reverie overflow.

[vecna]

i still haven't put something less stupid here

Comments

[vecna]

[How many instances of magic are in that overstuffed bookshelf of hers? How many dangerous things just waiting to be unraveled...?]

Your options are limited in the prison. But you can try to learn from the others the same way you're trying to learn from me now.

[As much as she can garner from this one experience -- he isn't exactly sure how much she'll pick up, as assured as she was to make this technique her own.]

[velluminous]

[ :) ]

Right! Tell me more. What is happening now? What are you doing to manage this?

[vecna]

[Ever eager to learn.]

Physically, you may as well be in a trance. And for me to remain focused, I might as well be, too. Any interruptions in the outside world on my end would sever this outright.

[Better hope nothing sneaks up on them in the canteen! It's probably fine.]

I'm in your head as much as you are in mine, going through memory... Though you did tell me to limit it to the observatory, so I haven't been privy to much.

[velluminous]

[ meaning, this is more or less analogous to concentrating on a spell. her brow clears; she conjures her floating peacock quill and starts scribbling this down on a piece of scrap. it's that same unreadable language as her other works ]

And you standing here, is this "real"? If book fell on your foot, would it hurt? Would injury in here affect you out there?

[vecna]

That depends on what you consider “real.” Anything experienced here is valid. Pain, pleasure, all of it.

So for your example: yes, it would hurt. But I wouldn’t have a bruise on my physical body correlating to where you were clumsy enough to have dropped a book on me.

[There can be physical ramifications, of course. Of the murdery sort. But best not to address those when they do not apply.]

[velluminous]

[ as if she's pursuing pleasure within her own mindscape when there's magic to be learned. well, that's a pleasure all its own. and it's the one she thrives from.

she does not drop a book on his foot. she DOES come over and squeeze his arm, experimental ]

This is not happening in physical space, but I cannot tell difference. You were right.

[vecna]

[Wow, hey… Henry retracts his arm, surprised at her boldness.]

Of course I’m right. I know how my own abilities work.

Impressed?

[velluminous]

I hate to admit, but yes.

[vecna]

That’s high praise, coming from you. I’m glad I managed it somehow.

[velluminous]

You are impressive, every last thing you have demonstrated. You are simply so intolerably casual about it.

[vecna]

What would you prefer? For me to brag about it, instead?

[velluminous]

That appears to involve moving me about as you please. No.

[ #stillnotoverit ]

[vecna]

[Obviously.]

How long are you going to stay angry about that?

[It’s been like 2 days, Henry.]

[velluminous]

Until you make it up to me. Naturally.

Now. Can one cast magic while in this state?

[vecna]

Isn’t that what I’m doing now?

[She can take that as a rhetorical question if she likes.]

You can cast magic in the context of this memory. You can do whatever you like in your own head — but the “real” you out there won’t be doing anything at all. Remember that.

[velluminous]

[ so she's truly helpless, at the crux of it. don't think about it don't think about it don't think about it. but her skin cools a little...

finally she casts another look across the room, back towards the ?bed? in the corner, half-hidden.

...

why not. slinks over and crouches down, reaches underneath ]

In that case.

[vecna]

[Completely and utterly helpless. It’s not curse “magic” without siphoning away all control.

He follows, halting just a few steps behind.]

Keeping something hidden?

[Under her? Bed?]

[velluminous]

[ grunts and summarily produces a hefty wine bottle. waggles it at him, one eyebrow raised ]

[vecna]

[Oh.

Mirrors her expression.]

Better than the cheap beer.

[velluminous]

There are glasses in apothecary cabinet. Should you wish to partake.

[vecna]

[Shrugs and spreads his hands.]

Why not? I’m already here.

[Give him a moment to locate said cabinet and rifle around for two glasses. Clinking noises undoubtedly ensue.]

[velluminous]

Top shelf, on left... [ trails off. he'll figure it out. in the meantime, she works the claw of her thumb into the cork and pops it ] If nothing I do in here could convince you to let me out, should you not wish it, then I suppose I ought to do my damnedest to endear, hm?

[ making light of something that absolutely terrifies her? more likely than you think. ]

[vecna]

[Top shelf, left. Henry procures two wine glasses, holding them gently by their stems.]

Hoping to loosen my grip on your mind through ingratiation is a new one.

[He could comfort her by saying that he does not intend to keep her as a prisoner in her own mind. But he doesn't.]

But wine's a good start if that's your plan.

[velluminous]

[ why does he have to say it like that? her posture tightens microscopically when he does—these intermittent reminders that she's opened the door and it cannot be closed again. ]

Of course. Wine loosens everything, Mister Creel. And it is very good wine.

[vecna]

[He returns with the glasses glittering in the light, offering one out.]

I trust your tastes over mine, Ms Vaux. Loosen away.