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[sketchycharacter]

[Nate's face looks unusually serious when it appears via TAB today. Not sad or upset or grim, just like he's feeling unusually contemplative. Shut up, he's allowed to have a moment once in a while.]

You know, when I first came through the Ingress, I actually thought I was dead? I'd been flying in my best friend's plane and suddenly I was in bizarro land, so I figured we went down and I'd just blocked out the fiery death. And then they gave me a job and I knew I was in Hell.

[He's mostly kidding, but only because the teaching gig had turned out to be surprisingly fun.]

Space isn't the worst place I've had a rude awakening in, and I figured okay, we're on a ship, we're going somewhere with a way to get home, it's just a matter of time. And then the ship crashed but we found that place anyway but actually getting home depends on a bunch of science bullshit I don't understand.

And then I took a closer look at the local calendar and, near as I can figure out, it's been almost a year. [He holds up a hand.] Yes, okay, we also spent a year back on party planet, but I try not to think about that so it doesn't count. Makes me wonder how long it'll be—how much time will people spend passing time before deciding to actually live their lives?

Honestly...I'm not sure it makes a big difference with me. There's stuff I want to get back to, sure, but passing the time with some of you guys hasn't been too awful. [He grins.] Hey, to mark the anniversary, I'll do free sketch portraits for anyone who comes by to find me on the front steps of the big museum in Region 1.

[action option: he's a dude sketching in a journal on the front steps of the museum. Whoa, didn't see that coming.]

Comments

[chaoticlootral]

[Taako is eyeballing the museum steps and decides that he's not going to lower himself to sitting on the ground with the rest of the animals, instead waving a hand to cast Levitate on himself - crossing his legs to gently sit-float in mid-air in front of Nate instead, umbrella across his lap.]

Depends on the quality of the work, don't it, bubbale? I've got mirrors if I'd like to admire myself, but I could get some t-shirts made. Don't worry, it'll be great exposure for you.

[sketchycharacter]

The quality's plenty good.

[And he's already at work, laying own the beginnings of a detailed bust drawing of Taako. He may have offered a simple headshot, but clearly his pride is in play now.]

I could charge plenty for this. Really, you're getting a good deal.

[chaoticlootral]

Oh, yeah, yeah. I am real good at deal-making - pretty much a talent of mine? Should have listed that in my interests. Magic stuff, cuisinier, doing, uh, dope shit and makin' deals.

[ Clearly Nate has been possessed by the muse that is Taako, which makes perfect sense to Taako. He just assumes everyone feels that around him all the time. Posing hard, one finger idly moving as his hair curls and adjusts into a more flattering arrangement seemingly on its own.]

Get my good side. Not sure which one that is, they've both got their strengths.

[sketchycharacter]

[Interesting. If he's not completely bullshitting, he might make a good contact.

Nate looks up at Taako and squints, closing first his left eye and then his right.]

The left side. Definitely the left.

[chaoticlootral]

[Well he is floating currently, so he at least has some magic talent. He can Mindfreak with the best.]

If you say so. [Disbelieving. How could any side be definitely better?] So, this your main job, my man, or just a sidehustle?

[sketchycharacter]

I'm an artist, yeah. Loads of patrons out there who want to commission me. I'm just feeling generous today.

[He's a professional thief who does sell some art as a cover but mostly draws for enjoyment.]

[chaoticlootral]

Hey now, you're getting a deal too here, Bates, some people have to pay their models.

[ Getting a little antsy with sitting still for this long. Even though it hasn't been that long at all.]

[sketchycharacter]

Nah, I'd just bribe some friends with beer.

[And that's only if they can't be talked into posing for free. He's drawing faster now, glancing from Taako to the page and back.]

[chaoticlootral]

Yeesh, that's a cheap bribe, homie. Could at least shell out for a bottle of wine.

[Trying to lean over and peek at it. Is it as radiant as the real thing. Could pencil and paper even come close.]

[sketchycharacter]

My friends aren't really wine people.

[He flips the journal over to reveal the sketch. Ta-da. It's actually pretty fucking good, and seems to capture that Taako sparkle.]

[chaoticlootral]

[He leans in to critically examine it, but there's only a few seconds of having to endure his art critic face before he seems truly thrilled by it - like a cockatiel that's been shown a mirror.]

Hey! You're actually good! [Actually!] That is my best side, you're right.

[sketchycharacter]

[Nate's not a sensitive soul, but that doesn't mean his ego isn't stroked by a satisfied subject. He leans back and grins.]

A good artist can always tell. What are you going to do with it?