savetheearth | the "p" doesn't stand for pretentious, FYI. [art gallery, may 6th

[ Welcome to Locke's very own Taste de Louvre, everyone! Predictably, the unveiling of the new set of statues at the magnificent Hugh P. Thadson Gallery of Fine Art has turned out to be a rather fanciful affair. The upper echelon of snobby society, in their snobby society attire, has come to mingle amongst one another—and is endeavoring to ignore you, fair citizen, as much as possible—and discuss this fantastic addition to our city's fair culture.

The first statue is a touchingly metaphorical piece, the prominent carving of a snake coiled around a human heart that looks so real you can almost hear it beating within your ears. This statue appears to be the most popular; the crowds drawn around its base simply can't stop going on and on and on about how wondrous it is, along with the rest of the works on display tonight.

The second statue also depicts a snake, but has its blush-brushed scales cut dramatically open to display its own wicked black heart. The Thunder Corporation and its latest line of tacky memorabilia is the primary subject of discourse here.

The last statue is strikingly different from the other two, and features a wolf howling at the open sky,* dying in apparent agony with a sword driven through its chest. You get a distinctly unsettling impression from it that the other, ordinary folk don't seem to notice—that perhaps your adventure to meddle in recent affairs is ill-advised. Inscribed below the pained wolf's paw is a link of sorts to a peculiar forum that, when accessed, bears only the topic "Let's Negotiate" with the same message enclosed within. Strange, but since no one else is talking about it, you wonder if you can't have just imagined the whole ordeal... and yet stranger things have happened, right? Perhaps it's worth looking into, in any event.

There's plenty to do with the statues about and the gift shop buzzing, with lots of familiar faces to run into. So what's your agenda for the evening? ]

(( General mingling post for the plot as related to art gallery affairs! There will be base threads for OPEN INTERACTIONS, open to all as implied, CLOSED INTERACTIONS, for planned out one-on-one interactions between player characters, and a general purpose EVERYTHING ELSE, for characters who wish to explore the gift shop, just mull about. Just as a general reminder:

1) Touching one of the snake statues will grant you one (1) Echo, for two (2) Echoes max. However, touching a second statue will definitely arouse suspicion, so be prepared for that. One safe Echo, two potentially risky ones up for grabs here! No Echoes from touching the wolf statue, though, so slither your way towards the snakey-snakeys for those.

2) If you'd rather not touch the statues themselves, hanging around them for awhile -- about an hour or so -- will grant one (1) Echo.

3) Accessing the webforum will not grant an Echo, but posting a reply to it will. It will be possible to get a second during conversation, but as for how it happens... it's a secret to everybody!

4) Little statuettes are available for purchase in the gift shop, but do not grant an Echo themselves in any way.

You may also handwave the mingling NPCs being snobby snobs at you, just for fun. Because why not.

~~As before, please wait for all base threads to go up before posting.~~ OPEN FOR BUSINESS! In your character's subthreads, please put your character's name, the day, and optionally the time you are visiting in the title so things remain nice and neat. Remember, open to all interactions in the open section and one-on-one time in the closed section. Everything else goes in Everything Else. This post will remain stickied throughout the entirety of the plot duration, for easy finding.

The plot post for this week, detailing about the art gallery and more, can be found here.

*This awesome picture drawn by our very lovely Lucas-mun! Thanks, MC! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Art's not just for the snobs. It's anything you want it to be. If you think it's sad, it's sad. Don't let anyone dictate your tastes. I sure didn't.

[Art appreciation is bullshit. Oh look at the deeper meaning of life in this canvas splash! Look how "subversive" it is if we put up a painting of a urinal. He helps to fund this ridiculousness for the sake of impressing assholes. It's a living. Once he knows what kind of ridiculous fancies makes them tick, it takes him one step closer to bringing them down.]

... I'll remember that. Thank you.

[ Though she doesn't think these people are snobs or anything!! Just... different. ]

Do you like art?

We all like pretty things, don't we? I like what I see as pretty.

[Don't mind him taking a loose tendril of your hair between his fingers, Colette. Pretty hair. It's a shame it isn't red.]

You're pretty. In your own way.

Oh, I -- um, thank... you.

[ She's not really sure how to act in this situation. He has her hair between his fingers, a long golden curl, so she can't exactly move away. So instead she'll opt to give a friendly smile and wait for him to drop it on his own. She watches him, curiously.

Pretty? Well... she didn't think so herself. He was probably only being polite. Always so polite. ]

That's kind of you to say.

Don't start, dear. A reputation for kindness is the last thing I want.

[Her hair finds itself twirled between his thumb and forefinger. A golden thread keeping her close. What to do...]

[ She laughs a little, watching as he curls her hair around between his fingers. People nearby don't even seem to notice - or if they do, they don't seem to care. ]

Ah. You are, though. You've always been kind to me.

That's because you're special.

[Everyone wants to be special but few truly are. Few are truly capable of moving up in the world like he has. This girl gleams like an uncut gem. She's not capable of catching the light the way he wants just yet.

Leaning in close, he lifts her hair to his lips, smelling her indiscernible fragrance before disentangling his fingers from the loose tendril. It falls back to rest against the curve of her cheek, and he smiles.]

[ Did he just... smell her hair? Um.

... Welp. She always knew he was kind of weird! Grannie did say he was the kind who probably went around town drunk, too. No harm done. ]

You're a funny man, Mister Baelish.

I try to be. It's much easier to twist a knife in someone's gut if they're too busy laughing to see you as a threat.

[He says it all with a genial smile. Had too much to drink? Definitely. As a result, his sense of humor leaves much to be desired. It does offer the girl a lesson though.]

A funny man needs his friends to laugh with their eyes open. And you will, won't you? It'd be a shame if any harm came to you. To my special girl.

[He raises his champagne flute to her in a mockery of a toast.]

[ Oh, Mister Baelish. While she doesn't think you're a bad person, and that you are kind to her sometimes, she knows you're a shrewd business man. Grannie wouldn't dislike you so much without a reason. And there are times -- times like this -- when he says things that remind her to be careful around him. Moments where she found things to be very clear. Understanding.

Baelish was not someone one should cross. He was genial and friendly, yes, which made him all the more dangerous. While she doesn't find what he's saying funny she smiles regardless, watching him with calm eyes. ]

I'll do my best. Thank you for your concern! I really appreciate it.

[ Sometimes, courtesy was all you had to protect yourself. ]

You always give such good advice.

See, now you're just lying. I don't like that very much.

[Running his thumb over her cheek, he moves down before making an abrupt turn to trace her lips. Pretty mouth. Pretty smile.]

At least do a better job at it, ok?

[Pulling his hand back, he smirks. This'll be a fun little game.]

[ Ah... but that's true. He does give "good" advice. Though the question of whether or not she agrees with it is up in the air. However, she decides to not correct him. ]

I'm sorry.

[ The apology is earnest, even if it's not for the reason he thinks.

She reddens when he touches her face, her lips, a pretty pink flush that spreads down to her neck to where the red gem that's worth far more than she knows sits, sparkling ever so slightly in the artificial light of the gallery. ]

There will come a time where you won't ever have to apologize for anything. At least, if you play your cards right.

[He offers her a sweeping bow before turning to walk. Over his shoulder, he offers her one last nugget of wisdom.]

You should consider dyeing your hair red.

[ She nods politely to him as he leaves -- she'd attempt a curtsey but it'd probably end up with her on the floor somehow -- but, ah, red?

His comment prompts her to glance down at the wave of golden girls hanging over her shoulder in curiosity. She speaks out loud, though mostly to herself. ]

Red...?

the "p" doesn't stand for pretentious, FYI. [art gallery, may 6th—??? ]

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