Exploring new media

[moony]

[45th of Summer, midday. Open to any ponies]


The problem with shopping was the fact that one pony had to lug the goods around as they go from store to store. Thankfully for Van, this is not such a huge issue. He could buy his new possession, place his niftly little spell and whisk it back home in a blink; he knew were he wanted it placed in his apartment anyhow, as there was a corner of a room dedicated to those special possessions.

Then again, calling the spell 'little' was an understatement. And its complexity made it hassle to do it again and again, something the unicorn could do without. With large scale purchases, he would suck it up and bother with the spell. But today, the list was short and Van anticipated only a small bag of purchases to take back to his home in Lyrina.

As he walked down one of Argen's many busy business streets, Van couldn't help but wonder at how normal everything felt. And it worried at him. He heard the stories of ponies disappearing and of monsters emerging from the forest. The change was strange, but at least not terribly farfetched. It had happened before, prehaps not as frequently, but it wasn't uncommon.

He shook his head a little when he reached his destination -- he was here to shop, not mull and concern over current gossip. The bell chimed sweetly as Van opened the door and entered, smiling a greeting to the pony at the counter and declining her assistance for now. He was not too familiar with the art store, as this store was different to the one he usually visited. This store dealt with sculpture and provided a decent selection of its materials and tools, many of which he recognised from back in his school days when he fiddled around with different art types until he settled with painting and illustration.

Recently however, he felt the urge to fiddle with sculpture yet again, despite knowing well there was a good chance he'd never get around to using whatever he'd purchased today. Besides, with all the different medium types available, Van couldn't decide where to start.


[lol stumped on what else to say but figured it was something that would be familiar with D]

[Becka]

Hy knew from the moment she stepped hoof in the shopping district of Whinnyopolis that she would love it. There were so many art stores. So many whimsical little shops of knickknacks that one would never see back home. Her jewelry store would tuck in nicely between them, and she would never want for supplies.

Her store was set to open tomorrow, so she went out today to check out the nearby stores and buy as much wire and silver as she could get her hooves on. Jewels were easy - her parents had already shipped her boxes of them to get her business started.

She pushed open the door and the little bell jingled cheerfully above her. There was one other pony in the art store looking at sculpting materials, and Hy stopped for a minute and took a long look around the store. She had no talent for painting, which took up a good bit of the supply shop, but it looked like wire was over near the sculpting supplies. She smiled and waved at the owner of the shop and made her way over to where the stallion stood.

She took a good look at him before she neared, and realized that she knew him. Well, knew of him, at least. He was a bit older than her, but she'd heard stories of his art, and that he'd left Canterlot to travel the world. Still, he wouldn't know her, so she stepped up to the wires and nodded hello to him, the flower in her hair bobbing with the movement.

"Hello."

[moony]

Van was looking over the wires with mild interest -- it did not interest him entirely, but could be useful as a base for a clay model -- when a voice next to him spoke up.

"Hello."

Upon hearing another's voice, he anticipated it was perhaps another store worker. Yet when he turned to greet them with a friendly smile, his eyes fell on a flower nestled in locks of light lavender and purple. Another customer, surely. The flower with its scheme of bright yellow and orange were rather sharp against the soft cool shades of the filly in front of him. He was unsure what to make of it.

But he didn't dwell on that, and was soon smiling at her pleasantly.

"Hello miss," Van greeted, tilting his head in gentle acknowledgement. "How do you do?"

[Becka]

"Very well, thank you." She paused for a moment, curiosity bursting. "I'm sorry, but I have to ask. Are you Lesley Van Twinkle?"

Her eyes took on a faraway, dreamy look. "It's just, I admire you so much. Leaving Canterlot to pursue a life of art and adventure!"

She covered her mouth with a hoof as a slight blush crept across her face. She'd said that a little louder than she wanted, and the pony behind the counter turned their way.

"Sorry," she waved to the owner again before turning back to him. "I'm Diamond Hydrangea, but you can call me Hy. It's such a great honor to meet you."

[moony]

"I'm sorry, but I have to ask. Are you Lesley Van Twinkle?"

The stallion to her, startled at her forwardness. He had not come across many ponies who recognised him; his exhibition, some 7 years ago, was only revealed in Canterlot.

Van cringed inwardly. I should have known... this is what happens when you shop later than usual. You can't avoid ponies at this time of day. he berated himself, as the young filly chattered away even when he did not confirm his identity. It wasn't to say he did not like praise of his talent -- it was nice every now and then, and he felt a secret flush of pleasure and gratitude in hearing her admiration -- but the main worry was a fan's expectation, and he feared disappointing her.

But he could not lie about who he was. Lies only caused exhausting, unnecessary complications. Besides, he can't keep hiding forever.

"Thank you for your kindness," the unicorn smiled to her warmly, and offered a hoof in formal greeting. "It is a pleasure to meet you miss Hy. You may call me Van. You must be from Canterlot if you remember me from all those years ago."

[Becka]

Hy's smile brightened as he confirmed who he was and she shook his hoof. "Yes, my parents own a jewelry shop in Canterlot, and I remember them talking of your show. I was just a filly at the time, of course, but it was so exciting."

And then, of course, Van left town and Hy had envied him so much. The ability to leave town, find inspiration elsewhere, do his own thing. It's what she had been dreaming of ever since.

"You inspired me to move away as well, although I haven't made it very far."

If she looked hard, she could still see the gold flashing in the sunlight on her parents sign way in the distance. Well, at least she imagined she could. She could definitely still see Canterlot.

[moony]

Van's smile warmed, as did his heart. Again, a flush of gratitude, knowing his work was an inspiration. Of course though, he didn't trust she exactly understood his reason for leaving -- it wasn't so much to satisfy a hidden wonderlust as it was to get away from peer pressures. But there was no need to point that out. Perhaps she moved for similiar reasons.

"You moved away from Canterlot, which is a first and a big step in its own," the unicorn said encouragingly. "Do not be too harsh on yourself."

He smiled, tilting his head as he considered her. "You have not mentioned your own profession. Your parents are jewellers -- did you follow them into the trade?"

[Becka]

Hy almost couldn't contain her excitement - Van was so nice and encouraging. Everyone back home thought she was silly for moving away - especially after the whole Discord mess - and it was nice to hear someone who didn't think she was making a mistake.

She nodded at his question. "I did, although our jewelry styles are not at all alike. Well, you know, I'm sure, how gaudy everything is in Canterlot. I like a simpler style. Natural." She held up the chain around her neck and on the end was a simple tree pendant dotted with peridots for the leaves. It was where she had come up with her store name.

She smiled up at him. "My store opens in two days. You are welcome to stop by if you'd like."

[moony]

[Oops! sorry for the delay! Been caught up with extra work, anime convention and was stumped on what else to say ]


The unicorn smiled at her remark of Canterlot taste's because of the truth of it; they did tend to go overboard. Van eyed the pendant with a soft 'ahh' of delight as she presented it to him. It was as she said -- simple, but delicate with drops of green stones.

"It's very lovely," he remarked quietly, afterwards unsure if she would have heard.

"My store opens in two days. You are welcome to stop by if you'd like."

The unicorn smiled. "Then I shall look forward to it," Van said. "What is your store's name and address?."

As he spoke, his horn glowed a light golden orange, and before him a leather bound sketch book manifested, flipped open to a blank page and was soon accompanied by a pen that set to the paper, both items glowing that same golden tone.

[Becka]

[Not a problem - I thought the Rift ponies would be barging into town by now, but that thread is lagging. I might just have Fennec get out of there while he still can!]

"Wow," Hy breathed as his notebook and pen magically appeared. That was a useful trick!

"The name of the store is Peridot and it's just down the street, number six zero four." She pointed her hoof in the direction he'd need to take before smiling at him.

Lesley Van Twinkle was going to come to her store opening! This was so exciting, she didn't think she'd be able to hold in her excited squeals much longer. But she was trying to keep a professional air.

"I look forward to it as well. It was lovely to meet you, Van."

[I'll bring Fennec in to the next post]

[moony]

[Yay looks like there needs to be more rift ponies and it's gotten a little quiet -- did you want me to do some advertising on dA?]


Van dutifully noted the store name and number. That done, the book closed, the pen was tucked in neatly and the two disappeared as seemlessly as they had appeared, collapsing into theirselves and into nothing. The glow of his horn faded as Van looked to her again with a smile.

Admittedly, meeting another pony with a taste for art discouraged him from testing new media -- what would she say? He was only known for his paintings, and if he was playing around with other art forms rather than the projects he should be doing, he'd probably come across as tardy.

And he'd like to avoid that.

Thankfully she had given him a small openning.

"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Hy." the unicorn said, with a slight tilt of the head. "I shall see you in a couple days time. For now, good day."

With a parting smile, Van turned away to head towards the store exit.

[Nightbow]

[Sorry if I'm interrupting anything. I felt like I had to join you before Fennec to kill the silence on this board.]

A pink unicorn strolled down the street with a bit of a strut in her step. Her multicoloured tail swayed with a sass that would be a common sight amongst the youth in the high society of Canterlot. On this the day of the Sun Celebration Rainbow Flash had picked out a sunny yellow scarf that curved gently over her chest and a pair of gold-rimmed sunglasses to go with it.
Rainbow Flash was thrilled to walk the streets of Argen. The shopping district had most everything. She had only just arrived to the city the previous evening, and now she balanced two shopping bags at each of her sides with her unicorn magic.

Flash came to a stop just outside a store that sold art supplies. She placed her shopping bags on the ground and instead directed her magic towards her sunglasses. She had to lift them completely off of her nose in order to place them behind her ears, above the horn. As the glasses were fitted into place, pulling back her yellow bangs, mare squinted up at the sky, examining the eclipse overhead. It had been like that for the entire day now.

[Becka]

[Fennec entering from "Between Lapsing Continuums": eventidemlprpg.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=everfree&action=display&thread=49]

Fennec sheathed his sword and squared his shoulders before making his way across the bridge and into the colorful forest. He knew he was no longer anywhere near his herd - these tall trees would have been visible anywhere in his valley - but awe kept him silent as he walked. Colorful ponies rushed to and fro, and all Fennec could do was stare and jump out of the way before they ran into him.

There. He spotted a mare who had stopped to look at the strange dark sun and decided perhaps she would be easiest to talk to. She was the only pony not rushing about, although she had a strange growth on her forehead and sore some kind of colorful pelt around her neck.

Fennec stepped up next to her and followed her gaze to the sun. "Hullo. I don't suppose you can tell me where I am?"

[Nightbow]

Flash blinked towards the sun, turning her head towards an inquiring, unfamiliar voice. She had to take a step back in order to take in the formidable form of the rugged pony.
"Oh?" The unicorn emitted before confirming to herself that he was talking to her. "...Are you lost?" Rainbow Flash was indeed the one looking lost as she scanned the stranger's stance. He looked as if though he was either looking for a movie set or dropped from a wooden box that came directly from the jungle.

"Why this is the famous district Argen," smiled Flash with a raised hoof, taking the opportunity to slightly adjust her mane with her hoof. "I'm guessing you didn't come to Whinnyapolis to shop?" With that get up, he desperately needs it, Flash thought to herself. She cast a nervous gaze at his weapon and hoped that the stallion hadn't just strayed too far from the shady part of town. "Are you too in the modelling business?" Despite his clear need for preening, he was tall and well built. The unicorn batted her eyes with admiration that lacked a deeper meaning. By the looks of it the question was asked both with genuine curiosity and the opportunity to boast just a little.

[Becka]

The mare could have been speaking a different language for all that Fennec understood her. Argen? Whinnyopolis? Modeling business?

He answered the only question he understood, "I am a bit lost, yes." He would have stood a little straighter and smiled at her batting eyelashes if he wasn't so confused and worried. "There was a fog, and I'm no longer where I was. And these things attacked us in the forest. I do not know what happened to my companions."

He looked back in the direction he had come, but the creatures had not followed him. Which meant they had probably eaten that poor white stallion. Fennec felt bad for that, but he wasn't part of Fennec's herd, so there was really nothing he could do about it.

"Where might I find the head stallion of this herd?"