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

[11ady]

It's easy enough to put faces to names when it comes to those who lack caution. I prefer to stay cloaked for as long as I can. Life doesn't need to be more complicated than it already is.

[northless]

That's if life doesn't decide to get more complicated anyway.

[11ady]

Nothing wrong with grasping at normality while we can. Failing that, there's booze.

[northless]

I'll admit, the booze is also part of the reason why I'm here.

[11ady]

Just try not to have too much.

[And that, ladies and gents, is what we call foreshadowing with a dash of hypocrisy. She's had about three or four glasses at this point.]

[northless]

I'm not planning on having too much.

[He's tipsy and planning to have more.]

[11ady]

And I believe you.

[haha nope]

Just don't hesitate to call if the room starts spinning.

[northless]

I will.

[He glances back at the statue, and is just about to walk back to the buffet table when he hears something--his heartbeat, growing louder and louder till it's all he can hear, along with...with a song.

And who are you, the proud lord said, that I must bow so low?

He stumbles, just a little, feeling dread and fear.]

[11ady]

[Leaning forward to place a hand on his shoulder, she studies his face. He's gone pale and he seems more than a little unsteady on his feet. Maybe he's hit his limit.]

I think you might have had enough now. Let's find you a place to sit.

[northless]

[He doesn't protest for once, lets her guide him to a place where he can sit down (only a cat of a different coat, that's all the truth I know) and just wait it out, wait for his heartbeat to go back to its normal volume and wait for the feeling of dread to pass.

In a coat of gold or a coat of red, a lion still has claws, and mine are long and sharp, my lord, as long and sharp as yours.]

[11ady]

[Much as she'd hate to admit it, it scares her to see him so off-kilter. She could really use another drink right now but she'd rather not leave him. Besides, it'd set a bad example if drunkenness is bringing on his unsteadiness.]

There's such a thing as too much wine. Breathe deep. Does your head hurt? Is the room spinning?

[She's settled him down on a bench right next to the refreshment tables. Probably wasn't a good idea to seat themselves so close to temptation but it was the nearest place she could find.]

[northless]

No, it's just--it's one of those flashes. You know, the ones everyone's been getting.

[The song finishes up soon enough, and his heartbeat fades away to its normal volume, but he still can't shake the feeling of dread.]

[11ady]

Oh...

[Considering the fact that he'd gone out of his way to talk to her the last time she'd had one, she feels obligated to help him out. Damn, what can she do?]

If you don't want to talk about it, I understand. Is there anything you think might help though?

[northless]

Some wine would help.

[Alcohol doesn't always help, he knows that, but the lyrics are stuck in his head, along with an undercurrent of dread.]

[11ady]

[Are you sure?

That's what she want to ask but she already knows the answer. Truth be told, she could use a bit more booze herself. What's a few more sips after the number of glasses she's had? He shouldn't be drinking alone.

Gesturing to a passing waiter, she requests two glasses of white wine. Considering their proximity to the refreshment table, it doesn't take long for the order to be filled. She takes hers and sighs, watching him reach for his.]

What shall we toast to?

[northless]

To not being dead. Let's hope it doesn't happen any time soon.

[He raises his glass in a toast. There are other things that deserve a toast, but not dying is first on the list, after everything that's happened.]

[11ady]

[Pretty morbid. She wonders if it has anything to do with what he saw in his head.]

I can drink to that.

[Clinking her glass against his, she does her best to pace herself and sip slow. The burn of alcohol on her tongue and throat helps to quell the storm inside her though.]

[northless]

[If this was a normal night, he'd pace himself. He'd sip slow, savor the burn of the alcohol, and most likely be out and home before getting really smashed.

But this isn't a normal night, and he's looking to quiet his thoughts, to drown the dread and the memory that bubbles to the surface ("walk out of here," his mother had pleaded, but that had never happened), and so he drinks half of his glass.]

[11ady]

[A cloak of silence falls upon them and they drink in relative peace, taking their solace while they can. The waiters are eager enough to refill their glasses when they're close to empty. It seems the universe is intent on enabling questionable behavior tonight. By the time it's announced that the museum is closing, her vision's slightly blurred as she moves to stand, extending her hand to him so he can get up.]

I guess it's time to go.

[northless]

[He blinks--that's weird. How long has he been drinking?

He holds out his hand, lets her pull him up to his feet, unsteady as he is right now on them. Shit, maybe he shouldn't have had that last glass, he's sure the last time he went by that pillar there was only one chair and not two. No, three. Wait.

He leans on her, just a little. And...hey.]

Your hair smells nice. [Smooth, Robb. Smooth.]

[11ady]

Mm...shampoo will do that.

[It was a lemon-vanilla shampoo that came in a plastic bottle. Cheap stuff. Nothing special. She has to restrain herself from smiling at the compliment though. Now's not the time for that. Not when he's so achingly close that she can feel the heat of his breath against her skin.

Despite teetering on heels, she lifts his arm up and brings it over her shoulder. Of the two of them, she's probably a tiny bit more sober which isn't saying much. She can't exactly walk in a straight line but she gets them out the door and on the street. Swaying unsteadily, she does her best to hail a cab. If they don't get in one soon, she's afraid her knees might buckle. Considering how short her dress is and the fact that she's carrying half his weight, that would only end in disaster.]

[northless]

S'really nice shampoo, then.

[And he means it. Granted, words are hard when you're drunk, but he does try his best.

The close contact is...pleasant, actually. It's better than his original plans for the night, and it's worlds away from the song, the statue, the memories and everything else. Here and now, there's just the two of them, swaying unsteadily together on the street.]