InsaneJournal

I got a feeling (OPEN THREAD)
Who: Dean Thomas, assorted NPCs and OPEN (please add your own tags)
What: The opening gala is finally upon us
Where: Towpath Studios, Camden, London
When: Friday 21st November: setup from around 6pm, main gala 8pm onwards
Rating: SFW (potential for language)


This day had been a long time coming and Dean was feeling nervous, pleased, and relieved by turns. Occasionally all of them at once. The studios had been completely transformed with the two large spaces usually occupied by Cadmus, Braith and the kilns and potions area now looking like a gallery. The additional free standing walls and stands in the middle of the room broke up the usually wide open nicely and provided the space for them all to display their work. Dean and Braith’s work was displayed on the various walls and a few of Ophelia’s plaques and plates, the rest of Ophelia’s work was split between plinths and tables. Cadmus’ work too was split between smaller pieces on tables and plinths and the four large pieces he had produced set on the floor (two in each room). The lighting had been done wonderfully and everything was lit without the space being overwhelmed with light. The sculptural pieces were looking particularly dramatic and Cadmus was examining his largest piece critically. Dean rather suspected he was about to demand the lights be moved for the third or fourth time and he avoided the situation so as not to be dragged into it.

“It will all be just fine,” Ophelia said, sliding up beside Dean, her heels tapping quietly on the hard floor.

“I’ll believe that when tonight is over with,” he said, tugging at the sleeves of his new robes, the magenta stitching catching his eye. He still wasn’t convinced about the stitching, but he’d been told repeatedly by the tailor that it looked good. He usually felt uncomfortable in robes these days, no longer used to it with his tendency to wear some sort of trousers exclusively. “At least three of us have stopped fussing now,” he said, moving through the doorway to the other room where the drinks table was set up.

“Yes, although I believe Braith would wish to change something if she had the time,” she gestured towards Dean’s mentor, who was examining one of her own landscapes with a frown on her face.

Dean glanced past the catering staff making arrangements with the drinks table to Braith who was closely examining the orange elephant in the centre of one of her pieces. Dean was the only one who had had the luxury of finishing painting a piece that morning as all of the magical pieces needed to be completely dry before the final motion and speech spells could be applied. As was usual before pieces were bought the subjects were limited to their own canvases, but that didn’t stop several of them talking to each other, which meant there were already more voices than people drifting out over the space.

Finding that Braith was feeling picky about that particular painting but would only bother fixing it if one of her small number of regular buyers took it Dean and Ophelia continued with their amble around the gallery. The drinks were part way across the room where the door opened onto. The nibbles would arrive on trays carried by the staff, who were setting up both in the gallery and in the meeting room upstairs which had been turned into the food storage area. As far as Dean could tell preparations were on track and his parents were due to arrive any time now for their pre-show tour. He cocked his head and realised the soft music had already started playing.

Right on cue there was a tap at the door and Ophelia kissed him on the cheek and left him to it, thankfully understanding that his artwork and the show was currently trumping his mother’s wish to meet his girlfriend. The portrait of his father in particular was something Dean was nervous about her seeing, especially as it had a rather prominent position. He was extremely pleased with the way it had turned out, hence the prominent placing, but that didn't mean that he wasn't nervous about people seeing it.