nexus_sages | Nexus Spring Market Fair

Current Music: Vivaldi "Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269, 'La primavera'"

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Nexus Spring Market Fair

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.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"That is amazing." Hunter smiles at Verity, of course sharing the thought that she deserves credit for her work.

And if he knew Verity was thinking about using the 'shove and shove off' move to help him... she would just get another big hug. The thought would be appreciated. But the last thing Hunter would do right now is jeopardize his new friendship with Schön.

"I would be happy with anything you think is suitable. I did have an idea... I don't know if either of you thought about having a little gallery in the museum or not. But it could be a place where Nexus artists could have shows. Then those artists invite their friends... those friends see the museum. They tell their friends..."

It might surprise Hunter to know that that move has been quite effective in the past. It's entirely unsubtle, but part of her charm is that she's so earnest about things, she pulls it off. And does he really need excuses to hug her?

"Maybe," she admits to Schön, because he's right, "but I feel like a blind man trying to describe an elephant sometimes. But, you keep saying I'm making good choices, so I must be doing okay. I know you wouldn't let me squander your money or endanger your collection."

Schön's approval clearly means a great deal to her.

"And the artists get to show off more often, maybe even say they've had their art hanging in a museum?" Yeah, Hunter, you're getting teased now. It's partially to hide her disappointment. She'd been thinking, however briefly, that maybe he'd help with the things she needs help with. He just wants another show. That's okay, she'll manage, and it's not a bad idea. "An emerging artists gallery is a good idea. I'm sure we can make room for something like that."

"If the elephant is patient, and the blind man thorough, understanding comes through in the end," he assures Verity, "and I am willing to be quite patient for this."

"Certainly, galleries for local shows are an eventual goal," Schön admits to Hunter, "but there is a great deal to do to get the museum off the ground before we can make such ideas a reality. Perhaps there are other roles in bringing it to fruition for which you might have an inclination?"

Verity might try to hide her disappointment, but right now Hunter is able to notice the effort very clearly. So he steps forward, and slides an arm around her waist.

"I had just seen some of the other amazing talent that is offered by Nexus residents as I had walked around the fair tonight. And I know that I was very fortunate to have two lovely, inspirational people in my life to push me to new artwork. I would like to see others find their own inspiration too."

Schön gets another bright smile. "Anything either of you have in mind, I will happily offer my assistance. It is just such a great idea, it would be an honor to help it bring to fruition."

"And yes," Hunter kisses the top of Verity's head. "I would love to have a piece hanging in the museum. Maybe the unnamed painting of my mother could find its home there?"

"But seriously... if you need someone to move heavy objects, or sort art exhibits, or just stand there with a large arrow that says 'This Way to the Museum'... I am here for you. Both of you."

Schön's going to make her blush. Now she's smiling down at her soda, and it's sure it's good, but not that good. "Thanks, boss."

Ver blinks at the arm around her waist, then relaxes against Hunter's side and rests her free hand on Hunter's arm. This works for her. So does the kiss, and Schön can just shut his mouth now. "The painting of your mom deserves a good home. We'll find it one. But I thought that painting was for you?"

First priority: his mom. Second: the potential job. "Do you know anything about curating a museum?"

Schön contains his astonishment after only just a moment; that Hunter is quite tactile, he knew, and he also had some inkling that Verity was fond of contact with those she trusted. That Hunter seems to count among that number speaks well of him, for there is little fooling Verity's judgement of character.

Since they're speaking of the museum and don't seem to need his input just at the moment, he'll quietly nibble his elephant ear and sip his root beer, and take the conversation in.

"I'm afraid I know very little about curating a museum." Hunter answers honestly. There would have been a time that he would have felt a little self-doubt about himself right now. But not tonight.

"My skills were on the other side of the picture, as an artist who wanted to work with a curator. I could act as a meditator. Learn what the artist is looking for, and what they expect."

It takes a real pro to fool Verity; even two Lokis in the same room could only manage it for so long. Now if she'd just stop liking the troublemakers who're going to hurt her as much as the nice people who're going to protect her.

"Oh." Hunter's idea might be a good one in certain circumstances, but this isn't one of them. Verity's giving Schön that 'help please' look now.

"Sadly," Schön jumps in to explain, swallowing quickly at Verity's silent plea, "the artists are unavailable. The museum will be starting as something of a memorial, to honor the world from which they came."

He dearly hopes Hunter is perceptive enough at the moment to pick up on the connotations implied in the word "memorial," and why that might mean the artists are beyond reach.

Hunter is perceptive enough. He takes a moment to silently reflect on those artists and the loss.

But again, he doesn't give in to the inner doubt in himself. He just wants to find a way to be helpful.

"Maybe all you need is a good eye for which pieces are best suited to hang beside others?"

She's grateful for the assist from Schön and gives him a tiny smile to let him know. It's not fair to rely on him for these things. She'll make it up to him. Somehow.

"Yeah," she answers Hunter quietly, "that would help. Do you, um, know much about art history?"

They are friends, in their strange way, and friends do apparently help one another in various ways. Although with Schön, perhaps it's his trust that she'll make good on the perceived debt that keeps him from harping on it.

Back to that elephant ear; Hunter can surely hold his own.

"I am mostly self-taught. But I would be willing to do some research. Learn more stories." He gets the impression this topic is another serious one for Verity, that they can go into deeper at another time. But for now... his hand on her waist tightens his side embrace.

It's not like Verity knows how to have normal friendships. Whatever strange debtor and creditor/boss and employee/mentor and student friendship thing is working for them and she generally tries not to think about what'll happen when that stops being true.

Ver makes a little sound when the embrace tightens, one that means something between 'thank you' and 'don't stop'. "Ah, stories. Yes. That's good, and Schön'll like that. The first part of the museum we're likely to open will need stories. Schön's got this gorgeous mansion he owns, and it's mostly empty, so I thought what if we decorated each room like it was from a different era? With furniture and paintings and books and everything. Think that's something you could help with?"

Oh, yes, it's for Schön's benefit that Verity encourages the story-hunting. Certainly. He's not going to call Verity on it, though--whatever may happen when it stops, their odd relationship works right now, and he's not about to rock the SS Friend Ship.

"'Own' may have been too strong a word, not long ago," Schön admits. "Real estate in the Nexus is a complicated affair."

"Ah, so the goal is to turn the mansion into the museum?"

"I do know a little about how to decorate empty rooms in a mansion." His artistic eye might be the reason for that. It also might be how he spent his time to try to make places feel like home (when he lives in a mansion himself).

"I definitely can help with that."

Okay, so maybe it's for their mutual benefit. But Schon loves stories almost as much as she does!

"Okay, then what word would you use?" If he has a better way of describing it in mind, Ver is all ears.

Hunter gets a smile and a nod. "Right. I'd like it to be as historically accurate as possible. I mean, leaving out the poisonous materials and things, of course, but I'd like it to look accurate."

"Well, I own it now," he admits. "But it isn't as though it's the ancestral family manse."

It sounds like Verity and Hunter are figuring things out, so Schön can exercise the better part of managerial valor and not interrupt.

Hunter chuckles lightly at Schön's reply. He totally understands the importance of making such clarifications.

"I do hope you are planning a semi-formal affair for the grand opening, when it happens. After all, you are already charming in your everyday suit..." Hunter compliments the other man with a smile.

Then he smiles at Verity. "I will make sure to research my research, to ensure that everything is as accurate as possible."

That gives him pause. "Is there research accessible?"

"Every ancestral family manse had to start somewhere," she points out.

Ver smiles at the flirting and looks elsewhere. Nope, nothing to say about it here, she's just being friendly with that... cloud?

"Well, there's the library. I've been slowly getting to know the art history section. The librarian for that wing is very nice, colorful fellow, but not much of a talker."

"Hunter," Schön scoffs, with the pretense of offense, "what is a museum opening without a gala? Although if renovations are in full swing by autumn, I may need to find somewhere else for the Samhain Ball this year. Open to all, costumes encouraged." Oh, dear, that's a dangerous smile.

"How true, every tradition has its root."

"Then we can finally have that dance." Hunter smiles in all earnestly. He will have to create an interesting costume by then. Lots of time.

"Good to know that there is a librarian dedicated to the art history section."

"Starting with research sounds perfect to me." It makes him very happy to have another project to focus on. Especially since it includes spending more time with both Verity and Schön.

"I don't think there's going to be a lot of renovations. More, redecorating. New wallpapers and things. That's part of why I wanted the place." Plenty of time to worry about costumes. Except for Schön; he'd better be working on hers. She's going to be terribly disappointed in him if she has to go with plan 'B'.

"Oh, there's lots of librarians. It's a really excellent library. But there'd have to be, considering how time-consuming it is to categorize works from so many different worlds. We can head there on Monday after my meetings, if you'd like, and get you started?"

Schön would chide Verity for her lack of faith, but he knows full well why she lacks it. Better to let her see what he'll be accomplishing, when the time comes.

"Do you plan to wait so long for it?" Schön teases Hunter. "I shall need to make it quite the dance, indeed, to merit such the anticipation."

"Well, it wouldn't be difficult to rope off the parts of the house meant to be off-limits again. One imagines dropcloths and plastic sheeting make firm deterrents to those clad in finery, as well."

"Alas, the lack of music and the fact I am sure it is not recommended to dance around these potions makes it difficult to dance now. Besides, with that promise, I am sure that the wait would be well worth it." Hunter smiles again, in response to the teasing.

With a small nod at Verity, Hunter confirms their appointment. "Monday would work wonderfully. I look forward to it."

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