Nexus Spring Market Fair

[varnished_truths]

Seemingly overnight, one of the grassy areas edging the Forum has been taken over by a spring market and fair. Part state fair, part craft fair, part Renaissance faire, there are attractions for all comers. Tents and booths of every size, shape, and color are lined up more or less tidily, sometimes with wide avenues between them and sometimes with paths skinny enough to crowd a single person. Goods and treats from the far-flung corners of infinity are on display. The general organization has magic and alchemical goods grouped together and slightly separated from the other tents; arts and crafts fill the area around it. Goods such as clothes and jewelry, plants, and vintage and antique items are in the back. Food is front and center, between the entrance and the rides. This is perhaps not an ideal placement.

To one side is a brightly-lit collection of rides and games familiar to anyone who's been to a state fair. A ferris wheel, flying swings, and all manner of reasons to regret that last funnel cake are blaring tinny music and sporting blinking lights. Remember: rides first, then eat. Classic games that test strength, agility, and luck offer plush prizes sure to delight anyone until the fur rubs off. There are also some animal rides near the exit.

In the back of the roughly-fenced-in area are the exhibits. There's a petting zoo with creatures mundane and more exotic, all promised to be tame; practical demonstrations of new magical and technological wonders; a juried art show; and a stage hosting a variety of performers changing on the hour.

((This is an open event. If your character wants to have a booth selling wares or food, set one up. If your character wants to perform or provide other services, go for it! Please note what sort of service you're providing, if any, in the subject line of your top-level comment. Basically, just run with it and have fun!

I offer pictoral inspiration and ask that any pictures used in comments not be more than 300 px tall (and it looks better if you can keep it about the same height as your text). Code to have your text wrap around your picture below.))

<img src="blah.png" height="300" style="border: 0pt none; float:left; padding-right:10px; padding-bottom:10px">

Comments

[brave_heart_verity]

So considerate. When the hug ends she'll grab the towel and hold it up. "You got some on your forehead." If he consents, she'll help him wipe it off.

"So is showing off like this part of the mass appeal?" The way she looks over his bare arms should make it pretty clear what she's talking about, and that she approves.

[losthunter]

Hunter gives her a slight nod, so she can help him get cleaned. He laughs, blushing at the approving glance in his direction.

"Mostly, it was out of not wanting to get my shirts messy. But I am glad to hear to has appeal."

[brave_heart_verity]

Ver concentrates on wiping away the clay, trying to get it off before it dries.

"You're very handsome, Hunter, and you're one of the nicest people I've ever met. The only problem with your appearance is your own discomfort with your appearance." That's all said very seriously, but then she gives him a smile and puts the towel back where she found it. "How long have you been doing pottery?"

[losthunter]

"I am getting better." He answers softly. It helps that he has friends in his life who enjoy his company. And treat him with kindness.

"I took a pottery class in high school. But this is my first time using the medium in ages."

[brave_heart_verity]

"I know." She's hoping that a steady stream of gentle reassurance will be more helpful than overwhelming. Gods know she's had her problems with all this 'social interaction' nonsense.

That said, she can't help teasing him a little. "Oh, yes, high school was so long ago for you. That was what, last week?"

[losthunter]

"Hey now. I can take my wingwoman out to the bar without breaking the law." Hunter laughs at her teasing.

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity squints at him and plays at disbelief. "Are you Canadian?"

More seriously, she looks around the booth again, this time taking in more of the artwork. "These are gorgeous. Good for you, sharing them with the world."

[losthunter]

"Must be the lack of hair. But I am turning 25 in a few weeks, darling." Hunter cocks an eyebrow at her.

"Thank you. I was hoping to expand patron interest."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Hmm. A few weeks? I'd better start planning." There will be cake, and presents, and if she can find these other friends he talks about, a proper party. "When exactly?"

"Oh, I know there are some art lovers around. I doubt you'll have trouble with that."

[losthunter]

"May 1." He tells her. In all honestly, he never had someone plan a birthday party for him. So he would not be expecting anything huge.

"The big canvas... the one at front... that is the one you inspired me to create. Painting the mother I never knew."

[brave_heart_verity]

She's not overly fond of celebrating her own birthday, but she loves throwing parties for her friends. It's a chance to spoil the people she cares about and show them how valued they are. And Hunter deserves all those things, so she'll have to think of a really good theme.

"It's beautiful. She's beautiful." She'd wondered, but she didn't want to bring it up if he wasn't ready to talk about it. "You've made her very proud."

[losthunter]

Hunter comes up to Verity, and wraps his arms around her waist to pull her into a hug. "Thank you for inspiring me. I feel closer to her, when I look at it."

It is the only one that has a 'Not For Sale' marked on it.

[brave_heart_verity]

It's not hard to pull her into a hug. Not for Hunter, anyway, and she'll lean into it with a pleased little sigh. "You're welcome. Where are you going to put her after the show?"

[losthunter]

"I would like for her to be displayed in a gallery." Instead of being unseen in his apartment. "I have a few options for that."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Good. You'll have to tell me where she ends up so I can go say 'hi' sometimes. You know, when they stop fighting over you."

[losthunter]

"I will do that."

"Did you want a clay pot?" Hunter gestures to a few that are already done. "I have paints, if you want to decorate yourself."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Sure. Don't they need to go in a kiln or something?" She vaguely remembers there was a kiln in her high school that was locked away and super secret.

[losthunter]

"There are some wet clay paints, that react differently in the kiln."

"Also, I have a kiln here. You can use it... I have a fire extinguisher handy." Hunter plays off the joke of her playing with fire.

His kiln is a small home-use model.

[brave_heart_verity]

"I do love a well-prepared man." The teasing comes complete with fluttering lashes and a breathy sigh. She plays the part well.

It doesn't take long for her to pick out a piece to paint: a shallow bowl about as wide as her hand. "This one, please? Hmm. What color... my bedroom's mostly gray, so really, anything will go in there."

[losthunter]

Hunter just thinks Verity is adorable when she does that. So she gets a little extra squeeze.

Then Hunter grabs the pottery bowl that she had selected. "Gray you say. A good purple or a light silver, or both... would feature well."

"And I have glittery paints too." Hunter shows her a paint tube with glittered-silver in it.

[brave_heart_verity]

The squeeze gets a little sound from her. She may have squealed.

"Ooh, glitter. Maybe around the edge, and the rest purple?"

[losthunter]

"That sounds perfect. It will definitely have a bit of a shine."

"If you need help, just let me know."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Thanks, but I think I can manage? It's not so different from icing a cake, right?"

Somebody stop her before it's too late.

[losthunter]

"Well, you definitely don't want a lot of 'icing' on these." Hunter sits beside her. And he picks up his own pottery vase and shows by example (after all, that is what she had done when she had cooked those grilled cheeses).

He uses a light touch, to put just a light layer of paint on the clay.

"You don't want to put too much pressure on the clay, while it is still wet. The idea is to seal everything with a light covering."

[brave_heart_verity]

Ver watches him work for several minutes before attempting her own. "Oh, okay. I can do that."

He already knows she has a delicate touch. It's her first time trying this sort of thing in ages, so it'll be far from perfect, but it shouldn't melt or explode in the kiln either.

"Like this?"