"I don't see Mei and Cadoras. I wonder what they possibly could be up to?" The purple-skinned tiefling whispers to Aurora with a small smile as he offers her a drink before taking a sip of his own. "Lot's of curtains to hide behind if you want privacy, n'est-ce pas?" 

"I've already picked out a curtain that seems perfect for hiding if we get overwhelmed later," she laughs, the end of it choked as her mind drifts to other things people might do behind curtains. 

As he assesses her piece, she cups her cheeks nervously. Self-taught as he is and with such profound creativity in his sculptures, she certainly takes his opinion seriously. "Th-that means, um... that means a lot coming from you, Cadoras. Thank you." With a chuckle, she adds, "At least, however it's received tonight, one person finds it interesting!" 

Ducking out from beneath the fabric, she then raises it for the sculptor. "Shall we go grab something to eat and drink before it gets too busy? My floormates might be here already, too!" 

Guardok is very taken with the mustard yellow suit, feeling that it is a little more interesting than the blues, especially for an art gala.

"This will do nicely, a bit more yellow than the brown you wanted, but it is definitely mustard", he says as he models it a little. "Thanks, Rubina. Last chance to join me".

Assuming she declines, he will head off trying not to get there too late after it starts, hoping that there is some food left. There will be food, right?

Aurora looks at Malvyn, "You have something planned that needs privacy Mal?" She gives the tiefling a grin, but glance about for Mei or Cadoras. "I'm sure they must be here somewhere."  

As Cadoras emerges from the curtain Mei is holding, he instantly replies. "Yea! We'd best grab something now before things get busy. Let's go!" The pair moves towards the center area where the food and drinks are being served. About the same time, the two spot Aurora, Malvyn, Mae, and Larine near the entrance.  The group spot Mei and Cadoras as well. 

Outfitted in a nice mustard yellow suit, Guardok is ready to make his way the gala.  In response, Rubina answers, "Umm, I guess I could go Guardok, if you wanted me to. Although at this point I'm not sure what I would wear."  She pauses a moment, "Although perhaps I saw something earlier. An off-white gown. If we can locate it. And I'd need shoes." 

"That's great. I am sure it will be worth it. Actually, I'm really not. I have never been to an art gala so have no idea. But the company will be good", Guardok says cheerfully before heading back to rummage for the gown Rubina described.

He also looks for shoes to suggest, but without instruction as to type, he does what he would do and chooses comfort over style.

"No, nothing planned but I'm sure I can think of something." The purple-skinned tiefling whispers into the raven-haired performers ear and lets the tip of his tail discreetly and teasingly slide up along her leg just a little bit. He then notices the purple-haired oracle and the green-haired elf, giving them a wave. "There they are, clothes and hair in order and everything." He says quietly with a grin as he leads Aurora towards them. "Hey there, you two look lovely together. Would you mind showing us your contributions and say a word or two about them?" Malvyn asks with a warm smile.

Mei's expression brightens at sight of her friends, pausing mid stride as she's hit by how fantastic everyone looks. "Are you sure you're not here for Strixhaven's Next Top Model?" she grins. Searching for a head of crystalline turquoise hair far below the rest, her shoulders slump slightly, even knowing there was a strong chance he wouldn't make it.

At Malvyn's request, she scratches her cheek with a nervous laugh. "Roots below, I suppose that is why we're here, isn't it? I'm not sure if the exhibits are officially open yet, but... you're with two of the artists so I'm sure it's okay!" Completely forgetting to grab herself food or drink, she leads the group back towards the gallery. "Wait until you see Cadoras' piece. He sculpts with fractals. They're absolutely mesmerizing!"

"I was about to ask you the same question." The purple-skinned tiefling says to the petite oracle with an appreciative smile. "You look absolutely stunning in that dress Mei."
Still walking with Aurora, Malvyn follows along, curiously looking around for what is exhibited, offering Cadoras some of the snacks he had sampled. "Fractals? Interesting, and what material do you work with?" He asks the green-haired elf, both out of curiosity and politeness. 

"Yes, you look very lovely, Mei. Do show us what you've done, mm?" Maeleve smiled warmly and put her arm around Larine as they started off into the showroom.

It doesn't take too long for Rubina and Guardok to find the gown she had seen earlier. The off-white color seems to compliment her darker skin. She is still looking about for shoes when the genasi brings the practical pair he had located. There's a hint of hesitation in her face when he suggests them, but she immediately gives him a smile. "Those go perfectly with the dress. I'll use those," she says.  One of her hands reaches up to her hair, lighting touching it.  She makes a face, "Hmm, well, this will do for tonight. I think I may be ready."  Her hair seems meticulously pulled back into her accustomed ponytail, looking perfect. 

The two hurry off to the gala. 

 As Mei joins the group then immediately is turning back to see both hers and Cadoras' pieces, the elf seems to be torn for a moment. "Uh, but we... ahh, yes let's show them," he says with a smile.  He waves his arm in the general direction of the part of the hall where they are located.  As the walk, Cadoras readily accepts Malvyn's offer of snacks. "Fraucals," he starts, with his mouth full, pausing a second. "Are mostly light. I use glass to support it, but it is mostly magically created." Aurora follows along beside Malvyn. 

As Mae puts her arm around her, Larine leans a bit towards her. She pulls them back so that they follow a few steps behind the others. "Seems like an interesting exhibit," she whispers. "A lot of different pieces." 

The group has already reached Mei's display when Guardok and Rubina arrive. Whatever it is rests on the ground but appears to be draped over by a heavy cloth. 

Mei rubs a bare shoulder, blushing at the compliments. "Well, you two and Guardok certainly played a big part! I would've felt so out of place in my usual clothes. I just hope no one recognizes the outfits," she says, whispering the last bit.

As they approach her piece, Mei walks backwards and rapidly explains, "S-So... I did an oil painting using a technique called impasto. You apply your oils--which are basically made from a thickened linseed oil mixed with dense pigments--with a brush or knife to create a relief structure. It gives it more texture and dimension, which really helps to add an expressiveness to the work. Oh gosh, but you're all probably not interested in the technical--um... ah, we're here."

She moves next to her canvas and grabs a corner of the cover. "It's actually, well... it's not at all what I intended to paint, but I sort of got lost in the process and, uh, there it was!" With a deep breath, she carefully pulls the black fabric away, revealing the artwork beneath. 

The others, from their perspective looking straight on, might feel as though they're peering into a scene they were not meant to see. The painting is both sharp and blurry. Faded and dim, but also luminous. There's, perhaps, a disconcerting eeriness to it--something uncanny about it all. In the foreground is a featureless feminine form, indistinct, reaching out to a luminous snarl in the background, seeming to drink the energy from it. 

Mei's focus flits from face to face, watching for her friends' reactions as she nervously wrings her hands together. "I-It's the vision I had of Disyn that night in Silkmeadow."

“You look very classy, do does not do you justice at all”, Guardok say to Rubina with a smile, before turning to rush out and head to the gala before they miss the event. Or worse, the food runs out!

When they arrive, he strains to look around for his friends, but he can’t see past all the bodies from his vantage point.

”Do you see the others?”, he asks Rubina. “Or the food?”, he adds hopefully.

Mae fell back easily next to Larine as the others went ahead of them, giving her a brief smile. "Yes, I am pleasantly surprised! Not that I thought it would be bad, but it's still nice to see such a varied display. Oh, there's Mei's work!" Maeleve gently steered Larine toward Mei and her painting, giving it a long appreciative gaze. "That's very good, Mei! I can almost hear it playing to me." She smiled warmly at Mei and went over to give her a light hug.

Mei beams at Maeleve's praise and wraps her arms around her waist to return the hug. "Hear it... playing to you?" she says in wonder, head cocking at the painting as she considers what melody it might inspire. "Hearing music in art... that's really a beautiful connection between color and sound." 

Looking up at Mae with puckish little grin, she says, "You're a bard, aren't you?" 

Maeleve giggled a little bit gently as Mei hugged her back. "All art is beautiful, Mei. But yes, I suppose I am. Tell me, was it the singing, the instruments, or my connection to art and song that gave it away?" She winked at Mei with a sly grin back. "Don't remember my performances? It's okay, so much has happened it seems." She looked back at the painting. "Yes, I don't know how to explain it, other than it's like it has its own song." She got lost in the moment and then snapped out of it, "I'm sorry." She smiled and walked back next to Larine but she looked over at Aurora for a second as if to see if she followed her thoughts or not.

As Guardok enters, it doesn't take much effort to see that snacks and drinks are being served to the opposite side of the hall from the entrance. It looks as though they are just about to serve the food. Rubina nudges him a moment later. "I think see them all over there." She points off the right towards the various displays of artwork.

Cadoras stands back as Mei steps forward to show off her painting.  Aurora catches Mae's remark and watches her a moment. "I've heard of music evoking a picture in your mind. But a painting evoking music... hmm, an interesting thought."  Larine glances quizzically at first Mae then Aurora, looking back and forth to the painting.  Finally, she leans in a bit towards Mae, keeping her words soft. "It is very well made, but it seems a bit eerie to me." 

"Ooh, the food hasn't been served yet", Guardok says happily, before Rubina points the way to his floor mates. "Best go say hello and check out Mei's exhibit first. That way it is", he says pointing in the same direction as Rubina, and seemingly gliding through the crowd as if they aren't they.

As the others are chatting, his voice suddenly sounds next to them, "Thoughtful as ever, Mei. You left it on the floor so I could see it better". "Sorry we are a bit late", he adds, looking back to make sure Rubina kept up.

Once she joins them, he steps forward in his mustard coloured suit to take a close look.

(OOC: As Guardok has been putting his fate in the hands of the dice for all his acting and gymnastics, I am wondering if Mei will be doing the same for her painting? I know art is subjective, but still :-) ) 

The purple-skinned tiefling steps closer to study the somewhat eerie painting. He definitely had to do more research into the nature of snarls and try to find out more about this particular one. "Not being a bard myself I must say I still find your painting most intriguing Mei. You are quite a skilled painter to be able to show your vision like this." He says with a warm smile to the petite oracle. "Have you given thought to what it is that you see in the vision, the snarl and the feminine form? Is the feminine form Disyn do you think?" He asks, his fiery red eyes filled with curiosity. 

"Oh, y-yes, that was my assumption! That she's--it's?--Disyn. I thought, maybe by showing it here to so many people, someone might know something more.  Especially since none of my research has turned up anythi--"

Mei jumps at the sudden voice, already smiling ear to ear when she spins to greet their friend. "You're here! And Rubina too? Oh, you didn't have to--you must be so tire--I didn't think you'd make it!" Taking in his suit, plum-colored brows arch upwards. "Oh my, that color! It suits you so well!" She tones down her effusions and more quietly adds, "You look very handsome."

When Rubina catches up, she touches her arm and thanks her for coming, also complimenting her beautiful dress. As she and Guardok take a closer look, Mei backs up to Cadoras' side to make more room, clearly still nervous about her work being examined.

The purple-skinned tiefling nods in agreement with the praise of the petite oracle. "Indeed, how was today, surely the audience last night was better?" He says with a toothy grin, looking between Guardok and Rubina. The dark-skinned woman was truly beautiful. It was still difficult for the tiefling to comprehend that he seemingly was accepted among such beautiful people, not quite what he was used before he came to Strixhaven.