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

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"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.

[losthunter]

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?"

[brave_heart_verity]

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?"

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

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.

[losthunter]

"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.

[brave_heart_verity]

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?"

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

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."

[losthunter]

"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."

[brave_heart_verity]

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."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"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.

[losthunter]

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?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"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."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"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."

[losthunter]

"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.

[brave_heart_verity]

"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?"

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

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."

[losthunter]

"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."

[brave_heart_verity]

She has faith that he'll try. That's like, beginner's faith. Very appropriate for where she is in life right now.

Oh, dear. There they go being cute again. Verity finds something else to look at for a moment, then gives Hunter a gentle squeeze. "Okay. I'll see you there. I'm gonna go and stop being the third wheel here. You two be good."

Schön gets a smile and a nod before she steps back, and when she thinks Hunter's not able to see it, she mouths 'be careful' to him. All this flirting is going to give people ideas.

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"A careless kick could cause calamity," he concedes, "so perhaps it's best we have something to look forward to."

Verity's got faithing wheels. Learning to balance a refurbished heart is such a tricky thing. "Ah? Fare you well, Verity, and I shall see you tomorrow."

[losthunter]

Before Verity can escape too far, Hunter does pull her into another hug. "I am so glad we will be able to work together."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Me too." Ver's not going to complain about any of this. This is a splendid day. "I'll see you later."

Both of them, really. It's just a good day today.

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

Schön sends Verity on her way with a wave and a smile, before returning his attention to Hunter. "Congratulations, it isn't often that I'm surprised."

[losthunter]

"I am sure you had a lovely introduction planned." Hunter blushes in response. "I had never expected for Verity to be the person you had planned to introduce me to."

"But I do hope you found it a good surprise."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"I might have guessed--Verity tends to meet the most interesting people, sooner or later." He smirks, adding, "but it was a very good surprise, yes. And it bodes well for the prospect of your working together, as well."

[losthunter]

"We have not known each other long. But, we had a very good connection, right from meeting each other." Of course, out of respect of Verity, Hunter is not going to go into too many details.

Hunter leans in slightly, cautious of where he is stepping when he does. "And I am glad you find me interesting."