Partners in Study & Laughter
Reducio
@Max Kenneally Vidler
Edward was rarely the assertive type, yet when he saw his new friend and Herbology partner in Potions class standing alone at one of the workstations he knew he had to act quickly. They worked well together, and Edward knew that in a class like potions, especially, he needed a potions partner that he worked well with and he could trust wouldn’t intentionally sabotage his efforts to get ahead of him in class. Therefore, it was that Edward hurriedly walked up from behind Max to set his book and supplies down at the table, claiming the seat - and partner at the table - for himself.
“Oh, good, we have Potions together too! I was worried I’d end up with some ‘insufferable know-it-all’ Ravenclaw (he said half-jokingly, having heard one of the older students say that and thought it sounded accurate although a bit rude so he would never say it to one’s face or even behind their back about one in particular, unless it was truly an egregious case) as my partner for potions and they’d get all the credit for my hard work…” he offered Max a playful smile at his little quip, taking it for granted that he didn’t already have another potions partner that he was waiting on.
“You know,” he says after finishing setting up his side of their table, “my grandmother always said herbology and potions go hand-in-hand,” he motions to the ingredients on the table, some of them fauna in nature but most of them flora, “for instance, did you know that the quality of the herbs used can improve the potency of a potion?” he says, encouragingly. “A better herbologist therefore leads to a better potioneer” he says, with a smile more confident than Max had seen on him before. It was intentional, he hoped that projecting confidence would lead to Max happily accepting the arrangement of their partnership continuing in options as well.
Last edited by Edward Bishop on 13 Feb 2026, 13:23, edited 4 times in total.
Partners in Study & Laughter
Interacting with: @Edward Bishop Date: 29.01.26 Dialogue: 225700 Words: 377 ────────────────────────
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«Ed…ward!» It took him a moment to recollect the right name. It had truly taken him ages to stop calling him other variations of the name. «You ready for an hour of torture too?» Despite his grim expression and the rather moody tone, he mustered a smile at the quip even though he could think of no better circumstance At least it didn’t look like the full grimace he felt like portraying at his prospects.
«I suppose there are some similarities…» He simply watched as Edward set up his equipment, not really all that eager to get to work himself. «But in Herbology I can at least decide when I do what. Here it’s just so detailed!» He gave a rather dramatic shrug before continuing «I follow the steps every time and even time myself, but nine times out of ten my potion ends up wonky. Not the right color, or texture… and once it even started smoking like it was a campfire!» He leaned against their table rather defeated. How he was supposed to live through at least five years of this class he couldn’t even imagine. Upon spotting the general happiness and confidence of his partner though, he tried to pull himself together a bit. «But I’m sure today will go great» He would have more success producing a smile if he used his hands to pull his lips up in the corners. But at least he tried, right?✰
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PC: Maximilianus Kenneally Vidler—————————"Life is short; make it weird and slightly chaotic."
iNPC: Harvey Dunn—————————————————————Roadhouse Radio
Partners in Study & Laughter
Edward ‘hrm’d’ thoughtfully, offering an encouraging smile, “Yes, it’s true that potions require a lot more precision and following the rules but thank of it this way: it’s like cooking - we are just following a recipe; our book has all the ones we’ll need for class… plus…” he grins more widely now, “now you have me as a partner! That’s what partners are for…”
At that, Edward begins to show Max the steps and ingredients to make the potion that they will be required to produce for class today - he makes a point to show Max the dittany sprigs that would be very familiar to him. Max may also be familiar with the bubertuber pus that they used as well. And of course most people - even muggles - would be familiar with the seaweed they used. Though perhaps less familiar with the murtlap tentacles and flobberworm mucous that were added as well. Finally, a jar of honey was stirred in that made the whole thing both thicker and more pleasant to smell and - presumably taste (though following the proper safety precautions he didn’t actually try to taste the potion himself).
Edward tried his best to show Max that potions work didn’t have to be hard as long as they followed the recipe, and worked together. Max had helped him to see Herbology in a new way, and now he was determined to do the same for him for Potions.
Eventually, after some time of working silently together with Edward taking the lead, he stops to show off the final product, “Behold! Burn Healing Paste!" inquiring, "So… what do you think?” he asks with a hopeful, encouraging smile.
At that, Edward begins to show Max the steps and ingredients to make the potion that they will be required to produce for class today - he makes a point to show Max the dittany sprigs that would be very familiar to him. Max may also be familiar with the bubertuber pus that they used as well. And of course most people - even muggles - would be familiar with the seaweed they used. Though perhaps less familiar with the murtlap tentacles and flobberworm mucous that were added as well. Finally, a jar of honey was stirred in that made the whole thing both thicker and more pleasant to smell and - presumably taste (though following the proper safety precautions he didn’t actually try to taste the potion himself).
Edward tried his best to show Max that potions work didn’t have to be hard as long as they followed the recipe, and worked together. Max had helped him to see Herbology in a new way, and now he was determined to do the same for him for Potions.
Eventually, after some time of working silently together with Edward taking the lead, he stops to show off the final product, “Behold! Burn Healing Paste!" inquiring, "So… what do you think?” he asks with a hopeful, encouraging smile.
Partners in Study & Laughter
——✰ ——Interacting with: @Edward Bishop—— ✧ ——Date: 29.01.26—— ✰
——✰ ——Dialogue: 225700————|——|||——— ✧ ——Words: 386|——— ✰────────────────────────He leaned a bit forwards to their workstation. Even though he wanted nothing more than to walk away and bury his head in the closest cauldron that would get him out of the room, he could see how that could be considered rude. «I have never really been that good at cooking, it always end up burnt or undercooked or something» He mumbled rubbing the back of his head. He didn’t want to pull Edward down into the slump too, but it was a rather hard task to pull oneself out of it.
«How about you do the doing, and I’ll do the watching?» He suggested as Edward set to work. Even with wandering eyes he made sure to mhm at the dittany and the bubertuber pus. He was familiar. Even though Annabelle and Quince would have produced far better ingredients, of that he was sure. He watched closely as a cauldron across the room came scarily close to smoking violently, a bit of a grin spreading across his face. Oh, if it would only catch fire… Then they would certainly have to miss the rest of class! But no such luck today. As he looked back at his partner and their work, of which he had done just about zero, his eyes widened. When he looked away the contents of the cauldron was nothing more than gross looking soup. Now it was thickening quickly as the honey was added. Bit of a waste of natural sweetener if you asked him, but he supposed burn healing paste had its uses.
Upon Edward declaring their potion done he leaned over for a better look. It seemed right? At least from what he could remember from the first time the potion was introduced. He hadn’t been close to a correctly brewed one since. «Already? That was so quick!» His eyes widened a bit before showing off a small genuine smile. «If we can be partners for the rest of the year, I’m sure we’ll do great! You can handle the timing of everything, and I’ll make sure we don’t forget to laugh during the work» He offered a bit pleadingly. After all, it was a way better idea for him than for Edward. But hopefully the Hufflepuff could see the necessity of laughter and humor, even when working.
PC: Maximilianus Kenneally Vidler—————————"Life is short; make it weird and slightly chaotic."
iNPC: Harvey Dunn—————————————————————Roadhouse Radio
Partners in Study & Laughter
Reducio
@Max Kenneally Vidler
Edward was trying to encourage Max - but so far it wasn't working: «I have never really been that good at cooking, it always end up burnt or undercooked or something» Max had said, but Edward had tried to remain positive, "Like my grandmother always says, 'if at first you don't succeed, try, try again'" he replied in an optimistic tone.
«How about you do the doing, and I’ll do the watching?» Edward was fine with taking charge, if Max wanted to be more of a lab assistant than a partner, that would work for now at least, perhaps in time Max would come around. Edward gave a soft smile and asked Max to pass him this ingredient or that - when it was time for the next, and as he grew more comfortable asked him to start measuring out the ingredients ahead of time so that they would be ready when it was time to add them.
After the work was finished, Max seemed to brighten a bit at least, «Already? That was so quick!» Edward returned the genuine smile. «If we can be partners for the rest of the year, I’m sure we’ll do great! You can handle the timing of everything, and I’ll make sure we don’t forget to laugh during the work» Edward chuckled at that, "of course!" he agreed enthusiastically: laughing together and having fun while they worked would help the work and time pass quicker and easier. Edward finally handed Max their two vials to hold while he carefully poured the contents of the cauldron into them - there was little danger it would spill at least given how thick it was now, having been thickened into a paste. "Now we just have to turn these into the professor, and we can head back up to get some actual food!" after a moment adding tentatively, "you want to eat with me today instead of your house table? We could get some fresh air, a little picnic perhaps out in the courtyard?"
Partners in Study & Laughter
Banner By Julia Evans——✰ ——Interacting with: @Edward Bishop—— ✧ ——Date: 00.00.00—— ✰
——✰ ——Dialogue: 225700———|———|||——— ✧ ——Words: 235|||||||— ✰────────────────────────Sure, Max kept his hands busy preparing the ingredients. That was fine. Edward seemed to give them to him in ample time to do something else before they needed to be added. So while Max cut, squeezed and otherwise messed with their stock, he found time to be distracted, look around and retell a rather dirty joke he just remembered.
«It’s supposed to be this consistency, right?» He voiced the question after holding the quickly filled vials for a moment. «When I tried making this with someone else last week, ours was more like concrete. It was practically impossible to get it out of the cauldron!» After the vials were filled and the stoppers added, he carefully turned them over in his hands and watched carefully for the smal, slow moving shift of gravity.
Looking back at Edward he grinned widely. «Food, yes please!» He began collecting his belongings and shoved them into his satchel before slinging it over his shoulder and picking up the vials once more. «Oohh, picnic please! There is this great spot next to the great lake I have been dying to show off!» Waiting for Edward to be ready before moving through the room to turn in their potion. «When we first got here this fall there was a spot where the water was almost crystal blue! We can’t really see it through the ice now, but it was amazing!»
PC: Maximilianus Kenneally Vidler—————————"Life is short; make it weird and slightly chaotic."
iNPC: Harvey Dunn—————————————————————Roadhouse Radio