Her healing ways.

Dawn faded in to guide you to where Annabel was, but you weren't surprised to see her tending to the plants. Though it was nice seeing her bent over. Dawn faded over behind Annabel and gave her ass a squeeze which made Annabel giggle. She stood up and pulled Dawn into a hug, and smiled brightly when she saw you. You were surprised your eyes watered a bit when you saw how good the two of them got along together. She gave Dawn a gentle peck on the lips and the two of them whispered something to each other before Dawn faded out leaving you alone with Annabel. She motioned you over, so you went and joined her.

"See these little beauties" she said pointing out a row of small red flowers. They looked like miniature tulips to you, and you nodded that you saw them.

"Each one of their petals is the main component of my healing potions. With Nadine's help the potency of the healing potion is increased so that it takes less potion to give you the same effect" she says motioning for you to follow her, which you do. She leads you to her brewing room, and you see two sacks hanging on the wall that she points out to you.

"Each sack contains fifty healing potions. The first shipment for the Amazons, and I'm already in the final stages of another batch that we can use for ourselves" she says as she points out a caldron with a red simmering liquid inside of it.

"How did you get so many of the flowers already" you ask.

"Nadine. One of her specialties is making flowers grow" she replies. You nod your head because of course it is magic.

"Dawn too actually. The system here makes the soil perfect for the flowers to grow in, and the automated water system is amazing. Here I can grow things in hours or days, when it would take me weeks anywhere else. I love it here" she says smiling.

"I'm glad this place is so well suited for you" you say.

"The only thing I'm really missing is a better selection of seeds. I think I'll try and trade with the Amazons for sure, but I also want to go forage soon. I saw some very interesting plants in the Green, so I'd love to find out what sort of things I could brew up" she says musing to herself almost.

"Just make sure you're being careful in the Green. I'd expect I'd make the time to go with you, but if I can't then at least make sure to take Copper and Lysandra with you" you say.

"Worried for your woman" Annabel asks.

"Women. I know you are all very capable...but I can't help worrying about you all since I've basically dragged you all into the danger I'm in. I'm well aware that you all made the choice to be with me, but just the thought of something bad happening to any of you is...stressful to say the least, and don't act like you all aren't worried for me either" you say smirking.

"It's true. All of us do worry. About you...about each other, but I suppose that is the price we willingly pay for love" she replies. You both smile at each other, but your attention is drawn to a metal device in the corner that look remarkably like a moonshine still. Annabel turns her head to see what you were looking at, and then grabs your hand to lead you over to it.

"This is Rene's contribution" she says summoning a bottle out of bag on the table "try it" she says handing you the bottle. You uncork the bottle and take a sip, and your eyes widen when you taste what could only be moonshine, though it doesn't seem as potent as the kind in your old world, and it had a bit more bite going down.

"Whew" you say feeling the **** all the way down to your stomach "that's some potent stuff" you tell her. You take a quick moment to examine the still. It is simple in construction and uses two runes on it. The large pot as a heat rune on the bottom heats the mash inside, and a long curved pipe leads to a smaller metal pot that you see is dripping into a large bucket. The smaller metal pot has a cold rune on it that cools off the steamed ****. The two runes were very clever you thought to yourself, and you were once again reminded just how useful runes could be. A system like this could produce an **** similar in **** content to something like vodka if you remembered right.

"What did you use inside the big pot" you ask her. She walks over to a large sack next to the large pot, summons something out, and tosses you something brown. You quickly examine it and smile seeing a potato. You smile realizing you had just drank vodka.

"Rene drew up a design to show Nadine and I, and we enlisted Dawn to help us fabricate it. Nadine and I got the potatoes grown, then Nadine set up the runes, and we're running our first batch right now. Besides me you're the first person to taste it. Not too bad in my opinion, and I'm betting the Amazons will love it too. Promise made, promise kept" she smirks.

"They may love this even more than the healing potions" you chuckle.

"I was actually going to double distill a batch or two to make them really smooth" she says still smirking.

"OOooo yah...you could actually do that all in one go if you wanted" you reply. Annabel tilts her head and her smirk fades as she waits for you to elaborate.

"In my old world we called it a thumper. Basically you had another pot like this first one" you say pointing at the big pot "but it doesn't need to be as large, maybe half the size or smaller, and the big pot's steam goes to the smaller pot, where it condenses and gets heated again to steam, and then the smaller pot goes to the cool down pot to drip out as double distilled ****" you say as you use your hands to trace the path of everything.

"That's very clever actually, but why is it called a thumper" Annabel asks.

"Well, ours would be a bit different, but in my old world it was a small barrel made of wood. The mash and stuff would get into it from the first pot, and since it was enclosed it'd make a thumping noise as that happened, so they started calling it a thumper" you reply.

"Why use a wooden barrel" she asks.

"Wood kept the residual heat better than metal if I remember right, so that it could boil again and continue its way into the cooling part of the system" you answer.

"Again, very clever, but wouldn't the wood burn" Annabel asks.

"Mmm...I don't know the details. I saw it on a TV...er...well I saw it without knowing the exact mechanics of it, but it was the steam heating it up somehow, but with a rune that wouldn't be an issue" you reply scratching your head.

"That's true. We'll get it figured out though. In fact I would wager Dawn already knows what you are describing" Annabel says raising her eyebrow at you. You tilt your head in confusion.

"You are expecting some type of a reaction out of me with that statement weren't you" you ask her. Annabel smirks for a moment.

"I am perhaps being a tad sneaky yes. I am curious how you are feeling about Dawn. Not in the romantic type of way, but do you maybe feel slightly jealous of her abilities and knowledge" Annabel asks you.

"I don't know about jealousy. Envy maybe, but mostly I just consider myself lucky" you reply.

"A very diplomatic answer" Annabel chuckles making you chuckle.

"I suppose you are right. Sure, I'm a bit jealous of her. She can do a lot of things that I cannot. That said I'd never want to let that jealousy grow, and more than anything I'd want to make sure I help her achieve her goals and desires" you reply.

"Oh you've been helping her with her desires alright" Annabel smirks making you blush a little.

"I'm a little jealous of you too you know" you say smirking.

"Oh...little old me" Annabel asks innocently. You nod your head.

"You're knowledge of potions and plants is probably greater than anyone on this continent, and you can seamlessly transition from being a leader to a follower" you tell her. Now it is Annabel's turn to tilt her head in confusion.

"I get the part about my knowledge of potions and plants...but I've never heard anyone say they were jealous of being a...follower" she tells you frowning.

"Yah I suppose that sounds a little insulting. Before I came to this world I was very much just a follower. I avoided leadership roles like a plague. There was comfort in it. If something went wrong I couldn't be blamed for making a bad decision, nor did I envy the amount of stress inherent in leadership. I did my work. I tried to be reliable. I kept in the back because going to forefront was, I guess...scary. Being someone who could fill both roles was always something I envied, but I never had the courage or desire to lead. You are the type of person who would have been very successful in my old world actually" you tell her.

"I find it hard to believe you were just a follower in your old world" Annabel replies. You shrug your shoulders.

"I have no reason to lie about it" you reply.

"Perhaps, but the role of leadership suits you well, and I do appreciate your compliments. I will be sure to show my appreciation soon as well" Annabel says smirking at you.

"I'll make sure to let you take the lead as well" you smirk back.

"Jane is lucky I love her so much, or you might not make it to her tonight" Annabel chuckles making you chuckle with her.

"Another time then" you reply stepping forward and wrapping your arms around her. You feel Annabel wrap her arms around you in return, and the two of you hold each other for a moment. Breaking apart from each other Annabel grabs your hand in hers to lead you around and show you the rest of her flowers for a bit. Afterwards you say your goodbyes and head to your room. You wanted to have a nap since the opportunity for naps was becoming less and less. Laying down on your bed you wondered what Sean was up to as sleep took hold of you.