• Closed • Illuminations: Strange Botany

[Woe]

8th of Ashan 722

Cylus had come and gone, but still a chill maintained on the air. The leaves in the trees hadn't yet sprouted, and the world was more or less thawing from the onslaught of a dark winter. That said, Woe was feeling more peaceful and satisfied in himself than he had for some time. He was on his way between the office of Egilrun Confidential and Perdita's art shop, Illuminations. Botany clumsily plodded along at his heels, huffing and barking lightly at this or that. Botany seemed to know they'd be meeting their friend Perdita, as his tail was wagging the entire way, or else he just enjoyed being with his master on a nice walk.

Woe for his part was wearing the make up and outfit and wig, for the disguise he'd enjoyed last season. The one that slightly resembled Magpie. Woe didn't know what possessed him to do it. Perhaps he wasn't entirely comfortable having his own image immortalized in any way, the way he presented normally. Or perhaps it was a way to preserve Magpie's memory in his own life. In either event, he thought the juxtaposition of the dog he'd found in Quacia, homeless and helpless, and the man he'd loved as a brother, who also happened to be from Quacia, would make for a poignant art piece for his collection.

He walked into the shop, and gave a friendly smile to the woman behind the counter. "Hello Irene?" He asked, not remembering if he had the name right from memory.
He wondered idly if she was actually his employee, by virtue of the transference of authority.

"I'm here to see Perdita for a consultation on bespoke art pieces. Is she here?"

He waited for her answer. If asked to wait, he would wait, and try to keep his dog, Botany, under hand.

[Perdita Westcott]

5th Ashan, 722

efore the words "bespoke art" had left his lips, Irene was nodding. "Indeed, sir, please, come through." She was a friendly young woman and seemed to be one of those amiable sorts who got along easily with everyone. She showed Woe to an area with soft and comfortable chairs and she offered him a cool drink. Having allowed Botany to sniff her hand if he so wished, she added that she could bring some water for his dog, if he wanted it?

Then, when she was sure that he - and Botany - were comfortable, she moved to the reception desk and tapped on the door behind it. Perdita was in the back room, working on a piece of art but, at the sound of the tap she came out and, as Irene spoke to her, Perdita turned and saw that Woe was sitting there. She smiled and made her way over to where he was. "Hello," she said quietly, moving to join him where he sat. Perdita was dressed in a simple white and blue dress, she'd removed her apron before coming out so the only sign of the art she was working on was the rag which hung on her belt, splattered with paint. "It's nice to see you." If Botany allowed it, Perdita fussed him and was obviously pleased to see him, but she didn't push herself on to him or make more of a fuss than he was happy with.

"Welcome to Illuminations," she said, softly. There was, of course, the inevitable blush on her cheeks, but it was slowly abating as she got to know Woe more. She gestured around and smiled. "Would you like a tour?" As her hand movement encompassed the reception area, and the door to her workshop, "or to see what I'm working on?" Either way, she sipped her own glass of water and asked, with a smile. "How can I help you, today?" Did he want a piece of art, she wondered, or a book made? Maybe he wanted her to gather information, and if he did that would be fine, too. Either way, she considered, she was happy to be able to welcome him here and hopefully, to work together once more.

[Woe]

Woe accepted the drink, and also asked for a bowl of water for Botany as well. The adult Quacian Bloodhound was a very thirsty breed, but also a hungry one. So Woe had made sure he was well fed on bonemeal and meat before coming over. Thankfully, the dog’s antipathy toward Gloom had settled enough that the two could interact safely, without Botany running off with the tunawa stuck between his jaws, running across the living space of his house.

For now, Botany slobbered and slurped up his drink with his tongue, happily quenching his thirst. Woe took a few sips of water, before Perdita herself arrived. She appeared to have been working, which was a good sign. It was always good to be busy and not idle, especially when starting out on her business and portfolio. He suspected she’d want to expand her library of works as soon as possible, not only for the practice but also for the attention and exposure that occasional selling and showcasing of her work would garner.

“I like this space you’ve chosen. The blue and white marble is very much a staple of Egilrun interior design.” He stood from his seat, as she entered further to the reception, and nodded, “Yes, I’d enjoy a tour. And to see what you’ve been working on.”

Woe was willing to let her take the lead for now, and only when she queried what he might want today, did he answer. “Now you’ve probably noticed I’m not looking quite like myself today. There’s a reason for that…”

“I was hoping you might draw a picture with Botany featured in it, with myself also, in this guise. However, there are a few mitigating factors that might throw a challenge your way.” Woe smiled, “You see, I want you to draw someone I’ve known. I’d have to describe them first for you, and you’d work with my own presentation as best you can. Is this something that you can do, as a painter?”

“I’d also want Botany to be included in the main portrait. But also separates if you can? I’ve got time enough on my hands that I can sit for this painting if need be. Or you can do your sketches and then finish on your own. Whichever you’re most comfortable with.”

It was perhaps an odd request, he wasn’t sure if many people disguised themselves to resemble someone they knew, and then asked for portraits to be made of that person. Or perhaps it was all too common in the art world? Who could say. Not Woe.

“Anyway, I forget my manners. How have you been?”

[Perdita Westcott]

5th Ashan, 722

erdita was coming to understand that Woe was something of a chameleon. That made sense, she figured, in his line of work and it made him quite intriguing. He looked different today than he had on the other trials she had met him, yet he was still himself and his voice was something which remained constant. She fussed Botany and made sure that all of them were comfortable and then he agreed that yes, he'd like a tour.

"It's still a work in progress," she said, gesturing around. There would be more pieces here, soon. Eventually. As soon as she could get them there. "I like it," she said of the blue and white marble. "It's a good backdrop." Behind the reception desk there was a work area and there, there were a number of pieces which were half way or nearing completion.

"I call this, 'Gazing'," she said softly, pointing to one which was a single eye. She looked at Woe and smiled. "I like the space around it, the canvas size is important. I'm not sure how to frame it yet, but I'll work it out." It was probably the most she'd spoken to him in one go, and she didn't blush. In fact, when showing him the art, she didn't blush at all. On to the next piece, Perdita pulled the cover off that, revealing still sketch like image of a girl. "This was a child I saw, and I wondered what she'd look like as a young woman." She gave a slight shrug. "I quite like the effect, the not-real nature of it."

The next one was a piece the same size as the girl, but of a man. "This was her father," Perdita explained. "But he looked like a scientist, so I wanted to explore angles and line. When it's finished, I'll remove the measuring lines."

The final piece she was working on was in the process of being framed. The piece itself, a depiction of an elderly man was laying flat with a variety of frame options around it. "Frames are my concern, it seems," she said with a smile to him. "I'm not sure about this one, at all." There were other sketches here and there, laying on tables or in open books. A line drawing of a woman, a hybrid sketch of a woman with pine tree branches for hair. All works in progress, sketches and random thoughts. Some of them would make it out to the gallery area, others not.

And then, Woe told her what he wanted from her. As he described the commission, Perdita listened and her eyes took on an expression of enthusiasm. "I would love to do that!" There was no guile to her, Perdita had no means or methods of deception. "That's an interesting challenge!" How was she? She beamed at him, and there was no blush on her face now. "I'm very well, thank you. I like it here." It was the simple truth. She missed Eli, but she was where she was meant to be and, if he returned then she'd welcome him. If he didn't, then she wished him happiness wherever he was.

Gesturing for Woe to sit, in the workshop, Perdita did the same. She sat opposite him, perched on a table and she grabbed a sketch book. "Please, tell me about him? A physical description is good, but then, if you would, tell me a story of him?" When people spoke about others, they often mimicked or picked up on expressions, Perdita knew, so she started to sketch as Woe spoke. There were questions she had about Botany being there, but separate, but she'd save those for now. Now, she wanted to watch him as he spoke and begin to make some impression pieces.

[Woe]

Woe didn’t know what to do with his hands, so he wrapped them around his back as she led him around the gallery. More than anyone, Perdita made him feel like who he actually was. A murdering fiend, a torturer playing a philanthropist. It made him supremely uncomfortable in the face of an innocent. He could scarcely hear her over the rush of blood to his head.

He was able to focus on her art pieces, which were all well done, admittedly. It was all he could do to distract himself from the source of his discomfort, the irretrievable notion that he wasn’t meant to be here, presenting himself as he was.

She said something about the girl, and the father, who was a scientist from what she said. Or that he looked like one. Whatever that meant. Woe didn’t know much about science or scholarship in general so he deferred to her own experience in academia.

She said something about frames being her concern, which didn’t register with him. Was she now getting into the crafting of frames, or having trouble negotiating with those who crafted them? He thought to ask before she showed him the next artwork up for viewing. The first was a line drawing of a woman. Followed byu woman with pine tree branches for hair. Woe said it before he could shut his mouth, “What if she had spider webbing for hair?”

Finally, they got settled down, after Woe pitched his idea to Perdita. That she draw him as Magpie, in the company of Botany. Woe was stuck for a few mmoments when she asked her first question. What could he tell her about him? What did he actually know about the man? Apart from his uncanny ability to wheedle his way under the nooks and cracks in one’s psyche. “He had blonde hair, as you see on me now. He was a biqaj, and with youthful features always. A light build. Tall. Well dressed in similar attire you see me in now…”

Woe’s mouth twisted as he fought himself to describe him in further details that went beyond the material properties. Then Woe decided to tell a lie, or more of an obfuscated story. Woe often remembered his voyage through Raj’Ufnaj with Magpie differently, as if it’d been just a dream he half remembered. But they had been there, and the things that happened on their escape from Rhakros happened as they did, however much his mind twisted and meddled with the specific details.

“We were in the Rhakros war in Etzos. You remember the Fall of Emea, when nobody could dream or even sleep? The Immortal Lissira laid seige to the territories of Etzos. Plaguing the populace to near extinction. However, since Emea was closed, and the way to the afterlife barred, many ended up as ghosts. In fact, all who died and longed for vengeance against the Immortal were returned from the Beneath, and with that ghastly army the Etzori were able to lay seige to the doors of Rhakros.”

“I was there in Rhakros, sent along with a contingent to infiltrate the lower levels of the city. With the help of a thief whose name I couldn’t remember, Magpie and I both infiltrated the laboratories of the plague doctors of Rhakros. However, as the city seemed to cave in around us, and unseen assailants threatened our lives, Magpie made a sudden decision to whisk myself and he away from all the war. We were transported through Emea, where eventually we got lost.”

“It’s said that many who get lost in Emea, not knowing where they are, are often drawn to the Navigant’s Trench, U’frek’s realm. So we were dropped into the shallows of that place. There, we recovered and hitched a ride with one of the captains of U’frek’s realm. We spent the days sharing stories with the men aboard the ship.”

“I guess that’s not much of a story, or perhaps a believable one.” Woe had only lied about the specifics of what happened after they arrived at U’frek’s realm. He didn’t think she needed to know how Woe had been tasked with whipping the lazy shiphands below decks, or how Magpie had nearly torn a hole in the realm with his magic.

“Anyway, he was a strange person. Always haunted, yet seemed always to try to see the good in the world, and always wondering why people were so cruel to each other.” Woe shrugged. Daft boy… He remembered, the words whispered by Woe that had cut short their confrontation beneath the streets of Etzos. There was so much more that he didn’t know about Magpie, more questions than answers. That was how one tended to remember Magpie.

[Perdita Westcott]

5th Ashan, 722

erdita glanced at Woe with a sudden expression of interest as he suggested a woman with spider webs for her hair. That peaked her interest. "Someone dark, on light," she said, but it was mostly evident that she wasn't really talking to Woe, but more speaking aloud an idea she had. An idea which would come to fruition soon, she thought, because it immediately grabbed her - but not yet, because right now he was a client and she wanted to make sure that he got her full attention.

He spoke, telling her of an adventure that he and Magpie had shared, but as exciting as it was, Perdita did more than listen. She watched him. He moved, he spoke, his whole way of being was just slightly differentI'm interpreting your socialisation skill as such that you are giving her the subliminal message of what Magpie looks like - if that makes sense? . Nodding, she listened to him and his description, and she watched his expressions as he described the man. His facial expression would be the most important, she knew, but he wanted to be painted as a man he wasn't. She focused and she allowed her imagination to see what he was seeing. Perdita was a much better artist than she realised and so she doubted her instincts time and time again, but somehow Woe Morandi brought out the best in her and made her believe that she could, in fact, try.

As she sketched him, she considered that what she needed to get was half a face, because the dog would be able to cover the other half. That was good, Perdita knew. People's minds filled in blanks with what they knew to be true and that made things easier for her. So, she worked on getting things down on paper that she figured were important. The expression, that would be vital, and so she could use the positioning of the dog to the best effect for her to achieve what she wanted.

"This is a sketch," Perdita said softly, after a while. "It helps us to change details, add things, things like that. When you are happy, I will then turn the sketch into a proper piece of art."

She smiled at him and watched, waiting to see what he thought as she handed over the sketch she had done. She wasn't sure what he'd make of it, so she sat back and gave him a moment to think about it. While he took that, her hands started moving over the page as she began to sketch out the idea for the spider woman that he'd given her.

[Woe]

8th of Ashan 722

Woe caught the words that slipped out from Perdita. Someone dark, on light. While Woe considered himself an astute observer of mortal nature, her meaning eluded him. Was she talking about Woe, or the man he described as Magpie? Perhaps it was the way her artistic mind worked, capturing a phrase and putting it to an image. Artistic ability and craftsmanship was always something that eluded Woe. He'd toiled in the tanning yards of Erastus, sure enough, but that was only hard labor. There was little art in the tanning of hides itself. More in the creation of leather that came after, butthat was a lesson Woe hadn't had a chance to learn from Erastus, to his recollection.

The mortalborn found it interesting to be the subject of an artist. Was this how Breen had felt, having his image captured, at least in part?

Woe had little else to say as she went to work on the image. He could only guess what she was drawing, and how it was drawn. He had ideas, ideas for how it should look, how it might look. He certainly would have parameters and be honest enough in the adherence to those, in so much as he could without causing the girl to doubt her abilities.

Finally, after a few bits, she'd drawn her first sketch. Showing it to him, his breath caught in his throat at the striking likeness to Magpie. "You've captured his image as well as I could expect." Woe said. "However, I do have some preference to the positioning of the dog, in comparison to the man's face. Perhaps if the dog was staring off toward the outside, instead of the inside?" Woe didn't know why he expected that the dog would be looking a different direction than Magpie. It was just what had occurred to him when he was imagining what she might have been drawing.

Woe waited to see if she could adjust the sketch with the requested alterations. "You're a very good artist, you know. And fortunate to have found a craft you excell at."

[Perdita Westcott]

5th Ashan, 722

ven when people said they didn't know about art, didn't understand art - come to that even those who were downright afraid of or intimidated by art knew what they liked and what they didn't. This was a truth which Perdita had long since learned and accepted. When it came to art, especially art that they were wanting to buy, everyone had an opinion.

That was, of course, right and correct and how it should be. So, she nodded her head as Woe asked her to make some changes. Smiling at him, she considered what he said. "I like that, it will balance the piece more, I think." It would make it more unusual, too, in terms of composition and Perdita knew that unusual art often sold for a higher price. So, she looked at the piece she had done and thought about it a littlie. "I will need to make sure that the light and shade works," she said. She knew that even the slightest change in composition could have big impacts on the shading, but she knew how she'd deal with that, this time. "I'm going to emphasise the shadows under his .. your... the eye." She blushed as she smiled and lowered her head to her work.

He told her that she was good at what she did and Perdita looked up and smiled - of course, she also blushed. "Thank you," she said quietly. "That means a lot to me, coming from you." She didn't think he'd tell her she was good unless he meant it and so it was not hollow words, but heartfelt ones. As for being lucky, she nodded her head. "I feel so very blessed," she said, blushing furiously as she considered he must think her so foolish. Yet, it was the truth. "I don't think I could do anything else." She focused on getting the area just under the eye just right.

Handing him the sketch, Perdita gave him a slight smile. "What do you think?" She said no more than that because her mouth was dry and her cheeks burning. As much as she loved doing what she did, she might never understand how anyone ever voluntarily did this to themselves. And yet, as nerve wracking as she found it, as terrifying and against her base nature it was to put herself out there like this. Fundamentally, as much as she suffered, there was a part of her which thrived on this. On being able to see what was in her minds eye and somehow transfer it to paper. It was amazing.

She wanted to run away, to snatch it back and hide it, but Perdita simply waited for his assessment.

[Woe]

Although he tended to make understatements as a general rule, Woe would be downright dishonest with himself if he denied his own ability to spot emotion on a person's face, body language, the way they spoke their words, and even in how they received the words of others. In this, however, Woe knew that were he even a novice observer of human nature, Perdita's feelings were very much an open book to all who met her. A book that spoke of anxiety and bashfulness mostly and a mind that thought deeply on a variety of matters. There was also less defined in her expression, something that spoke to an icy adherence to detail and exactitude; it was that which intrigued Woe most about her. And probably lent itself well toward the accuracy and precision of her art. Woe had explored her tangle upon their first meeting, just a cursory observation, and that had given him further insight. But even had he not that, he was confident that he'd be able to read her emotions well enough without the benefit of Arcana. He spared her these observations, vocalizing them to her. He thougth she looked embarassed enough by her talent that another positive word from Woe might make her burst.

"This is exactly what I wanted." Woe said, looking carefully over the artwork. "Can you make a painting and bring or send it along to me? Something small, as this person is no longer in my life, and I want the size of it not to betray a greater importance than he actually has." Woe smiled at her.

Woe had other thoughts, but he spared Perdita the details. Again he reflected how challenging it was to conduct himself around someone so emotionally delicate and sensitive. He couldn't deny that he enjoyed having her around, and further that he was glad to have her in his retainer.

"On your way out, when it's time, you can collect your payment from my assistant and friend Gloom." He did have one thought, that he wanted her opinion on, unrelated to art. "Now, that bit of business aside..." He said, "I was wondering if I could get your opinion on a project I want to embark upon next cycle. A Glass Harbor for Egilrun."

Woe let that sink in a moment, then continued, "A harbor not built literally of glass, but dedicated to journeys done on behalf of greater powers, such as the Immortals or other spirits. It seems to me the people of Egilrun lack spiritual guidance that correlates to their emphasis on work ethic and craftsmanship. They would commission glass figurines from the Union, and see that these figurines were not damaged during a journey. Upon returning, if the trinket was unharmed, we'd showcase them in a special place within the Harbor..."

Woe thought for a moment, then met Perdita's gaze with his own, "I'd like you to perhaps do an artist's rendition of such a feature. A conceptual art, if you will. What do you think?"

[Perdita Westcott]

5th Ashan, 722

ainting something to a size which spoke of the importance of its contents was far from a new idea, of course, but Woe's reasoning for the size he wanted this to be struck Perdita as both interesting and providing an insight into him. Perhaps.

She wondered, in truth, who the person was who she had painted, but it was not her business and she was not prone to asking too many quesitons. When he said, though, that it was exactly what he wanted, Perdita smiled and - of course - blushed. "I can," she said, when he asked if she could make a painting of it. "I will," she added, to make sure that he knew that she would do as he had asked. Her thoughts turned to what medium to use, what wood to frame it, but all of those would be things which came later, she knew. She had deliberately given more life to the colours she used in the man, because it seemed important. He was, after all, a symbol of some kind to Woe, although what kind she did not know. That Woe loved his dogs was also obvious, and so she had endeavoured to make the dog more lifelike and less ethereal-looking

When that business was finished, Woe moved on to other things. Perdita admired that about him, his ability to manage so much at any one time. For herself, she found it hard to focus outside of one thing . But Woe seemed to be very clear in his separation of things, making it almost like a list. Perdita wondered if perhaps her own leaning towards making lists could be employed in the running of this business. It would help her to not jump from one project to another - and also not to take on too much.

He suggested a glass harbour and Perdita listened intently. "That sounds fascinating," she said and she thought about it. "I can do that, yes," she had some ideas already and her mind's eye was working overdrive. Perdita never lacked imagination when it came to the visual. She thought about it and agreed that she would compile a number of examples of concepts and send him that portfolio of sketches when she sent the painting. If she was able to correctly conceptualise what he wanted, she thought that it would be good for their professional relationship . So, when she was sure that she'd got all the information from him, she bade Woe farewell and got back to her job, her mind filled with thoughts of glass harbours.