❄ 01 ❄

[photographice]

Type: Text
Sender ID: photographice (March 7th)
To: Public
Subject: Miss Dorina Gray
Warnings: Probably nothing? Will update if that changes


So I heard about this Dorina Gray lady who can paint your soul or something.

I'm curious: did anyone go and get painted by her? What was it like? Was she nice? Do you think she'd be able to help uncover some deep memories, or is it just a "you're a good or a bad person" kind of thing?

Comments

i wanted to be cool too

[empyrean_mirror]

Oh...ahaha. I'll--sit here, then?

[Dorina nods, and Kaveh swallows his sudden nerves to sit, straightening out his spine and trying to smile, though only faintly. He's a fidgety man, and it's much easier to sit still for a Kamera, but even so, out of respect he sits as still as possible.

The paining comes in layers. A dark, deep green mixed with eerie red to make the background, and then as if illuminating the darkness itself, Kaveh is painted, loose and with streaks of bright color--the gold of his hair, the red of his cape, the white of his shirt--pulled off, making him look like a man aflame. He is crowned with sorrowful red flowers, and in the inky darkness behind him, a constellation of a great bird may be seen, seeming to rise out of the very flames of Kaveh's own existence.

There is sorrow in his eyes, but also, a great determination. Here sits a man on fire. Here sits a phoenix. He hasn't seen it yet, so March has a moment to see it before he gets up.]

...Is it about done? What do you think?

you ARE cool!

[photographice]

[March watches all of this come to life on the canvas, fascinated at the process. She may not have an artist's eye or anything, but she has a trailblazer's curiosity. It's enough to keep her invested until Kaveh speaks up.]

I think it's really beautiful.

[He may or may not like that this exposes some imagery in it that he might prefer to keep hidden--for her part, March would have never guessed that there's a sadness beneath his demeanor--but she's giving her honest opinion of the piece. If she were him, she'd be super flattered by the depiction.]

😳

[empyrean_mirror]

[He does get up to come have a look and falls silent for a long while. March doesn't know what all these things refer to, but Kaveh does, like he'd been stabbed and flayed open here in the room. He hasn't felt so exposed since...

...

No need to bring that up.

Still, despite the expression on his face, he can appreciate the skill that has gone into this painting, and it is a stunning likeness of him, just not parts of him he'd much like anyone to see. Dorina, perhaps sensing this, remains silent.]

...Yes. It's--It is beautiful. You're quite skilled, Ms Gray.

[He's not sure what else to say. All his weal and woe is made plain on a canvas by a stranger, and just what is he supposed to DO with that?]

[photographice]

[For all of the ways in which March can be dense, she's emotionally intelligent enough to pick up that this makes Kaveh feel deeply uncomfortable. It's a testament to Miss Gray's skill and authenticity that she's managed to throw him off (really, what was that one guy's issue with her painting?)... but it's also a sign that she should step in and get them out the door.

Later, she can give him a hug and buy him a juice or something to help cheer him up.]

Yeah, you did a great job with everything. Are you sure you don't want us to pay you or anything?

["No, no payment is necessary. Meeting you and getting to paint you was reward enough. Please, take the paintings with you."]

Got it, and thanks again. I'll carry both of them so you can handle the doors. How's that sound, Mr. Kaveh?

[aka: I'll hold yours so you don't have to look at it for a bit]

[empyrean_mirror]

That's-- [He balks at the idea of making her carry anything, but...he hears what she's offering.]

That's...yes. Thank you, Miss March, Miss Gray.

[Right. Time to open the door because he really needs out of here and maybe booze.]

[photographice]

[March dutifully follows him out of the house and onto the street. It's not until they've put some distance between them and Miss Gray that she speaks up again.]

Are you okay?

[He's obviously not.]

You can talk to me about it if you want.

[empyrean_mirror]

Ahaha...I'll be fine.

[He even smiles. See? Totally emotionally okay right now.]

It's just...a lot of stuff I wasn't expecting to come up today.

[photographice]

If you say so...

[Yeah, March isn't buying it. But she's also not going to pry. For now.]

What do you want to do now?

[empyrean_mirror]

...I feel as though we should put these down but...

[he trails off. He wants a drink but it's noon and he can hear tighnari in his head.]

I don't suppose you enjoy coffee?

[photographice]

I do!

[Generally the fancy, space-instagram-worthy lattes, but it's still coffee!]

Why don't we get some and not worry about these paintings for awhile?

[empyrean_mirror]

[smh smh you don't even grind your own beans march?]

Sounds good. I've seen a couple places, but do you have a favorite?