Nevermind.
I lied.
I got them all to try it.
Hahahahahahhahahahahahaha!
I can't stop laughing...haHahaHahA!
"blech" "gack"
"keck""blargh."
"ack" "uck"
If they didn't have the self-preservation skill and reflex to seek the nearest trashcan, this room would have look so much different than it once did 5 minutes ago.
It seem that after spending so much time watching me like a hawk, Selinus has picked up my sense of chaos, and is wholly ready to play along with the idea. Whether this be for repayment of past troubles or trolling these kids had been his spiel all along I have no objection either way.
And so... he dealt the opening strike.
" Say... since you bunch is already here, why not have some as well." Not waiting for anyone to object, he slid out a cup for each of them. Every single one is only filled to about less than about half the average small glass.
Deceivingly so.
" There is no need to worry, since its purpose is to purge toxin, almost anyone can drink this." He offered with a genuinely expression like a good doctor trying to take care of his... delightful? patients.
Well... He isn't wrong per se....
It just out of context of which 'anyone' he is talking about. Compare to my tall glass it is infinitely less (about 7-8 time less to be precise). This concoction can be made consumable for the mass, yes, but, extremely diluted is the redacted part.
" It might look a bit on the... unappetising side, but what medicine isn't, right? You have drank the medicine I made before, haven't you? It is really not that bad."
" Hmm...It just seemed a bit... more extreme compare to 'last time'." Alice held on to the cup anxiously, swirling the substance around to test is viscosity, the horrid smell causing her to frown.
The twin pushed their cup a bit further away, while Mattheus and Christine eyed their older sister constantly, clearly already sensing that the cup in front of them would be some kind of trick. Novah's gazed drill into me suspiciously as his gaze flicked fervently from my cup to Selinus. In response, I answered by taking another huge gulp, it sent chill down my spine and drenched my back in cold sweat but... I have to keep up appearance for the act.
I licked the residue off the corner of my mouth and sent him a sneer while looking at the little bits he had in his cup, the very eye contact could be translated to...
"Oh~ Already scared?"
Selinus showed a bit of reluctance mentioning the unfortunate flavor but played it off with a light scoff, failing to mentioned this is not his creation at all, it was Dawn's. And boy does this thing spell out efficiency more clearly than the speed of money flowing into her pocket.
Moreover, they hesitation failed to account for the length of time I have been chugging cup full of these things after every meals. My taste buds flop around helplessly against it but I at least have a saving grace. Plus, I have grown used to forcing it down no matter the how much it always make my meal is destined to become bile, the first few attempts even knocked me out.
It is now, their turn to suffer the same fate. HaHAahHHAHA!
By the light twitch in the corner of his eyes, Selinus might have been tricked with drinking this some time in the past before. That is also probably why he permitted my to have snacks and treats made to counteract the bitter flavor it have. I relax my face, making the most nonchalant expression possible.
" I see..." One of them sounded, their hand slowly approaching the cup but not seemingly not ready to put it in my mouth just yet. Eyes darting from each other to the one chugging pint full at a time sitting next them rapidly. I just stare at the near bottomless dark abyss in my cup and keep on swallowing down my pain for the sake of the reaction I want.
As Amelia, I wish I could chimed in every once in a while, but, speaking while this globs slowly go down your throat is like a death wish. One I unfortunately had done multiple time. Speaking now would only blow my cover.
Surprisingly, the one to broke the silent stalemate was Isolde who took a deep breath before down her cup. I can tell just by how fast the substance leave the glass that Selinus clearly gave them a lightly diluted solution to drink, maybe he might just have more of a heart than me...
" ...It isn't that bad." If it wasn't for her hair obscuring the others view of her face, I would totally believe that she tanked that cup like a chance. Unfortunately, I sit just a bit off to the side of her and got the perfect angle of her eyes going a bit red and her throat bobbling up and down uncomfortably trying her hardest to with held her true reaction before the younger ones also face the music.
Oscar worthy performance, truly.
Her voice and expression didn't even shake telling that bold face lie.
May the tar have mercy upon them.
And so sung the choir of stumbling chairs and and desperate attempts of washing their mouth, the moment the liquid hit their tongue an immediate shockwave happen. Some were smart enough to take baby sip, other not so fortunate.
Alice managed to hold it in, her face falling several shade of green and white as she attempt to swallow it down but the detrimental flavor refuse to cooperate with her. Her younger siblings took baby sips before ultimately spitting it straight back in the cups, screaming as they run around desperate to cleanse it of their tongue. The twin found themselves hugging the trashcan before flopping on the floor helplessly, as if convulsing from the light does.
On the other hand, Isolde remained in her seat looking incredibly ashen, coming to term with what has been swallowed. Yet, couldn't help herself from laughing at the other's reaction.
Hidden stash of candy was reveal without anyone wasting a single breath. Sadly, normal candy and cake has virtually no effect to the flavor clinging fervently on there tongue.
" WhY iSn't ThE bItTErneSs gOiNg awaY!"
" AhhHHhHhHHhH!"
I couldn't stop laughing.
Selinus could barely contain the twisted grin on his face.
" IT BURNS!!!"
Novah was the one reacted most strongly, he downed the whole cup with a smug grin before kicking around in his chair like he was fighting his inner demon or the parasite in this stomach before slowly sliding down onto the floor.
But, as if not trusting in the good old me and the very ethical doctor behind me, he made the self-destructive move of taking the almost empty tall glass in my hand and tank a large gulp down himself, convinced we were pulling either a prank or that I were drinking something completely different.
And... he would be...right.
I was drinking something so much worse.
Upon seeing him froze solid after swallowing, I took the chance to bring the cup back into my hand, tilting it properly so it can flow in moderate speed and just chugged the rest of the cup in front of him. Placing the cup back on the table, I turned back to look at him.
' That was a dumb move.' My face said to him.
There were attempts in speech by him but it was quickly turn into choking and muted coughing, this repeated multiple time before Selinus got him a lot of water to drink down this 'torturous' antidote of mine.
Selinus was gracious enough to give each one of them a single Dawn made sweets.
They were close to kneeling to him by the end of it, especially Novah who got three for braving the fully concentrated version without shed a single tear. These cousins must think I am something of a juggernaut for drinking that stuff without a single reaction.
In the end, I withheld the urge to steal the sweets in Selinus's possession since he technically have to suffer along with me for my treatment already. He and his team had drink every variant of all medicine for me even before it went down my throat so they can keep their candy, I have a much bigger jar.
" Let's do this again sometime." I jest before they instantly jumped out of the nearby window and parkour away.
" Dramatic much? Hehehe."
" Maybe the adults next time?" The doctor offered a daring challenge with a wicked grin and I gladly accepts, mirroring his expression.