An Exhibition ((Ivan))

[Arthur Kirkland]

A book had finally come together, but it wasn’t the one that he had been struggling with for so long. This was a second one, a young adult novel set in a fantasy past, one that had almost written itself. It had barely taken him a month to get the original text prepared, and a few months later he finally had a draft ready to send to his agent, and after another draft, his publishing company. But this was his fourth novel now, and while the text was checked again for spelling and grammar errors, he was given freelance on the story itself and, for the first time, on the art.

He needed cover art, and something for chapter headers. Arthur was given suggestion after suggestion, and while he had been interested in a few at first because of their quality of work, he had quickly discovered that they had no understanding of his novel and the twisted setting that it revolved around. Irritated, Arthur started to do his own research, keeping his eye open for anything that might lead him to someone who would be able to recreate his own mental image of his work.

In the end, it was in the Lowlands that he finally saw something that made him look twice. He was out with Alfred, just walking around and chatting, and when he saw the painting he had to pause for a minute. It wasn’t perfect, but there was something about it that drew Arthur in in a way that nothing else he had seen had. So he had taken note of the artist and carried on, but when he returned home he did research him. When he found that he had somewhat of an exhibition on, Arthur knew that he had to go and have a look, if nothing else to see what else the man could draw.

Dressing down in his own way, matching an old pair of trousers with a comfortable shirt and jumper, and headed down on the now far too familiar train route down. It took a little bit of looking to find the exhibition, as it wasn’t in an area of the Lowlands that he was too familiar with, but he found it in the end. He hadn’t announced himself, of course. He didn’t want to hear answers that the man thought that he wanted to hear, didn’t want any preconceptions. He wanted to just see him as he was, and hear truthful answers about his work. That was all that he wanted.

Arthur straightened out his shirt before pushing open the door. He looked around in interest, wanting to take his time to have a look around first. With his hands in his pockets, he strolled over to take a look at the pictures that were hanging on the wall, taking in each one in turn. He found each as interesting as the first – not beautiful, perhaps, but that wasn’t what he was looking for. He wanted something different, something eye catching, and something that would stand out. Finally satisfied that this man at least had the potential to do what he wanted, he drew his attention away from the paintings on the wall, and looked instead for the man that had painted them.

[russia]

To say Ivan Braginski was excited was the understatement of the year. He had personally gone through the shabby little place he and a few other 'friends' had rented out, straightening his paintings and even cleaning up some of the dust that had collected here and there. It wasn't to say this was his first exhibition, nor would it be Ivan's last, but all the same, there was a need to just have everything be perfect for others. He wanted them looking at the art, not the unfinished wood floors nor the peeling paint. Granted, he had picked the place for its nice (if not shabby) vintage air and good lighting....

So, as people started to file through the doors, Ivan straightened out his own slightly over-sized sweater and smiled as soothingly as he could at other people, who were more interested in the art then what they thought was possibly an oversized groupie. Ivan had never looked like an artist, save when he was in a smock and dirty old shirts and pants, covered in paint.

Yet, a few people stopped and talked to Ivan about this and that painting, a few inquiring about what this or that was meant to symbolize, if it symbolized anything at all, etc. And Ivan smiled and nodded and answered as best he could, tried to describe that although he had painted these, he was not entirely sure what they meant yet. People it seemed, gave him a little, "What does /that/ mean?'' look, but went on their way, looking at his and other's art and chattering endlessly.

Ivan ended up sighing loudly and wondering towards the center of the room to study one of his more ..... fantastical pieces. Most of the time, his art either had a very, very old, classical element to it, sometimes bordering on humanism, and other times tipping on the edge of minimalism. Even if Ivan himself didn't even /like/ minimalistic art. It just happened like that.

But nope, this was one of the rare pieces he was perfectly content with. It was painting of....so many faces. most were not perfect, nor pretty, but none of them were ugly or deformed - even if some bore rather nasty expressions from his point of view. , But the picture, it was like looking fondly at old friends once more. All of them were so peacefully familiar, and for once, nothing in this picture bore anything violent. It was just....dancing. Wonderful, careless, colorful dancing. And for once, Ivan smiled sincerely, not because he had to, or because it was simply the thing that seemed right to do, but because he wanted to. He stood there for a few more moments, studying the unfamiliar faces before turning to look at the dinging of a bell tied to the entrance.

Sure, the new comer was late, but the more the merrier. Especially for Ivan, who desperately needed to sell atleast something or other here so he could buy more supplies. Either that, or move into a cheaper place, possibly.... Still, he smiled toothily at the incoming man with big brows and skittered up to him after he seemed to float around for a little bit. Possibly, thought Ivan, he is looking for me....Maybe. Hopefully.

"Why hello there, are you looking for something, sir?" he asked ever so politely, leaning down to look at the - oh god those eyebrows! Ivan covered a giggle with a cough before plastering on his smile even more. It wouldn't do to laugh at guests, now would it? Even if their eyebrows needed some desperate plucking....

[Arthur Kirkland]

It took Arthur a little while to pick out who exactly he was looking for. After all, while he knew he was looking for Ivan Braginski, that name meant little to him, and he had no picture to put to it. Glancing around, he did notice the tall, blonde man that had been lurking the whole while that he had been there. Perhaps…? He didn’t look much like the other artists he’d seen, but since the majority of them had been pretentious twats that was very likely to be a positive thing. When the man crossed over to him, Arthur felt that his question had been answered and he straightened up a little, looking the taller man in his oddly coloured eyes. Well, one couldn’t judge a book by it’s cover after all. Which was just as well, because in all honesty the man’s size was just a little intimidating. At least, until the giggle, which was partly covered by a cough. That was not the noise that he had expected to hear from such a big man, and despite his irritance at the cause for it, it was enough to make Arthur relax a little.

Nodding at the question, Arthur looked back at the painting that was closest to them, taking in the colours and shapes. “Are you the artist?” He asked, curiously. He could, of course, have used the man’s name, but Arthur had no intentions of letting him know that he had been looking up on him yet. He wanted to hear real and honest reactions for once, and to that end Arthur wasn’t planning on introducing himself properly yet either. While his books weren’t that popular, there was a bit of an advertising spree out about them at the moment in preparation for the new book, which was scheduled to be printed in the next couple of months. He really was running out of time to find an artist, so he hoped that Ivan might be able to bring what he needed to the project.

Since Arthur was pretty sure that he did have the right man, he looked back at him. “I quite like what you’ve done. Some of these are very interesting indeed.” He pointed towards the painting with all of the faces. “That one seems to have a lot of… emotion in it.” He complimented, honestly. He wasn’t given to false compliments, but there was something about Ivan’s work that Arthur liked. Equally, there was something about it that scared him a little, but, well, he’d rather not dwell on that part.

[russia]

Ivan smiled pleasantly enough at the man, noting his relaxation as he giggled. Was laughing good in this case? Hmm....He let himself wounder his pitiful knowledge of proper socialization for a moment before turning his attention back to the man infront of him. "Why yes i am, Sir. I did most of these," He waved his hand down a rather long row of paintings, and the one in the center of the room, "the name is Ivan Braginski, yes?" Shit, that damn verbal tick of his was acting up again.

However, Ivan just continued to beam at the other man, sharp eyes scanning him once before nodding happily at the compliment. "Why thank you, I try, I try..." He chuckled, swallowing. Perhaps this man was /actually/ interested in buying? Dear god that would be wonderful! Ivan still suppressed the hope, not wanting to look greedy or ass-kissing. Because he sure as hell wasn't the ass kissing type, overly-polite, maybe, but NOT ass-kissing. He'd rather die then be one of those artist that bent over backwards to please a buyer.

Still, he nodded, smirking warmly at the painting he had just been looking at. "Yes, that is one of my favorites." God, he had hoped that the man wouldn't ask any 'deep' hippy questions about it. What WAS it with this crowd and asking weird questions? Ivan thought for a second time, cocking his head to the side in thought before returning his full attention to his potential buyer.

[Arthur Kirkland]

"Why yes I am, Sir. I did most of these. The name is Ivan Braginski, yes?"

Automatically, Arthur followed his indications, taking in the room again. He gave a brief nod, and a small smile when he brought his attention back to the older man. “Ah, well, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He said, just a little stiffly, but honestly. He was curious to talk to Ivan and artists tended to be interesting people when they weren’t arse kissing. He still didn’t give his name, keeping it safe for now, and neither did he comment on that little verbal twitch. He’d heard worse.

"Yes, that is one of my favorites."

Nodding at that, Arthur continued to take it in, considering each face in turn. He thought carefully about how to word his questions, wanting to make sure that he didn’t get false answers. He did like the painting, but he wouldn’t have brought it even if he’d been here to buy something rather than to hire an artist. Something about it just creped him out a bit, and he wouldn’t have wanted it in his flat where he’d see it every day. “Did you use any references for it?” He asked, curiously. “Are any of them people you know?” He wasn’t interested in finding out about Ivan’s life, particularly, he was here to sort out his paintings, not to make friends, but what he did want to know was if Ivan had used books or stories as inspiration before.

“What kind of inspiration do you usually use?” He asked additionally to make himself clearer, eyes skipping along to another one of the paintings that he usually used. He was interested in the methods that Ivan used as well, wondering what kind of techniques he could use aside from what was displayed here. “Do you ever do just sketches?” He asked in particular, since that was what had been decided was needed for the chapter headings and any thing that was used for illustrations inside the book.

[russia]

"As is meeting you," Ivan said, just as politely to the smaller man, giving him a light nod and a smirk. He didn't mind the other man's stiff behavior, not really. Ivan wasn't here to make friends, he was here to do business; to get discovered, to make something of himself.

Ivan sighed as the man asked a more useful question, and almost immediately responded."I watch people, I study them, their expressions, skin tones, etc.

((OHjeeze, since my computer is being a fart atm, i'm going to post this as a WIP and come back later ;)