I was sure about this but now I'm not.

It's not something I noticed from the Marioverse, but fantasy in general- potions can be bad news because there's no Potion FDA to make sure it really replenishes hit points instead of just being a corrosive acid. For me it's always been given- mermaids can swim, trolls aren't smart, potions are questionable. Then I was all like, oh snap, maybe that's just me.

I was going to have the scene with the Count anyway; I just wanted to make sure the role of potions was clear. They aren't inherently bad; Count Bleck just can't be sure.

"Tell me why you don't like that Nawrocki fellow," said Tippi.

Actually, she'd asked the question a while ago, and Count Bleck hadn't been satisfied with his answer. "It's the very nature of the job," he'd explained. "Especially where I come from. You see, potions aren't regulated very well in most parts of the world. You could drink a potion to make you fly, but it could really just make you itchy. At worst, it could be poison."

"You had a bad experience, didn't you?" she'd asked.

"Yes," replied Count Bleck. "A traveler passed through town and sold my father… it was supposed to cure me of my love for you. So he wouldn't have to deal with the shame of having his son in love with a human."

"What did it do?"

"It made me sick, that's all. Like drinking a glass of bad milk."

"Gross."

Count Bleck had decided to let the minions do as they pleased when it came to Nawrocki. He was their boss, not their father, and let them make their own decisions. Of course they all chose to sample some of Nawrocki's potions. The potions were expensive, but proved very effective. Count Bleck watched passively as O'Chunks buffed himself up to train, Mimi tried a perfume that changed scents to whatever the smeller found most attractive, and Mr. L age himself an electric charge when teaming up with Brobot. And nobody keeled over.

Eventually, he could stand it no more. He called Nawrocki to meet with him in his office only a few days after their first meeting.

"Bonsoir, Comte Niark," said Nawrocki as they shook hands. "Comment allez-vous?"

"Ça va comme ci, comme ça," replied Count Bleck. "And yourself?"

"I'm awesome, as usual. How can I help you?"

Count Bleck sat down at his desk. In his study, the desk was pushed against a wall far from the door so he could avoid distraction. In his bedroom, his desk was pushed on the wall with his back to the bed, so he wouldn't disturb his wife. In his office, however, his desk was in the middle of the room. Here he had power. In this room it was clear that he was in charge. His personality, though very good, wasn't enough. Everything about him spoke when he was in charge. In the meeting room, he stood the highest. When he'd threatened Mario, he hovered. When he met with someone, he was in the center of the room.

Now he looked up and down Nawrocki, who did not seem to be submissive in the least. He was leaning back casually in the seat, his roots dangling over the edge carelessly. He had several tiny teeth along his mouth that he was indifferently picking at as his eyes wandered around the room. Despite his formal greeting, he was behaving in a very laid-back manner.

"I'd like to take you up on your offer," said Count Bleck.

"You'll have to refresh my memory," Nawrocki said. "I make a lot of offers. I am, after all, a businessman."

"For Timpani," Count Bleck replied. He tired to show no emotion.

"Ah. That." Nawrocki straightened up. He dislodged whatever it was that he was picking at in his mouth and surreptitiously disposed of it. "It won't come easy, though," he said. "Sie ist es wert?"

"How much do you charge?" asked Count Bleck.

"Fifteen coins an hour, plus the cost of materials and expenses," replied Nawrocki. "That includes the price of tracking down the materials and time spent brewing. The potion can't travel once I've added the Amayzee Dayzee petals to it, so it has to be brewed on-site. I'll need access to a private room to work on it. Of course, being on site I can provide other mixtures at a reduced rate…"

"You can have the lab in the west wing," Count Bleck said, dismissing it with the wave of his hand. "We never really ever used it."

"Beautiful," Nawrocki clapped his leaves. "Then I claim it as an annexed property of Nawrocki Enterprises. I'll just put a time sheet together and pass it along. I'll need an advance, of course."

"I'll run it through Nastasia," said Count Bleck.

"I don't want to be disturbed when I'm working," Nawrocki added. "Can your roommates handle that?"

"They're minions," the Count said, not sure if he was annoyed or amused. "And yes, I believe they are capable of that. Although if I were you and it were important… I would lock the door."

"Gotchya. Well, zai jian, Bleck-a-roonie. I'm going to get some preliminary work on the area."

Nawrocki opened the door and left. Before it could swing shut on it's own, Nastasia caught it and let herself in. As instructed, she had been waiting for the conversation to end so she could discuss it with the Count.

"Yeah, so, how did it go?" asked Nastasia.

"Wonderful! Declared Count Bleck proudly. A bit pricey but nothing we can't manage. Best of all he needs to do the work in the castle. I can keep an eye on it and know that the potion is going as it's supposed to."

"Yeah, I heard your feelings on his potions."

"Not his," Count Bleck said quickly. "Just in general."

"I don't blame you," replied Nastasia. "But he does have an impressive list of contacts and testimonials on his menu." She pulled it out of her pocket and showed it to Count Bleck. "I even touched base some of these people, and they all said he was pretty good."

Count Bleck took the menu from her. "I knew you'd be on top of it," he said with a smile. "Now, can I ask you another favor, Nastasia?"

"Sure, anything."

"If Nawrocki asks you to do anything, go ahead and do it," said Count Bleck. "If you aren't sure, you can ask me first, but make sure you're available if he needs your help."

"Great," said Nastasia. "I'll answer to him, then, too?"

"Essentially. I think he may have a time sheet for you or something, as well…"

Nastasia met up with Mimi and Dimentio in the halls. She wasn't going to ask what they were doing, but it involved a lot of shouting and pushing.

"What's the story, morning glory?" asked Mimi in a chirpy voice. She currently had Dimentio in a headlock.

Dimentio warped out of her grip and up a few feet to the left. "Yes," he said, as if nothing happened. "I'm interested to know exactly what went on behind closed doors myself. Was our beloved Count meeting with the plant being?"

"Yeah," said Nastasia. "So, there's gonna be a change of arrangements in the castle for a while. First off, the Count says he's taking up the lab in the east wing. And because of that, I'm gonna have to go ahead and ask you to keep as far away from it as you can. We really don't want to be disturbing him, 'K?"

"He's gonna be working here?" Mimi squealed. "Ooh, that's so neat!"

"And make sure you don't bother him," Nastasia reiterated.

"Got it," she said. "Only when he's working, right?"

"You really shouldn't be bothering him at all," said Dimentio. He flashed an innocent grin to her.

Mimi hurled a rubee that hit him square in the face. "We're having a fight," explained Mimi.

"I can see that," said Nastasia. "I'll leave you to it."

Mimi pulled out another rubee. Dimentio pulled out an energy sphere. Nastasia made a hasty exit. No need to get caught in the crossfire.

Count Bleck related the news to Tippi as soon as he finished speaking with Nastasia. He told her everything, from the moment he heard about the potion to his "zai jian" with Nawrocki minutes ago. She listened raptly the whole time. He sensed excitement from her, but when he finished she didn't speak.

"Well? Aren't you happy, my love?" he asked anxiously.

"I'm thrilled," she said sadly. "I'm just a little afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"Afraid to hope," she explained softly. "We were so close before… but as soon as we left our special place, it was gone."

Count Bleck lowered his head. "I understand," he said solemnly. "But hope is one of the best things to have." He took her in his hand.

"But the hardest to keep," she sighed.

"We can still go back there," he said at length.

Timpani was caught off guard. "You never mentioned going back before," she said, surprised.

"I didn't want to," he explained. "To go back to where we could be happy forever. How could I bear to leave it a second time? But if I want to set the world right, I cannot stay. 'What good can angels do from heaven? Better they come down to earth.'" He took a deep breath. "But if you don't have any hope, you must see something to hope for…"

"Oh, Blumiere…" She didn't have to think twice. "Let's go."