2020-01-08 - Wine And Whine

The cold may be uninviting on the outside, but that’s a complete opposite from the inside of the art gallery. To greet those who enter, a rug is put at the front entrance that reads, “True life is given to those who imagine.” as a way to be an entrance into a realm of creativity. In fact, there are more paintings displayed than ever before showing that visual arts thrive here. Now, images of surrealism, modernism, cubism, and even a few Asian inspired pieces align the brown colored walls to hopefully inspire motivated minds. The frames along the artwork are thin, as if to serve more of a purpose than to distract from the art itself. Also, the vibrant colors are evident with the influence of bright lights hanging from overhead, as if the owner meant to truly establish a focus on the canvases.

Yet, those pieces have gone from concept to creation, so opposite them is an alcove where new ideas, thoughts, feelings, and sensations are ready to be expressed on a new medium. There are at least five blank canvases, each one on top of a sturdy easel ready to be molded into the painters’ dreams. To add more illumination to the creative process, additional lights shine upon the white fabric so no darkness can hinder the future artists’ when they paint. On each side of the alabaster tarpaulins sit two marble side tables, a total of ten for the class. One holds multiple glasses of wine while the other hosts a variety of latex paints. There are also paintbrushes of different sizes and right under the paintbrush is a small object, looking to be about an inch or two long. Right under the object is lettering that says, <<Hold me in your closed hands and I will show you a dream.>> Likely the instructions mean for you to sit and gently put the object in between your palms and another part of the directions say, <<Do not smash.>>

But of course, it’s not Vivid Dreams without Queso, and Hans, and Hera. The owner herself is dressed in a reddish brown colored blazer with black pants and a black undershirt. Her red hair flows around her shoulders to give a bit of an expressive look. Yet her face shows the true expression of happiness when the artists step in. The cat, for now, just curls up in a far off corner of the room while Hans carefully watches the ladies come in. He isn’t a threat himself and as he sees the participants move forward, he untenses a little to have a more relaxed gait.

Hera is relaxed as well, but dutiful in her job as being the leader and host of the workshop. She offers polite gestures for everyone to take a seat and says, “Relax, get comfortable, but before you sample your wine, gently put your hands around the small dream on the table. Hold it so you can’t see it, keep it warm, until you feel it is ready to move within your hands.”

Stephanie enters the gallery for the workshop, hoping to learn some painting basics and have a little bit of wine to drink in the process, nothing to extravagant or exciting. When Hera greets everyone and offers for everyone to take a seat, she complies, though she's unsure about the whole small dream on the table thing, so she waits until that part is over, before sampling the wine.

Something something trying out new things. One of Esme's new years resolutions and also perhaps trying to spend all her time working. So here she was, at a paint night. It seemed interesting enough, and it was good to get out, meet people and such. She entered the gallery at a casual pace, dark eyes taking in every aspect of the gallery at a surface glance. She did pause here and there to study a few of the pieces for display. She offered a smile over to Hera as she made the introduction, meandering over the table and curiously browsing the brushes and the 'dream'. "This is a pretty neat set up." She mused, deciding on one and picks up the 'dream', holding it close as she settled at one of the canvases. Not grabbing a glass of wine quite yet.

Nicole has never been to the gallery before, but she heard about the evening and thought it might be fun. She arrives in some casual clothing, just in case she ends up being a messy painter, black combat boots, black jeans with some frayed holes at thigh and knee (artistic, of course), her black leather jacket, and a black and white plaid flannel shirt. Due to the cold outside, she also wears a skull scarf and gloves. Her hair is up in two small buns on the top of her head, like puffs of blonde, all the better to keep it out of paint.

She looks... a bit intimidated when she first walks in. She smiles to the others, some of which she knows a little, some she does not, while listening to Hera's greeting. She looks at the 'dream' on the table, arching a skeptical brow and biting her lip, waiting for someone else to go first on that front. While Esme picks up the dream to hold it, Nicole goes in for a glass of wine before finding a canvas in a spot she feels comfortable in.

Maggi is wearing an off the shoulder black sweatshirt beneath her leather jacket, a pair of light wash skinny jeans, and black converse. Sunny colored locks spill from a loose black beanie cap. In her arms she is carrying a black box with black velvet ribbon tied in a bow. She pushes through the door shivering a bit, but smiles when she sees the welcoming set-up. She chooses an easel and sets the box beneath it and her jacket on the stool, grabbing a few treats from the pocket before walking over to Hera to greet her, then to give Queso what was expected of her.

She would give Hera her thank you gift later.

Queso is immediately excited to see Maggi. In fact, a rather loud 'meow' is heard as he rushes over to her to offer a pounce to his beloved favorite hooman. Depending on how she catches him, the kitty will either wind up in her lap or on her shoulder. Is it a parrot or is it a cat? Only Maggi would know.

Stephanie, on the other hand, attracts Hans' attention and it isn't a bad thing. Maybe he recognized her scent from, somewhere? Whatever the case may be, he goes offer to nuzzle her a bit to seek some petting. Hopefully there's no need for him to go into 'guard dog' mode tonight.

Since Nicole hasn't been here before, Hera shifts her attention to her. "Welcome." she greets the pretty blonde woman, "Please, sit down, enjoy yourself. There's all types of wine you can sample on your small table there."

But what may be most notable is what happens when Esme is bold and takes the 'dream' carefully. The warmth in her's hands is something that appears more powerful to a tiny thing. At first, the small, wormlike object is cold in her grip until there is an energetic move toward statis between the two temperatures. As Esme's hands get colder and the 'gift' gets warmer, there are vibrations inside that she can feel. Then, when set opened, the vibrations shift a bit to show a lovely butterly in her palm. "You never know when creation will shift and change shape into something lovely." She adds, "All but a touch can change the world." Hera says, proud that Esme has taken such a move.

Stephanie finds herself at the receiving end of Hans' attention and she reaches down to pet Hera's dog. "Hey, you," she cooed quietly as she pet him, "How are you doing? Have you been a good boy? I don't think I've met you before, have I?" She's sweet and affectionate with the dog.

Esme is intrigued by the object, keeping a close, but careful hold. The first of the vibrations startles her and that is clear on her expression. "..." She looked around to the others and then towards Hera. Back to her palms, carefully opening them up. "Oh my..." She murmured. Her palm flattening out a bit more to show the group the butterfly. "Like the butterfly effect?" She asked with a raised brow. "One tiny thing can cause a large ripple down the line?" She looked back to the butterfly - now not entirely certain what to do with it! Except maybe wait for it to fly off?

"Thank you," is the reply to Hera after Nicole is welcomed. She lifts her glass of wine and shares a smile, showing she is already 'sampling' the offerings. The particular one in her hand is a red of some sort. Esme calls out an 'oh my' and catches Nicole's attention. She blinks at the butterfly, her brow furrowing more curiously and skeptically than it did before. Though, she does say, "pretty." After all, who doesn't like butterflies?

Maggi is not graceful, but Queso is, so she just does her best to hold still as he climbs. She would happily just allow the cat to stay on her shoulders all night if he wanted. From her slender fingers she begins to feed him treats one at a time. Though she wouldn't tell him (The cat was incredibly intelligent and she was sure he understood her) there were many more in her jacket pockets. A silly grin is across her face, one that turns into surprise at the butterfly's appearance in the space. Blue eyes travel to Esme, "How'd you do that?"

She had noticed Stephanie and the Jell-O wresting champion, but the shock of something so delightfully magical has caused her manners to have taken a back seat.

Hans chuffs just a little bit at Stephanie, it's a friendly noise but one that shows he is sweet in this particular moment. With his wet nose, he leans in to brush up against her hand, showing more and more affection. Seems as if the guard dog can be a bit of a softie.

Hera does see Esme's reaction and grins, "Yes, exactly. One tiny thing can create large waves in an ocean of inspiration, it all depends on how you look at it." The butterfly has been in a bit of a frozen state though but it seems to want to fly around. It does flutter here and there and then lands on the edge of Esme's canvas for now. Of course, she does continue to speak to Nicole, "Sit, drink, paint, relax, whatever comes to mind." Then she addresses everyone, "If the inspiration hits, roll with it, if it doesn't, just enjoy the company."

And Queso is one happy kitty. Oh, his buddy has treats and yeah, the purrrr machine is going, and going, and going. In the meantime the other 'butterflies' begin to twitch on the tables, not quite ready to fly off yet, but they won't stay frozen forever.

Stephanie barely notices the strange event that had happened with Esme and the butterfly, focused on Hans. She feels a pull towards the friendly dog as she says, "All right, buddy, I need to focus now. It's good to see you. I'll give you more pets later." She sits back up and looks to Hera as she mentions to Nicole to roll with the inspiration if it hits. She doesn't really know how to paint but she decides to attempt to paint something anyway. One singular flower, a yellow rose.

When the butterfly lands on her canvas, Esme takes out her phone to take a picture of the butterfly and send off a quick text. "Inspiration abounds...maybe. Just a matter of seeing if it can become something recognizable." She laughed, going to retrieve a glass of wine now. Flashing a smile to Maggi. "I don't know, but I'll bet you could do the same with one of the others." She nodded to the other cocoons laying on the table. Esme took a slow sip of wine and then sighed contently, sitting back at the canvas to try and picture what she wanted to make.

Nicole sets her glass down carefully nearby, assuming there is a spot to do so. She returns to the marble tables, this time to pick some paints and brushes that look interesting. "So we just, like... paint? Whatever? Sorry, I'm not really a painter. I learned not to say I am not an artist. Sparrow insists I am."

Cat seeming happily secure and providing what is basically a neck massage, step two was to get Hera's recommendation on wine because well, that was the only way anything was getting painted. Esme derailing her train of thought for just a moment...Maybe magical experience then wine? She trusted the universe to let her have wine first, offering a simple "Thanks," for the advice.

Queso aloft Maggi smiles at Nicole, approaching her and Hera. "Hey Jell-O queen!" she gives in greeting before looking from Hera to the wine. "What can the person with the most discerning taste I know teach me about broadening my alcoholic horizons today?" Another treat is passed up to Queso.

One of the windows leading outside that shows the passing traffic suddenly darkens and with it an abrupt THUD. Taking up most of the space, a Candy Hulk holds himself to the transparent glass as though he’s only just smacked against it, one hand up and the other down, bent at awkward angles. His right cheek squashed and long, shiny dark hair partial obscuring his face. Though army green eye glances inwards inside the building, Everett holds the pose for awhile. Long enough to take a slow inhale from the cigarette in his mouth, causing the ember to burn, and exhaling smoke, or cold.
Then he starts to slowly grin from the right corner of his mouth and peel himself off the pane, nose red from the chill with his cheeks. At last, the brute has some color.

Hera nods over at Nicole and says, "Exactly. It doesn't have to have a clear shape or a clear form, just, whatever you want. Or, if you just want to sit and chat that is fine too. Whatever makes you comfortable." She does go to collect the other glasses of wine that are just sitting there. If there is an empty space, no need to let good wine go to waste. If any of the tables need extra libations though, here they are. In the meantime Hans watches Stephanie, he's a polite dog until he looks over at the window. Hera looks over too and mutters, "Someone needs to get a life. I'm seriously going to cheer Grace on when she knocks him on his skinny ass." What? The gallery owner not being professional?

Hera does turn to Maggi though and asks, "Have you tried peach and muscadine wine?" Queso of course, purrrsss.

Stephanie smiles despite herself and says to Hera, "I remember you mentioning to drop in on New Year's Eve, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to do so. Thanks for having me." She busies herself with replicating a red rose from a reference picture on her phone. She's not really a painter but she tries anyway. She then greets Maggi and Nicole with waves. And she tells Nicole, "Hey, I've been meaning to call you up for a hair appointment. Was thinking of doing something new with my hair." The statement would come as a shock to the hairstylist, who's always known her for only ever wanting trims and short cuts, nothing out of her comfort zone.

Esme was just about to put brush to canvas when she heard the THUD. For a split second, she was in police mode - just in case something was popping off. Because something was always popping off in this damned down. She breathes out a huff of amusement and takes another sip of her wine before starting to try and paint the butterfly perched on her canvas.

It's the THUD that grabs Nicole's attention next, and she looks to the window in surprise, seeing Everett there. She smirks and shakes her head, chuckling lightly before looking over to Maggi then. "Oh! Me? Hi.. I'm Nicole." She looks to Hera then, because clearly she's the one referred to with taste. Stephanie's wave is spotted and Nicole smiles and says hello to her, greeting her again. "Yeah? Like what? An extra quarter-inch trimmed off?" She teases Stephanie with a wink before taking her paints back to her easel to continue chatting with everyone there.

Hera's reaction to the hulking man garners a raised eyebrow of interest, though he doesn't seem to have bothered Queso, so all is well. "I have not!" She exclaims both excited and intrigued, treatless hand going for an indicated glass. "Maggi." She adds politely raising her wine glass to Nicole. Towards Stephanie a tip of her head is offered with a smile, one hand being occupied by treats and the other freshly grasping a glass of wine. A hug would also have been an option, but the off-white shoulder massager was not to be disturbed, for it was a precious being. The tipping then motions to the man at the window. "Friend of yours?" she asks to Hera.

Hera grunts at the mention of Everette, "Far from it." she says, "He seems to be a wrestling buddy of a good friend of mine." Whoa, so she didn't say he was simply 'beating up on Grace.' She must really be in a good mood. "Well, we need to fix that." she tells Maggi and she pours a glass of sweet red muscadine and offers it to Queso's buddy, "Not many red dessert wines out there." Though at the mention of hair she looks over at Nicole, "That's what you do? Wow, I'd love to have my hair done one day, like, done really well." There's no lack of work for someone who is a beautician.

In the meantime Esme's butterfly just remains perched there, as if it is watching everything and Stephanie's butterfly is now unfrozen and flies around her forehead for a bit. Pretty insects, such a distraction!

It’s only a few steps from the window to the doors inside, but he makes it seem like it took a small adventure. Somewhere warm, and besides, the atmosphere isn’t all that bad looking from out there. With a whoosh, the tall man throws open the door and then presents himself, cigarette still dangling from his mouth. “Hello, everybody!” And to the hostess, Everett gives a special greeting while he invites himself inside, “Hiya, Tigress.” A casual stroll in Nicole’s direction, his smile widening while he takes his cigarette from his mouth and between his first two fingers. Tapping his cheek and presenting it to Nicole, he even bends down a little at the waist to make reaching his cheek easier, “Got some sugar fer me?”

Stephanie looks up at the unfrozen butterfly that suddenly appears and is fluttering about. She smiles at it and opens her left hand with her palm up as if to invite the creature to rest in her hand. "Hey beautiful, come on down, I wanna take a picture," she says, inviting the butterfly onto her hand.

"That's Everett," Nicole says with that same chuckle towards Maggi. "Owns the Sweet Retreat, if you can believe it." Nodding as she dips a brush into a shade of green, tilting her head after as she looks at the canvas thoughtfully. "Oh, yes. I own the Curl Up & Dye! Best Hairdresser in town," she winks again. I mean, it's Gray Harbor, not like she's styling for celebs, but... "I'd be glad to work with you. I'll give you my card before I leave."

It's then Everett walks up to her and asks her for some sugar. Grinning, she says, "there's no mistletoe this time, or Hangry cats... bears.. things. But I'll take a hug."

In what may be almost a magical display, Stephanie's butterfly acts like it hears her. Either way it responds and the blue winged creature goes to flutter on down to her hand. There it rests wings slowly moving in and out, in and out until the wings span out allowing her to take a perfect picture. Normally things don't happen like that but, unique coincidence, right?

With a playful pout, the gorilla keeps his fingers tapping at his cheek still after being turned down, “Aw. But baby. Aren’t I enough of a bear… thing?” His lashes flutter if, one can imagine, a thug like him trying to act innocent. His eyes glance downwards towards the bauble and he double takes before picking it up between thumb and forefinger of his lit cigarette hand. It’s brought close and far away from his face twice before he reads it out loud. “Hold me in your closed hands and I will show you a dream,” and then adds under his breath while he carefully puts it back down, “You and me both, buddy.” His volume raises back up, “So? What’s going on her—hey, is that a butterfly?” he asks before he starts to shed his leather jacket on the floor, one arm inverted, his attention and drift already heading off in that direction, the cigarette exchanging hands absentmindedly while the jacket comes off so he doesn't burn it.

Stephanie takes the perfect picture of the butterfly in her hand and slips her phone into her jacket pocket, glaring the loud voice that seemed very obnoxious to her. She carefully slipped her hand under the table, placing it on her lap, taking careful care not to harm the butterfly in her hand. She really did not want to interact with the large man who decided to just randomly show up.

Hera sighs a rather heavy sigh as the hulk makes his presence known. But, she doesn't say anything at the moment. He's not being /that/ much of a nusance so, no need to stir up extra trouble. She looks over at Hans though who still stays by Stephanie for the most part. Queso seems to really be doing a good job of distracting Maggi and, not expecting anyone else, she begins to pick up some other glasses that were laid out for others after giving everything another glance.

Nicole picks up the chrysalis Everett puts down, now that she knows it isn't something insane. Holding it in her palm, fingers curling around it lightly in one hand as her other begins to paint. Lines of green go onto white canvas seemingly at random, though she drags the brush slowly outward, so the color fades towards the edges; only on the right-hand side at the moment. "So, no on the hug?" she asks before Everett heads off towards a butterfly.

She continues to paint, picking up a different brush to add some golden streaks amongst the green, tilting her head this way, then that as she goes, still holding the chrysalis gently in her other hand.

“Well, shit. That’s all kinds of crazy blue,” the giant of a man murmurs. He pauses to appreciate it for a second, with a stoic expression, taking a hit from his cigarette, tilting his head back and expelling the smoke upwards towards the ceiling, his pecs flexing under the chest-tight army green tee shirt. Then he looks down at the dog and smiling. Waving his right fingers at the crotch-biter, “Hey, pooch pooch,” he greets and notices the cold look from the human next to the canine, his brows rise before his mouth opens. Two sausage-sized fingers point at Stephanie, but before he says anything, remembers Nicole spoke to him minutes ago, and whips his head and long hair in her direction, “Oh. Well. Since you’re going to beg for it.” He nonchalantly sways in that direction, pausing to pick up his jacket along his route, and opens his muscled arms. “~Cuddle time~”, he singsongs, and whispers when he gets that promised hug, “Watch out. She throws shoes!”

Stephanie just wanted to have some time to decompress after a stressful time at work, and she was not wanting to deal with someone who clearly had an incompatible personality with hers. She was stressed out, tired, and just wanted to relax. She took her free hand and drank from the glass of chardonnay she had on the table before she began to paint again, this time adding the butterfly onto the rose she painted.

Hera mutters beneath her breath, "Not well enough." Yeah, she's one of those 'lover and not a fighter type' unless her attitude flares up. Perhaps it is time to change the subject a wee bit, likely in a way to save some attention aggravation. Noting Stephanie she asks, "Did Devlin get home and all ok? I don't see him all that often just, kinda worry about my cousin. He's kinda like the only family I have."
Hans watches Everette though, not saying anything yet but the canine eyes his crotch for, whatever reason.

Nicole pauses her painting of lines to give Everett the hug. She keeps her brush in one hand and the chrysalis in the other as she does. She sort of forgets the brush is covered in gold paint and, well, whether or not it gets in his hair is up to him being careful about it, really. "I don't beg," she says as she releases him. "Who throws shoes?" Once released, she goes back to her painting.

He purrs like a finely tuned foreign engine in the embrace, dropping his jacket in favor of hugging. Looming and hugging. And when Nicole pulls back from the hug, Everett does too, … after a second. Yeah, he definitely smells like alcohol. Checking over his shoulder and giving a view of a swath of hair that stands out, painted gold. When he turns his head back the Candy Monster covers one hand to point at Hera with the other, eyes wide like saucers, “Ady-lee Ver-oee Here-tee,” he says in Pig Latin. Kinda.

Stephanie is still mildly aggravated at Everett's intrusion and behavior, seeming like he had no intention of actually being anything other than obnoxious. But when Hera asks her about her partner, Stephanie snaps her attention towards the hostess. "Yeah, he did. I was driving so I got him home all right." She attempts to smile reassuringly at Hera.

Hera takes a deep breath so she doesn't loose her mind here. Smoker, rude smoker, who seems to like Latin. "I need to check on something in the back." she tells the group, "But, don't mind me. Hans will watch over everything." At least until Stephanie distracts the dog. Before walking too fary away she tells her, "Thank you for looking out for Devlin." But now, she has other things to tend to.

Stephanie finishes a rough painting as she lets her butterfly loose before she calls it a night, going to thank Hera before she departs. Then she tells Nicole, "I'll call you about an appointment." Then she leaves, ignoring the other person in the room.

Nicole looks to Hera as Everett points at her. "Naww..., She seems too nice." She glances at him, grinning a little with pride as she sees the gold paint in his hair.

She continues to paint the streaks of color, layering them one over another, shades of green and gold. When she's satisfied with the way it is all layered and shaded, she paints a black semi-circle in the bottom left corner.

Did she just paint an eyeball?

Throughout the evening, she drank some more wine and sadly... her chrysalis never hatched, but she takes it, and the eyeball, home with her after leaving her card for Hera and telling Spethanie she can't wait to hear what changes she is planning.

"Nice like a heart attack," Everett mumbles, watching the way Hera left darkly. He then waits for Nicole's painting to finish, cants his head to the side while he looks. Then, inquisitively, asks, "Did you paint me? Aww," he says with renewed conviction, "You drew me. I love you too, Bunny." Was there someone else in the room other than the two of them?

Standing still, Everett watches Nicole leave and when the doors close on her and he's all alone with the animals, he looks at the dog and murmurs, "Don't look at me, buddy. I think you scared them off."