abstractart | [city] inbox

[ kaveh looks. the slow elevator crawl of his gaze rapidly collates a few measurements. relief tugs at the corners of his lips: ]

The measurement you gave me was spot-on; it works. And I went through school without adjusting mine either, so I know how it gets - it still feels better when it's a good fit, though. [ next, he slips a few sketchpads onto the easel. ] I grabbed a few of these, and there are also paints from a crafts store. I didn't know if you already had your own or if you brought some from home, so I thought better safe than sorry.

Thanks, man. I didn't have anything with me when I got here but this, so I'm kinda starting over.

[he gestures to the living room table, where there's a partially assembled blank jigsaw puzzle. nothing but solid white pieces.]

Used to be able to just get what I needed, whenever I needed it, so worrying about keeping stuff on hand is a little different...

[part of what he'd said definitely piques his curiosity, though.]

You studied art in school?

Architecture, actually. I'm a graduate of Kshahrewar Darshan - I think the easiest way to describe it is that we specialise in technology. Our research extends into engineering, textiles, mechanisms and the like. If you can build it with your hands or take it apart the same, we were the Darshan that made the breakthroughs for it.

[ having made a little pile of paints next to the easel, kaveh straightens. his gaze slides past, and then back to the blank puzzle on the table. hm. ] But I've always thought that you can't design buildings for function only. I'm fond of beautiful things. If you design something for humans, it ought to also appeal to humans. But like I said in my messages to you, that's hardly what my country thinks, and that's always been a point of serious contention for me.

Really-? So it's sort of like a Wing...

[which is pretty impressive, even if it sounds like things are likely different wherever kaveh's from. studying with that kind of association is still nothing to sneeze at.]

Think you're right, though. I've seen a little of both, and when it's just built for nothing but function, it's...

Soulless, I guess. There's nothing put into it, just walls to hold something, and it doesn't even really matter what.

[ the thought lands. the terminology lands harder. kaveh brightens. ]

Ah, you're from the same place as Don Quixote!

... which means you're likely to know what a headchicken is.

[ HE STILL HASN'T... GOTTEN OVER THAT...... ]

A what...?

[HEAD CHICKEN?]

We're both from the City, yeah, but I think... she's a little more familiar with the way things are right now. I've been out of the loop.

Ah, so it wasn't unilaterally inflicted on everyone there. That's... good, I suppose. [ kaveh says, in the sort of slightly-dead tones that suggest he sort of wishes it hadn't been inflicted on him too. but it's don quixote, he supposes. if anyone were to get into trouble beyond documented compare with the weirdest protein known to mankind and think it's totally normal, it would be her.

slowly, kaveh shakes his head. ] Anyway, I agree with your sentiment. A mere four walls may make a house, but it doesn't make a home. It's the people within that do. And people... they need more than just the walls.

[ ... ] By the way - on your coffee table...

Edited 2023-08-20 08:36 (UTC)

[well, there's unfortunate news about the way she thought it was normal, which is:]

It does sound like something that'd happen. Just never ran into it.

[yeah. whatever it means, he's not That surprised.

he glances to the coffee table though, looking at it curiously.]

What about it?

[ those were not the words he wanted to hear. but he's... magnificently moving on. this is already too much headchicken for one day!! ]

That's a blank puzzle, isn't it? You brought it here with you?

Yeah. I used canvases and paper too, but... I like putting these together to paint on.

[it's a little soothing to work on them, sometimes.]

[ kaveh brightens in the way of wayward stars. ]

Oh, that's lovely. I hadn't thought to paint over a blank puzzle, but in a way, you're creating your own canvas to do as you like, right? What do you do with it after you're finished? Do you glue it together and frame it?

It's nothing that special.

[he sounds a little pleased regardless, though. it's just-- nice to have someone take an interest.]

I usually take 'em apart, though. If I wait a little while and forget what I painted originally, then it's like doing a new one.

And it becomes a puzzle again. [ there's something like warm satisfaction in kaveh's tone as he imagines the cycle - from puzzle, to canvas, to art, to puzzle. ]

There are these cloth bags here - I believe they are called 'tote bags'? They're blank, as with most things here, but they make a versatile canvas upon which you can paint anything you like. Once finished, you have a walkable piece of art that can be used to keep your groceries and some such. I've been really enjoying the process of painting on those.

Most things here, huh...?

[hmm. he considers that for a few moments, studying the blank pieces while he thinks.]

I'll definitely try the bags, but if it's like that-- I think I might start branching out. Find some more things to paint on and see how it goes.

[this is going to save roland's walls from being painted on directly.]

That's the spirit.

[ kaveh's smile is quick; it softens along the edges of his lips. ] I think I'll leave you to it. If there's anything you're looking for but you're not sure where to find, just send me a message. If nothing else, my listless wandering around this city can be of help.

- ah, by the way, I brought these for Roland.

[ from the wagon: a breathable plastic suit cover, a set of lint rollers, a pen-sized stain remover and a soft brush. ]

Do you mind passing these along? I know he's got a suit and a set of new ties he needs to take care of; perhaps they'll also come in handy with other high-end articles of clothing that he can't chance to the laundry machines.

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appending this because i've a memory of a sieve and totally forgot: