his earlier assumption of a twenty-minute respite had been wildly optimistic. For once, Mamori ditched the over-the-top theatrics, offering a quiet "Right then" and settling for a small, almost begrudging nod before stepping up. He waved his wand briskly, with just enough care to get the job done, then retreated to chop the valerian root. As he worked, he couldn't help stealing a few not-so-subtle glances at Oliver — part "what's your deal," part "are you possessed," and part trying to play it cool that his furrowed brow completely betrayed. The concern finally got the better of him. "Say, Oliver, feeling quite alright today?" he ventured carefully between chops, trying to keep his tone casual. "Not experiencing any... unusual sensations?" Somehow, despite all the distraction, the root still ended up neatly diced into fine cubes. Well... maybe he was being paranoid about the whole possession thing (though he wasn't entirely ruling it out) — but someone had to see just how far this "nice Oliver" would actually go. A little embellishment to his work might slow them down, yet when had Mamori ever resisted adding some creativity to his potions work? If Oliver was truly becoming this accommodating — sweet Circe, he still couldn't believe it — then a little staged clumsiness wouldn't hurt. When the 120 seconds were up, Mamori saw his chance. He carefully scooped up his pile of finely diced root and began transferring them to the cauldron. A tiny pretend stumble — just enough to test Oliver's reaction without actually risking their progress — but as he shifted his weight to fake losing his balance, his foot managed to catch on absolutely nothing, a talent he really could have done without, sending him lurching toward the cauldron. "Oh no, oh no, oh no—" he muttered in panic, his heart nearly stopping — this wasn't part of the plan at all — but somehow his frantic attempt not to become one with the potion turned into a surprisingly successful exercise in not dying. His body did its best impression of a confused garden gnome while his hand, apparently blessed by some potion-preserving deity, managed to keep the ingredients safe through the whole ordeal. The cubes finally made it into the cauldron, and there it was again — that embarrassingly obvious sigh of relief, this time only half-hearted in its sincerity.

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What an odd question. "I'm fine, why do you ask?" He'd felt fine, perhaps if anything a good mood as his partner in brewing had been getting it all done with no mishaps. After all Oliver had seen in classes it was something to keep his mood up. Was there a reason he shouldn't be fine? "Unusual sensations...?" He repeated with a look of confusion to rival his younger siblings when they had been asked to do multiplication. "Are you feeling alright?" Oliver asked in return, asking such odd questions when he should be focusing on the task at hand. Chopping the root into fine cubes.

Much to Oliver's surprise, the root had been chopped quite well. He looked at Mamori's handywork, and gave it an approving nod. His expectations for how this would go had been low, so really, it didn't take much to surprise him. Really, Oliver thought the second he would look at the potion it would blow up, and he would have rather done it all himself. Alas it was a team effort. So Mamori had to do some steps. It had been an annoyance yes, so Oliver did give him 'easy' ones. Yet now he was thinking he could have tasked him with some of the 'harder' ones. With how well he'd been doing so far.

Just when Oliver went to open his mouth to give yet more praise, shit had to hit the fan. And Oliver could have sworn he was about to join his great, great, great, grandfather and his ghostly endeavors. Mamori, of course, slipped. "NO!" He shouted, eyebrows might as well have meet his hairline at this point, he didn't care if Mamori hit the floor, they weren't that close. Not close at all, Oliver had been worried about the ingredients. That they would all fall on the floor, they wouldn't have time to get, and cop more, all there work (much like there potion would have to be) down the drain.

"My god!" He shouted at him. Leaning a bit on the table, Things ended up ok. But the important thing her, was they could have ended up very much not ok, that the world could have ended, his reputation ruined. And his life could have been over. Because of the Hufflepuffs near mistake. "Are you mad?" He asked, head shooting up to glare at him. All signs of a good mood gone. Very tempted to call it quits then and there. Yet, lucky or unlucky enough he was an Armani. Armani's were not quitters. "Our potion was almost ruined." He spat a little at him, shaking his head. He couldn't look the boy in the eyes right now. He was so humiliated.

What if people saw that? He pushed past him standing back in front of the potion, "Watch it, Less you mess the potion up." Oliver told him, shooting a glare at him for good measure. He took a deep breath, as he picked up the spoon. "Almost done Oliver, almost done." He muttered to himself, Just this last stir. And Mamori's wave. And they would be done. He'd lasted this long, he do do a little bit more. And he never had to speak to the pink haired boy again. He could ignore him after this. With the shame that could have been brought to him.

Armed with the spoon Oliver mocked the motion of stirring anti-clockwise above the brew before sticking it in and stirring twice in that same direction. That was very important. He took another deep breath and stepped back. "Can you handle waving your wand over it? Or will you drop it in the potion?" Did he have to make that comment? Nope, not at all. But it felt like Mamori deserved it. Once that had been done, Oliver could breath a sigh of relief as well. Done, all done. It ended up fine, but it could have ended in disaster. At least it had went better then he though it would have. Considering who he had as a partner. He was tempted to ask if he could be graded at a curve because of that fact.

OUTFIT & INVENTORY Reducio Notes from potions class, list of steps to brew, wand.

OOC NOTE & STATS/ABILITIES Reducio Fearless - Oliver does not scare easily, not effected by terrible presence or unsettling aura { Stamina: 7 }{ Evasion: 5 }{ Strength: 10 }{ Wisdom: 3 }{ Arcane Power: 2 }{ Accuracy: 8 }

Interacting : @Mamori Anezaki |||| @n/a : Mentioning