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

[theearth]

[ 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! ]

Comments

[wordsgate]

[He grins.] Me, too. This sort of thing can be a little boring if you don't have anyone to talk to.

[espigeonage]

Or all people do is sputter or completely fail to get it?

[wordsgate]

Hah! Well, the sputtering is fun sometimes.

[espigeonage]

Especially after they get a look at a number!

[wordsgate]

[Now it's HIS turn to stifle a laugh.]

Oh god, if I end up being unable to hear the word "number" without giggling like a 12-year-old in his first sex ed class, I'm blaming you.

[espigeonage]

[He just looks smug.]

Haha, I guess it is my fault. Good thing that's the name of the club, isn't it?

[wordsgate]

Man...you are going to get me into so much trouble. [Not that he seems to mind much.]

[espigeonage]

One of these days, my friend. But I'll blame you, too, for being such an enabler.

[wordsgate]

Fine. I guess that's fair. I certainly helped.

[espigeonage]

Good.

...ah, think you could sing me that song we talked about? In another room, if you don't want to get stared at even more?

[Julien winks at someone he can see over Sam's shoulder, and grins more broadly at whatever the reaction was.]

[wordsgate]

[He grins as well and glances over his shoulder.]

It doesn't have any lyrics, but I can at least whistle it for you. And I don't mind being stared at. It's some sort of R&B or jazz song, and it has a main saxophone melody that sounds something like this...

[And he starts to whistle the theme from his memory.]

[espigeonage]

[A college student in a white sundress clutches a sketchbook to her chest and turns away hastily, her ears red.]

[Julien tilts his head.]

Oh? Nice. Your theme music, maybe?

[wordsgate]

Theme music? Huh...I've never thought of it that way before, but it might be. It would explain why I remembered it when I was about to record something.

[espigeonage]

Heh... Or I don't know, a signature piece or something. Did you record it?

[wordsgate]

Oh, no, no, I was there to record some horrible pop song I'd written as as teenager. I didn't even have my saxophone with me that day.

[espigeonage]

Aww. You should sometime! I wish I could give feedback, but I never studied music.

[wordsgate]

[He chuckles.] Oh, it's fine. I've given up on music beyond just a hobby, so I don't think I could justify the price of renting a studio and I don't have the equipment at home to record something like that, either. But it's kind of you to be so supportive.

[espigeonage]

Heh... Well, we are friends.

[wordsgate]

[He smiles.] That's true...thank you.