Smoke for the Soul

Aurelia listened attentively as Caedes spoke, his calm assurance an unspoken testament to his knowledge. His understanding of the matter was clear, and yet, there was a humility present that intrigued her. Her gaze, intense as it was gentle, never strayed away from him. As he finished speaking, Aurelia nodded approvingly, "You are right," she began slowly, her voice echoing softly against the quiet hum in the enclosed space around them. "This mixture is generally administered orally in liquid form or mixed with food for varying degrees of potency. However..." her voice trailed off as she retrieved a small empty clay container- one she generally stored snake venom in, but felt it would be a good way to store her premade solute. “In times of a willing- or unresponsive, at the very least- participant, the mixture can be rubbed directly into the gums and under the tongue.” she explained, her gaze once again finding Caedes'.

"This method allows for quicker absorption and is particularly useful when dealing with an individual who is unwilling or unable to ingest the mixture orally." Her voice held a note of excitement; it was clear that the prospect of collaborating held a peculiar satisfaction for her. "In more urgent situations- or hostile for that matter, it could be administered directly via a wound or open cut." She paused, allowing the gravity of the latter method to sink in. "Although that would require carefully measuring the dosage to ensure it doesn't lead to an overdose." The weight of their words hung in the air, punctuated only by the sound of each other’s breath and the flicker of candlelight. After a few moments of hesitance, she continued with an amused smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “Though, in the scheme of things, I suppose overdosing on sedatives wouldn’t be a terrible way to go.” She finished, returning her attention to gathering the powder in its container.

"Aurelia Veratti"