It was common for healers at St. Mungo's to pursue their own endeavors in order to help patients, however, seniority played a horrible part when dealing with continuing those endeavors or claiming ownership and control over the project.

Vivienne Thorpe was the current example,; a few healers began whispering and casting enough doubt on Thorpe, until it gradually built into an issue that reached the Board of Warlocks and became a pressing matter. Delilah had no concern or knowledge of the issue, having been dealing with other issues, but she hardly considered the healer to be inefficient enough to be a topic for the Board. However, she was only able to prolong the issue while a inquiry took place since she had no concrete facts or opinions on the topic.

So, the day that the inquiry was to be done on Thorpe, Delilah conveniently gave the interviewer more chores than she had and took on the interview as her own duty.

The tall Jamaican casually stalked the third floor until she found an occupied brewing studio. She gently pressed open the door and softly addressed the witch, "Thorpe." Parchment meekly shuffled against the clipboard held at Delilah's hip by her firm grip.

"I doubt you've been told of what 'dis t'ing is," Delilah's tone buzzed as she waved the clipboard up for Vivienne to see, "A trifle fer you, I'm sure," and then she immediately wedged the clipboard and parchment between two thick tombs crammed on a shelf.

Her voice lilted on dully, "Ethics, proper use and limiting of resources, cross-contamination--some sort of backward inquiry..." she raised an eyebrow and shrugged distastefully, "The Board's concerned about it--I'm not really here for 'dat." She then stood across from Vivienne a hand perched on her hip, "So let's pretend we're doing 'dat," a dismissive hand flicked towards the discarded clipboard, "And figure out waz 'goin on." 

Vivienne Thorpe sat on a wooden stool in the brewing studio she had booked this morning, staring down at her cauldron with a serious expression. The liquid was translucent with a tinge of red-- there was an odd, almost turmeric scent in the air. The colour would have blended well with some foods but the only thing that smell would mix with was a hearty curry and that was not going to cut it.

A window was propped open and a warm, golden light lit the room. Viv pressed her lips together in concern and without looking away from her work, reached up towards one of the many shelves that surrounded her to grab a thin, hardcover book. She brought it down to her lap and flipped it open, extending one manicured finger to trace the list of herbs on a page. Surely there was something with a similar effect...

"Thorpe." Vivienne looked up and was surprised to see the hospital's Healer-in-Charge, Delilah Foley, standing in the studio.

There was something about Delilah that alarmed her sometimes. Her open manner and her readiness to override the spider's web of hospital bureaucracy-- these were appreciated traits. But it was her perceptiveness that often caught Viv off guard. She remained quiet as her superior casually indicated towards the clipboard. Vivienne barely caught the words "inquiry" and "Board of Warlocks" before Foley put it away in a fashion that dismissed the issue altogether.

So people were looking into her brewing, now. She knew that some of the other Healers were concerned or worried about her approach to the problem but to involve the Board was... unnecessary. Maybe it was expected because she had transferred over from another floor and was, so to speak, new. That Foley did not think the inquiry was particularly significant came as a relief; the studio reservation forms, ingredients registry and brewing appeals were troublesome enough, as far as paperwork went.

 "So let's pretend we're doing 'dat," the clipboard was indicated, "And figure out waz 'goin on." Delilah Foley looked at her from across the cauldron and Vivienne smiled diffidently, a little self-conscious of all the little troubles her endeavor had sparked.

"I see..." The witch trailed off and then, in a more driven tone: "I'm not sure what you mean but what's going on, Healer Foley. My potion, maybe, is starting a fuss with some of the staff. It is a sedative that I have been preparing to slip into patient meals. Excuse me." She paused to pick up her wand from the lower table and tap the cauldron rim. The concoction sparkled, a pale layer of blue settling on its surface. That would hold it while they spoke.

Viv looked back up at Foley: "Please, sit down." A gesture was made towards a stool on the side and it slid over to the front noiselessly. "My issue has been with balancing taste and effectiveness. You have, I think, heard of my correspondence with Miss Freher from the Ministry? Her assistance in this matter has been cause for disagreement amongst our brewers, I think."

With a half-lidded gaze, Delilah regarded the seat critically before it finally stopped and she slowly leaned into the chair, crossed her legs, and sat starlight while poising a finger on her cheek as she listened to the other healer intently.

"Yes," the dread-locked witch said with a creeping lilt, "'Di fine details of paperwork in relation to your actions are an issue..." she let her sentence linger and melt into her next line of reasoning, "I'm sure th' reasons that sparked this are different what was intended to be found," she gestured towards the cauldron, "So your problem will be p'on your conduct of everyt'ing," Her stout lips fiercely rolled off her teeth with her emphasis and then removed her finger from her cheek with a sprawled wave. 

"Freher, for th' most part, is currently like an employee, having free reign to resources, but limits on a variety of patients. Sharing any information wit' her 'bout a patient not in her contract can be an issue," she bent a finger as she moved onto another point, "Most healers runnin' projects also won't need to use many ingredients from our stock, an' may bring their own, but if something goes wrong 'deyre held liable or incompetent."

Delilah shrugged helplessly as she pressed her lips together disdainfully, "'Dere's more, but best you prattle off th' details of your exploits an' I'll interrupt wit' complications," she then gave a nod towards Vivienne and waited for the healer to begin again.

Details of my exploits...

Vivienne crossed her legs and she frowned in concentration. That phrasing made her feel like she was up to something a little more sinister than brewing a sedative-- though who knew where all this experimentation would lead? From her results so far, the potions she had made were excellent candidates for the bases of more layered concoctions. But still not what she needed.

"Yes, well you don't need to worry about patient details. I'm very vague about these things when I speak to Miss Freher and names are never mentioned, of course." Viv paused and then picked up a sheet of parchment from her side table, handing it over to her superior: "You may wish to look at this while I explain my efforts up to now. It's an ingredients list of herbs I have crossed out. The underlined ones are still being used in the prototypes."

Anything with a strong odour had basically been struck off the parchment-- she had very regretfully drawn the line over valerian, which had been extremely beneficial; it's overpowering odour was a bane to her work, however. Vivienne leaned back in her chair and drew in a breath: "I began with the base of existing sedatives. Moonstone powder, valerian, lovage. The taste tests were easily done in my own home and several of the brews had to be thrown away because they couldn't be disguised by food or drink..."

The Healer trailed off and grimaced at the memory. Her flat had reeked of valerian root for a week: "Then I experimented with Hellebore syrup.... this was during the correspondence with Miss Freher. I began to make progress, only my use of the syrup was meager." Viv's grey gaze shifted to meet Healer Foley's, "The hospital can't spare too much of it and I was afraid of the toxicity. At any rate, the potion could be disguised but it was not very effective. I have with me now some of the Hellebore powder, supplied by Miss Freher. It will make for a more potent brew, maybe, and with a little passion flower."

Delilah clipped the list between her long fingers and pulled it under her studious dark gaze as she listened to Vivienne's directions and details. She had come up with many acceptable and effective sedatives but her issue was that of taste and balance. It was almost like cooking the perfect holiday dinner, "You must also be wary of what dulls th' potion's effects," the witch warned, "Almost anyt'ing wit' caffeine or sugar sittin' in it will muck up th' original intention of 'di brew," of course she was sure Vivienne would learn that on her own or had already, but she thought it was worth mentioning.

She tapped her finger on the list though, bringing her attention back to why she was there and Vivienne's back to the parchment, "And you'll need to confirm Freher's methods on how she derives her ingredients and who her supplier is..." then her voice churned into a wary growl, "An' if it's 'di Ministry 'dere may be some issues on your part." Mungo's and the Ministry were not one and the same, and they did things differently, and Delilah didn't even want to know what the Department of Mysteries did differently and how their ingredients may go awry when used by anyone other than the owner.

"Otherwise you've concocted great progress wit' sedatives, your problem is finding somet'in tasteless, undectable, non-toxic, and effective--an art 'dat belongs to th' realm of culinary masters." Delilah's voice weaved in and out of her Jamaican lilt, rough and critical. Vivienne's trek into trying to sympathize patients was often frustrating to her, but Delilah couldn't imagine how much more troublesome the witch would make her own endeavors with her mindset.

"An excellent base it eez though," the dark-skinned witch sighed with a tone of content, "'Di clever t'ing fi you may be to mark 'dis as a finished product and pick it up for later use," Delilah finally handed back the list to the other healer before she parked an elbow in each of her palms as she continued, "Making a derivative fi the new wolves would give you the most leverage wit' the Board--and it's effectiveness will be your grace."

She gave her head of bounded dreadlocks a shake as continued, "We never know what to expect anymore, and safety is everybaddy's primary concern, recently."

Vivienne listened to Foley, nodding her head and making mental notes most of the time. There would be no use in dropping the sedative into the afternoon tea time meals. Shame... it was generally a good time to administer most sedatives. Perhaps they should start serving Rooibos to the patients. The fussy ones would probably notice. And what of Miss Freher's sources? So much of it was personal, there was going to have to be some official statement about it....

Her thoughts went on in this manner for some time until that word was mentioned: leverage. Viv's gaze shifted sharply to meet her superior's. She had gone for so long at the hospital without getting involved with what one considered the political aspect of St.Mungo's although now there would have to be a compromise, clearly. The implication was that she could only brew an effective, accesible formula if some other of her efforts had weight with the Board of Warlocks.

The idea infuriated her but then Healer Foley added: "We never know what to expect anymore, and safety is everybaddy's primary concern, recently." Which was true. It didn't matter if she had to waylay her endeavors for a little while. Not if it meant helping with another cause that could be just as significant.

Viv nodded her head slowly: "Oui.I... see what you mean. The Werewolf matter has been troubling," she thought of Healer Marren and wondered how he dealt with the issue, "They aren't my specialty, naturellement, though I could make some progress with this as a base." The witch paused and frowned, going over it in her head. She was beginning to become quite fond of brewing things in the studios; it would be no trouble for her to look into this, seeing as how most of her free time had lately been spent on this floor.

Safety. Vivienne leaned back in her seat, careful not to fall off the stool, and gave Foley a guilty look: "What exactly does the first floor require? I'm... unfortunately behind, where the lycans are concerned."

"'Di' weres need to be controlled, calmed--firstly," Delilah's voice leaned gently, "We 'ave no idea when and how 'dey'll start transforming, but fi any 'dat get here, or are already here, we need to get 'dem down. Fast." One of her legs swept over the other one as her lips relaxed against each other int a neutral pout.

"We gotta a healer bit last round; That doesn't 'ave to happen again." her long arms wove across her chest again, not very happy to admit or state that fact, but that was what it was. And if Vivienne was going to become involved in the situation it was best she knew that much.

"Marren needs help, but we don' need a whole floor anna half bogged down wit' a zoo," she waved a dismissive hand at that fact, "We're too understaffed and ill-qualified for 'dat and we'll be neglecting other patients." Having never grown up around anyone who turned into anything remotely reminiscent of a werewolf, besides her daughter, Delilah viewed werewolves in Mungo's just as that. A zoo. Werewolves would forever be a creature untamed by humans, Delilah believed, and even werewolves themselves did not know how to control their behavior without the aid of wolfsbane and the absence of moonlight.
 
"If you can make a base for a strong sedative--or go one better and make one healers can t'row together on-spot per patient needs," Delilah's eyebrows rose at the added idea, her only indication towards her excitement, "the first floor w'uld be worlds ahead from th' last cycle."

A Healer was bitten?

Vivienne watched Foley with a serious expression as the case was explained. She nodded her head at some points but for the most part, kept quiet in her thoughts. This was no idle endeavor that she would be undertaking; with her own patients, the sedative was the byproduct of free time and great concern. The matter of Werewolves however, necessitated a sedative on a far more immediate scale. She would need to start as soon as possible if she was going to have time to test an adjustable base.

"...the first floor w'uld be worlds ahead from th' last cycle." The Healer-in-Charge, as far as Viv could tell, appeared keen on this idea. The concept itself was tantalizing... the potential it had to ease the burdens of the first floor and of the patients themselves. Brewing a sedative that may be modified on the spur; that did not seem particularly easy and yet she didn't see why it couldn't be possible.

With a contemplative look, Viv sat up straight and tapped her wand absently against the rim of her cauldron: "It would be a less delicate task than balancing taste and effectiveness, I can appreciate that. The difficulty is in the sophistication of a base that Healers can adjust according to patient," the witch paused. She had a hankering to start pulling out the ingredient ledgers and begin narrowing down the components of such a brew. Something that would be able to knock out a Werewolf without conveying side-effects to their human form. Something powerful but not so effective that weaker Lycans would pass out from the sheer intensity of that base.

"I think, maybe, with a little time, this is attainable," Vivienne resisted the urge to bite her nails-- something she hadn't done in some years now. Her gaze shifted first to the bookshelves in the studio, thoughtfully, and then back to her superior: " It is an undertaking that I would be more than willing to attempt, if that is what you're asking."

Delilah had a small smile of pride at Vivienne's fascination with the idea of a new sedative--strength in the presence of outstanding odds. "If you're capable an' willing, 'den yes," Delilah gently nodded with her chin, "Not too much time 'til th' next cycle, 'less that's enough time for you?.." the older witch's voice thoughtfully lingered with the quick addition and consideration for the other witch's

"I can give you 'di clearance to 'di tombs and tools you may need, and 'can make th' process speedier," she curled her long slim fingers and dipped her head to her shoulder, "Healer Bombay may also be of assistance, she has a devoted interest to th' subject--if you can persuade her," and that was debatabl-y a whole other skill requiring its own training and profession. Of course, the same could be said of any purebloods. They all had their own social approach when dealing with people, even Delilah.

She pulled her head upright again with an amused purse of her lips, "I'm more equipped to tackle a full-grown Runespoor than diagnose a werewolf for anyt'ing other than lycanthropy." This wasn't the complete truth, but Delilah was far from an expert on the subject. She could whip up any type of drug for them, but anything she had learned about them had been from her dealings with Knox or what skills were acquired from her time at Mungo's.

"Fi' you need anyt'ing else I can have it so you can get me from th' badge," she dropped an extended finger towards the embroidery on the other witch's robes, "shuld you want it."

Vivienne was surprised by her own interest in the task presented. Granted, she had always enjoyed her time at the cauldron, but much of her calling sent her marching into wards and not brewing studios. Even sitting here this morning, she felt like she was visiting an old friend. A hobby neglected.

"...'less that's enough time for you?" Delilah's compelling tone... and mon dieu, that unnerving gaze, brought Viv back to their conversation. She was not sure how long it would take to complete a fully adaptable potion but surely it would only be a matter of days for her to brew a functional prototype. The Healer-in-Charge went on to offer some reassurances. And resources! That would be most useful. As would Healer Bombay's help, should she be able to pin her down.

With such assistance, a prototype would be within reach. Especially seeing as how Vivienne already had a base to work with. Her grey eyes clouded over with thought as she glanced quickly down at the cauldron and then back to Delilah, who was indicating towards her badge. It allowed for the Healers to signal each other... hers only sent vague calls of help to Healer Greenburg and various other superiors. She could also send specific orders to her mediwitches.

Viv's own hand went to her badge and she nodded her head: "Oui, that may be wise. I will be able to get in touch with you in... in emergencies," she grimaced slightly at that word. Merlin knew what kind of emergencies they would face. She had only glancing experience with the lycans. Speaking in a less disturbed tone, Vivienne lowered her arm and added: "I have an effective base to work with. If I begin now, maybe there might be a usable version of this sedative in a few days."

Of course a few days was not a very precise way to estimate her progress and she blushed, "Non. Three or four days. It won't be perfect, naturellement, but it will help. I can let you know as soon as I am satisfied with one."