Young Dogs, New Tricks

[chiaro_oscuro]

Ben's in the Plaza this time - still wearing all black, even now that it's summer. He doesn't seem too bothered by the heat, though he brushes sweat off his brow and occasionally takes a drink of cool water from the flask at his side. In this weather, it doesn't pay to take chances with the heat. 

But even though his appearance is dark, in other ways he's uncharacteristically cheery. There's a grin on his features as he stands beside a pile of home-drawn sketches, of landscapes and creatures he observed in the Wilds.  Even his voice sounds more excited than usual. Ben Solo is visibly happy. And smiling. There's a brightness in his hazel eyes that wasn't there before now.

He won't say what it is to a stranger, but something happened recently involving two people close to him and a "borrowed" PINpoint that put him in a very good mood. He's here for business as well as pleasure, though.  Prices are listed beside the samples - he's here to hawk art as well as chat. While most of his earnings come from his repair business, his sketches don't do badly. It took practice, but he reapplied his knowledge of calligraphy and an eye for detail. Art's the quiet, restful hobby he's been looking for.

After he's finished setting up his stall and equipment, he stands beside it with his arms folded, watching the crowd. When someone approaches him, he poses a question.

"What hobbies do you have in the Nexus, or things that help you relax?" He's taking notes from any answers he receives. No harm in trying something new. "Anything you've learned to do here that you couldn't try back home?" 

Comments

[losthunter]

"I am Hunter." He accepts the offered hand in greeting.

"Art has become more than just a hobby for me. It is my lifestyle. My passion."

"Plus... I get to see how other artists see the world. So that is a benefit."

[chiaro_oscuro]

"Hello, Hunter." Ben shakes Hunter's hand. "I'm new here, relatively speaking."

"What do you draw? I'd be interested to hear what someone more experienced than me does"

"I'm...new to the trade, let's say. I live near the industrial area."

[losthunter]

"Portraits. Landscapes. Abstract. And I dabble in texture paintings too... something that people are actually allowed to touch, to see what it feels like."

"And I also experiment with pottery and making jewelry." It might seem like bragging, but Hunter is just being honest with his passion for his art.

[chiaro_oscuro]

"That's impressive." Ben's sincere. Hunter's clearly an experienced artist, to dabble in so many different styles and techniques at once. "Do you have a favorite?"

"I do landscapes. Most of these were drawn from life in the Wilds - that landscape with the giant high-heeled shoe was from a time when I was out with a friend." Ben was there to spar with Dia, but the shoe left an impression.

[losthunter]

"I still consider portraits to be my favorite." Hunter answers.

"These are really nice. They capture the setting in an interesting way."

[chiaro_oscuro]

"Portraits are an interesting choice," Ben tells Hunter. "I'm more partial to landscapes."

"Thank you. Do you have any you especially like?"

[losthunter]

"I enjoy all art work. Especially since I can do this..." Hunter gently touches one of Ben's landscapes paintings. And uses his magic to bring it for life for a moment.

[chiaro_oscuro]

"What was that?" Ben's curious, leaning in to examine the picture. "Was that some kind of magic?" Not the first time he's encountered unfamiliar magic in the Nexus.

[losthunter]

"Yes. I have magic that allows me to bring artwork to life." Hunter explains.

[chiaro_oscuro]

"Hmm. I've never seen that before." Ben looks back up. "Thank you."