Considering that Apache might get overwhelmed by the conversation, Rita made sure to pack plenty of alcohol, snacks, and cigarettes before leaving her house, including many rare items she'd specifically arranged for people around the world to buy and ship to her.
Nivalis, naturally, threw a bit of a fit when Rita tried to leave, so Rita had to calm her down by shopping online and purchasing half the store's stock of snacks and alcohol. The shop owner would pack everything up and send it directly to Rita in-game, and when it arrived, Nivalis could go pick it up herself.
When Rita entered the alchemy shop, she found Apache in her usual spot, standing in the corner, brewing potions while wearing a robe embroidered with magical runes.
Rita had always wondered about one thing—wasn't alchemy supposed to be done in a controlled environment? Why did Apache always brew potions in the open space of the first floor?