Written Wonderland

Cory paused, his face falling slightly, and Juniper wished he hadn't said something to bring down the mood. They should be having a good time! This was an art gallery, after all. And while this wasn't exactly a date...

"Amelia is a good friend, yes. I am quite lucky in that sense. I...That is, as I understand..." Cory shook his head, and Juniper looked at Cory out of habit, the way he would if he were trying to examine the tells of a business associate. Cory looked nervous. Juniper smiled and looked away, back at the painting. "I'd never have braved the city without her," Cory added, smiling softly as he looked toward Juniper briefly.

Then, staring at the painting again, "Are you... that is... Are your dealings with her father at stake?" And then, after another pause. "Are you worried?"

Juniper frowned slightly. He supposed it was only fair that Cory asked this so plainly. It was kind of him to think of it, really. And that was how Juniper had introduced himself to Cory at the party. As Colleen's father's business associate. Good grief. How boring.

"Oh. No, not really" Juniper said, wishing again that he already had a glass of punch. "At least, not yet." He smiled plainly at Cory, then, unabashed. "Perhaps my other endeavors will pay off, and I won't even need such a supplier anymore."

But it will be suspicious, the longer I go without courting someone. Perhaps he could pull off the lifestyle of a permanent bachelor? Invite countless people to his parties like that other fellow across the bay?

No, Juniper needed too much downtime to recover from all that. Perhaps people would forgive him for simply being... quiet. Reserved.

But, he was keeping Cory waiting--or not being a good conversational partner, at least.

"Do you think your art will be shown in a place like this? How might your perfect gallery showing look, compared to this?" Juniper asked, looking more generally at the room the paintings were in.

"Oh. No, not really," Juniper said, and Cory offered him a relieved smile. "At least, not yet." Cory's smile wavered briefly at that, but Juniper turned his own smile to Cory, reassuring in its openness. "Perhaps my other endeavors will pay off, and I won't even need such a supplier anymore."

Cory nodded, but turned his gaze back to the painting, unsure how to contribute further to the conversation at that point. He had no mind for business. Mostly, he was just glad for Juniper that he didn't feel entirely trapped with Colleen. Cory feared deeply the future in which he might one day feel trapped... but, he supposed, he was far less in danger of that than Juniper would likely be. He felt sad for the man, for the ways that his status and line of work would likely restrict his freedom in ways that Cory could circumvent in his own life, to some degree. But, he didn't imagine that the man would want his pity.

"Do you think your art will be shown in a place like this?" Juniper asked after a moment. Embarassment flared in Cory's chest; he knew he'd not be able to hide it altogether from his expression, but he tried to keep it to a friendly, lightly sheepish crookedness to his smile. Then, Juniper tossed him a bone: "How might your perfect gallery showing look, compared to this?"

Juniper regarded the room as a whole with his gaze, and Cory joined him. It was a large room with a lot of space, few places to sit. It was ideal for what they were doing at present, really--people strolling through and lightly chatting while admiring the art. There was appeal to that, but if Cory were to truly imagine his perfect showing...

"Compared to this... cozier, I think." Cory chanced a wide grin at Juniper, eyebrows raised. The word came to mind before the possible connection to Juniper's secret lounge, though once Cory made the connection he felt a fresh flare of interest in it. He doubted this was a suitable place to ask more about it, though. He returned his gaze to the room, contemplating what else he might enjoy saying in the context they were presently in.

"Strolling or sitting in awe is nice, certainly, but it's... undeniable that there is some amount of discomfort, viewing art this way. It's... a bit lonely, too. That is.... we are, in some ways, here only to view the art. We bring conversation with us, but little else. I think, in my perfect showing... my art would keep people company, instead of the other way around."

Cory almost worried he might be coming off as laying it on thick, but he was genuinely just prattling what came to mind... and consistently realizing in real time that a lounge might be just the place. He had liked viewing the art in The Black Butterfly, though perhaps that particular lounge wasn't quite the right place--someplace a little quieter, maybe. Cory would have to ask Amelia to show him to some other lounges, if she'd be willing, so he could get a better idea of what different spaces might even be like.

((OOC: Anddd Cory's probably going to be kind of daydreaming out into the room for a moment as he contemplates all this))

Cory looked more nervous--or maybe just uncomfortable--after Juniper's initial question, but he perked up at the second, for which Juniper was grateful. He watched Cory look around the room at the furnishings and the way people quietly milled.

"Compared to this... cozier, I think." Cory looked back at Juniper with a wide grin and raised eyebrows, as though trying to let Juniper in on something. He couldn't quite place what it might be but appreciated the smile regardless. Cory turned back to the room and continued. "Strolling or sitting in awe is nice, certainly, but it's... undeniable that there is some amount of discomfort, viewing art this way. It's... a bit lonely, too. That is.... we are, in some ways, here only to view the art. We bring conversation with us, but little else. I think, in my perfect showing... my art would keep people company, instead of the other way around."

Interesting. Juniper brought a hand to his chin, thoughtful. He wondered if Cory had already found such a location. The artist had said that he was in the process of finalizing a date when they were together at the party, so it seemed likely he had. Perhaps another lounge? Somewhere where the art wasn't the reason people were there?

But, Juniper brought himself back to the reason he had asked the question in the first place--to recover from their earlier somber mood, yes, but also to get to know Cory better. Looking at Cory's dazed, dreamy expression as he stared past the art and even the room, Juniper smiled softly. It was a beautiful expression. If only he could paint it himself.

"Lonely," Juniper said, his smile growing slightly, "that's actually a perfect word for it." In fact, all of Hopper's paintings felt that way to Juniper. Singular figures or buildings that looked... ill at ease with their bright surroundings. Not for the first time, Juniper wanted badly to know what kind of art Cory made. Was he more of an abstract artist or into figure drawing? Juniper wondered. It felt invasive to ask.

"I'm sure your paintings would keep good company at the new lounge," Juniper said quietly, his smile still present, "assuming they fit the theme, of course." After a playful pause, Juniper asked, "Would you like to visit the refreshments with me?"

"Lonely," Juniper said, pulling Cory back in from his daydreaming. Juniper was smiling. "That's actually a perfect word for it." Cory absolutely beamed.

"I'm sure your paintings would keep good company at the new lounge," Juniper added, and Cory's heart thudded loudly in his chest, in some ways startled for Juniper to say it out loud, but also thrilled for it. "Assuming they fit the theme, of course." Juniper added, and Cory smiled crookedly, worried his expression may have looked just a little too eager.

After a brief pause, Juniper asked, "Would you like to visit the refreshments with me?" and then, just like that, the playfulnes in Juniper's eyes settled in to Cory, his brief nervousness dissipating into pleasant excitement that sparkled in his own eyes as he nodded in reply.

"I would love to."

"I would love to." There was a breathlessness in Cory's words, and Juniper's heartbeat raced in response. Cory did seem very interested in providing his art. Was Juniper exerting undue power over the artist, with a big sale hanging the air? He refrained from a sigh. For once, Juniper decided to set his worries aside. He wanted to have a good night with Cory, and the chips could fall wherever they would. Besides, he had plenty of time left in the evening to continue assessing Cory's motivations. It was still too early to say.

Juniper smiled mildly--he couldn't help himself--and then turned to lead the way to the refreshment table. Nothing stronger than punch, it seemed, but that would do. He felt less anxious in social spaces like this when he had a drink--a prop, really--in his hand. He picked up two glasses of punch and handed one to Cory, briefly admiring the decorative curve of the glass.

There were a couple unoccupied seats at a small table in the middle room, straight back from the entrance. A few of the other tables were full, but it was still a light evening in terms of the crowd, for which Juniper was grateful. Here, a more eclectic collection of Hopper's sketches and paintings hung on the walls. Juniper was grateful to see a break in the monotony of the artist's style.

Sitting in a lush, cushioned seat with arms that curled up and around the neck of the chair, Juniper relaxed subtly, crossing his leg and taking a sip of his drink. Refreshing, but he preferred more fruit in his punch, himself. He glanced at Cory, looking the man over.

"What sorts of mediums," Juniper started, rolling the syllables pleasantly over his lips, "do you work with, Cory?"

Juniper smiled and turned to lead the way, and Cory quite happily followed. Juniper even picked up a glass of punch to hand to him, which Cory felt a soft flush of warmth about. Granted, Juniper didn't seem to think anything of it; rather, the man's thoughts were on the glass itself, if Cory wasn't mistaken, tracing Juniper's gaze to the curve of the glass, admiring the shape. It was pleasant. Cory smiled, and followed as Juniper led them to another room with some seating. Cory liked this room better for a number of reasons, and his smile curled almost giddy for a moment as he took in the ecclectic mix of sketches and paintings amongst cozy seating and soft chatter.

His giddiness faded as he contemplated actually sitting, though. Juniper sat down quite elegantly, legs crossed as he relaxed into the chair and took a sip of his drink. Cory longed to kick off his shoes and curl up in his chair, but alas, this was not the place for that level of coziness. So, with a soft sigh, Cory sat in his chair with both feet on the floor, confining his relaxation to the way he let his posture sink back against the chair--and, in the impulse he finally indulged in to loosen his tie a little, just a smidge.

"What sorts of mediums," Juniper started, rolling the syllables pleasantly over his lips, "do you work with, Cory?"

Cory went ahead and finished the gesture he had begun to sip his drink, perhaps buying himself a moment of time, though he wasn't sure why. This was an easy question, wasn't it? His tongue rolled the punch briefly in his mouth, perhaps searching for more flavor. Ah well, it was still nice to have something to drink.

"I think charcoal might be my favorite," Cory said, some giddiness returning to his expression as he thought of blackened finger tips and stray smudges. "I also really enjoy gauche, and I'm getting to know oil." Was that... a strange way to phrase it? Cory simply offered Juniper a light smile and sipped at his drink again, curious how his reply would land in Juniper's expression.

Juniper watched Cory sip his drink--it seemed the artist had a similar experience of it as Juniper had--nothing to write home about. Nothing like watching him eat the strawberries, that was for certain. Ah, but not everything could be that decadent.

"I think charcoal might be my favorite," Cory said, his expression bright and full. "I also really enjoy gauche, and I'm getting to know oil." Cory sipped his drink again, looking at Juniper as though for approval.

Juniper smiled fully, looking off to one side.

He hadn't expected charcoal. Briefly, he glanced at Cory's fingers as though expecting to find smudges there.

"There's a lot of movement in charcoal. Texture. A very expressive medium," he said quietly, his voice slightly deepening. Juniper wondered if it might be too dark a medium for the new lounge--they would need to be lighted, perhaps regardless.

"What sort of compositions do you enjoy?"

Juniper smiled, his eyes trailing aside. Cory wondered if the man imagined anything in particular in that moment. Was he familiar with charcoal himself? Curiosity swelled warmly in Cory's chest, but before he could muster a question, Juniper's eyes trailed back to him--to his fingers, and Cory couldn't hep glancing down to them himself. But, he wouldn't have any on his fingers; he knew that, a little bit sadly.

"There's a lot of movement in charcoal," Juniper said, bringing Cory's attention back to the present. "Texture. A very expressive medium." Juniper's voice was quiet and deep, and Cory could very nearly swear he could make out a pleasant hum in the sound.

"What sort of compositions do you enjoy?"

Cory felt a brief flush of embarassment--a sense that he ought to know the answer to that question off the top of his head. But, he held onto hope that Juniper was here to get to know him, not to quiz him. So... what sort of compositions did Cory enjoy?

"I think I'm... experimenting with that." He'd made a million different things, he didn't know what to tell Juniper about. Cory watched the liquid in his glass as he swirled it a little, catching a glint of light on its surface in a way that pleased his eye. Then, his lips curled up into a bit of a crooked smile. "I do a lot of nature. Textures of bark and leaves, water catching the light. A bit more... closer in than Hopper, I think." Actually, the description that crossed his mind was intimate--maybe that would have even been the right word, but he had been just too shy to say it.

"I think I'm... experimenting with that," Cory said, swirling his glass and catching the light pleasantly. His lips crooked. "I do a lot of nature. Textures of bark and leaves, water catching the light. A bit more... closer in than Hopper, I think."

Juniper took the cue to look around at the art in the room, the sketches and drafts of Hopper's work. The artist's process was so much more on display than in many gallery showings. It was vulnerable, almost intimate. And yet, Cory imagined his work to be even closer in. Perhaps Cory's artwork would suit the lounge better than he originally thought. Juniper smiled, covering it partially by touching the side of his hand to his lips.

In the process, the socialite caught himself inadvertently staring at a sketch of two men with their shirts off on a boat, both of them facing away from the onlooker toward some unknown destinastion, and he coughed briefly, startling himself back to the moment. Had Cory realized Juniper had been staring? Better not to draw attention to it any more than he already had.

"Any colors you feel especially drawn to in your work?" Juniper asked, allowing his eyes to enjoy looking at Cory, taking him in with his fitted look, now with a delightfully loosened tie.

Juniper was quiet after Cory had made his reply, and eventually the artist peeled his eyes away from his glass of punch to look Juniper's way. He was looking at the art around them... and suddenly, Cory felt somewhat silly about having been staring at his drink instead. He took a closer look at some of the artwork around them, then, and wondered briefly if he'd been unfair to Hopper. He'd been mostly contrasting himself against the landscapes, and that of course wasn't all the artist was.

On closer inspection, Cory saw more pops of familiarity--two figures in intimate proximity on a train certainly caught his eye for a lingering moment, and settled a whole new sensation in his stomach that made him almost feel a little bit dizzy. Cory had plenty of voyeuristic sketches like that, and plenty more sketches that wouldn't be shown in a museum like this; and, perhaps Hopper had those sorts of sketches, too.

Juniper coughed lightly, and Cory straightened up a little in his chair, sipping his drink to cover over some nervousness as he drew his eyes back to Juniper. If Cory wasn't mistaken, Juniper's gaze also drew back to Cory in that moment, and Cory found himself curious what had previously caught Juniper's attention.

"Any colors you feel especially drawn to in your work?" Juniper asked. His eyes lingered on Cory, and Cory smoothed his free hand over his knee a little, resisting the urge to loosen his tie further.

"I'm definitely drawn to earthy tones," Cory answered, his free hand raising in the air but, admittedly, not entirely sure what it meant to gesture. Touching bark, maybe? His hand waved a little, giving up its brief whimsical charade, and returned to his knee. He almost elaborated with words, but felt an unexpected friction, his jaw closing up a little. His eyes meandered over to more of Hopper's art, his mind needing a moment of respite from something before he could even identify what the friction was. Finally, he grasped it, and turned his gaze back to Juniper, giving himself a chance to take in the sight of him, his crossed legs, his inquisitive eyes.

Then, with a hopeful tilt in his brow, Cory asked, "What about you, Juniper? What draws you into a work of art?"