Art Class

It's Kesenday, Callem 11 17:19:03 1019. The full moon is up. The tide is low and slack. Towering white clouds drift slowly through the blue sky. It's hazy and hot, and the glare of the sun seems to drain the color from the landscape.

A12: Memorial Gardens District

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On this bright summer day, the Memorial Gardens offer a tranquil contrast to the markets, the ports, and the other thriving parts of the City. With the tall trees and majestic statuary, there are a few people here and there doing what people do.

In the gorgeously trimmed grass in this park a group of artists sit, as if a college art class out together, each painting on a canvas easeled in front of them. Some are painting landscapes, some capture a great airship, as one after another flies overhead, some are making portraits of some of the other people enjoying the calm serenity of this place of monuments. One artist is depicting a male sylvanori who in his turn seems fascinated, staring at the entrance of the Monument of Heroes.

Aznara's just walking through the gardens, enjoying the beauty of the area, when she comes across the artists in progress. When she spots Ga'Elian standing there, she approaches... but doesn't cross into the scene being painted by that one artist. "Quite a likeness", she says to the artist in question.

The painter says, "Thanks. He just has a certain look of innocence and wonder that I'm trying hard to reproduce. Images are easy, but such traits are really hard to capture." This artist is possibly a half-sil, possibly a full human of Eldanar stock. In any case she seems to be in her early to mid-twenties, and is dressed as a person of idle wealth might dress for such an occasion.

An older man seems to be walking around visiting the students in turn, and he also comes over. He says, "Not bad, Miss Rathdrum, but I think you'd capture the colors better if you cleaned your brush a bit more often." Miss Rathdrum responds, "Thanks, professor." He nods and moves off to another artist.

"Is he aware that he's the subject, or are you counting on him staying still the whole time?", Aznara asks the artist, after the professor's left. She reaches up to pull back the hood of her cape, still watching the young woman creating the painting.

As if on cue, Ga'Elian now takes a couple steps around the side of the monument, and scrutinizes it, looking up and down the statue, then reaches out to probe its texture and contours with his hand. The painter replies, "No. I'm sure he's aware that we're out here painting, but I haven't told him that he's the particular focus of my project. Ooh. That's good. Now I can get his facial expression a little more directly."

Aznara spocks an eyebrow as she watches. "You don't need him standing still? You've quite talented", she says. Then, she glances up... and takes a half-step to the side, getting more fully under the shade given to her by the branches and leaves of the tree overhead. She then proceeds to... stand and keep watching the artist at work.

Kira walks into the gardens coming from the lower city. Her large basket is nearly empty, with just a few loaves of bread left. Now that people are fed, she's not in any hurry. She takes her time passing through to enjoy the sights and setting.

A way's off, the professor rings a handbell. Miss Rathdrum says, "No matter. It's time for us to pack up and head back to campus anyway." And the various art students begin to do just that. At the tolling of the bell, though, Ga'Elian glances toward the professor, and manages to notice Aznara and Kira among the people in the park. He turns and strides directly toward Aznara, smiling, and waves while yet a little way off.

Aznara lifts one hand when Ga'Elian starts her way, returning the wave. She stays in the shade, though, not moving towards him. Once he's close enough to speak to, she says, "You made a fine subject for the young lady's painting.