Novel Full Chapter 2243 Mental Health is Important Part 1
--- Kat ---
Time had come and gone, Lily had stocked up on knowledge, and the group had eaten a few meals. Now, Appoline was once again low on ingredients... but going back to the greenhouse wasn’t on the table. Appoline wanted to give the plants at least another day of recovery so now there was talk about going... elsewhere. Kat was leaning against the wall and back to full size. There was no secret to it. She just... eventually started to grow back to normal. It had happened about an hour ago.
She was no listening in to the nearby... conversation. "If we want any further potions, I’ll need to venture either out into the poison, or into the other unexplored areas of this place," stated Appoline.
Scar, who had apparently become the main representative of the group said, "We’re almost done. If you can hold off a few hours then the barrier should be stable enough to repel attacks. I wouldn’t want to leave it at that, but it would be stable."
Appoline clicked her tongue, "Perhaps, but is there a reason to wait? Because of the interruption I wasn’t able to gather everything I may have wanted and while my stores of healing potions are strong, a wider variety isn’t truly present. I have exactly ONE sleeping potion and only a dozen poisons, none of which are strong enough to take down a proper threat."
*When did she even manage to make the poisons?*
[I’m not sure? I took a quick nap during the lecture session so... around then I guess? Or maybe she had them on her before? I wouldn’t be surprised if she kept them on her just to relax.]
*Yeah, and that’s the problem. Scar clearly doesn’t want Appoline to head off because she’ll either be alone, or take one of our strongest fighters with her. I know neither of us mind hanging out with her, but it means we’re splitting a LOT of our practical combat power. On the other hand, do you remember what I noted about Appoline and her potion stores?*
[Yeah, she freaks out when they aren’t large enough.]
*Exactly, and I’m wondering if she needs some variety to feel comfortable. I mean, she’s surely got plenty of healing potions now...*
[At least fifty, and those are just the ones I know for a fact she made.]
*See, that’s a LOT of healing potions for a small group like ours... but the lack of variety might be getting to her, or maybe she still considers that to be a small amount of potions in her long term storage.*
[Right but how does that change the fact that it’s probably best she hangs around?]
*My worry is that she’ll either try to sneak off by herself without telling anyone, or that she might simply state her desire to go off and find ingredients and just... go do that without listening to anything we might say otherwise. The worry about telling her to stick around is that she might freak out and do something crazy if we don’t let her.*
[Do you really think it’s that bad?]
*I’m not sure. Appoline was fine when we were back on the surface. My worry is that perhaps she’s more sensitive to being underground? Or perhaps that being underground is making her nerves worse? She hasn’t slept since she woke up for that attack last night... and it’s been a while. It’s dinner time now and that means she’s been up for what, eighteen or so hours with no sleep? And that’s after being woken up in the middle of the night.*
[Hmmm... you think she’s at risk of getting worse?]
*Maybe? I don’t want to say I don’t trust her... but it’s more about the lack of sleep and stress getting to her. I guess I trust her enough to respect her, but I worry that she’s not in position to take care of her clearly deteriorating mental health.*
[So what are you saying?]
*I’m not sure what I’m saying. I guess... I guess I’m wondering if it might be better just to send Appoline back to Hedera? I’m sure Hedera would defend her as best she can. I’m just not sure if that would be all that safe, or if Appoline will be safe ENOUGH.*
[I mean, we’ll have to leave eventually...]
*And I hope when that time comes Appoline will have a massive stockpile of potions to keep herself safe and sane.*
[Alright that’s a fair point. I trust that she can make more... though actually. She’s been spending like, all her time brewing pretty much. Spare time anyway. Why doesn’t she have MORE potions? We already established she made around fifty healing potions in just a few hours.]
*I’m guessing a lot of that time was spent making the stuff for her neck, which she isn’t counting, and perhaps some other potions she didn’t bring? Maybe more research on the poison in the area? I guess it’s just that I’m not sure we’re qualified to make decisions about her mental health.*
[Is there anyone MORE qualified though? We’re probably the closest to being friends with her, and I’m not sure if anyone else has noticed that she’s been jittery. I don’t know if they really know her well enough to make the connection. If WE don’t make a statement about it who will?]
*That’s... that’s probably true. Dammit. I don’t want this responsibility, and I’m not sure Appoline will appreciate us pointing it out. I was deliberately not going to mention it... but by the way the argument between the two is going... I might have to, and that point everyone will know. That seems... less then ideal.*
[Do we have another option?]
Hope she doesn’t do anything stupid?
[Is that even the best option for her though?]
*I just hate that the best option seems to be selling out a friend.*
[Is it really selling them out when you’re doing it for the explicit purpose of helping them?]
*Well there’s a reason interventions can be dicey. Even if you’re doing it for the person in question that doesn’t mean they’ll be happy about it, or feel less attacked. We had to do that sort of thing for a few kids at the orphanage and they NEVER reacted well. Even if it needed to be done.*
[Did it work out in the end at least?]
*Not always honestly. Some kids just decided to be stubborn about the whole thing and intentionally ignore our advice because we ’forced’ it on them... but it’s not like they would’ve sorted the issue without our intervention. They were just kids. Not because they were stupid, but because they’d never be able to see the signs...*
[Well do you think Appoline is mature enough to accept things as they are?]
*In general yes... but while she’s stressed and scared? That I’m a lot less certain about. Maybe if we use a bunch of alchemy puns as metaphors it will come across better?*
[Kat... what the heck?]
*No I’m completely serious. If we can make her laugh, or even just groan out loud at us, that’s a massive win. It will keep her from being truly angry or feeling betrayed. I’m still not sure it’s the best idea, but... I think it might be the road towards one.*
[You really think PUNS are the answer?]
*Are you able to look me in the eyes and tell me they aren’t?*
[I’m not really able to look you in the eyes at the moment considering I’m in your arms.]
*Really?*
[Fine, I think your logic is sound even if it ultimately feels like it isn’t quite the best idea. Though the question is now, do we talk to Appoline about this first or just... announce that one of us should go gather ingredients with Appoline for her own health and safety?]
*When you put it like that I almost want to just lie and say more exotic potions are worth the risk. I don’t think they are...*
[Well... aren’t they? The potions themselves might not be, but the risk here isn’t needing them for attackers, but needing any sort of potion to stop Appoline from freaking out.]
*Hmmm... ok I can see this working. Is it better then throwing puns at her?*
[I’m not sure. I guess it depends how much Appoline would mind that being revealed. I mean... do you think SHE even knows?]
I’m not sure. I mean, the obvious answer would be yes but she’s likely had a massive stockpile ever since she was a child. It’s only tangentially alchemy related so it’s possible that she just... never noticed.
[Well how about we interrupt the argument, pull Appoline into another room and then go over everything with her, complete with puns if she seems to be freaking out.]
*Alright... but should we wait just a bit to stock up on said puns? I only really thought about it because of the whole ’bottling up your emotions’ pun and that’s... basically the only one I have at the moment.*
[Considering the amount of kids you hung around with I’m surprised that you don’t have a better collection of puns.]
*Well I do, just not alchemy related...*