Art Gallery

"You see it too? I wonder if it's because there's a survivor or because they aren't skeletons yet." He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Or maybe it's because there's no sense of, well, respect towards the departed in the image. All the other pieces seem to treat mortality respectfully, or at least as something important. This one seems to lack that solemness." Kyle briefly considered attempting to use Kenning against the picture, but he dismissed it. His Clarity wasn't as high as it used to be, so the almost-movements were probably just imaginary on his part.

Rahyna sees a small group of people looking at a particular painting and she walks over to it not recognizing it at all "Wow this is an unusual painting." she looks from one person to the other of the group that is looking at it "So tell me what is so fascinating about it." she sits there and stares for a moment wondering where the painting came from but shrugging it off thinking that one of the artists forgot to sign their work.

Reed nods - seeing that was true now he heard Kyle mention it - it was different from the other paintings. It seem that his instinct was playing true for the moment - was there something more about the painting - and he wanted to turn and see if there was anything he could gleam out of the painting before Madam Rahyna appeared before him.

Reed tilts his head for a moment - did she act surprised? - wasn't she the one whom work on making museum into an art gallery? Or is he thinking too much on it? "Madam Rahyna, you haven't seen this painting before?" He ask testing something, "It just different from the themes of the rest."

Derek is pleased and intrigued by what he reads in Eva, a desire for companionship and perhaps something more with him, and he feels a tiny bit of a rush with this recognition as the bit of Glamour spent flows back into him.

Spoiler:

But then Derek becomes quiet as Eva discusses her dreams and how they relate to the painting that has caught her attention. He gets a bit of a faraway look for just the briefest moment, during which his posture stiffens, save for slight twitching of his fingers, then pulls himself back into the here and now, and seeks to reengage with Eva rather than let his mind get pulled back into the horrors of his time in Arcadia.

A bit desperate to make contact, he meets her eye as he nods. Quietly he says "I can relate to that. I ... know a bit about recurrent dark dreams. "

He then smiles, continuing to focus on her eyes, seeking a shift back to comfortable flirtateousness, and as far as possible from the dark images still lurking at the back of his mind. Seeking that refuge, his mind flashes on the possibility that his moment of vulnerability might work in his favor, as intelligent women often appreciate that sort of thing. "Depending on what happens between now and then, perhaps I'll ask if she'd like to catch a drink and have an escort back to her studio tonight."

She tilts her head, catching every little movement, a small line appearing between her arched brows as she frowns just slightly in concern.

"Ah... I understand..." she murmurs gently, "perhaps we can talk about them tomorrow when you visit the studio..." she offers, her smile returning a bit.

Rahyna looks to Reed "I have seen a lot of art in the past few days most of the painting I briefly looked at but I did not hang them all there a few around the room that I do not recognize." she thought for a moment before adding "Maybe one of the artists slipped it in on me after I had approved all of the paintings who knows." she kinda shrugs but gives the painting one last look.

Derek returns Eva's smile. "That's certainly a possibility," he says. He considers a moment, then goes for it. "Or perhaps, if you don't have other plans already, you'd be interested in catching a drink after tonight's showing is finished? A small celebration in honor of your local debut would seem to be in order."

It had definately been a difficult evening, fashion was not something that O-Yama did well, and with Shadow wanting him to look good it became a hard night. He finally decided on a black pin-stripe suit as he walked in the doors with Shadow on his arm. He let her take the lead, he was never much of a social person, in life or in death.

"The artwork is rather beautiful." He thought to himself, mentally remembering to commend Eva on her art.

"Ah... I dont drink, but I would be glad for company taking all of these back to the warehouse, the ones that don't get bought that is..." Eva murmurs in return, seeing Ishani enter she waves gently then turns her attention back to Derek.

"Now Mr. Carpenter, I know so little about you, but you are already well esteemed. How did you achieve such a feat?"

Reed nodded. "Ah, that must be it, then."

In back of his mind, there was a tingle spot of dissatisfaction from the answer, but he kept from his face and body. But, then again - he didn't know know the progress of how manage an art gallery - so he didn't have anything to dispute against it.

Once the exhibition was over, Reed would ask to take a longer moment in studying the painting, or if not - to take a photo of the picture. However, he was reminded of his duties for the evening with Madam Rahyna's presence - and seeing the newcomers to the gallery.

"Ooooh, wicked," Matilda exclaimed, though the look on her face demonstrated that she wasn't sure if she liked the art or not.

Matilda grabbed Amy's arm as the pair negotiated their way slowly through the gallery, casually observing the art. Matilda was dressed in a beautiful ruby-red dress with diamonds on her ears and around her neck. They stopped in front of a particularly gruesome painting of a bent-over skeleton. Matilda put her head on Amy's shoulder. "Freaky," she said. "What do you think it means?"

Rahyna saw Shadow, Ishani, and Asa enter and decided she would abandon the puzzle that was the painting for now and go talk with Shadow she had not had any time to talk to her in a few days and felt like running up to her and pulling her into one of the side rooms and talking to her right then and there guests be damned but instead she walked up to her and smiled "Shadow how are you this evening" she circles herself the familiar feeling of her closest friend.

Mrs. Scotts follows in lowering her voice, though she seems pleasant, if a bit detached.
"I see. Congratulations are in order then. Although, I would not be surprised if Asa had a second motive, you may want to know what it is. Knowledge is power after all."

Rahyna smiles at Shadows use of the word love only recently realizing that it is not always a lie "Anything you would like do you have a particular one in mind already?" she asks as she glides Shadow away from the rest of the guests a little more hoping to have at least a moment or two with her maybe the words would come without thought and she wouldn't stumble on them she crossed her fingers and stayed close to Shadow as they meandered further from the people but not to far that they were no longer part of the group.

Rahyna took a deep breath and looked Shadow in the eye a small amount of fear and apprehension showing there "I need to have a few words with you before I drive myself insane" she almost whispers at Shaodow.

Derek smiles widely and nods. "It's a date, then." Tearing down after a show or performance of some sort was a pretty common event for him, and it could be a very enjoyable one with the right company. Continuing to smile, he says "I really should take a look at the other exhibits and mingle a bit, and I'm sure many others would like to express their appreciation for your work, but I'll be back later."

Eva nods, smiling at the man, making those pale amber eyes light up as she turns and smiles at Asa and Ishani. She pauses, not sure what to call the Prince when they are with Kine and Kindred alike.

"Ishani, errr... Mister Asa, I am honored you are attending gazing on my humble works," she smiles.

After leaving Eva to her other admirers, Derek goes about checking out other exhibits. While doing so, however, he also does a fair bit of people-watching, trying to sort out what is up with these many people he's never previously seen at an arts event who appear to know each other quite well. Some of them, he notices, have exceptional taste in clothing, while others' tastes are... something else. Going just by appearances, some would appear to be quite well-off and cultured, others not so much so. He realizes there are is a high percentage of extremely striking individuals among the crowd. He tries to get a sense of the patterns of social connections and heirarchy.

As he mingles and checks out the exhibits, he tries to locate any of the other artists who might be about, quite interested in talking to them. He also seeks out familiar faces to talk with, and especially looks for any that appear to be acquainted with members of this other crowd.

Every now and then he glances back Eva's way, and should their eyes happen to meet, he gives her a smile.

A very tall woman enters the museum her hair put up haphaserdly ontop of her head she looks sleep deprived and malnurished she walks past all the guests and stands next to one of the paintings on the far side of the room it is the one of a dark haired woman sitting in a red dress it had always been one of her favorites even though she could not remember the womans name that posed for the picture.

Watching as people mingle around the room she watches to see if any of her work catches anyone's eye.

Eva resists the urge to smile and giggle like a school girl whenever Derek looks her way, she contains herself, still finding it odd that anyone finds her, plain little wide eyed Italian Eva attractive. Eva smiles hopefully at the Prince.

"It is so nice to meet you," she murmurs, "are there any questions I can answer for you or Miss Ishani?" she asks, tilting her head, making dark hair fall loose from its style. She tucks the loose locks behind her ear.

"If you wish, I have many more paintings at my warehouse that you can select from, if none of these are what you prefer..." she says.

"Of course Mr. Carpenter, please, go right ahead." Mrs. Scotts sees that there is someone standing next to a painting looking out, instead of looking at it. Curious.


"Greetings madam. An interesting piece is it not?" Mrs. Scotts indicates the woman in the red dress painting.

Checking out the other exhibits and seeing who else is about, Derek notices the sensation of a humid late-spring breeze. He follows it until he notices its source... a coyote-headed changeling with an extremely strong Spring mantle.

"Someone pointed him out to me once... Kyle Something-or-other, I think his name was. I don't think we were formally introduced, though. Maybe it's time to change that... he might know more about who some of these people are."

Derek approaches, noticing and approving of this other changeling's bold style of dress. When he finally manages to catch the other man's attention, Derek says. "I hope I'm not bothering you, but though I've seen you around, we haven't ever been introduced, and I wished to correct that oversight." He holds out his hand. "I'm Derek Noble. How are you liking the show?"

Claudio looks at the woman and smiles "Yes it is quite interesting it was one of my first." she states and extends her hand "I am Claudia Esperonsa"

Rahyna laughs at Shadow’s question slightly is everything ok she wasn’t sure how to answer that she took a deep breath and looked her in the eye and held her hand up to where her heart was beating only because she willed it to do so “You are the one that makes my heart beat this evening Shadow.” looking around the room for a brief moment then turning her attention back to Shadow “I have been thinking a lot about you, well about us and think that I have come to a conclusion and I need to say the words so that my stomach will stop being in knots every time you are near me.” Rahyna pauses to gauge Shadow’s reaction so far before the actual words are spoken.

Aura and Darren arrive to the gallery late, given that the Lily's doorman didn't really fancy going out. However, as usual, Aurelie had won the conversation with a kiss and had even tried to get him to wear a tux, which he had done, grudgingly. The dark suit seemed to strain against his muscular physique and Darren found himself fiddling with his tie, not used to having anything tied round his neck.

Whispering to his angel, Darren said, "I can't believe I agreed to wear this tie. I'm sure these damn shoes are squeaking." He moved his foot in a comical manner in an attempt to test the black, shiny leather. Looking at her, he smiled and winked.

Mrs. Scotts extends her hand to Miss Esparoza, and shakes it.
"What was your inspiration for this piece?"

Mrs. Scotts also says the following. "A pleasure, I am Mrs. Scotts."

Claudia looked at the picture reminicently for a moment before answering "This was a woman that thought she could not be held as a beauty so offered to let her see what she looked like in the eye of another she aloud me to paint her and this ise what I came up with it is one of three that I painted of the woman she took the other two and left me with this one." she looks at the painting once more and smiles at the memory of that woman wishing she could remember her name.

"How were the other two different." Mrs. Scotts turns on auspex for vision, trying to better see the painting.

"The other two were done in the woods at dusk where as I did this one inside with artificial lighting"

Marius was doing his duty of scouting the place, although the painting that had seemed to catch everyone's attention did seem out of place.
But he pushed the thought to the back of his mind. He would look into it later.