Edward Hopper's Art Show

[andrav]

Juniper arrived 15 minutes early to the art show though he had been trying to be exactly on time. He couldn't shake the feeling that Cory might arrive before he would, and that was utterly unacceptable. He couldn't expect Cory to show himself around after Juniper had issued the invitation. If Cory had been a woman, Juniper would have insisted on picking Cory up, but that hardly felt appropriate. Surely, Cory could find the address Juniper had given him on his own.

The doorman recognized Juniper immediately--this was certainly not Juniper's first time in this gallery--and nodded him inside. Hanging just inside the entrance, Juniper glanced periodically out the door frame to see if Cory would come up the steps. The event was open to the public and free, but Juniper didn't like the idea of Cory having to wander in search for him. That would be of poor taste.

On the other hand, he wanted to wait for Cory before getting a good look at any of the pieces on display, so he walked over to the refreshments table and collected a drink. They didn't serve alcohol here, or at least it wasn't on any menu Juniper knew about, but Juniper appreciated the opportunity to have something in his hand. Taking a sip, he walked back over to the doorway, gazing out at the sky which was beginning to collect its first handful of stars.

Was this the right decision? Inviting Cory? Surely, it was harmless. Juniper had been second-guessing himself since the party Coleen and Amelia hosted just the weekend prior. Perhaps he was trying to rush things, perhaps...

But then Juniper remembered the soft sensation of Cory's hand shaking his and the way Cory smiled after savoring that strawberry... not to mention how he had chosen it while Juniper watched...

Juniper shook his head slightly to clear the daydream. He had been replaying moments and imagining new ones since the party, each one causing a fresh wave of butterflies and anxious energy in Juniper's stomach. He hadn't eaten properly today as a result, and he knew he needed to remedy that at some point. How could he eat when he had invited a man--to whom Juniper was undoubtedly attracted--to an event? He had had something to snack on just before deciding to walk to the event, hoping it would take longer than the very short drive would have.

Not long enough, Juniper said, mentally chastising himself.

Stepping fully outside and past the doorman, who nodded at Juniper again, Juniper pulled out a cigarette and lit it, holding it between his fingers and setting his drink on the banister just before the cement slid toward the stairs.

((Juniper will put out his cigarette as soon as Cory arrives. Feel free to look up some Edward Hopper paintings if you would like to know what the focus of the gallery is. ))

[Emily]

Cory turned the corner just a couple minutes late, somewhat flustered and short of breath about the time. He smiled when he caught sight of Juniper, though, and carried on with a bit more ease and grace now that he had his destination in sight. An excited skip may even have made its way into his step as he ascended the stairs to meet his companion for the evening.

"Sorry if I kept you waiting," he offered with a slight bow, "Still learning my way around." The artist's tone of voice was light, but there was certainly sheepishness in his smile as he watched Juniper's expression hopefully, unsure to what extent he'd find annoyance there.

Perhaps in contrast to the artist's slightly flustered demeanor, his appearance was the most on-point Juniper had yet seen it. Cory's subtly-textured khaki suit was a perfect fit, his accessories complementary shades of brown and cream, including the fedora which presently kept his hair neatly tucked away. His tie was the exception--a playful dusty green, enjoying standing out and still drawn flush against the artist's neck, at least for the time being.

((OOC: decided on roughly this color palette cuz I needed some kind of reference from which to make decisions lol https://colorpalettes.net/color-palette-2456/ ))

[andrav]

((OOC: I think Juniper has officially fallen in love with that website you found. Here's Juniper's pick for the evening: https://colorpalettes.net/color-palette-4254/))

Juniper rested a hand on the cool cement of the banister and looked wistfully up at the stars as he dragged on his cigarette. He hated being early, but then again, it was a nearly unbreakable habit of his. He felt... alone looking up at the clear expanse of night sky in the chill pre-spring air, excited and with continuously anticipatory bubbles in his stomach, but... alone. What did he really think would happen with Cory? What if the man didn't even show up? And what if he did? Would Juniper be content simply strolling the gallery with the man, sampling the refreshments, and saying adieu?

It was farcical to believe that more could happen, but Juniper supposed he could dream. He had been too hasty in Chicago and look where that had gotten him. That hasn't stopped you from throwing in with Serio, he thought to himself. But that was different. There were safety nets in place. That was business, and romance was... risky.

Juniper had long ago assumed he may simply end up alone, and he had thought he had made peace with that. But... the lounge might change things if he ever became brave enough to show his face there rather than just being the money behind the curtain. Or, if he got lucky...

It was far too early to be thinking such things about the man who would surely, any moment now, be strolling up the steps in his direction. Wanting to look his best, he finished his cigarette, took a swig of the sweet punch from the refreshments table, and adjusted his newsboy. He then smoothed the front of his burnt umber vest, pulled the shoulders of his burgundy jacket more properly into place and tugged on both sides of his small, pale bowtie to ensure it was still straight. Yes, he was sure he looked crisp despite deciding to walk here.

As it neared the time they were meant to meet and even became a few minutes past, Juniper wondered if the note he had left Cory had been too ambiguous. Should he have made more of a comment about it before they parted? No, he wouldn't have wanted to be obvious. Juniper would need to make a decision soon about what to do if Cory did not show, though. He didn't want people making assumptions about exactly why he was spending so much time standing outside the gallery. One cigarette was excuse enough. Just before he thought about walking back inside to busy himself, Juniper caught sight of Cory turning the corner in a delicate cream and khaki suit that... well... suited him perfectly. It was the most tailored attire Juniper had seen Cory wearing to date, and the strong and supple lines of his figure practically glowed beneath his garments. Juniper found himself thinking that the fabrics fell like soft petals about Cory, and as Cory came closer, Juniper felt a shower of shooting stars in his stomach after seeing his favorite dusty green shade flush around Cory's neck.

This man was surely trying to woo Juniper. Subconsciously or no. But, Juniper shook off the thought. There's no way the artist could have known.

Still, Juniper could not take his eyes off Cory as the man ascended the stairs, bouncing up one of them as though he could not help it, which tugged a small smile onto Juniper's otherwise composed features. Stopping just two stairs below where Juniper stood waiting, Cory apologized for his slight tardiness, but Juniper was quick to forgive. After all, it wasn't Cory's fault he had arrived absurdly early.

"Not at all," Juniper said, meaning to dismiss the idea, "you gave me an excuse to admire the stars." Though you outshine them all, Juniper added in his mind and immediately chastised himself for the cringeworthy line. And he thought himself a poet. Still, he made a gesture toward the sky that was replete with stars despite the brightening lights of the New York city skyline. Soon, he suspected, the ever-increasing city lights would blot out the stars, but for now...

He desperately wanted to compliment Cory's appearance, but... that wasn't something Juniper ever heard one man offer to another, so he kept his mouth shut for a moment, cycling through what he wanted to say in favor of something more socially appropriate. A little awkwardly, Juniper turned to look at the inviting glow from the gallery just up the last few steps.

"Well," Juniper said, turning back around, "care to take a look?" Should he mention something about why he invited Cory here? Or just head inside as though it were obvious? Given that there were few excuses Juniper could offer without making himself seem suspicious, he simply turned and walked up the stairs, setting his empty paper cup in the garbage just outside the door and assuming that Cory would follow.

"I've brought a friend, George," Juniper said to the doorman, setting a hand briefly on the man's shoulder. "No need to charge him." The doorman smiled pleasantly at Juniper and then nodded at Cory, waving them both through. The gallery was bustling, but not crowded, and the two men easily navigated the throngs of men and women weaving through the gallery rooms. Juniper always loved the way each room provided its own labyrinth with a hundred different possible orders to traverse it in. How would Cory most appreciate the art? Should they get refreshments first? No, perhaps that would be a better mid-evening pause.

Without breaking stride, Juniper looked back momentarily at Cory and smiled, deftly navigating to the first room of the gallery on the left where a number of Hopper's landscapes dominated the walls. After entering, Juniper paused and waited to see which Cory would want to inspect more closely first. He was intensely interested in how an artist would choose to enjoy the work of another.

((Some examples here: https://www.apollo-magazine.com/edward- ... er-review/))

[Emily]

Cory's smile widened, and the artist couldn't help but look over his shoulder and up at the stars even before Juniper gestured. It wasn't quite like home, with open fields and naught but distant trees intruding on the sky. Still, the same stars were here, and there was a certain sort of beauty to the frame the buildings around them constructed, and the artist looked quite content in his gazing.

Juniper drew Cory's attention back towards the gallery, and the artist nodded before following his companion the rest of the way up the stairs.

A subtle awkwardness chilled the artist when Juniper addressed the doorman about admittance, but he did his best to offer the gentleman--George--what warmth he could muster on his way past. It was embarrassment eating at Cory there, but the artist worried the doorman might've read something else into it. Then again, he was probably just being self-conscious, he told himself, and George the doorman may have thought nothing of anything at all. Here was hoping.

The artist had trouble getting past it as they entered the gallery, though, and Cory gazed wide-eyed at the throngs of people and the huge labyrinthine space--or, what he could see of it. It wasn't really any more people or any more grand a space than he'd seen in The Black Butterfly, but the theatre-turned-lounge had its own rebellious air that had managed to put the artist at ease--somewhat. This gallery on the other hand was so...

Oh, dear, Juniper was looking back at him. Cory mustered a warm smile immediately, hopeful that the gentleman with him would take pride in whatever amount of awe might've been on Cory's face, and not zero in too much on whatever discomfort was in the artist's body--of which there was, admittedly, quite a lot. But, then again, perhaps no more than he'd had at the party, and that clearly hadn't put Juniper off. The artist swallowed, subduing an impulse to loosen his tie.

He followed Juniper into a nearby room, and paused briefly next to his companion, at first uncertain about why the man had stopped. In the pause, Cory's gaze of course couldn't help but take in the art in the room while he awaited Juniper's lead, and all at once it dawned on him that that was probably precisely why Juniper had paused. A light, airy flutter glided through Cory's stomach as the artist resolved to simply enjoy the art, and warmth bloomed in him as he let his feet start to lead him towards one of the lushly-colored landscapes nearby that had especially caught his attention.

((OOC: ok, gonna pause there so that I can go ahead and make the post. Recognizing that I haven't technically done much besides catch up, but hopefully there's enough to reply to! Or if not lmk and I can continue another time lol))

[andrav]

When Juniper looked over at Cory, attempting to be reassuring and trying to obscure his interest and curiosity, Juniper could not help but register the artist's discomfort. Had it been something Juniper said? Should they have gone to the refreshment table first? Was Juniper rushing into things? But then Cory seemed to take the cue and looked around the room, walking closer to one of the few paintings in the room that did not contain a building. Juniper might have overlooked it at first--it was rather plain without much happening, after all--but seeing Cory's interest in it illuminated his own. After what he felt was the appropriate length of time to leave the artist with his own thoughts, Juniper walked up to stand near the artist again, viewing the hills and rocks of the landscape with a new interest. He found delight in the way that the windswept tree contained so much life and detail even though it appeared on the edge of the work almost like an after thought.

Hadn't Cory said he had traveled here from the country? Was Cory homesick? Or was this composition genuinely the most interesting to him? Juniper chastised himself for having mentioned the stars outside. They were probably nothing compared to what Cory had been accustomed to, whereas Juniper had almost exclusively lived in cities his entire life. So much for appearing suave. Juniper brushed at the front of his jacket to compose himself and braved a comment to Cory.

"You have to appreciate the detail he gives to the shadows," Juniper said, doing his best to sound educated about artistic decisions. "It makes me wonder what might be just over that hill." Juniper glanced at Cory, then, curious what he might find in the artist's expression.

[Emily]

"You have to appreciate the detail he gives to the shadows," Juniper said. "It makes me wonder what might be just over that hill."

"Yeah," Cory nodded with a soft, warm smile, his eyes not leaving the painting. He leaned slightly toward Juniper, his hand gesturing to one of the shadows in the painting. He tried to keep the gesture appropriately small, based on others' sightlines to the painting; he didn't want to block anyone else's view if he could help it. "There's a lot of texture and depth in the reflected light. And--" his gesture shifted first left to a rock in shadow, and then right to a rock in light, "I love the texture of the rocks. The mark-making. Makes me want to touch it."

Cory let his eyes trail over to Juniper, then, his smile just playful enough to acknowledge that he knew that to do so would be mischievous of him. His smile softened quickly, though, and he slipped his hand into his pocket as he returned his eyes to the painting, content to continue taking it in a little bit longer.

[andrav]

"Yeah," Cory said with a nod that Juniper noted out of his peripheral vision. Cory's smile was soft and small, but he was certainly engaged in the painting, raising a hand to gesture toward a shadow. "There's a lot of texture and depth in the reflected light. And--" Cory pointed over to a rock in the sun. "--I love the texture of the rocks. The mark-making. Makes me want to touch it."

Juniper looked at Cory, who looked to Juniper, meeting each other's eyes slowly. Cory smiled, then, giving Juniper the impression that he was joking. He wasn't actually going to touch the painting. But it did make Juniper think of the possibility of Cory touching him. Perhaps even with paint on his finger.

Cory's smile softened, though, and he turned his attention back to the painting.

Juniper looked down at his hands, suddenly unsure of himself. If he was being completely honest with himself, he wanted to get Cory to somewhere they could speak freely, perhaps actually get a sense if Cory... Well, then again, did Juniper really want to out himself to this new artist in town?

Juniper also turned his attention back to the painting, moving onto the next one closest to them and waiting until Cory caught up. The socialite couldn't help clocking the other people in the room. There was a couple discussing something intently and another man at the other end of the room, engrossed in a description. Perhaps Juniper could speak softly and be delicate with his words.

Refraining from the temptation to lean closer to Cory, Juniper said plainly, just above a whisper, "So, was it just me, or were you equally interested in circumnavigating Colleen and Amelia's attention at the party the other day?" He darted his eyes over to Cory slightly but quickly returned to looking at the painting. He thought it was an innocuous enough question. Almost vulnerable enough to be incriminating but easy enough to find his own excuse for, should he need it. Perhaps they could just simply commiserate the social pressure, regardless of the reason for its irritation. Granted, Juniper was, perhaps, putting Cory on the spot. He hoped the man would forgive him.

[Emily]

Juniper meandered over toward the next painting, and Cory lingered just a moment longer on the current painting before leisurely following along, offering some of the most satisfying brushstrokes on the canvas a final admiration.

"So, was it just me," Juniper whispered as Cory settled into place next to him, surprising Cory slightly, "or were you equally interested in circumnavigating Colleen and Amelia's attention at the party the other day?"

Cory blinked to Juniper, meeting the man's eyes only briefly before Juniper returned his own gaze to the painting in front of them. Cory did, too, following the cue. He felt a little rattled with nervousness all of a sudden, the sensation of it hot and buzzing deep within him. But, at least he could look at the art, allow himself to ground in colorful brushstrokes and earthy pallettes while he contemplated how he ought to reply. He felt a bit caught out--and, really, perhaps the best reply was simply to acknowledge that much.

"Guilty," Cory said with a light, sheepish smile, and he swallowed softly, trying to muster together a bit more of a substantive reply. But gosh, his tie was already feeling awfully tight. It was exciting that Juniper was discussing something hushed, and Cory had a hope about what precisely the man might be fishing for, but wasn't it too early in their interactions for that kind of hope?

Cory glanced over to Juniper again; he couldn't help it. He wanted to see if he could possibly get a read of the man's expression. Though, it only occurred to him after he'd begun to trace the shape of Juniper's brow that, of course, there would only be so much that the man could safely show here in public. Cory's eyes flitted hastily over the rest of the room, taking a fresh account of what kind of an audience they might potentially have. Less than a handful of others were in the room at present, each of them engrossed in each other or art. No people-watchers, for now. That was something, though in some ways, Cory wasn't entirely sure whether that made him more nervous or less. His thumb and forefinger rubbed lightly together in his pocket, fidgeting there to avoid the impulse to reach up and loosen his tie. Finally, he returned his eyes to the painting, and tried to ground himself in what had brought him here in the first place.

"In truth," he added after a hefty pause, "I think Amelia would be quite glad that I found someone to talk with about awe." There, Cory couldn't help darting his eyes over to Juniper again, uncertain how his follow-up comment would land.

[andrav]

((OOC: Imagining that they are now looking at this painting: http://www.abstract-art.com/abstraction ... sehill.jpg))

Juniper kept his eyes on the painting, but he took in as much as he could of Cory's responses with his peripheral vision. Cory looked to Juniper, blinking, and Juniper resisted the temptation to look back at the man. Better to practice avoiding notice while they could. Juniper thought he could feel the heat coming off Cory from beside him, but perhaps that was only his own body heat. He had, of course, flushed after asking the question, immediately questioning whether it had been the right call. Perhaps he should have waited. Was it odd to assume that Cory was avoiding the attentions of his own friend? Had Juniper imagined it all?

But softly, Cory said, "Guilty," a small, gentle smile across his lips.

Juniper's rational mind left him. Having prepared for this moment since the party, Juniper hadn't actually fully allowed himself to believe that his hunch might have been correct. He had thought of exit strategy after exit strategy but not, it seemed, the path forward from here. He was speechless for a moment, his eyes searching the painting as though it would offer some answers.

Cory continued, however, maybe recognizing Juniper's pause had gone on a little too long. "In truth, I think Amelia would be quite glad that I found someone to talk with about awe."

...orchestrating moments of awe...

Juniper heard again the sound of Cory repeating Juniper's own words at the party, the memory of Cory's lips shaping the syllables worn and soft like rose petals. Now Juniper was certain he was feeling his own body heat now--his cheeks were certainly flushed. Why hadn't he waited to spring this on Cory until after they had gotten punch? Juniper subtly shook his head--he did have a knack for rushing into things like this, didn't he? Would he never learn?

But now Cory was looking at him carefully, having laid bare his own sort of admission. That's what it was, right? An admission? Should Juniper try to dismiss it? Get them back on track? Talk business or somesuch?

Juniper's eyes traced over the lines of the house in the painting, trying to restore a sense of confidence in his mind.

"Amelia, at least, seems a good friend," Juniper offered, hoping that would be neutral territory. Or maybe, had he been wrong about Cory and Amelia's relationship? The next sentence just sort of spilled out of him before he had much time to think about it. "Colleen's made it all but obvious that she expects me to court her." Juniper sighed and looked down at his shoes for a moment before looking back at the painting, giving proper study to the lighthouse now.

((OOC: Maybe this is one of the drawings in the other rooms, hehehehe. https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/cat-boat-10761))

[Emily]

Juniper kept his eyes on the painting in front of them, but Cory was sure he caught color in the man's cheeks. Excitement dropped into him, and Cory urged his own gaze back to the painting once more, to give them both a moment of safety in which to breathe. Cory delighted in the open sky and gentle rolling hills; that much, at least, felt like home.

"Amelia, at least, seems a good friend," Juniper finally offered. "Colleen's made it all but obvious that she expects me to court her."

That seemed a heavy thing to say, and Cory honored it with a moment of reverent silence before replying.

"Amelia is a good friend, yes. I am quite lucky in that sense. I..." Cory thought he had known what he was going to say next--or perhaps he still had the plan in sight, only he just then thought to question the wisdom of it. "That is, as I understand..." Oh dear, no, he was just digging himself deeper. He shook his head lightly, smiling in chagrin at himself. "I'd never have braved the city without her." There. That seemed a safe--and honest--enough place to land. Cory chanced another glance at Juniper, hoping with a soft, sheepish smile that the man would forgive him his stumbles.

He grew a bit somber afterward, though, as his mind got over its own fluster and turned attention back to Juniper's position. He returned his gaze to the painting preemptively, and then asked, "Are you... that is..." Cory frowned a little, embarrassed that he was still fumbling over his words. He couldn't help thinking that Amelia would know just what to say. Cory himself struggled with the line between making someone feel seen, and making them feel put on the spot. "Are your dealings with her father at stake?" Cory wasn't sure that was exactly the question he actually wanted to ask; it was just the question he found the words for, first. Hoping to route things away from logistics and more toward what he was more genuinely interested in, Cory added a breath softer, "Are you worried?"

Cory wanted to look at the man so badly, but he worried that would tip the scales to putting Juniper on the spot--if he hadn't landed there with his questions already. His peripheral vision was keyed into Juniper, though, and he was more than prepared to offer the man a sympathetic glance if he looked Cory's way.