"I drank a potion."

You silently pull away, and Svier's lips follow yours for a split second. You exhale in unison, and his eyes open, confused as your hands slowly extract themselves from his.

Your jaw trembles, so much so that you can't speak. Is this anger, or fear? Sadness laces throughout it, and all of it growing in intensity to the point that you cannot even look at the alchemist.

It doesn't take long for him to realize. "Roland? What is... Oh, gods, I'm sorry, Roland, I-"

"I drank a potion."

He goes silent, his stammering stops. "What?"

"I said, I drank a potion. Is this 'liquid courage,' Svier?" You look up at him, making out his face as the rest of the room glimmers. "Did you poison me to make me a play-thing? 'Change my personality,' so I wouldn't think twice if a man had his way with me?"

His shock turns to horror before you. "No, no, no, no! It's a placebo! Liquid courage is just a placebo!"

"What are you talking about?" you growl out, hands drawing into fists.

"A plac - it's a fake! It's not a potion, it's just tinted water! I didn't give you anything magical, or chemical, for that matter. I swear, you - you can take this up with the physician, if you need to. Gods, no, I didn't **** you!" his panic overflows as his hand grasps yours again. "I wouldn't do that. Couldn't."

You stare at him, not trusting your own voice. "Why." It's all you can say without betraying your roiling emotions.

"I wanted to help! We're the adventurer's guild, that's what we do. Not everybody fits the role, sure, but that doesn't mean we leave them out in the cold. The placebo helps people make the change on their own because they think they have some magical support they didn't before. It's a little lie, and I'm sorry I had to make it, but I would've told you afterwards; I tell everyone who I think don't need to believe 'liquid courage' is real. I just," - he looks away again - "... I got a little distracted."

The vice inside your chest starts to loosen again as he winds down. "I don't know much about magic or 'placebos,'" you admit. "And definitely not enough to tell the difference. But... I think it makes sense." Your hands unclench, and you sag against the cushion, suddenly exhausted. "You were serious then? About everything you said?"

"Every word," Svier says, his voice earnest.

You look into his eyes, and almost smile, but a suspicion of a different nature holds you back. "Wait. Why did you have me take my clothes off, if the stuff wasn't real to begin with?"

"Oh, that!" he says, managing a weak laugh. "I wasn't kidding, earlier. I had a girl come in here who was trembling so much I could've used her to mix potions. Threw up all over her clothes. And mine, for that matter. I suppose it helps people take the whole thing more seriously too, which means the 'liquid courage' works better, but that's the main reason." He pauses, eyes back on the floor. "And, since I'm being completely honest here, it didn't hurt that you looked pretty good without the old leather covering you up."

You glare at him, your face hot. "Pervert."

He winces. "I confess my guilt." He looks up at you, looking thoroughly chastised. "Are you satisfied?"