Poisoning rationale.

Yes, I'm working on it again. This is my reasoning for why the poison works more the second time around. I'm hoping it's believable.

Oh, and

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Okay, so Ire is being poisoned, Selah discovers the poison by feeding it to the dogs ne Alphonse. But what kind of poison is it? Is it believable that it's the same kind of poison when last time it was used, the effect was immediate and incapacitating? why did Ire go back to Vivi's this time?

Okay, um, well, the poison is new, made of different herbs, and slightly less potent than before. Why? Why not use the same kind of poison? No- perhaps, Ire's immunity isn't as built up as it was before, because he's still tense, not in the best of physical shape, and hasn't been eating much. Okay. That's believable. He's not in the best of shape, so the poison had more of an effect, though still not fatal. The visit to the hospital was to get a safe place to get food and vitamins, or whatever the equivilant is. Ire is, actually, stressed, so the poison was the last straw.

Vivi has strengthening herbs, that kind of thing, so it's safest to go there. Plus, it's safe. However, he does have to get there, without staggering through the streets. There can't be a window, because his room is on the second floor. He slips out of the back door of the castle, secret staircase (or was that Tern's castle?) and can steal through the cow track to the back door of the hospital. He's done this before, often.

So, we have a viable escape plan, a reasonable reason why he isn't dead, but it's the same poison. But, okay, he shook off the effects the first time around easily. This time -- this time it takes longer. Okay. Um. But. Why would Quinton use the same kind of poison?

Because most are banned, and he figures that Ire won't be expecting Selah to bring him poisoned food. Kay.

Er. Is that it?

Long and short: Ire was affected only a little by the first round of poison because a) he had the antidote on hand, and b) he was in good physical condition, despite mental stress. The second round, he was more affected because a) he didn't have the antidote immediately on hand (but close AT hand, since he was in his room, and b) he was in poor physical condition from eating little, travelling to the hospital each night, and the general stress of campaigning.