ArchivedLogs:The Art of Fun

The Art of Fun
Dramatis Personae Micah, Sean, Rae, Shane
In Absentia	9 June 2014 Lots of talking over coffee and tea.
Location <NYC> Evolve Cafe - Lower East Side
Spacious and open, this coffeeshop has a somewhat industrial feel to it, grey resin floors below and exposed-beam ceilings that have been painted up in a dancing swirl of abstract whorls and starbursts, a riot of colour splashed against a white background. The walls alternate between brick and cheerfully lime-green painted wood that extends to the paneling beneath the brushed-steel countertops. There's an abundance of light, though rather than windows (which are scarce) it comes from plentiful hanging steel lamps. The walls here are home to plentiful artwork available for sale; though the roster of prints and paintings and drawings and photographs changes on a regular basis it has one thing in common -- all the artists displayed are mutants. The seating spaced around the room is spread out enough to keep the room from feeling cluttered. Black chairs, square black tables that mostly seat two or four though they're frequently pushed around and rearranged to make space for larger parties. In the back corner of the room is more comfortable seating, a few large black-corduroy sofas and armchairs with wide tables between them. There's a shelf of card and board games back here available for customers to sit and play. The chalkboard menus hanging behind the counter change frequently, always home to a wide variety of drinks (with an impressive roster of fair-trade coffees and teas largely featured) though their sandwiches and wraps and soups and snacks of the day change often. An often-changing variety of baked goods sit behind the display case at the counter halfway back in the room, and the opposite side of the counter holds a small selection of homemade ice creams. At night, the thump of music can be heard from above, coming from the adjoining nightclub of the same name that sits over the coffeehouse, accessible through a stairway in the back of the cafe. Evolve is /packed/ at present, the sun just setting but the coffee shop's business not waning with the light. A decent-length line winds its way back from the counter for ordering and a few people are clumped around the pick-up space, as well. Micah is looking a little messier than usual when he arrives in a paint-flecked white T-shirt and faded jeans to match. His auburn hair a bit /sawdusty/ under his olive newsboy cap when he tugs it off to stuff into the army green messenger bag at his hip. The young man's hazel eyes run over the menu listings for the day to pass the time while waiting, shifting his weight from one foot to the other and humming soft enough to be barely audible. Wearing a fitted light grey tee shirt with a hand painted on image of a coffee bean and a pair of skinny jeans, Sean makes his way into the place with a cute little plaid braided fedora perched upon his head. A messenger bag in faded military drab olive with a dozen buttons pinned upon it, including a mutant rights helix ribbon, is slightly bulgy with art books and some pencils crammed out of a pocket. "Hrmm, the new and popular, the bane of those wanting to experience the new and popular," he says to himself with a smile, and seeing Micah, he offers a smile and a wave, amused that they had similar bags today. Amongst those at the pickup window is Rae, who is slightly away from the group, reading from a Kindle. She idly glances up at the sound of the door opening, but quickly returns her attention back to the screen in front of her. She hasn't begun reading again for very long before her name is called. She steps up, gathers her drink and moves to find an empty table. Micah smiles and waves (rather unnecessarily, considering the other man has entered the line just behind him) at Sean as he notices the other man's presence. "Hey, hon. I figure...s'kinda a win-win situation for me. Either the line's /short/ and I don't gotta wait long, or the line's /long/ an' that means Shane's doin' good business. Also, I'm not gonna complain on a little break. Between Jax's paint fumes an' my saw dust, s'nice t'have some plain-old coffee scented air t'breathe for a bit. Y'been here before?" He shifts up in the queue as those in front of him shuffle forward. "No, this is the first time I've been here actually. I'd heard about it, seemed interesting, so here I am," Sean says with a grin and looks around the place. "And you get used to paint fumes eventually." Shrugging, he glances over towards the people collecting their drinks, then to the line in front of him. "What would you recommend? Assuming extreme levels of caffeine and sugar." Tilting his head, he hrms a bit looking over the menu for familiar drink names. Rae finds an empty table near a window as she sets her kindle down on the table top next to her coffee cup. As she sits down, she takes one last look around the room around her, spotting Micah in line. She offers him a slight raise of her hand before she makes herself comfortable and takes a sip from her coffee cup. Shane is just emerging from the kitchen, dressed much as is his usual style -- gunmetal silvery-grey mandarin-collared button down, dark slacks, saddle shoes. There are new carafes of milks and cream in his hand but he detours en route to actually setting them /out/ to veer over to Micah's side, stretching up onto his toes to deposit a light peck on the older man's cheek. "-- both my dads like the mocha and Pa drinks like a f-- reaking hummingbird. Mocha /syrup/ really. Double-shot. Hi, Ba -- Ba's hot friend." With this advice dispensed he flits off to actually /set/ the milk out for people to doctor their coffee with, brows raising as he spots Rae at the table. "Oh man I swear I know half of everyone who comes here." "Definitely recommend the mocha if y'want caffeine an' sweet at the same time," Micah replies with a nod. "M'friend Hive usually gets his coffee with a triple espresso shot, which y'could do if y'never wanna sleep again. Though he also drinks his black, so...gotta question his taste sometimes." This questioning is with a grin, at least. Said grin widens into a bright smile at Shane's appearance and kiss. He gives the teen a quick-gentle hug considering his full hands and obvious /mission/. "Thanks, Shane. He has a name, which is Sean. He's the one got your Pa all those new art supplies after the fire." His head shakes along with a chuckle as the boy zips off again. "That's Shane for you. Pretty much par for everythin' 'cept that he actually censored 'imself a little that time." Finally reaching the head of the line, Micah orders a mocha as Shane described along with an iced chai soy latte and a pair of vegan chocolate hazelnut muffins, the mocha and one of the muffins to-go. After exchanging cash and thanks with the barista, he moves over to the order waiting area. Sean chuckles at the dual recommendation of the mocha, and he nods. "The wise ones have spoken then, though was that..." his question is answered with the name of the young man though. "It's nice to meet you Shane. I saw your sibling before, I believe there was an interesting bone sculpture being worked on at the time." Offering a finger waggle wave as he goes off to deposit his goods, he scoots forward in line. Putting in an order for a mocha with soy and many extra shots of espresso, he pays and follows along to the waiting queue. "I'll have to do a drawing of this place sometime. Though, whether I want to try it during busy hours or not remains to be seen." Shane returns after depositing his goods, offering Sean a /very/ toothy bright grin. "Alright hi Ba's hot friend Sean. /You're/ the art supplies one, cool, Pa blushes a lot when he mentions you. You know we totally put --" He gestures towards the walls where there is currently a series of city-photographs hanging on display, "-- art up from mutant artists though -- okay actually I guess from what I've heard about you you're not actually hurting for exposure. And yeah B makes /kickass/ sculptures though I guess they kind of creep some people out." He scoots around behind the counter to grab Micah his muffins, busy as the line currently is. "It's delicious, I just like t'change it up a bit between tea an' cocoa an' coffee." Micah gathers his drinks and muffins with thanks offered when they arrive, waiting for Sean's to do the same. He searches the crowd for a table they can move to once all the orders are received. "I was 'bout t'say it might be fun t'have some Evolve-themed artwork /here/ on display t'sell. Slightly meta. What would B think of puttin' some of his stuff up, come t'think of it, Shane? Could get 'im a shelf or use one of the windows or somethin'. Bet he could sell things from here, too. Just wouldn't put 'em /all over/ on account of, yeah. Some people do find 'em a little morbid." "I appreciate the art on the walls, it's nice to see local work in a place that's open to the community. Makes it more of a home to people then," Sean smiles perhaps at the blushing insight being provided. "And creepy is relative. I like to show reality, and well few things have been as damaging to the psyche as the world around us some days." Acquiring his beverage shortly after Micah, by virtue of that is how time works, he scoots after him to sitting possibilities. "If you want something of this place just let me know, though I'd rather give it as a gift to your family than to put on sale. I will have to think on what precisely though. Oh, maybe a clay model of everything, then it's extra meta. Though I'd want to make the people figures separate from the location shape, then you can move it around how you want. Like ya know, a movie prop." "I think it's funny actually a lot of the same people who think B's stuff is creepy like /Pa's/ paintings and have you /seen/ the terrifying shit he puts out? Like that painting that used to be on Hive's wall and is B's desktop? That's fu-- it's creepy." Shane dips back out from behind the counter, scooting off along with Micah and Sean though he doesn't actually /sit/, yet, just clears off the table /next/ to them where a previous patron left it crumb-covered with dishes still there. "Oh man art /of/ here would be pretty rad. I'd be so down with that. -- Did you do much art during the plague? Reality was scary as /hell/ then." Micah settles in at the table that Shane handily clears for them, depositing Jax's to-go thermos'd drink and muffin to one side, his own in front of him, and slinging his messenger bag over the back of the chair. "I'm sure they'd love t'either /have/ or display things on your behalf here. Or both." He immediately breaks a bite off of his muffin to chew on happily. "Mmm. Hazelnut. An' /yeah/ I know how creepy some of Jax's stuff is. It sneaks up on me all the time sittin' out on sketchpads or his computer." Nodding at the interpretation of Jax's art, Sean replies, "Yeah I've seen some of his stuff. He definitely does like the darker images, which seems so weird if you just assume that he'd make his art like he looks, all bright and cheery." Settling into the chair, he sips his drink and leans back just taking in the place. "I'll have to come back enough to really learn the place though. It can take a bit to really Soak it in." With the talk of the plague he shakes his head and frowns. "I got rid of the sketches I had made of that time. I didn't want to be reminded of it." He shudders and takes another long pull of the mocha to get the taste out of his mouth. "I like it best when it's both," Shane admits. "Bright colours, dark themes. He's good at that strange. Uh. Dichotomy." His teeth flash bright when Micah speaks. "-- Oh man. Sometimes it /really/ sneaks up on you though. Just terrifying monsters coming to /life/ in our living room because he's lost in a painting." Though his amused tone suggests it's not really a surprise he /minds/. "You come to soak up the /ambience/ in prep for doing a piece for me and you can have all the free coffee you want while you're, uh. Soaking." “He does plenty of cheery things, too. S'just when his stuff's dark, it's usually heebie-jeebie dark.” The fingers of one of Micah's hands wiggle in the apparent illustration of heebie-jeebies. Another bite of muffin disappears into his mouth. “Yeah, I've gotten used t'sleepin' with an eye mask on often enough so's I don't wake up an' forget that a lotta the stuff in the room ain't really there. Havin' t'pull the mask off reminds me. Creepifyin'.” He sips at his chai, grin growing behind it. “Oh, y'done it now. Free caffeine? Y'got a fixture 'fore the art piece's even started.” He gestures at Sean to indicate precisely what fixture he means. Chuckling at the word ambience, Sean shakes his head. "I think I'll use that the next time I have to explain it. Sounds more artsy and less new agey than what I'd have to say otherwise. I will refrain from doing any clayshaping here though, only sketches." He puts on a pouty face at Micah though. "I don't need free caffeine. I would be happy to pay for it thank you very much." Letting out a snort, he giggles shortly after to show theres no hard feelings. "I have to do most of my over caffeinating at home when I work anyway. Easier to just let the fugue freeflow when I don't feel like passing out midway." "I've gotten myself a couple regulars already," Shane says brightly. "Hive practically lives here after lunchtimes till /you're/ off work and Joshua comes by like clockwork when he's heading onto shift and Dusk I think must have replaced his blood /with/ caffeine for how much he's been by. -- I'll definitely take all the money you want to throw at me though I'm kind of fully predicting being broke well into my twenties running this place. -- /Do/ you pass out? Is that some kind of artist thing? Total space case? Because Pa gets lost in painting and before you know it it's three in the morning and his blood sugar is like --" His thumb points way down. Micah puts his hands up palms-out, lips twitched over to one side in amusement. This only lasts a moment as there is more muffin to consume. "Yeah, I'm in here at least once a day. Figure I can't feel guilty 'bout gettin' coffee out so much if I'm givin' money t'my kid, right?" He chuckles at the description of artists getting lost in their work. "He doesn't do that so much anymore. Y'just gotta put treats an' juice next to 'im at regular intervals an' insist he eats or drinks 'em. If y'get 'em close enough it don't interrupt an' he can do it without thinkin' 'bout it." "That is why I would prefer to pay for it. You support the people that you think are doing a good job. Otherwise they won't be able to continue doing a good job," Sean says with a little smile. "I pass out occasionally, but mainly when its a really complicated piece. Has there ever been a movie, or book or something where you just had to stay up to see how it ended?" He glances between the two to look at their faces at the question. "That's kinda like how I am with my /Art/. I don't really know how it will turn out till I finish. And if something comes up where I have to start another piece... like say for an emergency," he glances to Micah at that statement, "then I won't ever know how the original was supposed to end. A story without an end, a movie cut short." He shrugs but smiles to Shane at that last bit. "Shit yeah I /can't/ not-finish books. Even the shitty ones, though, it's like a compulsion. I hate not knowing how the story ends." Shane quirks a crooked grin at Micah. "That works better for you than the rest of us, he /ignores/ me. But you're the one holding his leash he has to listen when you say eat." Micah blushes a little at the emergency comment directed his way...seeing as he does seem to be a source of emergencies. He nibbles at the diminishing muffin on the plate in front of him, blush only growing brighter at Shane's assessment. "All I know's it seems t'work well enough, settin' things close an' not interruptin'. /Maybe/ helps if I'm the one settin' things." "But yes, I will gladly sit here and soak up the ambience till I can do it right. I mean, if that's okay with you?" Sean looks to Shane at that. "I mean, I know some people can get a little squigged at the idea of what it means. Not that a coffee shop really has the same issues as might be. I think?" He tilts his head thinking, then shakes his head. "But It could be a totally neat sculpt either way. Oh man, I wish I wasn't crap with computers, because you could totally three dee print like poseable action figures of people. It would be a lot harder to do it with clay. Maybe wood carving? Or using an original as a mold and then use the mold to make a poseable one." He rambles a bit trying to figure out the way of the idea. "/Maybe/." Shane's grin only brightens in time with Micah's blush. "And yeah that's cool with me I mean this place is -- public. Just uh. I'm taking /no/ blame for what you see if you're peeking in after-hours. Hey B's pretty excellent with that 3-D printing shit. /And/ into sculpture too. Maybe I could poke hir your way see if you could collaborate." "Yeah, usually people in the common areas here aren't expectin' not t'be seen at all." Micah nods along with Shane's suggestion. "The school's got 3D printers that B can sure play with if that's the way you're wantin' t'go. Just gotta get on hir schedule 'fore ze fills it completely with work. Think it won't hurt for hir t'be doin' some artin'. Between that an' /maybe/ puttin' some things here. S'good t'keep from bein' all work-minded all the time." "I have no problem with collaborating. It would certainly save me time if I only have to worry about the scenery," Sean says, tapping his chin in though. "And I don't really expect anything, but I still like to have a general sense of permission if people know what I can do." He shrugs, then finishes off his caffeine with a sigh. "Do you need another one of my cards? Or do you just want to forward him my email?" he says looking to Micah. "Should put one in the workshop once it's finished. Only they're expensive. But I bet B'd buy a small one. They're not so bad." Shane's head tilts curiously at Sean. "Are your cards pretty? Cuz I'll take a card for hir. If they're the cool kind that you draw on. -- I think B's schedule's /already/ filled with work," he adds, amused, to Micah, "but ze'll probably make room for art." “I can forward your e-mail... But it sounds like Shane wants cards,” Micah corrects himself mid-way. He pops the last of the muffin into his mouth, taking another drink of chai before speaking again. “Art's a good thing t'make room for. S'a good way t'make sure ze's makin' room for /somethin'/ not-work, anyhow. I like this plan.” Chuckling at the enthusiasm for the card, Sean nods. "It's the kind that I have to draw on. Normally I leave them blank and draw on it when I when I'm wanting to pass them out." He pulls out one of the blank ones with his contact information on the back. "Tell you what. Next time I come in to soak up the ambience I'll have one prepared and prettied up. Otherwise the only thing I have time for is to draw a stick figure and a smiley face." Grinning, he raises up out of his sheet and shifts his bag. "It was nice to meet you, Shane. And good seeing you again, Micah." "Yeah! That kind. Pa has some of those I like to collect them from his art-school friends in case someone's famous some day." Shane bounces slightly on his toes at the promise. "/Awesome/. My old collection kind of got blown the hell up I can start a new one with yours. -- Nice to meet you." He moves over to drop into a seat beside Micah when Sean stands, nabbing the chai from his dad to take a quick sip. "Yeah. My other goal is to find hir a girlfriend this summer but I think breaks-for-art is a more reasonable place to aim." “They /are/ pretty nice as cards go. Mine are just very pretty blue.” Micah doesn't protest the chai-nabbing. “Good t'see you, too, Sean. I'll tell Jax y'said hi. He's super-excited 'bout movin' all the art supplies into the studio in our new place. Don't think he's really had a space that was /his/ for his work before. Have a good night, hon.” Standing for a moment, he offers the other man a quick hug before letting him make his way out. Then he settles rather heavily back into his chair. “Does ze /want/ a girlfriend?” "I'm glad that it's been useful. I don't know what I'd do with myself if I lost all my supplies at once. Even having new replacements, well you have to get everything back to how you like it, and readjust grips and relearn pressures," Sean says shaking his head. Smiling as they talk about the romancing, he inclines his head to them. "Have fun playing matchmaker." Offering another little wave he scoots on out into the night. Shane just gives Micah a puzzled look, handing the chai back over. "It's summer. Why wouldn't ze want a girlfriend?" Micah shrugs in reply. “Some people don't want t'date or be in relationships at all. Just seems like a thing y'should check in with someone about 'fore tryin' t'hook 'em up with folks.” He picks up his mug to drink from it again. “Is ze interested in someone y'know of?” "I mean it's not like he's /Mormon/. And summer is the time for --" Shane's fingers flutter absently in the air before he corrects himself reflexively, "/Ze/. I don't know it's really only Shelby ze's been -- and that's a /shitty/ introduction to dating, kinda just broke hir heart and then vanished. Ze likes Ines? But I don't know if that'd end any /better/. Really I just think B needs something. You know. /Not/ work to focus on this is supposed to be fucking vacation and she doesn't even know how the hell to have fun." "I'm not sayin' ze'd object to it morally. Just that some folks don't want t'bother with datin' or certain aspects thereof for whatever reason. I ain't even sayin' that /ze/ doesn't. Just people in general. An', I mean, I ain't even sure if ze's still into girls or /only/ girls or what. 'Cause it ain't the kinda thing y'ask your kids randomly." Micah shrugs yet again. "S'just nice t'ask folks first for gettin' meddlesome in that way s'all. There's also /other/ ways t'have fun if folks ain't wantin' t'date." He spins his mug between his hands. "Though, I guess it answers some things if you're sayin' ze likes Ines. Well, if ze /wants/ to, then wouldn't it be good just t'encourage hir t'talk t'her 'bout that? Y'got any indication of what Ines thinks?" "It isn't? /I/ talk to you guys all the /time/ about -- well. OK. I guess you don't really ask I just, uh, volunteer." Shane's crooked smile is a little sheepish. "B's into girls. Just girls. So far anyway. Not really a big fan of --" For a brief moment his cheeks flush, eyes dipping down to his hands. "Well, except for -- but that's /different/." He shakes his head quickly, looking back up. "I just want hir to have fun. And Ines -- pretty much likes /every/ boy. Always thought B was cute but I'm not really sure with the whole -- gender thing now --" He shrugs a shoulder. "Plus, like I said, /every/ boy. I don't think that would go any /less/ painful than Shelby. I don't know. How can we get hir to have fun?" "Mmhm. S'one thing if /you/ bring it up. S'another thing t'go pokin' into at random. If it were /relevant/ t'somethin' I wouldn't /avoid/ talkin' 'bout it, certainly." Micah stops spinning his cup long enough to drink from it again. "An'...yeah, it's complicated if Ines only likes boys /or/ if B wants an exclusive relationship. But that's up to hir t'pursue or not as ze wants, right? Though I guess if you're friends with Ines, talkin' in generalities 'bout what her preferences are wouldn't be outta line. She can always not answer." His fingers drum on the table. "Well, y'gotta realise that B's definition of fun an' yours might not always line up, either. I'd just encourage hir t'do the things ze enjoys doin'. Like these art things we were talkin' 'bout. Maybe we'll get game nights runnin' again once the Commons is sorted an' got games in it. Take hir huntin' an' swimmin' an' climbin'. An' Jax'n I'll do the same." He pauses, looking thoughtfully into his mug for a moment. "An' y'can always just /talk/ t'hir 'bout it. 'Bout makin' sure ze's havin' fun. 'Bout whether or not ze's interested in havin' folks play matchmaker. All of it." "Ze's fucking addicted to work," Shane grumbles. "But when Geekhaus gets some gorram furniture and starts game night again I can make sure she's there. And climbing's always -- hey do you want to go camping?" His expression lights for a moment. "When we're just out away from everything ze really -- /relaxes/. Even when ze's /having/ fun in the city ze's not. Relaxed." His gills flutter for a moment and he pushes to his feet, leaning in to press a firm kiss to Micah's forehead. "-- okay but speaking of addicted to work I really should get back to mine. Are you guys still gonna be working when we close? I can bring you late dinner. Midnight work-fuel-snack. Something. I've had the worst taco craving." "Well, ze /does/ enjoy hir work, though. S'good t'do things that aren't work, /too/. But it mightn't be so bad that ze spends a lotta time on it," Micah explains softly. "Game night's good. Campin'...we'll have t'set up t'do at some point far enough in advance for hir t'keep hir schedule clear. An' for me'n Jax to've finished some of the work we're doin'. We're tryin' t'be able t'move in this weekend. But there'll still be a lotta furniture buildin' after that, too. But campin' an' hikin' an' fishin' an' climbin' an' huntin' an' all...it'd be a good trip t'do." He chews at his lip a bit. "Prob'ly still be workin'. Jax's in the zone with his paintin' an' mosaics lately. An' I've at /least/ gotta have Spence's bed finished for us t'move in. So, late dinner'd be nice. Nice t'have you, too." He finishes off the chai remaining in his cup. "I should get back to it. An' get Jax his mocha an' muffin." "I'll come with Dai and help. When we're, uh, both not working. And yeah okay camping -- maybe later. I'd say fo Pa's birthday but that's soon. -- /Oh/!" Shane holds up his hand like 'wait'. "If you're heading back I'm gonna send you with coffee and a soup for Dusk, okay, that motherfucker's barely been eating /real/ food let alone -- anyway. Two minutes, alright?" With another quick peck and without /actually/ waiting for answer, Shane darts off. Micah gathers the muffin box into his messenger bag, stuffing the thermos into a side pouch intended for such use. Despite Shane not waiting for an answer, /he/ waits for Shane to come back with Dusk's meal, just grinning fondly and shaking his head.