[pop-up gallery] The whole world is a canvas [Ruari +open (PM to join)]

He felt... judged.

He was currently hiding in a corner of the gallery, distracting himself with his third beer of the evening. 'Hiding' was more a frame of mind that an actual possibility. At 6'3 and built like a rugby player, Pike didn't do inconspicuous. Despite the casual tshirt, leather jacket and jeans combination, he still managed to stand out more than he wanted to. At least it wasn't immediately obvious that the hulk of muscle in the corner was actually one of the artists. His work made up about a quarter of the paintings on display this evening. It was a one-night showing - just a pop-up gallery depicting paintings of and inspired by the war. Pike's anonymity was a blessing as snippets of critical comments drifted from the mouths of the viewers to his abnormally-good hearing. Pike's paintings were not just a hobby, they were an outpouring of himself - his fears, his loves, his thoughts and dreams and memories both good and bad. His very soul was poured out in the oils and acrylics on these canvases. When someone commented on one "So much red paint... looks kind of... bloody doesn't it? Kind of unnecessary." in such a disdainful voice... it felt like a knife to the chest.

Of course it was bloody. Although the painting in question was abstract, it conveyed all of the personal horrors of Pike's war experience. Specifically that night when everything had changed. The fear, the dark, the stench of the creature's breath and his own blood pouring out, soaking through his clothes, the warmth a stark contrast to the cold foggy air of the moors. The memories came back far easier and quicker than he'd have liked, and he subconsciously raised a hand to tug up the collar of his jacket to better conceal the beginning of the scar on his neck. Only the tip of it showed above the line of his collarbone. It continued, unseen, across his chest, three larges slashes of claws ripping over his pecs, breaking the thick chest hair and tanned skin of his abdomen until they reached his opposite hip. His forearms too, also concealed by his jacket, were marked by slashes he'd gained trying to defend himself. If anything, the painting was understated. He'd never be able to put the full horror of that night onto canvas. Instead he was cursed to relive it in his dreams, and burdened with the reality of his condition. War had taken Pike's life and yet cursed him to continue on. He sometimes thought death would have been kinder.

Downing the rest of his beer, he crossed the room to the refreshments table and grabbed himself another, casting a charm quickly to cool it to his preferred temperature. He'd been in two minds whether to display these paintings at all... they were so personal. But at the end of the day, it always came down to money. His job as bouncer at the Hare only brought in so much. Not enough to keep him comfortably in supplies. Canvas and oils were expensive. Not to mention framing... that was extortionate. He'd had to buy in a little for the space here, but he'd already sold one piece, which had covered that cost and then some. He only needed to sell one other and he could call this evening a success. He supposed he should be schmoozing the customers or something...

With a soft sigh he wound his way back through the crowds to the section of the room displaying his work, ending up in front of a large semi-abstract piece depicting a large silver orb. No prizes for guessing the inspiration here. He eyed the price tag beside it warily. Strangely enough, he was less concerned with how much this one fetched, and more interested in finding it a 'good home' where it would be appreciated... cared for. These were his babies... flying the nest. He hated parting with every single one.

@Ruari Regan

Hm.

With a glass of elderflower presse in her hand, a tall blonde tilted her head as she surveyed the painting in front of her with a thoughtful frown. Ruari was creative but she wasn't artistic. Her clothes were beautiful and like little pieces of her soul but when she put paint to paper, it looked as though a toddler had run amok. Despite not being able to do it, she did admire the arty folk. It took a certain amount of balls to be able to bare your soul on a canvas and then display it for people to see so openly.

She'd been standing still for ten minutes, not moving, not speaking. She liked the feel of an art gallery. Bright and airy, she liked the way that people's chatter seemed to raise up and to the rafters. Everything had to be placed with such care and precision, it was a million miles away from Ruari's messy and haphazard abode.

Ruari wasn't looking to buy anything. She was really just here for Pike. And maybe some free food. Pike was a nice guy and he deserved more than his fair share of success. More than that, he was genuinely talented. He seemed to light up when he spoke about art and she had a feeling that he'd much rather do this than his job he had currently but she was raised better than to go poking around into other people's business. If he wanted to talk to her, she was certain he would.

A waft of jasmine and patchouli and a cheery jingle of jewellery and heavily beaded cloth announced her arrival. Ruari didn't really own any "art gallery" clothing. Oh sure, she had longer dresses but none of them really seemed appropriate. Autumn was fast approaching and it was usually dark around four in the afternoon but that didn't mean she was going to start donning drab hues and giving up on life. Nah.

Ruari's long bare legs wandered around the room, pausing intermittently at various prints and statues. If she had any money, she'd definitely invest it in art. She had a very small apartment and it was already cluttered, though decidedly less so now that Dash had moved out. She'd debated on asking her boyfriend, Hal, if he wanted to move in with her but the logistics were all wrong. He worked in London and she wasn't sure if he wanted to have to apparate every day to work or be so far away from his family. They'd never really breached the topic. They'd been dating for almost a year now but they had agreed to take things slow this time around, to save any repeat of their last break up and whatnot.


She wondered if there was anything here Hal might like.

Ruari was eager to get a jump on Christmas shopping. She usually ran out of time and she was  determined to make things special this year. Her big rain cloud grey eyes were caught by a painting of the moon. Or at least, she assumed it was. It looked similar but modern. It was really rather beautiful. Stepping over towards Pike and feeling in now way intimidated by the fact that he was almost a foot taller than her, she gently nudged him with her shoulder to get his attention. "Why are you hiding?" She asked him gently, tilting her pretty face up to blink at him with a smile. "You're the star of the show. Mini sausage roll?" Ruari asked cheerily, holding up a plate of mini pastries she'd managed to snaffle before popping one into her mouth and chewing. "mfh really goof," she said as she nodded in satisfaction, wondering if there was any cheese knocking about.

He smiled as Ruari headed over to him, feeling instantly comforted by the presence of a familiar face. He'd always been a 'family' kind of guy, protective of his friends, happier with people around... but since that night all of those personality traits and needs had hiked up a ton. He supposed it was a 'pack' thing. He'd been lonely moving around all the time. At least now he had the squat, and there tended to be at least one person crashing there with him at any given time. Whenever no-one was around it just felt oddly huge and empty. Pike needed family. Not the traditional wife and kids type, but an array of close friends that he could watch out for. He could see why the feral werewolves ended up sticking together.

"I'm not hiding," he lied, giving her shoulder a playful nudge back. "Just listening to everyone's... thoughts..." he pulled a face to show that he didn't always like what people had to say about his work. "Ready to jump into action if anyone wants to buy. Seen anyone who looks like they have some spare cash?" He grinned as he took her up on the offer of a sausage roll, popping it into his mouth whole. Unfortunately all it did was awaken a hunger that never really seemed to be satisfied. "Ugh, could do with something more substantial than finger food though. Maybe once this is over we should head to that new deli in Knockturn. You been there yet? Don't be put off by the location... the food is to die for." He paused, thinking over his choice of words, "If it's body disposal a la Sweeny Todd, it's tasty body disposal." He started to chuckle before realising that most witches and wizards wouldn't have the slightest clue who Sweeny Todd was. Muggle references always tended to go over people's heads.

"How's life treatin' ya anyway? Haven't seen you in a while so I assume you're blowing me off for someone devastatingly handsome and incredible in the sack... yeah?" he teased, lips curling into a smirk as he helped himself to another sausage roll.

Ruari gave Pike a knowing smile but declined to comment. If he said he wasn't hiding, then he wasn't hiding. She understood how scary this could be. She'd gone through something similar when she'd opened up her shop in Dublin. For the three weeks prior to the opening, Ruari had been neurotic. She was prone to crying, moments of elation, she bounced back forth like a wayward yoyo. Pike had been there for her. He'd actually had to haul her out of a pile of fabric that she'd been seeking shelter in. It seemed only fair that she should repay the favour.

"Oh?" The dressmaker asked, titling her head up towards Pike to gauge his reaction. There was a flicker of a frown and distaste. "I've heard a few positive comments," she was quick to tell him, nodding to a plump, petite woman with a shock of pink hair. She seemed to be wearing a Persian rug that she'd fashioned into some sort of toga. Ruari was all for expressionism and so, she'd simply smiled and shrugged. "Oh lots," she replied with a nod, sipping the fizzy liquid in her glass and delighting in the way the tiny bubbles burst on her tongue. Delightful.

"There's a great turn out," she was quick to remind the taller man, gesturing to the crowd of people milling around them. Oh sure, it wasn't just Pike's exhibition but numbers were numbers, right? Swiftly, Ruari reached out and squeezed one of his arms warmly and affectionately before adding in a whisper, "Stop worrying. You're just warming up. I saw in my tea leaves this morning a paintbrush so that's got to mean Fate's on your side." She also saw the outline of Australia in the same cup. She hoped he wouldn't have to move so far away to become successful.

"Don't you think these little butties are cute?!" Ruari exclaimed, holding up a dainty little slice of cheese and tomato. Then she frowned. "Actually, I am starving," she finally admitted, pulling a face. She didn't know what vol-au-vents were but they were not dinner. "I haven't, no," she replied, her stomach giving a rumble. "But I'm super keen on delis." As Pike spoke, Ruari gave a confused frown, the corners of her deeply plum lips down turning as she struggled to follow. Sweeney Todd? "The plumber?" She asked, shrugging. It must be some sort of arty joke she didn't know the punch line to or something.

"Really well, thank you," the willowy  blonde replied with a sunny smile, turning to face him properly. For the first time in a long time, Ruari was honestly happy. She'd been stumbling around for a while but things were starting to make a bit more sense.

"No!" Ruari exclaimed loudly, so loud that a few people turned and shot her unfriendly glances. "No. Of course I haven't," she said quickly but her pale cheeks soon flushed deeply pink, a sure sign that she was lying. Feeling uncomfortable, she took a swig of her drink and almost choked on it as she replayed visions of her and Hal together. Heck. Was it warm in here or what?

"Okay so maybe I've been dating someone," she said in a low voice. The blush spread from her face and right down her neck, making her seem like a five foot eight walking tomato. She cleared her throat. It wasn't that she was just plain old boring "in love" with Hal, she was besotted with him. In fact, she was three inches away from being completely obsessed with him. He was glorious and easily the best thing that's ever happened to him. Unable to hold it in, Ruari gave a dreamy sigh, her shoulders sagging gently.

"He's amazing, Pike," she told him honestly. "I want to super glue myself to him. Honestly. I've never felt like this about anyone in my life before. I think you'd really  like him," she said brightly. Pike and Hal were wildly different but she was sure that if her boyfriend knew just how much the artist meant to her, he'd try extra hard to get along with him. It felt somehow inappropriate to discuss her sex life but yeah, Hal was slammin'. She hadn't been shy about her praise for him. She liked the juxtaposition of him being a straight-laced, professional Healer with focused determination and charming manners and the fact that he did things with his tongue that just made her --

"But hey," she said, her rain cloud coloured eyes suddenly alight and sparkling. "How about you? Seeing anyone special? Because if not, I know someone who I think'd be perfect for you," Ruari said, fixing Pike with a childlike hopeful expression.

Pike raised a thick eyebrow as the witch denied his playful accusation far too quickly and heatedly for it to be truthful. A few faces even turned their way at the outburst, one of them shooting Pike an evil look. He didn't have to be a genius to realise what the situation looked like - a delicate young lady in a short, pretty dress shouting 'No!' at the tall, broad and rough around the edges man looming over her. Pike took an instinctive step back from his friend to put some distance between them, trying to make it clear that he didn't have bad intentions. He was far too used to people assuming that he was dangerous - as a muggleborn, as a werewolf and even, it appeared, when people were completely unaware of both those things.

"Shh, you'll get us chucked out," he teased, before listening to the subsequent confession that spilled out. As she spoke and her eyes lit up, so too did Pike's. "That's great! I'm so happy for you!" he responded genuinely.

He smirked at her following words and lightly shook his head, "Well there's lots of special people in my life," he replied with a chuckle, "But nah, I'm not seeing anyone. Not exclusively anyway," He gave a light shrug. It was something he tried not to focus to too much. When he'd been with Frey, he really had thought it would last forever. That he'd found 'the one'. Hell, they even bought a place together, as run down as it was. To go from that to having nothing - losing the house, his job and, yes, Frey too... it would be enough to kill the hope in some people. Thankfully Pike's hope was pretty resilient.

"Oh you do, do you?" he replied in a playful tone. "Tell me more!"