It took exactly thirty days to come back to the same place, to meet the same person, to talk about… nein. Unlike the first time, Una had absolutely no idea what was that meeting about. She knew only that Vivienne wanted her opinion in an important and secret task. Well, Una understood perfectly that some things should remain veiled; being the daughter of an Unspeakable, he had taught her to respect the nature of that. The only thing she couldn’t stand really well was be hoodwinked (when she could tell, at least), but she was pretty secure that the Healer was absolutely sincere with her.

About having her opinion requested in an important task, that was something Una wasn’t already used to. She still got nervous and felt the eager to be useful, but on that morning specifically, somehow she was able to let the delicious smell of the tearoom relax her. When she entered the place, it was surprisingly sunny, warm and beautiful - more than she could remember from the first time. So that wasn’t really a hard task to sigh, relax and smile before search for Vivienne.

The kind manners of the Healer could be seem as well as an explanation why Una walked so lightly towards her, after she could recognize her. Vivienne was so friendly and trustworthy; have an opinion requested by her was something, deep inside, flattering for Una. “Good morning, Miss Thorpe! How have you been?” She asked when she reached the Healer, offering her gloved hand for, like the first time, just a brief handshake; but with an open and gently smile on her lips now.

Vivienne was having a moment of deja vu.

The weather was better, the tearoom quieter and herself altogether more tired than the last time she had met Una Sophia Freher... but still, there was that subtle awareness of repeating herself when she accepted the gloved hand by the blonde witch. A fine familiarity. Vivienne had been in the tearoom for only a few minutes, cloaked in her lime robes and staring off into space, when her visitor approached her.

“Good morning, Miss Thorpe! How have you been?”

There was something different though. Friendlier. The Healer's grey eyes, fatigued but cordial, contemplated this quietly for a moment. And then she returned the smile: "Good morning, Una. I've been very well, merci."

It was the end of a very long late shift for her but the tearoom staff were just beginning their day. Much like before, the scent of their baking drifted in from the kitchen... tea was being brewed... and mon dieu, coffee. Her kingdom for some coffee. Viv gestured to a corner of the room, where once again the staff had drawn aside a table and chair for their privacy: "Shall we? I just got off my shift, we may take our time today."

As she led Una to their table, she glanced over her shoulder to address the Alchemist: "I trust that you have been doing well? You appear to be in good health." Chairs were drawn out and Vivienne looked past Una towards the tearoom counter, making a polite gesture to one of the tea ladies before dropping into her seat, "I forget, sometimes, how convenient this floor can be."

Vivienne seemed to be so tired that Una almost offered to return another time, so she could rest properly. But, even with those eyes, the Healer was still gentle and determined in continue with the plan. She gesture to the same place, maybe even the same table, where they both sat on the first time; explaining why she looked so fatigued, though that wasn’t really an explanation. Healers had those crazy shifts, and Viv’s way of getting through that and still have energy to talk with Una just proved to her one more time that she was right about the woman: she was someone to be admired.

"I trust that you have been doing well? You appear to be in good health."

“Oh, ja, I’m doing great!” Una answered, but feeling a little awkward by her own enthusiasm in state that. “I mean, I’m well, thank you. I’m not having so much nightmares… not as usual… maybe your potion has something to do with it…” she said a little shy and giggled softly while following the Healer. Of course that wasn’t all, but she wouldn’t tire Vivienne with her romantic wanders. She still was there for another reason, and a far more serious one from what she could gather.

"I forget, sometimes, how convenient this floor can be."

“Ja, I assume it’s good to have a place like this here in Mungo’s.” Una nodded, before sitting gently in front of Vivienne. “And it’s good you have the cooperation of the staff as well. They must have you well, I mean… they like you.”

Vivienne regarded her companion with a vague but diverted smile as she explained her good health. Bon. It had concerned her, the last time, to hear that Una was a victim of nightmares. There were days when it felt like every single person on the fourth floor was subject to the terrors of their own minds, both patients and colleagues. That her own sleep went undisturbed seemed like a miracle.

“And it’s good you have the cooperation of the staff as well. They must have you well, I mean… they like you.”

There was no sarcasm or meanness in the way the witch spoke and Viv smiled graciously at the comment. The fifth floor really was a reprieve from the hospital's other divisions; the attitude here was laid back, almost social. Death and illness could only knock at its door. "Merci, though you should have seen me when we first began testing sedatives in the meals," she raised her eyebrows humourously: "The cooks were quite disgruntled to have a Healer in their kitchen. It took us some time to get along."

As she said this, the tea lady from the counter had wheeled over her trolley and started setting out cups with saucers. There was the gentle clinking of china against their table before the old witch offerred to pour beverages. "Coffee, s'il vous plaît." Thick and black coffee, the smell alone was almost enough to wake her up.

Glancing at across with a slightly more attentive expression, Vivienne continued while Una's drink was being poured, "But that is beside the point. I'm working on a stronger sedative now, one that does not require me to keep a check on taste."

"Merci, though you should have seen me when we first began testing sedatives in the meals. The cooks were quite disgruntled to have a Healer in their kitchen. It took us some time to get along."

“Oh, but it’s a little like this everywhere, unfortunately… only a few people are prone to be receptive…” she could tell something about it, but that really wasn’t the right occasion. The tea lady was already on their side, arranging the table and serving Vivienne. The scent of coffee made Una sigh dreamily and smile a little like a fool. Again those thoughts she should refrain to concentrate. It was incredible how she hasn’t done anything stupid the entire week. “I’m happy you could succeed on that, as possible.” She added suddenly. “I’m sure you will succeed on your new project as well.”

“Oh! Tea, sorry.” Una shook her head, giggling embarrassed to the tea lady when she noticed she had forgotten completely of her. “Simple black tea, please. Thank you…”

"I'm working on a stronger sedative now, one that does not require me to keep a check on taste."

Una looked at Vivienne almost with the same attentive eyes. Inwardly, she was sighing in relief. Work on a sedative without caring for the taste was tenfold better, no matter what other complications they should avoid. “How much stronger?” She asked on a whisper, as soon as the tea lady turned her back. “Do you already have a base formula… a prototype or something?”

The tea lady turned around, pushing her trolley away from their corner of the room-- taking away her china pots of coffee and tea, humming something softly to herself. Vivienne watched the old witch's back for a moment before shifting her attention to Una again. She picked up her drink and smiled at the hushed tone of her companion. It was probably all for the better... not everyone at the hospital approved of her seeking advice from an external source.

"How much stronger? Do you already have a base formula… a prototype or something?”

And there was the question that she had been puzzling over ever since the letter was received earlier on in the week. How does one explain the necessary strength without making it so obvious that they would be treating Lycans? Viv sipped at her coffee and held the cup in her hands, still smiling, though with thoughtful eyes. "Approximately... four times the strength," her eyes flicked to Una's vigilantly: "I would say, strong enough to gradually send a fully grown wizard into a state of complete unconsciousness. But it must be a customizable concoction. The initial strength must be less than that, though maybe not by much."

Would the Alchemist realize? It didn't matter. Nothing she had said was, politically speaking, compromising.

 The Healer looked down into her coffee and set it down on the saucer: "I am using the sedative from my previous task as a base, though with the addition of Valerian and higher levels of powdered Hellebore root..." Vivienne trailed off and her smile became a little wry when she glanced up.

"I have been recently sanctioned to order and utilize the powdered root, on account of being assigned this brewing." That had been difficult and maybe even impossible, had it not been for Delilah Foley's assistance on the matter.

She raised an eyebrow at Una: "I must thank you for that sample. Without it, I would not have been able to convince anyone of its... value."

Una took her mug and absently led it to the lips while waiting for Vivienne to answer her question. She blew the tea just softly before taking a little sip, almost spitting it back to the mug right after, though. Four times the strength for a sedative wasn’t something really trivial to hear. Una putted down again the mug and covered her mouth, trying to disguise her reaction until Viv finish her explanation.

“Too hot… the tea…” she murmured, still touching her lips with the tips of her gloved fingers. Ok, theoretically, Viv’s task wasn’t really so hard, not to the point of spitting tea. But, considering she was a Healer dealing with… ah… really strongly tempered humans, administrate such a strong sedative was risky. She trusted on Vivienne’s methods, but she should be twice as careful.

"I must thank you for that sample. Without it, I would not have been able to convince anyone of its... value."

Viv said at the end, making Una flush. “Oh… thank you, Vivienne.” She said quickly, finally putting down her hands, involving the mug between them and looking down for a moment before raising her eyes to the Healer with a slightly serious expression. “You’re aware that you can’t just go raising the levels of these substances, right?” Una instantly raised her eyebrows, apologetically. “I mean, I know you don’t do this arbitrarily, but… there’s a limit. I don’t know if Valerian and Hellebore alone can achieve the effect you want. Not in one shot.”

Una sighed, trying to relieve the tension of her words. She smiled gently. “Look, you will have to adjust the dose according to the size of your patients, on the first place. But you’re probably gonna need more sedatives acting or more doses after the first one. It’s hard to keep grown wizards in such a state for a whole night, for example, without causing them dreams… or hallucinations… you’ll have to watch for their breathing too, if they stay too numb.” She took a quick sip of her tea, without any trouble this time.

“For how long they’re gonna need to stay sedated? If it’s for a short period this can be avoided, but if it’s for long…” it would probably be like dead, but she avoided finishing the sentence that way, letting it implicit by shaking her head briefly. Obviously, her attempt to be a little more cheerful with her words failed completely before that anyway.  Still, she held her kind smile on the lips; it wasn't a problem with her mood, she just couldn't avoid those issues of the subject.

Vivienne raised an eyebrow, smiling twitchily as she listened to Una advise her to adjust doses accordingly to patient size. That was going to be difficult when they were testing the sedative. Whatever prototypes she would manage to brew, the initial phase could only go two ways-- either the sedative would be too weak or too strong. And Foley would probably prefer the latter, considering the danger that a transforming Lycan could pose to the hospital.

"Merci," she replied once her companion had finished speaking: "You're right, I can't continue adding those ingredients without consequence. The effectiveness will stagnate at some point. There is, however, no necessity to keep them sedated for very long."

A pause. From Una's point of view, it would sound as though the Healers were looking for a sedative to knock out human wizards for indefinite lengths of time. Expressing otherwise might make their true intent more obvious...

Oh, merde. Whichever way she phrased this, it was going to come across as suspicious. Viv bit her lower lip and tapped the rim of her coffee cup thoughtfully.

"Our patients will be quite... large. We only require less than an hour of the effect and then our customary draughts will keep them in check. Naturallement, more valerian or hellebore is inadvisable, even with the patients' strong constitutions," she smiled grimly at the Alchemist now: "But that is why I'm appealing to you. A fresh perspective, non? I am overlooking something, I feel. A component or a method."

Her eyes flicked down to her cup and she took another sip of bittersweet coffee. "I most apologize for the cryptic nature of these details, Una. My lips are sealed on many matters although..." she trailed off as she set down the cup.

An intelligent light entered Vivienne's eyes as she considered Una briefly: "Although I can't help it if you draw your own conclusions from what is already known." She had long decided, more on intuition than logic, that she could trust this person. Not that her intuition was always right.

She listened to everything carefully, nodding sometimes and losing control of her expressions in front of some information. They were looking for a medicine to some really strange patients, for sure. But Una didn’t want to invade the secret nature of that task, so she limited to think only about the little things Vivienne was telling her…

…until the Healer suggest her to make her own conclusions. In fact, that wasn’t a simply suggestion; that was almost a request. The ideas would indeed flow freer without that barrier, but Una still looked surprised at Vivienne’s eyes. “Are you… sure?” There was a little concern on her voice, regarding the possible consequences the Healer could suffer for that. But, well, maybe she was right; maybe if Una draw her own conclusions and don’t tell anyone about that…

“Ah… well…” she shrugged, looking down at her tea, drawing invisible circles with the tips of her fingers on the mug while trying to gather all the relevant information she had heard. “A really strong sedative, to patients with strong constitutions… ” She muttered, as low as a whisper. “Large… patients… one shot to make them fall, then normal potions can keep them sleeping. Right?”

“Listen, Vivienne, I can only think about two things…” Both challenging and she made it clear by a quick sigh. “One would be really difficult to hide because they’re… quite huge creatures. But I haven’t heard about any recent problems with them lately, you know… the other, on the opposite, has been a subject so discussed that it’s almost… silly… to try to keep it in secret. Everything is connected and there are some thoughts you can’t keep to yourself even if you try. Someone will think along with you…” Una spoke softly, her eyes carrying an expression so thoughtful that it was almost as she wasn’t there with Viv.

“It’s a problem that happens each twenty-eight days and it’s not… only women that suffer from it, right?” She asked, taking her mug and drinking almost all the remaining tea at once. She could go ahead, tell her she had been thinking about Lycans with all her heart and even become excited for apparently have someone to discuss ideas about. But she wasn’t sure yet, and in any case, with that matter, on that place, it was better to be careful.

“Large… patients… one shot to make them fall, then normal potions can keep them sleeping. Right?”

Una's gloved fingers traced patterns along the tearoom china, her gaze was lowered. Vivienne watched this quietly and only replied in the affirmative, softly. There was no doubt-- the Alchemist was able.

But more than just that, it was silly for the hospital to be expect to keep this under the covers. They were requesting ingredients, creating protective gear... and then there was that incident earlier in the month, with the Hogwarts Governer present.

There was no denying that everything was connected. Viv smiled at her companion as she spoke, glad that she wasn't alone in thinking this. “It’s a problem that happens each twenty-eight days and it’s not… only women that suffer from it, right?” Una finally asked.

The Healer's smile widened a little bit and she inclined her head into a subtle nod. Good. That was out of the way. She sat up straight in her seat, pulling the chair closer in towards the table: "Oui," her voice was almost a murmur: "And I'm sure you can understand the..." she trailed off and bit her lip thoughtfully: "... the difficulty behind brewing an adjustable sedative for when our patients begin experiencing their problem."

Time constraints, patient volatility, unpredictable timing. Viv sipped at her coffee and drained the cup quickly. It felt wonderful, having caffeine in her system again. She looked up at Una and sighed softly: "We have many circumstances to consider but I think that, maybe, it would be best to first concentrate on the basics. Effectiveness and strength."

Vivenne smiled on her guess, and she felt relief. Knowing the patients would turn the work much easier, even if the patients weren’t the easiest to deal with. And her smile was enough to make the concerns about possible consequences vanish a little. Then Una remembered her duty; she had been studying about Lycans, not exactly to find a way to sedate them, but her observations could be helpful. The blonde smiled a little more assured than before, while thinking carefully on everything she had read and noted so far.

“Vivienne… the most important thing to keep in mind while dealing with… these patients… is the nature of their condition. You might know this already, naturally, but the Moon controls the disease and she also controls the water and the mind. It makes me think that anything related to her will affect them negatively, like silver does.” Una fell in silence for some seconds, eyes fixed on an empty space, trying to forget momentarily her own conclusions about that and focus on Vivienne’s problem and Alchemy. “Good thing you’re working with Hellebore and Valerian, you know… The first is Saturn, the latter is Jupiter. Cold and dry; hot and humid… the Moon is cold and humid herself, so it can generate a good balance, but maybe not enough.”

Una sighed and smiled apologetically. She knew that her words of choice could not be the most appropriate, and she feared that she could be tiring the Healer with that talk. But that was how she was used to think about that kind of issue. “I personally think that keep them away from the Moon is the best to ease their behavior on… the critical days. Simulate the heat and the light of the day, dry the water, sedate the mind instead of the nerves… ah… I know it sounds weird, but listen… to us, Alchemists, Moon is purely mind and Sun is purely spirit. The mind keeps our animal and human behaviors; the spirit is higher than that. And the spirit can dye the mind, you know… like a tincture. To make gold you must do silver first, anyway…” She shook her head. Now she wasn’t just using those words, but she was rambling as well.

“Rue, Lovage, Calamus, Peony, Olibanum… hot and dry things in general. Ah, the potion should be brewed only with fire; naturally, fire is good for this matter. And on Sundays… is better… as well.” She cleared her throat, her excitement had slowed down while listing everything she was able to remember without books and notes. Una leaned slightly over the table, supporting her chin on her left palm. “We should think about the strength only after thinking about… the right way to do this.” She muttered, by the end.

Finally, the two witches were on the same page.

As Una began to speak, Vivienne reached into her robes and procured a tiny, dark blue notebook. A quill followed. The drink had revived her some but she would not trust herself to be able to commit everything to memory in this state. Her prowess at the cauldron might be praiseworthy amongst Healers but her companion would be delving into aspects of the art with which she expected not to be completely familiar.

Cold...dry.... balance.... simulate the heat and the light of day....

The witch nodded at some points, acknowledging what she knew of the Lycans' cyclical relationship with the moon and smiling understandingly whenever Una wandered from their current tangent. Her talk of spirit was not the way Vivienne conventionally approached brewing but if this was required for her to create a suitable product, then she would have to open her mind to it.

“Rue, Lovage, Calamus, Peony, Olibanum… hot and dry things in general. Ah, the potion should be brewed only with fire; naturally, fire is good for this matter. And on Sundays… is better… as well.”

The herbs were scribbled down neatly into the notebook and she looked up from it towards the end, raising her eyebrows at the mention of Sundays. All the better that most of her shifts were in the weekday. The Alchemist leaned forward and Viv only barely stopped herself from doing the same, aware that they ought not look too surreptitious in the tearoom.

“We should think about the strength only after thinking about… the right way to do this,” Una muttered. The Healer's smile widened a little, though she met the blue eyes across the table with a sombre gaze: "Oui, I understand. This business cannot be rushed."

Well, it could be rushed but Merlin knew how catastrophic their results might be. They needed to be calm and efficient and extremely cautious. Lycans or not, there were lives at stake. "I think that, maybe, with this information, I can proceed to work on something more... useful. You have given me much to consider," Vivienne spoke in a thoughtful voice: "Though I am sure to need your help as I progress. You aren't opposed to this, oui? I understand if you have your doubts. Not everyone possesses the, ah, leanings that allow them to assist in our task."

Although many would agree that a Lycan sedative would appeal to both supporters and non-supporters of the Werewolf cause, she couldn't be sure of it. This was a touchy subject for some.

"I think that, maybe, with this information, I can proceed to work on something more... useful. You have given me much to consider. Though I am sure to need your help as I progress. You aren't opposed to this, oui? I understand if you have your doubts. Not everyone possesses the, ah, leanings that allow them to assist in our task."

“Ah…” Una had been observing Vivienne’s notebook since she finished her long excited speech. Not that she didn’t hear the Healer, but that was a so fantastic solution to the trouble of carrying parchments everywhere that she gave herself some seconds to admire the little and simple object. “Nein, no, absolutely… actually I think it’s great!” She raised her eyes to the other witch and smiled widely. “I enjoy helping you, Vivienne, you’re a good person. And this is a really really good task; I like to know you Healers are actually concerned about this problem. Many of them are good people too, they deserve a better treatment.”

Una sat straight up again, the enthusiasm seeming to take place one more time. “You can write me whenever you wish, and I can send you some materials if you need. I can always find time to meet you as well; and if we find a better place we can even brew together… that’s if it’s needed, naturally. I trust your abilities.” She looked down bashfully for a moment, afraid that Vivienne could take her wrong.

“Well, I hope this idea works… The Moon and the Sun can’t be together, so maybe elements of his nature are capable of control or even purge her effects.” She shrugged. “Hot and dry, solar light… maybe sunflowers…” Now she was just wandering, but not for long, soon she shook her head and returned to the moment. “Is there anything else do you need? Something you want to discuss more?” There wasn’t rush on those questions, only an almost naïve will to help more.

It was a relief to know that Una wasn't averse to their intentions. Vivienne's smile conveyed her gladness and she happily listened on to more of her companion's mutterings about the sun and the moon and humidity or whatnot. Everything went down into her notebook, which had caught the Alchemist's attention earlier; accustomed to living in a fairly muggle area of town, it had taken her a moment to understand why.

“Is there anything else do you need? Something you want to discuss more?” Una's concern was touching. Viv leaned back in her chair to seriously consider the questions, searching for any inquiries she might have but finding none.

She glanced down at her book, flipped through the pages very rapidly and then shook her head as she looked up. "Non," the Haler replied in a genial tone: "I will have to try brewing something with some of these ingredients and with... the right conditions, first. We must meet, maybe at a potions studio here or in town, to oversee some brewing. My abilities are apt but..." she trailed off, expression wry.

But insufficient. Neither of them had to say it, naturellement. Vivienne closed her notebook and tucked her quill between its pages: "In a few weeks, maybe, or even a month. I should have made some substantial progress by then."

"Non, I will have to try brewing something with some of these ingredients and with... the right conditions, first. We must meet, maybe at a potions studio here or in town, to oversee some brewing. My abilities are apt but..."

“No, I’m sure you can make it, Vivienne!” Una tried to give her an encouraging smile, but she couldn’t help but feel glad for being useful to the Healer. Besides, it would be brewing with someone different than her father – a friend? A work friend or something like that? Vivienne was surely someone she considered an amazing person and a great company even knowing her so little, it would be also good to see her on a different place for a change. Nothing against the St. Mungo’s tea, though.

“Sure, please, let’s keep in touch… you can tell me about your progress and, you know, if you need something I can always find time.” She kept her smile so far, sweetly, but the next came with a more serious tone, “I really consider this task an important one, so even keeping my part in secret, I’ll take it as seriously as a personal task.”