OPEN ⟹ [that yelling art meme from the iron giant goes here]

[fabrefactions]

WHO: Yusuke (fabrefactions) and anyone in the area who likes the idea of chALK ART
WHERE: Outside Palettes.
WHEN: 7/15
WHAT: just chalk art. Also, pictionary and probably shenanigans.
WARNINGS: I'm willing to bet money someone draws a dick.





{ chalk art }

[ Anyone wandering past Palettes today might be forgiven for thinking the store itself had exploded out onto the street outside - there are boxes of brightly coloured chalks, some open, others still sealed, littering the paving slabs, and selections of cloths, water, and liquid chalk markers seem to be dotted around randomly.

For those trying to actually get into the store, not only is there an obstacle course of art supplies to get through, there's also Yusuke. And Yusuke is budging for no one. He's completely absorbed in what he's doing - streaks of chalk dust littering his arms and one streak smudged across his cheek, as he works on his temporary art piece with all the attention he'd give something permanent or on canvas.

To be fair to him though, he's keeping his work to a square no bigger than a large canvas, leaving plenty of street space for other people to join him and let their own creativity run wild. In fact, the layout seems to be set up with some thought to other people joining in... so why not go for it?]

{ pictionary }

[ Amidst all the chalk art, there is a section of pavement and chalk boxes just off to the side of Palettes itself that seems to haven been kept clear on purpose. Alongside the supplies for drawing, someone has left a game box propped up against the window of the shop, with the instructions for how to play Pictionary sellotaped neatly to the glass itself. There's even a little chalk board on an easel propped up in the same place.

So, if expressing yourself through the expressive and exciting medium of chalk art isn't your thing, why not indulge yourself in a nice, friendly and not at all frustrating game of pictionary?

But with chalk. ]

{ buy things }

[ When it comes down to it though, Palettes is still a business and still doing its best to earn money. And seeing as half the shop has spilled outside, there are a couple of little sales set ups near by. Selling chalk, pens, pencils, sketchbooks, like a literal high light reel of what the shop itself has to offer.

Maybe you've been inspired, and want to quit your job and design the next big thing in the world of art? Well, luckily for you, Palettes has a sketch pad for that. And canvas. And paint sets.

Everything.

Buy it. ]

{ wildcard }

[ You literally have access to all the chalk, art supplies in general and space to go buck wild and do whatever you want. Go wild, chalk the town red. Play some games. Have a good, good time. ]

Comments

[concasse]

[CLOSING HIS EYES, RENARD. God, where is the strength to survive this?

-- Also he is going to pass off a bottle of water (cold!) to him. Where did Sanji get it? Who knows.]

Fine, then start drinking. It's hot as shit out here.

[fabrefactions]

[ Well he's not going to turn down the water, wherever it came from. He mumbles a thank you, before just straight up draining half the bottle in one go.

Refreshing.

Once he's done, he lets himself fall back so he's sat on the ground next to Sanji, and bumps his shoulder against his comfortably. ]

It's not as hot as it has been, I think. And there's plenty of shade in the area. I have been taking breaks when necessary.

[concasse]

I'd feel a lot more at ease about that if your "when necessary" matched up with the rest of the world's.

[Meaning Sanji believes Yusuke has taken

one

break

and that's it. Probably because he had to pee.

SORRY HE DOES NOT TRUST YOU, BOYFRIENDO. But anyway, content that Yusuke is taking a break now, Sanji will allow his eyes to roam the "painting" with more open appreciation]

Damn though, you really went for it, didn't you? Never thought the art festival we went to would have this kind of impact.

[fabrefactions]

My "when necessary" works for me, and that is enough.

[ WHERE IS THE TRUST...

he's doing his best. And also it was two breaks. Probably. ]

Mmm. I did say I wanted to try it. And the weather has been so clear it seemed like a good time to give it a try. Whatever people create should last for a little while, without the risk of being washed away.

[ And that feels important. To persuade people to create something beautiful yet fleeting, but not so fleeting it feels meaningless. ]

[concasse]

[A snort, but he taps his fingers on the concrete, still staring at the picture. Definitely not picking up any chalk for himself, however; Yusuke should know no one needs to see the disaster he'd make.]

I getcha. Though tell me, what inspired this look?

[fabrefactions]

[ Um, excuse. He expects at least one chalk Jimmy by the end of the day, thank you. ]

Hmm... [ He glances down at the image again - reds, golds, and pinks blending into the horizon between the sky and the ocean. ]

It's not difficult to guess, if you consider it.

[concasse]

I mean -- yeah, but you could've drawn anything. Even your art store.

[Honestly, does Yusuke even draw buildings? Sanji has never seen it, shamelessly picking up on the fact that his boyfriend will focus on more organic subjects, especially flowers, if Sanji bugs him for it.]

[fabrefactions]

Perhaps. But I'd said I wanted to capture a sunset and... chalk seemed like a good way to go about trying a first sketch.

[ He rubs his fingertips together and feels the grit and powder of the chalk there - it's different to streaks of pencil, or flecks of paint. New. ]

...

I could try and do a building, but thinking back to the sort of subjects at the art fair... they were all fairly natural subjects.

[concasse]

Nah, don't do a building. Not unless there's something about them worth drawing.

[Sanji was just playing devil's advocate. Just wait, he has a better solution--]

Oi, maybe a flower or garden.

[WHO IS SURPRISED... I hope not Yusuke]

[fabrefactions]

[ He sees your game, mister.

Yusuke fold his arms atop his knees and rests his chin on them, looking a little thoughtful. ]

Are you making a request?

[ Tbh he looks amused more than anything. ]

[concasse]

I'm just suggesting something that might spark your creative genius is all.

[LOOK AT THIS SMOOTH ASS OPERATOR]

[fabrefactions]

[ 10/10 very smooth. Even appealing to his creativity - clever. ]

Mmhmmm. So, you do not think I am pushing my boundaries enough with an ocean scene? I see.

[ D.... danger? ]

[concasse]

[Hm.

Bad.]

O-oi, now, I didn't mean it like that.

You can spark that genius over more than one picture, right?

[fabrefactions]

[ Hm.

10/10 for backtracking too. Yusuke reaches out and tweaks Sanji’s ear, lightly. ]

If you want me to draw you flowers, you only have to ask. [ The pavement is as many canvas as he wants it to be, for today at least. ]

It would be more unique than simply buying you them, after all.

[concasse]

[Sanji is nothing if not a genius at pulling flowery shit out of his own ass, he'll take the ear tweaking as punishment and simply shrugs]

I've got like three paintings from you already; can't say I need more...

[...]

But, y'know, while we're here...

[SHUSH HE REALLY LIKES FLOWERS]

[fabrefactions]

If I draw them here, I'm not removing the paving slab for you.

[ But. Y'know, for the light complaining, he's already getting out some green chalks and rich reds, and blues for petals. ]

[concasse]

Where would I even fit a stone slab in my apartment...

[HE'S NOT THAT DESPERATE]

[fabrefactions]

[ ARE YOU SAYING HIS ART ISN'T WORTH LIFTING A PAVING SLAB FOR? ]

Some people work them into paving slabs in their home. Or just prop them up like free standing art work.

[ There's a sweep of green chalk across the clear slab - the beginnings of a long, elegant flower stalk. ]

You'd be surprised. Art can, and often is, anything.

[concasse]

Heeeh... do they? Sounds like a lot of work.

[That and Sanji doesn't own the apartment building, so that's never going to happen. However, as he muses:]

I can see that if you built a house from the ground up -- might as well make that shit unique if you're gonna pay out the ass for a dream home.

[At some point he'll grab a piece of chalk himself, specifically choosing a color he doesn't think Yusuke will need anytime soon.]

[fabrefactions]

It's an old practice. Romans used to specifically create decorative mosaics for the purpose of "looking pretty", and formed their homes around them.

[ His eyes flicker over to what Sanji's doing, but his focus is inevitably brought back to the flower stalks forming in front of him. ]

Similar context, modern setting. You could even theme them for each room - blues for the bathroom, for example.

[concasse]

[Sanji's not really drawing anything -- it's more a doodle that's vaguely cake-shaped for his own amusement. Chalk is... not really his medium.]

Still sounds like a lot of shitty work. I'll stick to commission people for paintings.

[...]

Or body pillows.

[fabrefactions]

[ There's this very brief pause in Yusuke's movements...

and then he reaches out and

draws

a line of green chalk down Sanji's cheek.

Don't be rude. ]

[concasse]

[Excuse him HE IS NOT THE ONE DRAWING ON PEOPLE

Don't talk to him about rudeness!]

There are more polite ways of telling someone to shut the hell up.

[fabrefactions]

And yet the topic still emerges...

[ Hold up he’s setting the chalk down now and leaning forwards to brush his thumb across Sanji’s cheek - a few times, in the end, as he brushes away that coloured streak. ]

Forgive me for trying something a little different this time.

[concasse]

[...

Quickly draws a black mustache over Yusuke's mouth.

+_+]

Y'know, I think I'm warming up to this medium.