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

[william_kent]

"It's all right. I'm going to Kansas State University on a full scholarship now. Trying to get a degree in technical writing." It's not something that will use his skills as a fiction writer, or his talent for poetry, but he seems content with the decision.

[losthunter]

"That is exciting news. Congratulations."

"What does technical writing lead to?"

[william_kent]

"It's non-story writing that helps people understand and use services and stuff like that. Like writing the manual for a car, or laying out troubleshooting guides for when your computer's doing something wrong." Wil isn't sure what he wants to do yet, but he's talented enough to write concisely without having to put any of his private self into his public writing.

[losthunter]

"Okay. That makes sense. Manuals can be very helpful."

Hunter has an idea. "Have you ever thought about writing for other artists?"

[william_kent]

Wil frowns a little. "What do you mean?"

[losthunter]

"Well, like at a museum... when people have little pamphlets that tell them about the artwork. And the artist. That sort of thing."

[william_kent]

"Oh, I see what you mean. I hadn't thought about it before, but that'd be nice."

[losthunter]

"I have had a few galleries that would like to show my pieces. And I would love for you to write my artist bio. If you are willing."

[william_kent]

"Me?" Wil is surprised by the offer, and it shows. "Even though I'm only a student?"

[losthunter]

"Sure thing. If anything, I believe in helping students get experience." He has a young artist who mans his booth every now and then.

[william_kent]

"As long as you're sure, I could give it a shot. I guess it'd look good on a resume, too."

[losthunter]

"I would like my new exhibit to center around this piece..." Hunter moves to the large canvas that is outside his booth. The one marked with a Not For Sale sign on it.

[william_kent]

Wil's no artist like Hunter is, but he's learned quite a lot from watching his mother work her magic with her art. It's pretty clear that the subject of this work is important to Hunter somehow. "Who is she?"

[losthunter]

"My mother. Or more apparently, my emotions tied to her, and how I miss her."

[william_kent]

Wil is quiet for a long moment, looking at the painting. "What happened?"

[losthunter]

"She had died when I was a child. I never knew her. But a new friend of mine suggested that I should try painting her... to honor her memory."

[william_kent]

He doesn't know what it's like to lose a parent. But both of his parents do, and he thinks he can imagine what it might be like. "This looks like a center piece... will there be more works of her? Or inspired by her."

[losthunter]

"Well, all the art work I was thinking of displaying with this piece all have one thing in common. The rose petals." Hunter points at the carefully painted and glued petals on the canvas.

[william_kent]

Wil just nods. Plant life as metaphor is second nature to him, after his family's decades-long affiliation with oak trees. "People will want to know the connection. Probably shouldn't say all of it, just hint at it enough for people to interpret it."

[losthunter]

"Roses have always been symbolic to me." Hunter looks down at his own forearm, where the dead rose bush lays in ink.

"And I always had an interest in them too. I grow my own roses."

"I don't remember much of my time with my mother. But somehow... roses make me think of her."

[william_kent]

Wil is taking mental notes, already trying to decide how to phrase things when he's able to write this down for Hunter. "Where are you hoping to show your work? Besides here, right now."

[losthunter]

"A new acquaintance of mine is building a Nexus museum. And I hope to show it there, if he will let me."

[william_kent]

He frowns thoughtfully. "One of the things with technical writing is we're supposed to write for a certain audience... the Nexus is really diverse."

[losthunter]

"Perhaps that is where you knowledge with the Nexus would be helpful?"

[william_kent]

"I'm not saying it'll be impossible, just difficult. A challenge. I'll have to make up some rules as I go."