Vyntage Fragrance: Prologue
Overview
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Guide
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Script
Intangible Memory Advanced Blending Room
After pushing open the heavy door, you walk into the newly opened vintage-style room—
The high-class perfumery room "Intangible Memory".
The decorations are beautiful and have a retro vibe. From the wooden furniture to the delicate ornaments, everything screams "luxury."
Even though it's located in the CBD, the loudest and busiest area in Stellis, it evokes a sense of tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle outside.
You: (The elegant feeling it evokes really reminds me of someone.)
You look around for the very person that popped into your head—
In the middle of the crowd, Vyn is demonstrating the process of fragrance blending for customers. He appears calm and collected, just like when he is "Dr. Richter."
The fragrance blending table is perfectly lit, and you can clearly see him mixing the perfume.
You're unsure if it's due to the vintage atmosphere of the store, but you feel that he looks even more elegant than usual when blending the fragrance.
As he concentrates on adding the ingredients, a few stray strands of hair occasionally fall in front of his eyes. However, they don't seem to distract him at all.
Vyn: After adding each ingredient, mix it well and check the aroma again.
Vyn: You can use the dropper to precisely control the amount of essential oil needed to adjust the scent. Just like this...
You grow nervous as you watch him carefully add the essential oil to the mixture, and you watch him work with bated breath...
You: ...
You don't breathe a sigh of relief until the last bit of liquid in the dropper falls into the bottle.
Vyn: Actually, if we start with the base note, we can add an appropriate amount of sandalwood in any order.
Vyn: Sandalwood does not interfere with the general composition, but it does make the overall aroma more lasting.
Vyn: It also has a dry, woody, and stable scent—perfect for adding to perfume.
You: (It looks like Vyn is enjoying the blending process.)
You look at Vyn with a smile. Coincidentally, he happens to raise his head and spots you through the crowd.
You look at each other and smile, but you don't interrupt him. He continues to demonstrate the blending process, and you listen to his explanation along with the other customers.
As you watch Vyn concentrate on blending, you can't help but remember the conversation that took place at his home a few days ago.
The First Floor of Vyn's Residence
You sit on the familiar couch at Vyn's residence as he prepares tea and shares something interesting that happened recently.
Vyn: The tea is ready. Careful, it is hot.
A large rose blooms in the teacup Vyn hands you. Its lovely fragrance fills the air.
You: How pretty! Did you buy new floral tea?
Vyn: I did not buy it... Do you remember Sanchez?
You take a beautiful gift box from Vyn's hands. Inside, there are dried roses in full bloom.
You: Of course I do.
Sanchez was Vyn's classmate from his school days and a well-known perfumer. They took a course on fragrance blending together.
A while back, he invited you to a perfume private viewing, and found the inspiration for his fragrance "Eternal Love" with your help.
Vyn: This floral tea is a thank-you gift.
Vyn: But... this came with the gift.
Vyn then hands over an exquisite vintage envelope, motioning for you to open it.
Inside the envelope are two identical "Guest Perfumer" invitations. One is for Vyn, and the other is for—
You: Me?
You read Sanchez's invitation with slight hesitation.
It turns out he converted the floral greenhouse into a perfume store. He plans on holding a "Perfume Sampling" fragrance customization event on its opening day.
What's more, he wants to invite you and Vyn to attend as "guest perfumers."
You: Wait a second... Why did he invite me?
You: (I obviously don't know how to blend perfume.)
Vyn: I fear he was worried I would refuse, so he simply invited both of us. That way, I will not turn him down because of you.
Vyn: He is quite obviously making use of the psychological "foot-in-the-door" technique.
You: Can this be applied to psychological theories as well?
Vyn: This thank-you letter and gift will make you feel good about helping him, so you will be more willing to agree to his bigger requests later on.
You: So... all of this was just to ask us for help again?
You: You're the one he really wants to invite, so he used some psychological tricks because he was afraid you'd refuse? How childish...
Vyn: He is betting on the fact that I cannot say no to you, and he wants to use your "acceptance" as a bargaining chip against me.
You: Hmm... Is he that afraid of you turning him down?
Vyn: It is most likely because he is unable to handle both quality control and marketing for the new store. Hence, he is desperate for my help.
Vyn: It is all right. You can just turn him down if you are uncomfortable with it.
You: I don't feel uncomfortable. It actually sounds pretty fun. But what about you? Do you want to blend perfume?
Vyn: Well... if it was just me, I would not be that interested. But if we go together...
Vyn: Fine, I have to admit that Sanchez's calculations were spot on...
There is a clear smile in Vyn's golden eyes, and you can tell from his expression that he is eager.
You: Then let's tell him we'll go. Actually... I've wanted to try blending perfume since the last time I watched you do it!
Vyn: All right, then I will let him know.
You: (At first, I thought Vyn didn't really want to come... but watching him now, he does seem to be enjoying it.)
As you think about this, your lips inadvertently curve into a smile. Vyn seems to notice this slight change as he raises his head.
His gaze stops on you for a moment as he smiles faintly, as if responding to you.
After the fragrance blending demonstration ends, the customers surrounding Vyn wander off one after another. He stands up and walks toward you.
Vyn: Sorry to keep you waiting.
You: I wasn't waiting long. And it gave me some time to take a look around first.
Vyn: Now that you are actually in the perfumery room, is it different from what you imagined?
As he speaks, Vyn looks at the various bottles and cans on the blending table, and your gaze follows his around the entire store...
With the hundreds of ingredients on the shelves and glass containers on the table, it looks more like a lab than a perfumery room.
Vyn: Truth be told, fragrance blending is not as romantic as everyone might imagine. The process can even be a bit boring.
You: But it's really interesting to watch you blend, and I'm going to do it in the next few days too. How could it be boring?
Vyn: All right, then I will try my best to make my lessons fun so it does not get dull.
You: Yeah, and I'll try my best to learn more about blending perfume.
You: But speaking of work... Where is Sanchez? Why are you working here alone?
Vyn: Since the new store is opening, he has a lot to do. We will probably not see him in the next week.
You: (Why do I feel like Vyn is a little happy about that?)
You: Does that mean it'll only be the two of us for the next event?
Vyn: Yes, it will just be the two of us.
As Vyn says this, he looks at you tenderly as if waiting to see your reaction.
You: I just meant that it would be more efficient if we worked together, that's all...
Vyn: Really? But I am looking forward to working with you to create all sorts of fragrances from scratch.
Upon seeing Vyn's disappointed expression, you can't stop yourself from amending your statement in a quiet voice.
You: Actually... I'm looking forward to that too.
At this, the smile returns to Vyn's face. It seems he was only despondent just now because he wanted to hear you say that out loud.
You: All right, let's get ready to blend. We still have a lot of work to do!
Vyn: Yes, I will do my best.
Summary
