Pixel Paintings by Chiaki

[line_piece]

Characters: Chiaki Nanami and Open
Where: Outside the Observatory
When: April 2nd
Summary: Chiaki decided to pick up a new hobby, but her paintings are turning out strangely.
Warnings: Probably just gonna use action brackets for my own tags, but feel free to go with whatever makes you comfortable.

[In a recent conversation with Valvalis during the events in the Imperial City, Chiaki has decided that maybe there is some merit to the suggestion that she should be doing something with her spare time other than just playing games.  After all, there are no video games to speak of in this world, and that's what she spent the bulk of her time on before coming here.

So in order to fill the void in her schedule, she's decided to take up painting.  There was a brief internal debate about whether to go with this or carving wooden lawn gnomes, because everyone knows the latter is much more profitable, but Chiaki eventually decided the start-up cost of becoming a painter in terms of both materials needed and initial effort required was more efficient.

It seems as if she's finished a few paintings, and she's showing them off in a little impromptu exhibition outside the Observatory being used as the Heroes' guild hall.  But they all have a rather curious similarity to them - all of the images depicted are composed of hundreds of colored squares, almost like pointillism but more blocky.  And the paintings are generally easier to resolve into an image the farther away you get.

Right now, she's got three things sitting on easels next to her.  One is entitled Self Portrait, a second bears the title Valvalis, and the third is called Landscape.  Up close, it just looks like a mess of random blocks and colors, but once you move back, it actually appears to be a picture of the sun setting over the horizon of the city.  Chiaki is standing next to the paintings waiting for people to come by and comment.]

Comments

[line_piece]

If we knew, they wouldn't be called legends.

[Straightforward responses to rhetorical questions are Chiaki's other area of expertise.]

[unyieldingspirit]

I suppose not.

[it's a little disappointing, in some ways. Still, she perks up after a moment.]

Were there other civilisations?

[line_piece]

The current calendar was established around the same time as the founding of the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia, which is one of the biggest human civilizations in the world. Before that, there isn't much recorded history to speak of.

[Dot dot dot... and Chiaki smiles, pulling back.]

There. All done. Take a look and see what you think.

[unyieldingspirit]

There isn't? […various Sharlayan scholars would probably have a fit.] The Kingdom of Harmonia?

[K'pandolu nods, and leans forward to get a better look. It's unusual to see the Wanderer's mark done this way, but they seem to have come out quite well.]

It's very neat. A job well done!

[line_piece]

I'll tell you about it some other time. There's enough information on Harmonia to fill an entire book all by itself.

[She could talk about the Suikoden series all day long! Not that K'pandolu knows Chiaki's just reciting extensive video game lore.]

I'm glad you like it. You're my first real customer, so I'm happy it turned out well.

[unyieldingspirit]

I look forward to it!

[pretty much. Harmonia does sound a little odd, but… who's to say it couldn't be a place somewhere?

She nods.]

And now you know you can do it for other people!

[line_piece]

Well... I did do it once before. Twice, if you count when I did my own. So I've had a little bit of practice. But once was for my housemate. This is the first time I'm charging for it.

[Chiaki glances thoughtfully at K'pandolu's toes, tapping her chin.]

So what do you think it's worth?

[unyieldingspirit]

[she nods, tail flicking lightly.]

How does five gil per toe sound to you?

[line_piece]

So fifty total?

[Chiaki thinks for a moment before nodding.]

If you're all right with that price, that's fine.

[unyieldingspirit]

Of course. [that's what she's suggested, after all! She reaches for her gil pouch and counts it out.] There.

[line_piece]

[Chiaki still feels like that's a little pricey, but the customer is always right. Opening her hand, she accepts the gil and sets it aside.]

Thanks. You'll need to wait for your toes to dry first, but after that they should be fine.

[unyieldingspirit]

Alright. [she wriggles her toes a bit, watching them.] How long do you expect that should take?

[line_piece]

About half an hour, probably.

[Chiaki glances down at her toes, watching them wriggle too and smiling softly.]

I think it turned out cute.

[unyieldingspirit]

Half an hour…

[…well, with any luck, she'll find something she can do in the meantime.]

It's all your that's done it.

[line_piece]

We could play Triple Triad while we wait. Do you know it?

[unyieldingspirit]

[she tilts her head, frowning thoughtfully.]

It sounds… vaguely familiar. But I don't think I've heard anything concrete about it.

[not for a good while yet, at any rate. She leans forward, hands on the chair.] Tell me about it.

[line_piece]

It's a card game that's popular in this world. I've been competing professionally for a few months now.

[She'll launch into a short rules primer.]

[unyieldingspirit]

[she listens attentively as Chiaki explains.]

Professionally? I hope you'll go a little easier on me!

[line_piece]

I have a few starter decks that we can use to practice. I wouldn't play my tournament deck against a new player just getting started.

[unyieldingspirit]

[she nods, a teasing grin on her lips.]

Right, of course. Well- no better way to learn than to play, is there?

[line_piece]

Exactly. I'll go get the decks. Wait here.

[Chiaki heads upstairs to her bedroom, returning a few minutes later with two Triple Triad decks.]

Here, this one's yours.

[unyieldingspirit]

Thank you!

[she takes it, going to look through the cards it contains.]

Shall I flip for which of us goes first?

[line_piece]

Sure. Whenever you're ready.

[Chiaki's just sitting here shuffling her deck. She knows what's in it already.]

[unyieldingspirit]

[she shuffles her deck, and nods.]

Ready!

[and handwaving the actual games. K'pandolu's still learning, so she's still easily tripped up and loses the first few rounds. Still, it's definitely caught her interest by the time the half hour is up and she folds her cards together.]

Thank you again, Chiaki.

[line_piece]

[Chiaki displays an odd intensity when playing that doesn't normally find its way into her behavior. Gaming is definitely her thing.]

We can play anytime you want. It's fun having regular partners to practice with outside the tournament level.

[She smiles, gathering the cards back up.]

It's probably been long enough for your toes to dry.