[Kelp Bar] A Certain Kind of Sadness

[Hadrian]

At one point, they both glanced at each other at the same time and Hadrian, feeling caught out, smiled awkwardly, cheeks turning a touch pink in embarrassment. It would be more awkward to turn away, so he just shrugged. "Sorry. I guess it's just you seem upset, and I feel like..." He shook his head. "We could talk about the weather. Distract you, perhaps?"

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Gale let out a single snicker under his breath at the awkward moment, followed by a question. The weather. He wanted to talk about the weather. Okay, maybe he wasn't all bad or anything like he was thinking. But seriously, the weather? He's a student isn't he? You could have said anything having to do with his classes or anything but he chose the weather. Oh well, it's something to talk about in the first place.

Gale then replied, clearly not wanting to be talking about the weather,"Distracted by talking about the weather? Maybe. Bore me to death? Yes."Gale turned to face him again. It doesn't seem like he would be shaking him off any time so so minus well humor him with a chat. What else did he have to do? "You said something about the University or something right? Are you a student?"

[Hadrian]

He smiled again, still small, but more emboldened for his success in not enraging the guy. "Was at one time a student, now a professor, at least until the one I'm substituting returns. What about you?" His blue eyes were curious, but not offensively so. This was likely better conversation than the weather unless this Gale turned out to be a Stormwarden or Raindancer. Or a weather witch, even. But that seemed unlikely.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Gale nodded when he gave an explanation. Being a professor wasn't so bad of a job. At least it was consistent unlike his own. Gale was surprised by his next question since it was just a common trade off of information. If he had asked randomly like he had before with his "Nilo for thoughts" question, then it might have been a different story all together. Without much hesitation, Gale replied simply, but honestly.

"I'm an artist. Well-...Trying to be at least. It's hard to live off your drawing and paintings when you're not very good at it yet." He said swirling the drink in his mug a bit with a shrug.

[Hadrian]

Hadrian nodded. He had dabbled even in the arts, but after a sip of beer, he offered more: "You should meet my friend Lucas. Well, he's also my assistant now. Nepotism. But he is also an artist, though he's studying at the University now as well." He was better at connecting two people to each other than connecting with another person himself, but he didn't mind, in the end. Having few friends made it easier to focus on his work, and of late there was so much work he didn't know what to do with himself half the time. But perhaps this one would do well to have a friend with mutual interests, the better to distract him from whatever was bothering him.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Gale nodded slightly,"Maybe I'll meet him one of these days." He glanced up at him with a small smirk on his lips to show that he would appreciate help, but dropped his head back down to look at his drink.

His mind wondered a bit again looking the swooshing drink in his mug. It sorta looked like an ocean wave, but just miniature. Sort of. Nothing would be like the ocean exactly. Maybe not even close. It was funny how it was like that. Even Master painters who paint the ocean can't get it quite right. It was a funny thing the ocean. He passed it everyday yet when he tried to picture it like he had seen it wouldn't look the same or it's a soft blur. Heh, just like...

Gale ripped his gaze off the cup and looked at Hadrian again and asked,"I don't believe I know your name sir."

[Hadrian]

He didn't press the young man when he fell silent, often hating when others interrupted his own solitude. But when asked for his name, he put out his hand and made his acquaintance. It was the polite thing to do. "I'm Hadrian," he said simply. It seemed they were both the type with complex, wandering thoughts, but a dearth of words. That was no great sin; he could communicate when the situation called for it, when he wanted to do so.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

When Hadrian introduced himself and held out a hand, Gale didn't think anything of trading information.

He took the mans had and shook it with his response,"McCenry. You can call me Gale though." Gale always introduced his name like that.

He flashed the professor a smile, however, the sadness in his eyes would never be cover by such a simple facial expression. Gale figured he would probably forget they ever had this conversation within a days time but that wasn't so. Gale often forgot about interactions he had with people, especially if it was small talk or someone he met at a bar. But this was an exception that he wouldn't realize till a few days later.

[Hadrian]

"Gale," he said, repeating it back. He smiled. "Appropriate for the city of the bonesnappers." He interjected a mention of weather for humor's sake. "It's a pleasure to meet you. And I can certainly introduce you to Lucas if you're interested in meeting other artists. I don't have much to do with the artistic parts of Zeltiva. Not for lack of interest, but mostly for lack of time. Although I suppose I could walk through a gallery as easily as coming for a drink. Perhaps I should consider that in future." He grinned, but it was there and gone. Hadrian was not especially emotive.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

OOCSorry for the sudden font change. I'm keeping this one though.

Gale smirked which was followed by a chuckle. Not many people commented on his name and it's meaning. He almost forgot himself.

After nodding, Gale responded,"Yeah, I would actually. Not sure why an artist wouldn't want to meet others. After all, learning about different types of art techniques and talking about your own is one of the many ways to improve." Gale told him. "But I think it's rather ironic. I don't find myself at galleries and looking at others work very often. I suppose it's just my way of life. I don't interact much actually." Gale shrugged. "Well, beyond interactions about buying and selling my work that is."

It was starting to get Gale curious now. He was a very secluded man, avoiding most contact, yet right now, he finds himself talking more then he'd like. He wouldn't have said anything about his isolation if he had this conversation the day before. Why was he suddenly so open? Hm...