kindpetalapothecary

[kindpetalapothecary]

TW:missed medication, illness

"I thought I had it under control this time"

"Sorry, what was that?" Lobby had been organizing some bottles on the shelf behind her when she heard you enter the room. You reiterated the sentiment, and her face softened.

"Oh, you mean..." She grabbed some bottles on the shelf behind her, and set them on the counter. "Are you okay? Do you need one now?"

It had been a few months now, but you'd developed a chronic condition that sent you to the apothecary every week for medicine. A trip that usually was only made every three months was now a weekly trip. It was painful, messy, inconvenient, and thousands more words that could be hurled into the abyss.

You nodded and she handed you a bottle, which you took, hands shaking and swallowed ravenously. It would likely take a while to set in still, but at least you'd taken the first step and gotten it down, even if a bit late.

Libby watched this and concern lit her features, but she didn't say anything. She went back to organizing the bottles, saying you should stick around a bit to make sure everything was okay. She continued,

"Are you sure you are alright? Missing your remedy is no joke." She said as she placed heart shaped bottles below some long skinny ones.

You thought to yourself for a moment, then voiced that you had simply been disappointed that you missed something so simple. Something you thought you had been on top of.

"Oh," Libby's face lit up in understanding, "Darling, we all slip up from time to time. The more important question is if your remedy is helpful to you and if you are feeling alright."

After thinking of it for a moment you realized it had been helping. It made a world of difference in your day, and for now, it was what you needed. After voicing this to Libby, she smiled a little.

"I am so glad to hear that friend." She said, handing you the rest of the bottles on the table, "Take these and rest."

As you left the apothecary, she called out your name.

"Please be kind to yourself if you forget again." She said, "I know it is urgent you drink them, but you must give yourself the room to love yourself, no matter what."

[kindpetalapothecary]

The fae and folks from Kindpetal Apothecary would like to share their song of the week. This week's song has been picked by Libby Groggal.

"I chose this song because it reminds me of my mother. The girl has a responsibility to the match that has been made, and it is a call to return home. While I myself am unable to return home, I find hope in this song, that someday I might be able to answer a call to home."

[kindpetalapothecary]

"What is troubling you, friend?"

A giant of a man stood in the doorway to the apothecary, eyeing you with worry. He had been carrying a large barrel, which seemed to be all but forgotten once you walked near the door.

"Come in, come in!" He found a place to set the barrel down as you entered the apothecary, following you into the shop. Warm candlelight glowed against the growing darkness as the sun set outside. "Take a seat and rest."

As you sat down, he rummaged through the back of the shop. He hummed a little tune, though you caught him try to sneak a glance at you every once in a while.

Taking a breath, you explained that you were simply weary from a particularly rough day at work. He paused to listen, and when you were finished, simply nodded.

"I know exactly what you need then, friend!"

He grabbed a pot, put it over the fire, and started tossing ingredients over the fire. "A cup of my restful brew should do the trick. I'm Gilheim, by the way."

It may not have surprised you that the man in front of you was Gilheim. You had heard tales of Gilheim's care and warmth from many others, including those he employed. Oliver the fairy once said that Gilheim was the heart of Kindpetal Apothecary, and that without him, the little shop would never be the same. Looking at Gilheim now, you understood every word of that statement to be true.

"Do you need quiet or would you like conversation?" A voice gently brought you out of your reverie to realize that Gilheim had brought a chair next to the fireplace. "This brew may take a few minutes to prepare."

It was a wonderful few minutes. It seemed that Gilheim was a person who not only warmed the room, but also the soul. He was the kind of person you could sit in silence and find contentment with, or talk to and find pleasant company. When he finally finished his brew, he found you a cup, handed it to you, and drank a cup himself.

"Ah, just the way I like it." Gilheim took a large sip of his drink, while you took a sip of yours. It tasted of all your favorite flavors, and even ones you couldn't recognize. When you inquired about how he knew that those were your favorite flavors, Gilheim gave a little laugh.

"I'm a potion master, not a cleric." He winked at this, and stirred the pot once more, "This brew tastes differently to everyone. It's capabilities go beyond healing, and many people tell me that it has their favorite smells. I've had a customer tell me it tasted of moonfruit and fresh cut grass. Another said it was beef stew and roses. The drinker defines the taste, and I always hear of new combinations. If it's no trouble to you, what were yours?"

You tell him. "Those are certainly unique! I have to take note of that." He stood, grabbed some bottles, and started to scoop the brew into the bottles. "How are you feeling now?"

You were feeling a bit more well rested, and informed him you were coming in for tea, and some herbs for some sore places you had from work.

After paying for your items, you wished Gilheim goodbye, and stepped out into the starry night. Tonight would be a night of rest.

[kindpetalapothecary]

"A Love Potion?

Are you sure?"

The little fairy stared up at you in in concern. A nod was all Oliver needed to elicit a small sigh.

"We don't make those very often." He reached up and tousled his hair. "The ingredients are rare and hard to find. And generally, they tend to have ah... how do I put it... negative effects on those who use them."

You give him a questioning look before he continues, "Well, the most rare ingredient is a blue moon flower, which as one likely could guess, only blooms once in a blue moon."

He had flown to find a tiny book, turning to a page that showed the flower, and holding it up for you to see.

"The process to make it is advanced, even for Gilheim the potion master." He started to pace across the counter, gesticulating with his arms, "And I've seen him make some really crazy stuff, why one time-" Oliver stopped himself, "Nope. Oliver, that's a goblin trail we're not going down... now where was I?"

You show him the book as a look of somber recognition crosses his face. "Oh. The love potion. Right." The fairy sits upon the edge of the counter, wings fluttering.

"Love potions can burn. They can't substitute real love."

The apothecary, the outside world, everything seemed like it had stopped.

"There was a gnome. He was so beautiful. Every laugh seemed like a ray of sunshine, his songs seemed to rise to the sky, and he had the grace of a willow tree bending to a gentle breeze. I felt I was too small to be noticed by him. So..." another sigh came from the fairy, and he pushed his hair back, "I begged Gilheim to make me a love potion. He did."

Oliver chuckled dryly, "He spent so long on it. For two weeks, I helped him with everything I could, but it showed me how much I still have to learn. Gilheim worked day and night to finish that potion." A sad smile crossed his face.

"When I finally gave it to my crush... he said that it felt like swallowing fire. And then... he fell in love with someone else. You see, love magic is tricky. Instead of falling in love with me, he found his true love, who ended up being a lovely bard three towns over. I..."

He paused, "Haven't seen him since."

Looking down at the fairy, you noticed his eyes glisten a little too much. A tear fell down his face. "Oh. Sorry, I-Hey!"

You scooped the fairy into your hands, bringing him to eye level. He sniffled a bit, and after a minute smiled impishly.

"You know, I can't offer romance, but I can offer friendship." He reached out a hand towards your face. "Love is hard."

You nodded. Love can be very hard.

"You still want that love potion?"

You'd think about it. "We'd have to find a blue moon flower, but once we do..." he trailed off, shaking his head. He looked back up at you.

"I've got to watch the shop for a few more minutes, but if you'd like to stay a bit, we can go to the tavern together, if you'd like?" He stood up in your hands, and his wings fluttered excitedly.

You nodded, and Oliver smiled. "Great! Let me tidy up a bit..."

[kindpetalapothecary]

Some ambience for last post:

"Enchanted Forest - Vol.4 - The Whispers of the Fairies" by The Vault of Ambience

A little bit of music to add some magic✨ to your day🧚‍♂️

[kindpetalapothecary]

Good Morning!

What a beautiful day we're having.

The sun had just peaked over the grassy knolls that surround the countryside of Locksnall, and walking to the apothecary was a breeze.

Gold and orange rays could be seen playing in the trees and a small breeze blew flower petals into the air.

It was a perfect morning, and that was only accentuated by the detail of it all. Maybe you'd never seen it before, but the leaves on the tree above you shone. The semitransparent skin of the leaves blocked most of the light, but their veins could be seen through the light.

A butterfly bounced in the air nearby. The wings sparkled a bright blue, warning predators away. Funny enough, the color actually called you closer.

And the grass. The grass below cushioned and tickled your feet as you stood and breathed in, drinking in the moment.

It was duty that brought you, reluctantly, into Kind Petal Apothecary.

You knew the Orc at the counter. She smiled at you as you entered.

"Good Morning, friend!" Her warm voice filled the small space as she put a bottle on the counter. "What a beautiful day we're having. The usual?"

You nodded, and she went about preparing herbal remedies. Just small stuff today really. A few teas and herbs to stock up for winter while they were in season.

You watched Libby as she moved about the shop, chatting with a little fairy and occasionally you as she gathered your herbs.

Libby was one of the kindest creatures you knew. She had a bit of a gruff appearance, but her kind voice was all one needed to know her gentleness. She honored and cared for the earth as she healed its creatures, and quickly rose the ranks as one of the best known healers in the land.

Libby glanced back at you and paused. "You feel it too?" A corner of her mouth came up. "It's nearly spring." A warm gust of air blows into the apothecary bringing in flower petals.

You and Libby share a secret smile, but a yelp from a back corner of the shop interrupts the moment.

"Oh, Oliver!" Libby starts searching frantically around the corner of the shop, "Are you alright?"

A dazed fairy stumbles out of a pile of books.

"Eiiiim okaay..." Oliver fell promptly on his face. Libby gently picked him up and starts to check on him.

"I've gotta make sure this guy is alright." Libby said, as she grimaced, "I think he hit his head. I've got some potion that should help heal him up." She set to work grabbing tools to help the fairy.

"Oh! I didn't mean to keep you waiting. Here." She handed you the herbs you needed. "I wish you a day where you find the most wonderful and extraordinary things among the ordinary. Some of the most potent magic of this world is found in nature."

She went back to tending the fairy, and as you left through the door of the apothecary, the sun shone in your eyes. Yes, as sure as the wind blew through the trees, today was a day of magic.

That day, you reveled in the sunlight, ran across the plains, and played with fireflies. You discovered new flowers, saved a bumblebee, and watched the riverbank flow around your feet.

Yes, today was a magical day indeed.

[kindpetalapothecary]

Oh! Hello Traveler!

I didn't see you there.

"Come in, come in!" At first it seemed as if not one was in the hut. It was inviting enough, potion bottles lined the shelves, and all kinds of alchemical tools lined the room.

Then... there! A flash of light followed by a glittering trail flitted across the room. It landed on the only desk in there.

"Forgive me, traveler." The fairy smiled, kindly, adjusting a pair of goggles behind tousled hair, "I have been caring for the shop while my master's away and... well, let's not get into the details." He sighed, leaning into a bottle that sat on the counter, "My name is Oliver. What can I help you with today?"

He listens intently as you list off some basic remedies, writing down a list. A basic trip, really. Your mother has asked for some teas fro the wintertime, and a couple of potions to aid with smaller ailments.

"Got it." Oliver flaps his wings tentatively, taking a step backwards toward the shelves. "And will that be all?"

Is that all? Well... perhaps one more thing.

"A potion of greater stregnth?" Oliver looks up at you in confusion. "...I believe we have one, but it comes at quite a cost."

You look at the money your mother gave you.

No, it wouldn't be enough.

"Is everything alright?"

You nod shakily. "I have bullies." Oliver's face morphs into a frown and he takes a seat on the edge of the counter.

"You know, traveler," Oliver started, as he put his notebook into a pocket, "Stregnth may come from potions or training, but it also comes from within. I mean look at me." He gestured to his entire self with his hands.

"I may be tiny, but I've learned to do this." He flitted up to a shelf and grunted as he lifted and brought you a bottle from it. He continues to bring you all the potions your mother wanted in rapid succession, and slows to a walk after finding the last one.

"Stregnth comes in many forms, adventurer." He climbs to the top of a potion bottle.

"You are strong." He declares, "And by the maker, do not let anyone tell you otherwise."

As you walk away from the shop, potions in hand, you look back at the apothecary with a smile.

It'd taken you a while to realize your own strength.