Mei finishes a sip of champagne, the flute now wearing a deep berry-colored lipstick print. "Stars, I hope not! I'd have submitted much something different if we were being judged," she laughs, though looks at Cadoras as she's truly not sure. "I think it's meant to be a showcase of student work rather than a contest? Though I suppose you could say the winner is the piece that draws the most attention?" At that, she can't help but look back to see if there was anyone currently looking at her painting, nerves flaring again at the thought. "Or... if it were an art auction, perhaps the winner would be the work that sells for the most?"

Of Quentillius and Rubina, she asks, "Have you ever been to an art gala before?"

 

Guardok also looks around to see how many people were looking at the different exhibits. He assumed they aren't being sold, as there are no prices displayed, but that did bring up another thought.

"Are you going to hang your painting in the fourth floor lounge once the gala is finished?", he asks Mei, once Quentillius and Rubina have responded to her.

"Oh! Gosh, do you know I didn't even consider that!" Her brow furrows as she watches the bubbles rise in her glass a moment. "I... I think I might get rid of it, to be honest. If I remove the canvas from the frame I should be able to Prestidigitate it clean. It's just... the more I look at it, the more its permanence feels... wrong. Does that make sense?"

Her serious expression lightens as she says fondly, "My brother would say, 'Mei-hem, you've brought some bad vibes up in here.' N-Not that I think Disyn is bad!"

"Your brother called you Mei-hem? Like, mayhem? That is genius, I love it", Guardok replies. "I think I would get on with your brother".

"As for the painting, if you take the canvas out the frame, you could just roll it up and hide it away. It would be a shame to completely wipe away your first gala painting", he suggests. "Up to you of course, if it makes you uncomfortable even knowing it exists, then wipe away...away".

Aurora takes Malvyn's offered hand once he stands and follows him. "That's very good of you Mal," she responds with a smile to his comment about re-evaluating his opinion. As the two walk there are any number of pieces to catch the eye. Many paintings, both showing traditional portraits or landscapes, and others which are more abstract. Various other forms are represented as well, with sculptures in any number of mediums. 

Larine goes with Mae and the pair also start to walk about the exhibition space to take in the art pieces.  "I really hope you're ok Mae," she says as they walk.  The pair does not really end up running into Aurora and Malvyn as they go. One odd display they find seems to be partly unfinished pottery. Or maybe it had some other meaning, but you aren't quite sure.  The pieces are attributed to Nora Ann Wu. Most of the pieces seem nice, but there are a few here and there that really stand out.  

Rubina joins the larger group of Guardok, Mei, Cadoras, and Quentillius.  Mei has to stretch a bit to get a view of where her painting would be.  It's hard to see directly, but there do seem to be a fair number of people in that generally area.  

When Mei asks about having been to an art gala, Quentillius of course immediately jumps in. "Ah yes, I have been to a few. I've never been much for the physical arts, more performance myself, but my family has been to a few.  Well, more art exhibitions, but a gala here and there."  He pauses then asks Mei, "Will this display be showing for a while or is it just for tonight's gala?"  (OOC - It's more of just a one-night thing for the Distinguished Society of Fine Artists, though some pieces could end up in the Biblioplex student gallery.) 

Rubina waits for Quentillius to finish before answering, "I have never been to a gala like this. Though I have gone to art museums before. I hear there is a big one in Heavenfell. It would be interesting to go there some time." 

When Mei turns to talking about dismantling her painting, Cadoras looks concerned. "It might not be your typical sort of piece, but it is quite interesting.  And you made it! If you're just going to throw it away, I would take it. I'd consider it an honor to have such a piece."  Rubina nods in agreement. 

The Dreamer rolls her eyes, but is unable to stifle a smile. "Mei-hem. Mei-be. Mei-fly. Mei-onnaise. Though Mei-hem's definitely his favorite. He thinks he's very funny." The smile grows as she nods, "I think you would too. Like two peas in a pod." 

"And, oh, it's just for tonight's gala. Though they may pick some pieces for extended display on campus. But you might enjoy performance art, then, Quentillius--it's a beautiful combination of the two. And it's usually quite bold! Maybe the Society could collaborate with the Guild sometime? That would be fun!"

As Cadoras offers to take her painting, saying it would be an honor no less, a tangle of emotions wrap round her heart. She's surprised to find herself misty eyed as she replies. "You'd... want to keep it? Oh, but it's so big and--and it'd be difficult to find room for in the dorms and it--" she shakes her head with a little sniffle. "That's very sweet of you. M-Maybe I could see if the museum in Heavenfell accepts donations? It would be a good excuse to visit if you'd like to go, Rubina! We could show them Cadoras' sculptures too. Which," she looks around to see if everyone seems finished with their plates, "I think we'd all love to see now, maestro." 

Malvyn would be drawn to any sinister and dark art, staying to observe any such while passing any pretty landscapes and still life paintings. "See anything you like dear?" He asks Aurora, taking a sip from his glass. 

"Best lead the way, Private Cadoras. After all, it's an order from the Mei-jor", Guardok says jumping down off his chair with a giggle.

He will then follow him across to his sculpture, assuming he does as told.

"Don't you start!" Mei laughs, Crafting a puff of skunk smell for him to walk through as revenge (and gently guiding Quentillius and Rubina around it to avoid friendly fire).

Mae looked down at Larine with a gentle smile and gave her a hug. "Yeah, I'll be okay, thank you though." She walked along slowly with Larine before stopping at the odd piece of art by Nora Ann Wu. "I'm not sure I really understand this one. Is it...supposed to be unfinished? Maybe it's supposed to represent everything unfinished?" She stayed for a long few moments looking at it this way and that before shrugging. "I wonder if she's here somewhere..."

"Ooo, no, no..." Cadoras says to Guardok. "I think she is the Mei-stro!" Cadoras laughs triumphantly and elbows Mei at the jest, clearly proud to be a part of this game. "Ahem. Anyhow. Sure, I can show my sculpture." He starts to lead the way to towards the spot where his sculpture is being displayed.  Rubina follows right after Guardok, making it a bit harder for Mei to deflect her path - but she manages. Quentillius had held back a bit, so he sees what is happening and allows Mei to direct him. He speaks softly to her though, seeming confused. "What is happening?" 

As Malvyn and Aurora look around, she seems to enjoy the pieces he stops to look at. "These are interesting. You have good taste Mal."  She leans in closer to him. "But I mean, here you are with me." She also shows interest in the various portraits. "I always find people interesting - whether just a picture or actual people. They can be fascinating to watch." 

Larine chuckles. "How would I know! Umm, do you know Nora Ann Wu?" she asks, looking around herself as Mae does, but not quite sure who she's looking for. She does see Cadoras leading the others off but doesn't really say anything about it.  "Did you want to look for her?" she asks tentatively. 

Mei flashes Quentillius a lip-bitten grin, perhaps more provocative than she realizes. Softly back, she explains, "Just punishing naughty boys with a cantrip. It should hit them in a moment."

Guardok walks straight through the puff of odour, as he follows after Cadoras, "Ew, Cadoras. Something you ate does not agree with you".

He turns to suggest the others avoid the area, only to see Mei had lead Rubina and Quentillius away already.

"Mei?!", he calls. "Sneaky!".

He giggles and thinks about retaliating, but thinks better of it what with being at a posh gala.

"Portraits? Well help me understand what would be fascinating about this gentleman over there?" The purple-skinned tiefling asks the raven-haired beauty at his side with a teasing smile as they pass a portrait of an extremely dull looking professor, taking the chance to embrace her from behind as they stay to study the fascinating portrait.

Aurora leads Malvyn by the hand over to the portrait. "Well, let's see," she begins. "It's a fairly realistic style used, so not a whole lot of artistic interpretation here. To me, I immediately wonder about what the artist was going for here. Why choose this subject? Are the colors skewed intentionally to make the image seem dull? It's hard to tell, but I'd guess it may have been to give a feeling of the subject's personality. Although I suppose the style could have just been imposed by the assignment. Maybe this ultimately was to be something official for the school."  

The dark-haired woman continues to examine the picture. "He wears a pretty basic Lorehold uniform. Ah, but see there are a few interesting runes here." She points to a spot just along the neckline. "I wonder what those mean? Perhaps his specialty? Or is it just some remembrance of his home? And there's those wrinkles of his. Not just of age but I'd guess some of it is from exposure to sun and the elements.  Deeper scars, but don't you wonder what etched those lines? Signs of his work in field research, or just an artifact of his upbringing?"  

She finally turns to the tiefling. "You don't see anything that pulls at your curiosity in this 'dull' portrait, Mal?  Don't you want to know more about him?" 

When Guardok makes the comment to Cadoras, he stops and turns around. Listening, he soon catches on that Mei had done something. And eventually he catches a faint scent from the prank and steps backwards. When the genasi accuses Mei of being the culprit, the elf feigns indignation. "How dare you accuse this lovely flower of having any association with such malodorousness! We all know that I'm the smelly one." 

Quentillius seems unhappy with the situation. Quietly he tells Mei, "It's too bad that such actions are necessary." Rubina just shakes her head at her fellow actor's stiff response, a grin on her face at the teasing and pranks. 

Mei hides a bit of laughter behind her hand, then feigns innocence alongside Cadoras' indignation. Her cheeks do color, however, at being called a lovely flower. 

As Quentillius seems to misunderstand, she looks briefly to Rubina and Guardok for help explaining, then smiles. "O-Oh, no. It's just a bit of friendly teasing. Good-natured tit for... tat?" She shifts her flowers to the crook of her other arm and looks curiously up at the actor. "You don't enjoy joking with friends?"

The purple-skinned tiefling listens and feels a bit embarrased over not taking note of the details in the same curious way he most often did, assuming there was no intriguing mystery to this seemingly dull man in the portrait, but more so his heart swells and brims with affection for Aurora who again had surprised him with her sharp analysis. He knew of course well about all the things that he found attractive about her but it was always welcome with a reminder. "I stand corrected my dear..." He says softly, looking into her eyes with deep affection. "...and thanks for opening my eyes to yet another mystery. I vow to henceforth view art with a new perspective." He continues in a warm and sincere tone, giving her a quick kiss. 

"So, do you want to unravel the mystery about this intriguing man then, or do you just want your curiosity to be tickled?" He asks with a sincere and curious smile after a moment of silence. "Or should we perhaps rejoin with the others and see if they are ready to let Cadoras present his fractal art. I promise to make an effort to be civil to Q." He says with a hint of resignation.

Guardok looks to Cadoras after his gallantry and shakes his head. "If you insist".

"Even if you do not appreciate such frivolity, there are many who do, Q. Perhaps in those circumstances, you could act like it is ok, to put others more at ease. From time to time, when among friends, anyway", the genasi suggests.

Mei gives Guardok a grateful nod for his gentle advice. Quentillius' reactions sometimes reminded her of Malvyn. She wondered if it weren't similarly a lack of exposure or, rather, a difficult environment that made him react to things a certain way. Seeing laughter and fun as a frivolity was surely something learned or taught. 

As they approach the statue, Mei looks around for the tiefling and Maeleve, hoping they're both having a good time. "I wonder if the others left? I hope they weren't too bored. I know fine arts aren't quite as exciting as theater or gymnastics or show band. But at least there's good food and drinks," she says with a little laugh. "There should be a bit of music and dancing later too, I think!"

Quote from Culuril >>

 

Larine chuckles. "How would I know! Umm, do you know Nora Ann Wu?" she asks, looking around herself as Mae does, but not quite sure who she's looking for. She does see Cadoras leading the others off but doesn't really say anything about it.  "Did you want to look for her?" she asks tentatively. 

 Mae looked at the art piece once more then back at Larine. "No, not really. I mean if she shows up I wouldn't mind talking to her I guess, but I'm not sure I know who they are. I suppose we could ask Mei but it seemed like she was pretty busy. Let's just keep going for now, see what else is here, or if Cadoras's piece is on display yet perhaps." She gave a smile to Larine and turned to move on to look at another display.