Dream learns beard deletion from Vivian

Characters in this scene: Vivian, Dream

viceVersailes — 03/29/2021

Vivian Versailes is at rest in the lounge, nursing a cup of tea. Her shadow occasionally swirls about the pot, leaving it steaming once again. She's still wearing the absolutely raucous ensemble that she arrived in, a racing-day gown in bright yellow, and yet she still manages to look comfortable while surrounded by a monstrosity of cloth and feathers.

Dream || Seafoam — 03/29/2021

Dream, meanwhile, is currently on its way back to the ballroom, having just visited the restroom, when it spies a certain eye-searingly bright outfit and the woman who wears it, and both a name and a conversation Levi had in OMO's public chat float to the surface of its memory. It approaches her from behind, and speaks up. "Pardon, miss, but are you perhaps Vivian Versailes?"

viceVersailes — 03/29/2021

The Matron looks up from her tea, raising an elegant eyebrow. "The very same, dear. And who might you be?"

Dream || Seafoam — 03/29/2021

Dream takes a seat nearby, taking care to make sure its gown doesn't bunch up beneath it. "My name is Dream, and I believe you spoke with a compatriot of mine somewhat recently about a particular type of Sympathetic magic. Transferring growth from one quality to another, if our memory serves, which you offered to teach to any who were around Sanctuary and willing to learn. And we are, as it happens, quite willing to learn, if you are agreeable."

viceVersailes — 03/29/2021

Vivian's eyes light up as she smiles. "Ah! Of course, pardon me, I can be a bit clueless without cues of reference. Your reputation proceeds you, Dream dear. I'd be delighted to delineate the basics."

Her shadow pours Dream a cup of tea. It smells like... watermelon?

Dream || Seafoam — 03/29/2021

"Ah, wonderful! Where shall we begin?" Dream gingerly takes the cup of tea, sniffs it curiously, then lifts its mask to sip at it. It's pleasantly surprised by how good the tea is; it's never been one for hot drinks, but Vivian's tea is proving an exception.

viceVersailes — 03/29/2021

"With the foundations and the philosophy. As I'm sure you're familiar, the Self is the segment of your humanity that summarises your immaterial substance. It is at once a battery and a portrait, a mixture of all the minute details that make you you in the moment." She takes a sip of the tea. "Sympathy magic, meanwhile, contrives to connect like-minded things and influence one with the other, or requalifiy the relationship between them. The art you wish to learn seeks to fiddle with the portrait, rebrush the paints, move about the connections that hold it together and put power where it is wanted, not naturally found."

Dream || Seafoam — 03/29/2021

Dream nods, paying close attention. "As we recall, the example you used - and the thing that had us so interested in the first place - was trading physical growth for the growth of a skill. Facial hair growth for swordsmanship, I believe."

viceVersailes — 03/29/2021

"Mhmm, a challenge that. The conversion of a material factor into a immaterial factor is exactly what the practice aims to achieve, via the commonality of the Self. However, such translation is tantamount to transforming matter to magic or vice versa- straightforward outside the body, but within? Whole chakras are devoted to such things, and the effect is not so simple. In order to achieve the advanced rendition of the practice you wish, you will first have to practice with more basic conversions. Putting on fat to putting on muscle, hair in one place to hair in another, learning how to sew into learning how to knit." She sips from her tea. "And of course, you cannot feed what doesn't exist. To suit the example, you'd have to have some familiarity with swordsmanship in order to redirect power there."

Dream || Seafoam — 03/29/2021

"Ah, alas. Not quite as easy as we'd hoped then," Dream says, with a small chuckle. "Though to be perfectly frank, we were primarily motivated by finding some way to stymie the growth of our facial hair. As you may imagine from my incredibly feminine presentation, it's rather distressing. And while that is a notable side benefit... There seems to be much more use for a spell like that than gender euphoria." It sips at the tea again. It really is quite good.

viceVersailes — 03/29/2021

"Quite understandable. In that case, in order to achieve the ritual, you'll want to paint the following diagram onto a mirror where you can see both of the intended targets." Her shadow stands up in a rectangle, an impenetrable darkness with googly eyes drawing out something like an embellished infinity pattern. "Frame them, or something strongly symbolic of them saturated with your Self, in the two encircled parts of the diagram, and speak the following incantation as you gaze into the mirror; 'Begone from thee above, pass to that below / travel thee of my own Self, to seeds I wish to sow.' You may reverse above and below as you wish, as positioning requires. Exchange 'to the seeds I wish to sow' for 'to that I know I love."

She sips her tea, pausing for a long moment. "Repeat once a day before bed. That is the most basic application of the ritual. It is recommended that the paint be your favourite colour, that some part of the targets be incorporated in the corresponding spokes of the diagram, and that you add additional verses of your own design to the incantation only once you've noticed changes. Further, don't ever use less words than you have previously, and don't stop doing the ritual until a month has passed since you last altered it."

Dream || Seafoam — 03/29/2021

Dream has pulled a smartphone from a pocket somewhere in the folds of its dress, and is busily copying down everything Vivian is saying. There is silence for a minute or two as it catches up, and then it looks back up at the matron Animus before it. "Would you mind at all if I took a picture of the diagram? Only for reference, of course."

viceVersailes — 03/29/2021

"Ah, my shadow won't appear on your phone. I have an illustration on mine, however." She reaches into the shadow and pulls out a MyPhone, flicking through it for a moment with a raised finger. "There, I've sent it to you over Oh-Em-Oh."

Dream || Seafoam — 03/29/2021

"Wonderful. Ah, and there it is!" A small buzz sounds from Dream's phone, and it saves the picture, claws tapping on the screen. Afterwards, it finishes its tea and says to Vivian, a smile evident in its voice and on its face, "Thank you, Ms. Versailes. You may have just enabled us to solve a problem that's been plaguing us for years, and given us a potentially potent power as well. ...Ha, and you seem to have also gotten me alliterating. Is there anything you would ask in return?"

viceVersailes — 03/29/2021

Vivian smiles. "I happen to be caring for the child of a god of violence. Would you mind sparring with her sometime?"

She sips her tea.

Dream || Seafoam — 03/29/2021

Dream cocks its head to the side. "...I'll admit that is not quite what we expected. But yes, we are always happy to find new opponents to spar." It appears to then realize something, and pauses. "...Hang on. Would this be the young child you arrived with?"

viceVersailes — 03/29/2021

"Young Valerie, yes. She's spoken about you all quite reverently."

Dream || Seafoam — 03/29/2021

Dream is only growing more confused. "She has? Odd. I don't believe we've ever met." It shrugs, almost visibly deciding not to worry about it any longer. "At any rate, we should be glad to spar with Valerie sometime." It stands, and bows respectfully to Vivian. "Thank you again, Ms. Versailes, for the tea and the magic both. We would stay and keep you company, but there is a chess game, a moon goddess, and quite an interesting selection of desserts in the ballroom at the moment, and we are quite interested in all three."

viceVersailes — 03/29/2021

Vivian nods, waving it off. "Go, make merry. Ernest will win unless he doesn't want to, and the tangerines are delicious and chilly."

Dream || Seafoam — 03/29/2021

"Ha, so noted. Have a good evening."