Open Dunnstads Picturesque Masterpiece

[Sol]

Dunnstads was bustling with new and old players alike. It was still pretty early since the games release, so people were still gathering their bearings in the starting city. Picking up quests, forming parties, making friends. Various different kind of people walked this way and that way along the streets facing the coastline, not a care in the world. One particular character walking along the street was on her own, but she was not empty handed or appearing unbusy with herself. In fact, her hands were quite full, 3 cans in one hand and 2 in the other, with a short stick of wood tucked in-between her fingers as she moved along, glancing from side to side every now and then. Ever so often she would pause, stare at a wall in front of her, and then continue forward without a word, almost as if she was on a mission. For what it wasn't entirely clear, but she at least knew, and she was looking for it.

It was at a point that she paused, taking a couple steps back and stopping directly in front of a large, blank piece of wall. This particular piece of wall was on the far corner of a square, no particular shop or business near by that would be bothered by loiters. She studied it for a couple seconds as people walked by, some eyeing her up but with little thought as they continued past. It was then that she dropped the cans at her sides, kneeling down and using her piece of wood to yank all of them open one by one, giving them a small mix before carefully wiping off the colour, so as to not mix any together until necessary. She stood up for a moment to raise one hand in the air, lifting up her thumb and tilting it towards the wall, her expression focused and thinking as she dropped her hand at her side once more. In one swift movement, she picked up one of her buckets on the ground and tossed it at the wall, leaving a gigantic splat of blue paint. And then, she got to work.

Using the other buckets of paint for other colours, she used her hands to smear and mix different shades in here and there, using all her fingers and thumbs to make little details of all shapes and sizes; squiggles, lines, dots, you name it. Every once in a while she would stand back for a moment, observe, maybe wash her hands, and then go back to work painting once more. She was unaware of any of the watchers that would come and go, even if they stopped for a second or stood for a couple of minutes, chatting amongst themselves as they watched her work before moving on their way. She continued to stay in her own world for a long period of time, wanting to capture what she'd experienced as perfectly as possible on the surface in front of her. Could she get in trouble for this? Possibly. Did she care? No. This was a game, after all.

After a period of time, Sol stood back, hands on her hips as she stared at her creation. It was a painting of the sun rising over the Hylands, specifically the area near the Hylands Ascent. What was interesting about the piece is that it was very easy to point out what it was, but she didn't use your typical colours for the piece. Mixed in were some pinks, blue, purple, oranges, and a couple other colours she had mixed together that wouldn't realistically be there, giving it a more sweet, artistic touch. Wiping some sweat off her brow (which unfortunately left a smear on her forehead she'd probably notice later), she frowned at the image in front of her. It looked good, but... "Something is missing..." She muttered to herself, tilting her head to the side as she observed, trying to figure out what in the world just wasn't sitting right with her.

 

[Alastair Brass]

.

He hadn't noticed her at first. This world was brilliant and bursting with color that felt long leeched from the bustle of cities at least. Everything was cement and cinder block and drywall. Garage doors and bars on the windows. Here the slog of the mundane cycle was traded for a simpler feeling, but a more... robust lifestyle? Surely no toiling peasant felt like their life was a fantasy, but it was hard not to see it as such for a moment when people walked by with bizarre eye colors, streaks of unnatural hair, qualities of animals here or there, short statures on clearly adult personas, or long and tapered ears. And so, someone bustling by staring at walls was rather low on the entertainment value. Until she started to work, that is.

One Alastair Brass stood above, leaned idly against a walkway above the square that arched over one of the slimmer and less traversed alleys. What was originally a lovely place to sit and enjoy the unfamiliar tea he'd picked up in one of the game's shops was fast becoming more lovely. The painting took time to fully form, to build shapes upon itself and form a cohesive collective. Like a well written tale or a story building for a crowd. It was a much quieter, but far more immediately striking piece.

And in his musings, he didn't consider that she might not be looking for an answer, even as his voice drifted down from above. "Perhaps some stark shadows to contrast those lovely sunrise colors? A bit of mystery or hint of danger~" He did notice they'd both seemed to have lost a bit of time. Not one of his companions still fluttered around on their hushed wings. The few constant little spirits that followed him around, cloaked in the guise of butterflies, sat perched primly on the walls of the corner of their little square of Somewhere, Dunnstads.

 

[Crimson Ruby]

The small moments of experience she had in the game before it had closed down were enough to make her come back as soon as it was available again. Not that she wished to dive too much into it, but the realism and the feeling of having another life that it brought was amazing, no matter how long it passed. Of course, a lot seemed to have changed, but Ruby couldn't tell for sure, it has been four years after all- And on top of it, she didn't have much time to see everything the game had to offer. So she now was going to make the most use of it.

As those thoughts flew in her mind, she suddenly halted her walk when she spotted a woman, freely painting a wall without a care in the world.

Stepping, initially sheepish, Ruby got near enough to have a deeper analysis of what she was doing. A piece of art! A very intriguing one to say the least. The color palette was almost alien in a certain way, but that seemed to be part of its charm.

At first, Ruby was simply watching, but suddenly the woman stood in a more pensive and reflective stance, and as soon as a question escaped from her lips, the cat girl responded:

"Yeah, it is missing the main element!" Ruby said in agreement with the man's opinion, with her tail swaying as she leaned closer, tilting her head while looking at the woman before leaning away abruptly and using her tail to keep her balance. "Everything is too consistent, it needs a biiiiig contrast." She rose a finger, adding to the suggestion before peeking at the wall again and musing at it.

@Sol @Alastair Brass (lol sorry, I had to edit the post since Alastair posted while I was writing my post, I hope you guys don't mind!)

 

[Sol]

Sol seemed to almost have been broken out of another state of existence when the two behind her spoke. Turning her head around, she spotted the two behind her and stared for a moment. Then, after a moment of seemingly thinking, she stepped back to stand between them and looked back towards the wall, tilting her head to the side as she studied it just like they were. Although she was an introverted personality, the one thing that Sol craved as interaction with others was just that; Discussion. Adding ideas on top of each other's thoughts and turning that into something new, wonderful, different. And so, she stood back to try and view her piece from the perspective of the two passerby's, tilting her once more to the other side.

"... You do have a point," When she finally spoke, her eyes were narrowed as her hand rested on her chin, studying the picture again. Stepping back forward, she leaned down into her paint buckets and began to mix some colours together, rubbing her hands together for a little before reaching forward. And then, she began to do exactly what the two suggested: She added contrast. Painting in the shadow elements that she hadn't pictured before, she began to create more of a story in the picture before standing back inbetween them again, painting coloured hands at her side as she studied the now changed, and more daunting, sunset art.

It was a couple more moments of silence before she let out a long sigh, eyebrows furrowed as she looked quite frustrated with herself, "It's still missing something. I'm not sure what it is, but something just... Doesn't feel right to me," She stepped forward once more to reach up and maybe smear some spots, or add in some more colour, before pausing. Looking back at the two behind her, she tilted her head towards the painting, "Care to join?"

Usually Sol wouldn't let anyone touch her art. She liked to hear about ideas and combine, but the idea of someone else messing with her creations always... Bothered her. But this was a video game, and this wasn't real life, and she had always been told by this and that person that she needed to 'lighten up' just a little. And so, she looked between the two, before stopping on the older man for a moment, "It will probably get your outfit dirty, just so you know." He seemed to be a little more proper than the two of them, but she'd loved to get his personal touch on the piece. Maybe he was an undercover artist? Or even an expert critique? Whatever it was, he definitely had the possibility to do something. And the smaller one... Well, she had a tail, and Sol was just begging to know the artistic possibilities with something like that.

@Crimson Ruby @Alastair Brass

 

[Alastair Brass]

.

Alastair offered a cordial nod at the Beastfolk's agreement, the smallest of smiles growing once both of their attentions were back on the piece. It would seem their critique was well-taken. The woman, crowned with horns that looked more obsidian shard than keratin, set back to her piece. He was no fan of this damnable game, but even he was forced to admit the marvel of it. A world so incredibly real that they could feel the sea breeze skating up over the city streets. The scent of bakeries and cafés and taverns and street food floating along with it. The fact that, despite being some VR game about taking quests to slay fantastical foes, someone could log into it just to find a canvas.

His cheek rested on an upturned palm, the occasional glint of his glasses catching when the clouds shifted the rays of sunlight in patches. If it weren't for the very real murder, Terrasphere might have well been a heaven of a kind.

He hummed in acknowledgement. 'Care to join?' Well, it would be impolite to deny the offer. And he was supposed to be playing the gentleman. Alastair leaned away from the half-wall of the archway and curled his fingers to his palm. A swift turn of his wrists had the wind playfully coiling around his heels. The man set one hand on the wall and kicked over the side of it with the help of his magic, falling the short distance down to the cobblestone streets. The chilly bloom of wind beneath polished black boots ensured a soft and painless landing.

"Ah, I wouldn't fret over too much, my dear." Alastair lifted both hands as if to orchestrate a sea of musicians. The scattered few butterflies, easy to miss before, fluttered up and around to alight on his hands and coat. "You see, I have assistants and a touch of magical... hmmm, flair?" A spark popped off one of their brilliant blue wings. "Frankly, I'd love to see what our feline accompaniment has in mind first, though. Care to take the lead, ...?" He left the space for @Crimson Ruby's name and art to follow.

 

[Crimson Ruby]

"Oh, a-are you sure?" Ruby swayed her tail, shy but also excited about the idea of painting. She wasn't exactly good at painting things, even though her sword happily moved and painted the battlefield red when she was swinging her blade around.

She glanced at the man as well, with eyes sparkling at the wings, though she was soon pushed into a position where she was now offered a lead. Now, was it dancing or singing, she would've immediately opened up, with any glimpse of timid nature fading from existence. However, regarding painting or most the things she didn't have the best set of skills.

Looking at the guy, and then at the lady again, she muttered. "Hmm... I shall..." She approached to take the brush and engulf it in the scarlet paint, at least the one that she had the most compatibility with.

"How about..." She made a diagonal brush, as if making a big cut on the wall.

"This." Ruby tapped her foot.

@Sol @Alastair Brass

 

[Sol]

The older man was... Interesting, and in a good way. Infact, when he called all his butterflies forward to fly to his arms, Sol suddenly got hit with some inspiration, Butterflies... Yes, butterflies would be a great addition to her piece. To add a sense of wonder to the piece. She nodded in his direction as the wheels seemed to be churning in her head, before looking over at the small cat girl.

She seemed timid at her invitation, which made Sol feel a little... Well, soft. She remembered when she was small and someone let her have her first blast at a canvas. It was a memory she could never forget, and seeing her brought it to the forefront of her mind. A small smile crossed her lips as she pulled a brush out from in her dress, which she had been safe-keeping just in case, and held it out towards her, "Go ahead, do whatever you'd like." she assured her, before stepping back to watch her have her moment.

And then... She did it. A big cut was adding in addition to the sunset painting, right beside the art. Sol tilted her head to the side once, and then again, processing before nodding, turning to look at the cat girl again, "You can add more if you want, I don't mind. Just have fun, you don't even have to use the brush," she smiled once more as she looked back at the man, tilted her head towards the wall, "Feel free to add yours in too whenever you feel like it." And then she stepped back to let them do their thing.

Maybe... This was what the painting was missing? Companionship, people to paint the painting together. Sol had never looked at it like that before, especially because she never had to, but... Something about this felt nice, letting go of control if only for a moment.

@Alastair Brass @Crimson Ruby

 

[Alastair Brass]

.

"Well, if this is to be a collaboration-" he spoke with a performer's poise and command for attention. His dressy shoes made sharp taps with each step. Alastair lifted a gloved hand, fingers spread, and pushed forward as if to reach for an unseen door. Runes woven into the gloves lit in different patterns as the mage's fingers rose and fell like one picking across the ivory of piano keys. The still wet paint was pulled off the wall in globules, leaving some of the streak behind, while wind whipped away the thicker portions and dried the heart of the slash itself. "If you all would lend a hand, my darlings?"

Each darling, winged soul that had answered his summons fluttered and pulled the breeze a thousand different directions. Butterfly wings and hurricanes. As he released the spell holding the paint aloft, it suddenly blew with greater force. It was a messy thing, yet to be honed in battle and unfamiliar in his hands... but it was enough for the subjective nature of art. The paint splattered in freckles across the landscape shown, the majority of the paint forced down by the summons anchoring individual gusts to one spot at the end of the arc.

They were left staring at a stark, but arguably gorgeous scene of the Ascent... with a scarlet star falling across it. "Hm. Perhaps a little grim? Maybe some gold and white on top like a true one? Or pink and purple for a more arcane look? What do you say, Artist and Artiste?"

 

[Crimson Ruby]

"Not even using a brush..?" She muttered at the woman's words, looking at the man in another eave of admiration when butterflies sparkled and helped him to do the art he wanted. How did that even work? She truly wondered. It was so magical that it felt like something out of a fairy tale.

She looked at herself, all she had was a sword. Certainly using a sword for painting had everything to go wrong. On top of the fact her blade could her screwed because of the paint.

With a small pout, she nearly found herself not having any of... her... to put in it. Her ears and tail dropped as she tilted her head, and soon something sparkled in her mind. It wasn't ideal, but...

Sinking the tip of her tail in the paint, she shivered slightly at the cold touch before starting to dance, slapping her tail on the wall to scatter the colors that, while abstract in a way, seemed to follow a patern. As she continued to dance, she breathed an introduction and a question: "My name is Crimson Ruby, what are yours?"

@Sol @Alastair Brass

 

[Sol]

Sol was, well, she was mesmerized. She stared in awe at the man for a moment, before realizing something was being done to the wall. She turned her head to look at it and continued to watch with an equally impressed expression as the paint began to bend at him and his little friend's will, mentally taking a note for herself to upgrade the way that she used her own magic. His own display of finesse and beauty was inspiring and one she would use as to remind herself that she could create magnificent displays, even with blood and fire.

She was about to raise her hands to clap for his performance when the small girl spoke up and Sol was suddenly reminded she was there, having been pulled into a spell by the others performance. She nodded at her with a wave of her hand, putting back on a thinking expression as she turned her gaze back to the wall, her hand raising to cover her mouth as she waited for her. She watched as the small cat danced around, spreading different colours with her tail on top of what the man had added. As she finished doing so, Sol stared at it for a moment, closing her eyes as if thinking.

A deep, rolling sound came out of her she moved her hand away from her mouth, delighted laughter escaping her lips as she smiled sweetly at the girl she now knew as Crimson Ruby, obviously positively pleased, "It's Sol, very nice to meet you. You've done an excellent job." She stepped forward again with a hand on her hip as she turned her eyes back towards Alastair, sending a small half smile his way, "And your name?" She would be more than happy to add these two to her friends list once this was over. They had given her more help and inspiration then they probably understood.

"I think... White and gold. That would be the great, final touch." she added as she looked back at the picture, a soft expression on her face as she gazed with fondness upon their creation. She hoped she could recreate something similar in real life... Probably hang it on her wall. This was not an experience someone like Sol would forget easily.

@Alastair Brass @Crimson Ruby

 

[Alastair Brass]

.

Alastair stood back, his weight on one heel and a hand on his face painted clearly with consideration. The tailed young girl set into a genuinely heartfelt display. What a wonder it was to watch someone lose the public image everyone clung to. To not be hemmed it by expectation or tradition. His thin smile grew into a grin half-hidden in the silk of a glove. It was a small, but joyful honor for them to be the ones to watch and to reinforce.

"Agreed with the Good Artist Sol," he nodded slowly with his eyes still skimming the mural. Seemingly satisfied with Sol's intentions, he looked them both over. "Alastair Brass. Charmed." Alastair's cloak-tailed coat flared some at the motion of his bow. The surrounding butterflies flattened their wings, syncing for just a moment, in time with it. He rose and offered both an amused wink. "I will leave the rest in visionary hands, if you two would like to polish off this masterpiece? Here. Perhaps someone would care to offer a guiding hand to my co-conspirators in creation." One of the gentle souls higher up on the walls plucked away from the stone. It fell for a moment before catching in the wind and drifting closer on paper-thin wings. It faded some, the blue bleeding outwards, when it landed in the center of the piece. The energy of its life formed guided streaks that gradually shifted color. Guidelines that warped and shifted. All the potential ways the paint could be laid down.

Alastair could feel a kind of sorrow drip off its wings and into the watercolor washes in the air around them. A victim of tragedy, or perhaps a soul moved by their work or by art itself that longed for old days. Missed chances. He smiled at the other two. "Let inspiration guide you." Inspiration's wings sighed on the wet pigments.

❰ Chrysalis ❱

+5 to @Sol and @Crimson Ruby to Mastery or Expertise Checks​

 

[Crimson Ruby]

As her introduction was responded, Ruby halted her dance for a moment, brushing the tip of her tail on the wall and facing Sol for a moment. "Sol, it is nice to meet you-" Her eyes then peered at Alastair, "It is also nice to meet you, Alastair." She tried to curtsy and did manage to do it fairly well, though maybe a bit exaggerated.

The compliment, however, caught her attention and made her stagger for a moment. "Thanks..." Ruby smiled sheepishly and with rosy cheeks.

Her eyes then shifted to the painting, and at the mention of white and gold, Ruby glanced at the paint and started trailing her tail on it before being once again stunned by the beautiful butterflies.

She didn't hold back this time, engulfing her tail deeper into the paint and leaping in a more confident sequence of dancing moves. It was gentler than before as if she didn't want to hurt the butterflies- Swirling and twirling in a dance that colored the walls with beauty and inspiration, helping to seal the masterwork with white and gold along with the other two artists.

Rolls

Mastery Check
1d100 (53) + 15 + 5 = 73
Harmonic Magic | Crimson Ruby | 260

@Sol @Alastair Brass

 

[Sol]

☀˚̣⋅ .

Smiling softly as Alistair spoke, Sol's gaze moved away from him and towards the ground, losing herself in thought. What would have happened in real life, if she wasn't Sol? Would these people have even given her the time of day? Would they even be the same people they were before her? Whatever it was, she was glad a fake reality could give them the momentary feeling of companionship.

She was drawn back to the present moment when moment came from the painting, a little blue butterfly falling and then floating it's way to the middle. Stepping closer, Sol studied it for a moment, before leaning down towards one of the buckets and pulling out some paint. She began to carefully added the white and gold into the painting, being mindful of her little friend around her feet, before she paused, drawing her hand away from the mural for a moment as she stared at the palm of her hand silently.

There was another beat of silence before Sol pressed her thumb deeply into her hand, drawing a line across her palm. She bit down on the inner area of her mouth as she did so, watching as blood began to slowly seep out of her wound. Then, looking up with her hand enclosed, she flung it open and arm to the side, directing all the blood towards and at the painting as to not get it on anyone else around. What was the result was nothing too grand, but imbedded bits of blood that fell through the sky with the star painted early. Quickly, the blood hardened into crystals, catching any reflection of light on them as they gleamed.

Stepping back once more, Sol breathed out deeply, speaking but almost so softly that it would be hard for one to catch what she said, but it was more than easy to tell how she felt by the look on her face and the shine in her eyes, "It's... Beautiful." And she couldn't have done it without them.

Rolls

Mastery Check
1d100 (30) + 10 + 5 = 45
Hemomancy | Sol | 260

(1 last post each before I close this up ^^)

 

[Alastair Brass]

.

The efforts of the other two were indeed rewarded. A beautiful display, striking and eye-catching against the neutral color of the town walls. It was a shame such art was run off back home. Sometimes, and all of the time when the sky was overcast, the color bled out of the city and made existing quite the drain. Reflective windows shielding a thousand office spaces from prying eyes. Cement and steel towering sky-high. Colorless marble buildings that glittered in the rain, gleamed in the sun, but were never welcoming to idlers. Benches with spikes and tall arms, violent toward repose. And old brick walls where the cement gave way, old places left behind until someone could pull money out of them.

Graffiti and elaborate murals were the only flowers that could grow in such a garden. Alastair sighed and shook free from the moment's melancholy. He was at least lucky enough to have traveled in his life. It wasn't a cage for him, and he had no right to wallow in it.

Alastair's hands clapped together, a dull noise from the cloth, and grinned at both. "Brava! I simply must thank you for your work and for allowing us to join you in it. Moreover, I thank you for every soul who will see it once we've taken our leave." The scattered butterflies one by one returned to alight on his coat or faded away entirely from all but his magical sight. "I fear that leave, for myself, is now. Though, should either of the mesdemoiselles put on another performance?"

Notice

Alastair Brass has sent you a friend request.

"Do let a little bird, or butterfly, know, hm?"

 

[Crimson Ruby]

The tip of her tail felt cold with the paint, and her breath escaped erratic after so much dancing and painting. A vague sweat started forming on her forehead, and her eyes set on the painting with her mind only being able to whisper 'marvelous' to what she was looking at.

Art with the mixed feelings and expressions of the three of them, something that warmed her. It was something they made. She glanced to Sol, smiling faintly and then looking at Alastair, swaying her tail before slapping it on the paint bucket to vaguely wash it out.

At Alastair's words, Ruby was surprised by the friend request, but strangely not as surprised as she usually would be. That act has become more and more common, to a point she was getting used to it. Another thing that warmed her heart.

"I will let you know." She pressed the positive check. "Thank you for the butterflies, they were the most beautiful!" Ruby chirped, looking at the man and then shifting to the fellow redhead.

"And you too. Thanks for letting us paint with you." Ruby smiled, sending a request herself.

Notice

Crimson Ruby has sent you a friend request.

@Sol @Alastair Brass

 

[Sol]

☀˚̣⋅ .

It took Sol a couple more moments for her to come out of her daze, the sound of Alastair’s clapping slowly drawing her back as she blinked, looking over at the older man. The butterflies that had once roamed the space around him had returned to his being, and Sol couldn’t help but be disappointed… But also excited, This gives me a great idea for a piece…

She nodded in agreement with him at his mention about the time to leave, moving to begin cleaning up the buckets of paint on the ground as she glanced up at the painting once more, almost as if she was worried if she looked away it would leave. She nodded in agreement with Ruby as she lifted a bucket into her left hand, noticing the alert for a friend request from the older of the three. It was soon followed by one from the smaller friend of the group, and Sol paused for a moment, almost as if she was thinking.

A smile crossed her face, but it was one that was quite different from her last expressions. This one was shy, almost bashful in a sense, as she quickly pushed the check mark on each of the notices and fixed a loose hair out of her face, “It’s no problem, and I would love to work with you both again.”

Notice

Sol has accepted your friend request.