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]

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.

[fabrefactions]

[ UM.

Yusuke jolts back a little, mouth opening to reply— but then he pauses, and his nose wrinkles a couple of times. Ah....

He sneezes.

D’aw. ]

... I’m glad. [ He rubs tentatively at the chalk, only managing to smear it a little. His nose wriggles again. ]

Perhaps human skin isn’t the best canvas, though.

[concasse]

[What the fuck that's cute.

And hilarious.

Sanji works to wipe the grin off his face with limited success, though after a moment, he'll reach over to help Yusuke actually get the chalk off his face, thumbing some of the medium away.]

Maybe not for chalk, but I've heard some bastards can work wonders with body paints.

[fabrefactions]

[ Honestly, they both made mistakes here. Chalk. Chalk everywhere. And not on the pavement, on them.

Bleh. ]

Oh.

[ Hold up, he's digging out his phone. When he holds it out there's a photo up - it's Yusuke's own hand, with ink and paint spread across it. ]

Like this?

... Certainly, it's nothing compared to the people you're speaking of, and henna artists but, yes. You are correct, in some instances the human body is a marvellous canvas. In ways traditional media could never be.

[concasse]

[... Why isn't Sanji surprised to hear that his boyfriend had at one point turned his hand into a canvas?

He'd be judging if not for the fact it actually looks cool]

Huh... not bad. [Glancing at the phone in rapt interest while he digs out a napkin from his pocket and hands it over to Yusuke -- for the rest of his chalk mustache]

You gonna do more shit like that?

[fabrefactions]

[ He's literally drawing on the ground, nothing is off limits. ]

Hm.

[ Oh. Finally he will be free of his chalk 'tache. Give him a moment to try and get as much of that chalk off his face without sneezing... ]

I'd like to. There are some clever things you can do with paint on skin - incorporate shape of the body into your work so it flows effortlessly. Play with optical illusions on the skin itself.

But a you have to account for involuntary movement, and if your subject is ticklish, and how that could ruin the art if you aren't careful.

[concasse]

[YEA BUT THE GROUND IS NOT HUMAN FLESH.]

Well shit, guess that rules me out as a participant.

[No crazy art shenanigans in bed, he guesses... then again, this is Yusuke. He'd be distracted from sexy times immediately with the inclusion of ART.]

[fabrefactions]

Yes, it would.

[ BOO.

...

No, like. He looks genuinely disappointed. ]

It would be nice to replicate something like that photograph along your arm, but I wouldn't even get one bird painted before you'd flail around and ruin it.

[ But not for quite the same reasons. ]

[concasse]

[...]

My apologies for being ticklish.

[SO TEMPTED TO DRAW ANOTHER MUSTACHE ON HIM NOW]

Somehow, I think you'll live.