OPEN / "Bring Yourself" Arts & Culture event!

[enveloped]

who: Cameron Waltz and you!
what: "Bring Yourself" Arts & Culture event!
when: Today!
where: Riverside Community Centre.
warnings: None predicted.

Open invitation on the network!


The community center is normally a modest building, albeit one with a spectacular riverfront view. Tonight, it's putting on the ritz. Multicolored lanterns hang on either side of the sidewalk leading up to the front of the building, and music of all kinds, depending on what time it is, pours out of the open doors and into the street. Local vendors have set up small carts to show off their wares and offer small trinkets and fresh food for sale, displaying their local pride.

Inside, things have been completely redecorated for the event. It's a modern open concept gallery, with blank walls for artwork and written word, empty pedestals to display objects, and plenty of tables with chairs. Some pieces are already on display, from paintings to exotic foods. Small crowds gather around people telling stories or showing off their special skills and talents.

That music plays live from the small main stage overlooking a dance floor, both of which can be cleared for demonstrations of everything from dance to martial arts. Anything physical that requires that little bit of extra room.

Musicians are free to write their names for a time-slot on the stage, and can choose to be accompanied by the onsite pianist and guitarist, bring their own instruments or backup, or perform solo.

All throughout the room are food and drink stations, where staff serves wine, beer, limited spirits, and soft drinks. The exotic foods are on display here, from which the guests can help themselves. If you can imagine it, someone has managed to cook it.
At the far end of the building is an outdoor patio overlooking the river, with seating and torches to light the area through the night. Most displays of magic take place out there, where practitioners can go all-out casting their most extravagant spells.

The crowd ebbs and flows, gathering to socialize during lulls and splitting off to see new events and installations as they come in. Other than opening and closing statements by Cameron Waltz, there's very little structure.

Casual and relaxed, the focus is on learning, generating conversation, and meeting new people. It's an organized free-for-all, a mini festival dedicated to the celebration of the cultures and backgrounds of everyone in Riverview. And in a city made up of a thousand universes worth of people, there's more than enough to see.

[Characters can bring pieces with them as they arrive, and simply set themselves up around the room. Contributions aren't limited to art, anything goes! Feel free to play random observer/staff/performer NPCs. The party goes until midnight, have fun!]

Comments

OTA;

[enveloped]

As the event organizer, Cameron Waltz's time is split between mingling and making sure everything runs smoothly. All smiles, handshakes, and management in a designer suit. While the entertainment more or less takes care of itself, there's plenty to be done in the background. Especially when you're a micromanaging workaholic. Despite the abundance of waitstaff at his disposal, Cam can't stay hands off. When he's not making an effort to stay in one place to socialize, he's running between the kitchen, gallery, and yard, finding space for new submissions as they're brought in, making sure the each space stays beautiful, and overseeing everything at once as much as he can.

He runs a tight ship. It takes management and no small amount of effort to keep a casual event from turning sloppy.

To the outside perspective, he appears calm enough, performing his duties as a host and public representative gracefully. On the inside? Well, he's already on his first cry, second glass of wine, third dessert (he can't say no to home-made dessert), and the night is still very young.

Between tasks, he'll gravitate towards the dance-floor to watch the live music. His significant other plays the guitar between acts, and Cam's his biggest fan. Otherwise he can be found socializing in the gallery, getting increasingly friendly as the night (and wine) wears on, lingering shyly near his artistic ink calligraphy prints, and lastly on the balcony, stealing a puff on a cigar.

(Basically, you can find Cam anywhere, feel free to interrupt anywhere at any time! Will match style.)

[volitaunt]

[ So this is the guy Jeff's gooey about. (Like Poe has room to talk, like he hasn't been thinking about John every moment since the crash and those kisses.) But Poe can't deny curiosity. He's seen the guy on the network. He's more imposing in person, in that senatorial kind of way that Poe generally associates with people like Leia.

Of course, that gets a little undercut when he catches Cam at his own art display, looking somewhere between proud and like he could happily be eaten by the floor.

Poe strolls up with BB-8 in tow, the little droid muttering in binary about people who can't keep their limbs to themselves. ]

They're beautiful. Are those ones animals? They kind of remind me of some from home.

[tevinteraltus]

It was after some deliberation that Dorian decided as much as he loves his homeland, simply prattling on about it would do no one any good. Those not of Thedas would have no context, and those of had an opinion of Tevinter that was well-earned over years of slaver raids, kidnappings, and the entire bit where they nearly doomed the world a few thousand years ago.

Still, he did feel as though magic itself was an art as much as a science, and he would be performing a demonstration later, but he would first need to have his targets setup out of doors. He spent the earlier part of the day exploring the other exhibits and enjoying the display of community Cameron had assembled. Finding the man himself clearly sneaking to the balcony, though, he had to follow, rapping his knuckles at the door as he opened it.

"I'm not intruding on your solitude too harshly, am I?"

[pacifisticuffs]

[ It's the purest curiosity that drives Simon to follow Cameron as he vanishes into one of the stairwells after a particularly arduous bit of mediation between two people trying to display their exhibitions in the same place.

If it were him, he would very much want to get away himself before he sabotaged both of the arguers.

What he finds, rather than a man venting frustration into the ether, is a man crying in a corner of the stairwell.

Simon stares for a moment, once again confused in his perceptions of this man. He clears his throat, announcing himself. ]

Really, old boy, you might do better with a glass of something hard.

[compartmentalise]

Markus felt very grateful for the chance to showcase his artwork. It only seemed right to seek out the event organizer and thank him in person for the opportunity. He took a moment away from his own work to seek Cameron out, eventually finding him in those rare times when the man wasn't running around trying to take care of one thing or another. Markus first took a moment to observe the calligraphy prints before addressing the man.

"I like this event very much. Thank you for organizing it. I like your artwork," he added with a nod to the prints.

[shoplifter]

[someone has apparently tracked some dirt through the walkway. How rude.

Laura came in just by chance, having wandered in from the woods to stock up on supplies; see, she had been taking a... short break living there, just while she could regather her wits, her thoughts. It'd been a tough last few weeks. Her social worker was probably worried sick. But it was important; it was something she had to do.

Didn't mean she wasn't tempted by the events that sometimes happened. She ends up here with her tattered backpack on, glasses and hoodie almost like some funny little 'disguise' that would never in a million years disguise her from her friends who knew her well. She's definitely got some leaves in her hair, dirt under her fingernails and blood on her knuckles.

She's at least... keeping to herself. In fact, she's ignoring other party-goers to movie from art piece to art piece; when an older lady tries to chat with her about art history and the study of blah blah blah, she just walks dead-ass away from her. To be fair, that lady's voice was the kind that would have droned on and on. She knows from experience with teachers.

But hey! She's definitely intensely studying his ink calligraphy prints now!]

OTA

[bestsir]

You might not expect the city coroner to have artwork on display at this event, but Harry's mother was a talented amateur artist and passed those skills onto her children—and it served the scientists amongst them well. Harry illustrated his own work, as did John, and while he now enjoys the fidelity offered by photography, there is something reassuring to him about the hand-drawn work.

So he's here with illustrations he's created of the creatures he's been studying since they showed up in the quarantine in June, framed and hung on a small space on the gallery wall. There's a pen-and-watercolour of Draco oculi, the flying, eyeball-eating lizard, the detail of which owes a lot to the fact that his pet lizard, Phoebe, is very nearly tame by now. Vulpis ignis, the fire-breathing fox, is represented by a pen drawing of a pair, one crouched on the ground, the other rearing up and spitting fire. There's a finely detailed drawing of a dissection of Birgus visumfluminae, the toy-poodle-sized crabs that were responsible for getting his menagerie politely booted from the hospital. The hair-nesting Rattus clamo appears in a rough pencil sketch. And there's a beautifully preserved Hepialis motus moth, mounted in a glass case.

Harry is not good at parties, but he does seek out people he knows to talk, and nurses the same glass of wine throughout the entire evening.

[volitaunt]

Poe is drawn to the art, because he recognizes those animals. It didn't occur to him that drawings like this could be considered art for display, or he might have tried to convince Jyn or Cassian to show some pages from their own study journals. He wouldn't show his own for love or money--the notes might be good, but the drawings are not.

BB-8 looks from one drawing to another at Poe's heels, whistling impatience while Poe takes his time to study each page and the names alongside them.

He circles the glass case with the moth inside, glad to have the chance to get such a close look at one.

Poe spots Harry, and walks over to him, curious. BB-8 follows. "How'd you find out the names of all those things?"

[pacifisticuffs]

Well, now. Here's a familiar face. Simon saunters up with a glass of some local whiskey, or a close equivalent. He's abandoned his tailored suit for a form-fitting, sky-blue turtleneck, and a pair of carefully pressed black slacks.

"Hello there, Dr. Goodsir." He studies one of the drawings, impressed and not bothering to hide it. "My, my. The local fauna certainly has some color to it."

Relm Hawke; OTA

[indigobird]

Very few people know that Hawke has an artistic side. Like, she could quite literally count on one hand the number of people who know (that are alive, anyway). She's kept it mostly to herself, a private means of expression that's helped her cope. It's a skill she's wanted to develop more, but life back home made that more or less impossible. But here, and now, it's different.

It's a big step, but she volunteered to exhibit some of her sketches. They hang in the space next to Cameron's. There are eight in total: three are pencil-drawn, one is watercolor, and the rest are charcoal. The watercolor is a smattering of greys and blues, a still of a post-storm coast with rocky cliffs and a certain aura that radiated ominousness. The rest of the sketches are of people, including a certain dwarf, a very lovely Rivaini, and even one of a certain blond-haired Commander turned Perimeter Guardsman (spoilers: it's Cullen) wearing a particularly deep scowl. The charcoal ones are more technically skilled than the pencil-drawn, but the sketches overall display years' worth of a practiced hand.

Relm even got a bit dressed up! Her hair's up and she's wearing a dress (no heels though, eugh). It takes a few glasses of wine before she works up the nerve to address anyone who comes up and asks about her sketches. She's really not used to talking about her art openly. It's likely the closest anyone will come to seeing her act shy about anything.

As the crowds milling around the displays and artwork slow, Hawke can be seen (wine still in hand), out on the patio, watching those show off their magical prowess. It still fascinates her, seeing other people's magics. Does it work the same way as in Thedas? Do they draw it from elsewhere? And they can use it so freely here. She'll never quite get used to that.

A conversation about the magic picks up near her as one performance ends. "Do you think his armor actually attaches to his skin?" one person queries out loud.

Hawke summons a bit of her Rock Armor, enough to cover her arm. "If it's anything like mine, it attaches. It's not painful though." She holds it up for the people to see.

The small group looks over and nods appreciatively before going back to their conversation. Hawke studies her arm. "Wonder if I could show this off. Probably a little safer than the rest of my spells." She's pretty sure Cam doesn't want her calling down lightning on everyone...

And when she's not at her display board or on the patio, she's just milling about anywhere and everywhere, taking in other people's artwork and enjoying the free food and booze.

i'm sorry for simon templar, a life

[pacifisticuffs]

There's much to be said for a beautiful, artistic woman. He means to talk to her before she makes her way out onto the patio, but the backdrop out there is just as appropriate.

There's yet another display of magic in mid-exhibition, and Simon finds himself distracted. It seems to be a show of defensive abilities--armors, glowing shields. It's fascinating and somewhat terrifying, if he looks at what they're doing as real. It's so much more comfortable to pretend it's a special effects display. So much more comfortable, and getting progressively harder to do.

When he finds Hawke, it's just in time to see her summon her own armor. He's glad he wasn't taking a drink--nothing more inelegant than choking on liquor when you're trying to make a good first impression. He takes a sip of his cocktail to clear his head before he steps into her orbit.

"It certainly got my attention. I was going to compliment you on your work inside, but perhaps I'd be better served in asking about the nature of the rest of your spells."

[winscenario]

The fact that Hawke's here just so happens to be a happy coincidence. Jim was planning on getting in touch with her anyway, as a matter of fact a call is probably long overdue, but he spots her at the event and decides it's as good a time as any.

He did have to ask someone first, just to make sure it really is her. It's not like his senses were the most keen the last time they met, after all. Once reassured, he pushes his wheelchair over to where she is, standing near the stage in-between shows.

"Hey. Hawke, right?" He cants his head a little, smiling up at her. "I think I owe you thanks for saving my life."

Markus ; OTA

[compartmentalise]

Markus had been to gallery openings before with Carl, but this was different: this was his own work, displayed for the very first time. He was pretty sure what he was feeling was excitement, possibly mixed with nervousness. And also pride. That one felt like the strongest. He didn't know if he was supposed to dress differently for this, but since Cam said it was a representation of their worlds, Markus went with a jacket and pants combination that closely resembled the android uniform he wore in Detroit. They were missing the distinctive android markings, but that couldn't be helped.

The art he brought featured some of the people he met in the Quarantine. Star Lord and Owen are painted in a way that hopefully distinguishes them from one another. There are also paintings of Jim Kirk, Spider-Man and Connor. Markus brought along a few sketches of the other people he met but didn't have time to put into paint.

Because he also painted this familiar image as well as this. Is it young Carl or Bishop from Aliens? You'd have to ask the artist to know for sure.

[winscenario]

When Jim wasn't sticking close to his table or singing on stage, he liked checking the other tables, see what others had created and brought along for this event. It wasn't even a little surprising to find Markus there, knowing the android's love for art. If anything he would be disappointed if he didn't find him there.

Pushing his wheelchair slowly as he approached the table, he shot Markus a wide grin. "Markus! You came," he said cheerfully. "You've been productive. These look really great."

[alfa]

This kind of event really wasn't Owen's thing. He didn't draw, paint or take pictures, and he didn't sing either, not the way some of the people here did. He couldn't very well bring his baby raptor or a wild animal from the zoo to show off something he was actually good at, so instead he stuck to looking around, checking out what others came up with.

He hadn't expected much of it, honestly. Probably just burn an hour of his time, if anything. But if he'd had any doubts about coming here before, they dissipated pretty quickly when he came across Markus's table.

He had to actually do a double take just to make sure he didn't get it wrong. Not that he possibly could. Markus was talented, and his portraits were very realistic. It was like looking in a mirror.

"You did a painting of me?" He smiled a little as he said it, gesturing at the canvas. "Didn't know I'd made that much of an impression."

OTA

[bythehand]

Finn, as encouraged by the official event title... brings himself. Well, it's more like he's brought. Dragged, possibly. By Poe.

And he knows that Chyler is going to be doing something, and he did, just possibly, catch the part of the network post where Athena yelled really loudly about performing? Athena's pretty cool. So there are some factors in play.

The principle of the matter is very much the same regardless, because he's here and he's interested in what people are showcasing, even if he hasn't brought anything to contribute to the displays or demonstrations himself.

Culture isn't much of a thing for him. Or-- not a thing he has that he'll ever know about. He's pretty sure. And yeah, maybe he's never entirely been the museums and galleries vibe type of person. But he sure does like people, and he sure does like the infinite number of different things that they could do at an event like this one. Finn can be an easy sell. He's part nerd.

So he'll be around. Very around. Straight-backed, sharply observant, not always adhering to the basic tenets of personal space, and definitely not afraid to start leaning in and asking about displays or demonstrations. You know, what is that thing. What's it for. That looks really good, you did good work on it. Etc. No demure class, we give in to curiosity, dare we say wonder, like men.

Finn will naturally also be on the prowl for familiar faces to bother. In fairness, he's never not on the lookout for familiar faces. There are a lot less of those in the city these days than there used to be. The face side quest makes no discernible difference in his main party quest.

[ brackets and prose both welcome! i'm also open to hashing out and writing individual starters, if the milling-about route doesn't take your fancy. feel free to hit me up about that! ]

[volitaunt]

[ It is equally possible that Poe is here both because Jeff made him come and because he saw the mutton chops guy mention scientific drawings and he's curious. He spends a fair amount of time studying them, and quizzing their maker, because Poe the Nature Nerd cannot be tamed.

It's after that when he starts poking at the exotic food tables. He's curious about these, too, in a twelve-year-old "I dare you to eat it" kind of way. BB-8 flanks him wherever he goes, whistling and making rude noises at people who assume he himself is an exhibit of some kind.

When Poe finds Finn, he has a plate laden with different items and a fork with what looks like an eyeball on the end held up in offering. ]

I dare you to eat it.

[pacifisticuffs]

[ Finn is one of the people Simon has been people-watching. He sticks out, intentionally or not--he's very solemn-faced for a man who seems intent on congratulating everyone at least once before he calls it a night. But it's not an act. Serious or not, he seems genuinely invested in every display he asks about, every compliment he gives. He's also good-looking.

Color Simon curious.

He slides up smoothly alongside Finn, offering him a small glass of a mixed juice one of the servers had been handing out--something that tastes vaguely like mango and pomegranate, with the sharp citrus kick of pineapple--taking a delicate sip of his own.

If Finn is on the lookout for familiar faces, he'll certainly find one in Simon--he looks unavoidably like Cameron Waltz. ]

You seem as though you could use a break for refreshments. Non-alcoholic, never fear. I wouldn't presume to offer a stranger anything harder than a handshake.

Jeff Calhoun | OTA

[bardish]

It took a little bit of convincing from Cam, but Jeff ultimately agreed to provide some music for the event. For most of the night, Jeff only plays unplugged, gentle coffeehouse style music. He's just the backup accompaniment for Athena, who's singing a set list selected for maximum, like, tasteful ambiance.

He's happy to let Athena be the star while they're sharing the stage, just as he's happy to be Cam's backup, however his boyfriend needs him tonight.

(Mostly, it's been emotional support. Somebody's got to soothe those nerves of Cam's!)

At some point, closer to the end of the night, Jeff actually has his own set, with a makeshift band consisting of some friends he's made in the city. But with vocals and lead guitar, there's no question Jeff's the star here, at least during this set.

It's not a particularly long set, and he sticks with covers of other musicians, rather than his own music (it's a long story; ask him why!)... But, while he's on stage, it really looks like this is the most alive and in his element Jeff's been since his arrival here.

(Honestly, this is the most alive and in his element Jeff's been in over twenty years. Again: long story!)

Yeah, he's an outgoing, cheerful person as a rule, but on stage, Jeff's different, more electrified. There's none of that ever-present undercurrent of nerves and anxiety running through him tonight. He's purely at ease, comfortable in his skin and confident in his talent.

He closes out with a song he dedicates to a special someone-- YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, BECAUSE HE'S LOOKING RIGHT AT YOU-- before launching into a song that conveys just how he feels about Cameron Waltz...

(And anyone who grew up in the 90s might recognize the song as soon as he starts playing that opening guitar riff.)

"I have looked all over the place, but you have got my favorite face..."

The song's about fucking. Cover your ears, children!

Anyway, say hi to Jeff when he's done!

[ And here's some extra examples of music he was playing: prison bound (probably somewhat facetiously, HE'S A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER FOR GODS SAKE), fall down, everlong, don't take me for granted, and other stuff ALONG THOSE LINES. And he probably had fun showing off guitar solos with zomby woof, highway star, and yes, even some tswift. ]

[citharede]

[ Athena cheers Jeff on like she's at a rock concert, whooping and clapping after each song and dragging others in to the celebration by virtue of her enthusiasm.

When he finishes the song to Cam and PRESUMABLY DOES WHATEVER GROSS ROMANTIC THING HE DOES AFTER THAT, Athena yells "GET A ROOM, OR AT LEAST A PRODUCER!" and promptly runs away.

She finds Jeff again after Cam's been drawn back to his host-ly duties. She can't sling an arm around Jeff's shoulders because he's too fucking tall, so she slings and arm around his waist instead. ]

Congratulations, Calhoun, you didn't suck.

OTA

[pacifisticuffs]

[ Simon is already tired of people mistaking him for Cameron Waltz. Once was startling, twice was amusing, and every time after that (he's up to five people, now) has been a progressively politer variation on 'no, I haven't shaved in the past two hours, I am not Representative Waltz.'

The worst of it is that this should be Simon's element. He's dressed in carefully pressed black slacks, equally carefully shined black shoes, and a sky-blue turtleneck that fits him in an eminently flattering way. It's close enough to the feel and look of silk and cashmere to be acceptable, even if the price tag is far less exorbitant than most of his wardrobe back home.

He migrates through the room, trying the oddest of the exotic foods without flinching, sampling the alcoholic beverages in small doses, watching the magic displays the way a person might watch a light show. Magic doesn't feel particularly real to him, yet. It's far easier to think of it as a performance art than a real, true thing.

He can be found studying just about all of the exhibits, at one point or another, though he is particularly interested in the local stalls outside and the specialty foods inside, quizzing their makers about ingredients and preparation. After a time, he can be found in one of the corners, people-watching the evening away with a glass of wine in hand. ]

[tevinteraltus]

[Dorian is quite certain Simon and Cameron could be twins, but the dinner they shared, there's no way he could mistake the two. Cameron is a charming man, to be sure, attentive and sweet really. Simon Templar is a shark with a good heart from what he can tell. Their mannerisms are different, the way Simon watches a room is different. His laugh, that confident smile, the way he holds a wine glass, the carefully sculpted shadow of a beard on his face...

...oh, Maker, he was a beautiful man, and dangerous. Just Dorian's sort. You'd think the Quarantine would have taught him by now not to fall for a charming smile and a handsome face, but honestly, if he hasn't changed in 30 years, he's not going to change now. He's wearing something far more suited to a magical display, which he'll be seeing to soon outdoors, and bearing a similar glass of wine when he finds Simon in the corner.]

Good evening, Ser Templar. That color does wonders with your complexion.

OTA

[tevinteraltus]

More and more often, the wearing of his robes, imbued with enchantments that increased his mana regeneration and thus invaluable when say performing huge magic displays, was feeling like the donning of a costume. Dorian would think more on the implications of that fact later, when an audience didn't await.

His demonstration would occur on the large patio overlooking the river. It was a tight area, yes, but Dorian had full confidence in his ability to control the powers he would summon to his disposal. Once the crowd had gathered, giving him about 30 feet in a circle in which to work, he nodded, pacing slightly as he moved to regard all those gathered in turn. This was clearly a man who'd spoken to a forum of people before.

"First, allow me to thank you all for attending, and Cameron Waltz for his ingenuity and sense of community. Clearly his position in the Quarantine was well chosen." He joins in the modest round of applause that follows that simple statement before leading it to an end. "Throughout the day, I have seen and heard momentous demonstrations of your cultures, from art to music, tales of history and achievement. It is truly an honor to stand with all of you." He was buttering up the crowd, sure, but Dorian was nothing if not a great showman. "Now, then, I'll not bore you with the socio-political upheaval that's recently blighted my homeland of Thedas at which mages such as myself are at the crux. I will simply state this: in most places in the world of Thedas, Circles of Magi are bastions in which those born with the ability to touch the fundamental fabric of creation, mages, are placed to protect the non-magic majority from their influence, and to watch them, should they fall to demonic possession." He raises a hand, one finger aloft, to accentuate that point. "A topic for another lecture, I'm afraid. Now, then, in the Tevinter Imperium, my homeland, Circles of Magi are more akin to...rather prestigious universities, where mages may come together and explore the boundaries and limitations of their craft. I am a Senior Enchanter of one such university."

He steps to the center of the circle around which people are gathered, pulling his carved staff from the loops of his harness which keep the shaft of wood strapped to his back. "And I happen to be very good at the whole magic thing." He proceeds with his demonstration, raising his staff high and a pulse of silvery light flashes across those closest to the circle. "A shield," he explains, "But I can assure you, none are in danger. It's simply a precaution to protect you from the worst of the heat, and the moisture. On my honor, it is only water." A quick staff reversal and the crystal at its point begins to hum with a bluish energy and he e drives the staff, tip down, to the ground before him. A circle of frozen air blasts in all direction, stopping just short of the gathered crowd, who gasp at the sudden change in temperature and the circle of ice before them. "The elements bend to our whims, at least rather locally." And another reversal and flame encircles the mage, melting the conjured ice in an explosive wave that splashes the recently melted water against those closest shielded and envelopes them in the warmth of a camp fire.

"The battlefield can be ours to command." And he presses a button on a controller in his hip pouch, activating the target drones he's placed behind the gathered crowd, twelve in total, which begin to circle above the crowd, gaining momentum as they do until their movements are difficult to track. "Target drones, compliments of Gramarye Magic Research. Rather useful little tools, really, but I digress." Another raise of his hand and Dorian is enveloped in a white light and seems to move faster than most can see suddenly. Half the drones above explode in small balls of fire before Dorian's speed returns to normal. Smalls beads of sweat dot his brow and he takes a breath and raises his staff and the remaining drone. Lightning arcs from its tip and chains to each. They vibrate in the air and begin to fall. He reverses position again, raising staff and hand, muscles tense as he sends out a wave of energy that catches the falling drones before they fall on the heads of those gathered and he clenches his free hand into a fist, moving the drones to the interior of the circle, where he drops them at his feet.

He's sweating freely now, and his breathing is somewhat heavy, as though after an intense workout. "I thank you all again for your attendance. This is, by far, not all magic might accomplish, but a taste. If any of you are interested further, I'll be around." He smiles, "near the refreshments, most likely. Enjoy the remainder of your evening."

And Dorian does proceed to the refreshments table, for wine, because wine is good to have after a workout, right? He'll be around!

[tempredmental]

"That was pretty impressive."

Keith had needed some time out of the house, so here he was, exploring different things around town, and he wound up at this place. He wasn't sure why he'd decided to come in, but it had seemed interesting enough.

jim kirk ▹▹ open!

[winscenario]

Is Jim fully recovered after being severely stabbed by a mutant child on a murderous rampage just last month? No, he is not.

Is he sitting at home with plenty of bed rest as instructed by his doctors (and his boyfriend)? No, he is not.

He is, instead, at the arts and culture event, because a) he was going crazy just being stuck indoors with nothing to do, and b) John Sheppard is a terrible influence who just showed up at his doorstep with a wheelchair, ready to break him out if Victor didn't agree to let him go. What a great friend, really.

And so this is how he's ended up at the event, dressed in plain trousers and a shirt, still looking pretty great despite his injury and the fact he's moving around in a wheelchair. He'll be caught dead if he steps out of the house looking anything less than amazing, thank you.

He has a small table with a few art pieces, mainly photographs in black and white, with a heavy focus on street photography and cityscapes, with a few nature photographs focusing on the flora and fauna that exists beyond the walls. There are also a few sketches, but they're not nearly as prevalent as the photographs.

He also takes up the stage for a short act, singing a few select hits while playing along on his guitar, and getting Victor to join him on his violin for just the last song. And yes, he does happen to have a very pretty singing voice.

[jolting]

Yes, as James's doctor Victor wanted him in bed. As his boyfriend, he was a little more flexible on the subject. He did love the man, and knew that James would be happier up and about than confined to bed rest. So he conceded to them going out for the festival, sparing John whatever scheme he had for breaking the captain out.

Victor had fun the last time he went on stage and performed, so doing it with James was no problem. He stood by James after their song was over in case the other man needed anything that he couldn't get while in the wheelchair.

roy harper ft. a robot dancing the robot ➽ ota

[shootsoff]

It takes a bit for Roy Harper to work up the courage to actually show off what he'd brought - compared to magic shows and artwork and all the super-talented music performances, his little thing seems, well, kinda dumb. Even, for all that it had taken quite a bit of effort to make, kinda untalented.

Hey, he's at least glad that he'd built it to do some kind of musical performance or something else, even if it was just a stupid joke no one would probably get, because this would feel a lot less...creative...if the robot wasn't doing something like a performance. It still takes a while for him to actually step forward and put the little guy onto one of the stage where people have been performing.

Clearing his throat, he steps up and introduces the robot as the RoboBoogie and then clears his throat again and steps back, clicking a button on a remote he's holding in his hand.

The robot starts moving slowly, jerkily, in time with some sick techno beats that start up as it starts moving. What ensues is an amazing demonstration of the RoboBoogie doing a spectacularly complicated little robot dance to a jumpy techno dubstep remix of a series of classic 1970s songs.

The outcome? A robot dancing a flawless, jerky-smooth robot, that finishes off with a tiny display of sparkler-sized fireworks in red white and blue (it was a culture thing, there had to be something American in there.

This demonstration is repeated a few times throughout the day, and in between, Roy is watching and looking at other demonstrations, appreciating people's talent, and indulging in a few treats and some soda - nothing spiked, though.

[enveloped]

Cam has seen RoboBoogie do his thing a few times now, and it never stops being cute. Perhaps a robot doing the robot is a little obvious, but that doesn't mean it's any less entertaining.

The sparklers are a nice touch. As a fellow American, Cam is rather endeared by the display of patriotism. It's so much easier to be fond of the USA from far, far away.

He catches Roy at the soda bar, a technologically advanced soda-stream setup. You can make yourself any variety of Italian soda or float with the click of a button. Coming up beside Roy, he starts pressing buttons and making his own overly sweet concoction. Cam's trying to wait at least half an hour before his next glass of wine.

"All the soda on the moon and no diet coke. Your robot doesn't dispense drinks, does he?"

Chyler Silva | OTA

[childofaxios]

[ As promised, Chyler is here with Dom, the tug walking precisely at her heels and occasionally trying to move away as he smells or sees something interesting.

He is after all still a puppy, and that's why she has him on a leash. If he gets the better of her while she's not paying attention, distracted by the displays, he might come up to say hello a little too eagerly or try to investigate what's on that plate you're holding before Chyler gets him in hand again.

Her exhibition takes place on the dance floor. She leads Dom out once the chairs have been cleared away and starts with simple commands, moving on to more complex hand signals and a few (like Dom playing dead after she mimes shooting him) are just for fun. He stands on his hind legs, jumps, speaks, rolls over, stands at attention. All the basics and then some.

Then she runs him twice through an agility course she had her PG friends bring in from the PG grounds, running alongside him as he dives through tunnels, jumps through hoops, and weaves back and force between poles. Once all of that is cleared away, a friend in a bite suit comes out. This display is more savage, showing the ways she's been teaching Dom to take down or disable a humanoid target.

The one command she doesn't give is the one that makes Dom lunge for the throat of the bite suit. That might be a little much for a show like this.

Once they're done, she goes back to a few simple tricks to wind up--Dom bows to the audience on one foreleg, then hides his face, apparently embarrassed, as people clap. ]