[Kelp Bar] One Is A Lonely Number [Valo]

[Gale Austin McCenry]

9th of Fall, 512 A.V.
Kelp Bar
Late Afternoon

It didn’t take long before the young man made his way into the raggedy old bar. It’s been quite a while since he came back to the old chair he usually sat in, maybe for the better. The chair had taken a beating and all sorts of other stuff. Surprised that it didn’t fall apart like other unfortunate seats, Gale sat down with some caution, like you should with any seat here. Seeing that it didn’t give out under him, Gale got a mug of the ever common Kelp Beer from the older women he’s seen one too many times. As always, he gave a thank you, since she deserved it, five silver mizas, a smile and a nod as she went to give him his drink.

As she did so, Gale gave the place a quick glance around. At least Henry wasn’t here, Ha! What luck he would have if he saw him again in the same setting as he had met him when they literally collided. Of course, Gale would be the only one out of the two who would remember probably, unless that Murdock didn’t keep his word. But what a day. No doubt he’d think of that fight every time he came here for a while. He also would think about the shattering of glass and spilling of the salty alcohol so he could get one of the pieces for his dirty job. Looking down towards the ground ahead of him in thought, he almost didn’t notice the lady place the mug next to him. He took the mug and let out another thank you before taking a swig of the city’s most well-known alcohol. It wouldn’t be long before something would catch the man’s interest, of course.

[Valo]

Seemed that lately Valo's art had no meaning to him anymore. He simply drew lines on paper, painted over them in much the same way he would paint an old wall. Stroke after stroke of the brush. An action so belittling to great art. Then again he wasn't a great artist. And he could not bare his complete lack of inspiration any longer. Once again he would entrust his soul to alcohol, for it seemed that the man painted better when intoxicated.

After a whole afternoon of yelling at the canvas, burying his head in his hands with frustration and retaliating into the very darkest corners oh his home; he had finally had enough. It was time for a well-deserved break, and shall he go hungry for the next couple of days... well... at least his mother wasn't here to witness this. He longed for the cheapest of alcohol. Something he could drink in abundance until his mind drowned. And the warm bosom of a prostitute perhaps. Seemed that he had developed a taste for the ladies of the night.

The door to the kelp bar swung open and a well-dressed man stepped though. His hair was as red as fire itself and his eyes green like cut emeralds. Or else he would have had emeralds for eyes, if not that they were clouded with the headships of life in Zeltiva. He had taken a seat by the bar and ordered some beer. Propping his head up with one hand, he marvelled upon how great people fall.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

Just as he had presumed, something would catch the blonde eye. One of the few Inartans he sees in the bar. Who would forget their fire-like red hair? Hard thing to miss, especially one who had formal clothes upon walking in. Was the man going to meet someone here or something? Seems odd to wear fancy clothes to a dump of a bar such as this.

The man sat down a few chairs over, ordered a mug and seemed to be mimicking himself at times, placing his chin on his hand. Did he honestly look like that? No wonder why the professor was concerned. Hopefully he didn’t still look like that.

Swiveling the salty beer in his mug, he took a gulp. It probably wasn’t any of his business though, why Valo was acting so. Just like it ain’t any one’s business for why he comes here. Everyone has problems and look for sources to make them disappear for a bit. That’s why he came here when Hadrian decided to make conversation. It made him forget his troubles somewhat for the time being. Maybe conversation is a good way to let go of troubles. As much as Gale wished to say that isn’t true, it probably was in most cases.

But did he really want to talk to someone who looked like they had problems? Gale was always one to listen to others…When they started the conversation, not the other way around. But its good practice he supposed. He needed practically any and every distraction to keep him room thinking of his deed in order to keep his wits about him. If he didn’t then he could end up doing something stupid and paying pretty nasty price for it.

Gale got up and moved down the few seats to sit next to the redhead. The motivation to get Gale out of his seat was probably the fact that he didn’t want someone to fall into his shoes. He started the same way, mopping around. He got taken advantage of and now he regrets a million things.

Not able to come up with a not-so-awkward introduction himself, he quoted what a man had asked him, “A Nilo for your thoughts?”

[Valo]

Valo had felt the change of pressure on the seat next to him as the took it. At first he thought little of it. Out of all the seats in the bar, there was nothing wrong with taking up one so close to him. Though Valo could think of no reason why a stranger may want to sit next to someone like him self. Apart from his exotic looks there was nothing interesting within Valo at all. And at the risk of sounding angsty, these thoughts crossed him mind.

Suddenly the man spoke. “A Nilo for your thoughts?”

Valo didn't think much of it. In fact he didn't realise that blonde was speaking to him. But as a moment of awkward silence settled in the dusty air, he looked up to see the man's eyes on him. "What?" the question escaped his lips involuntarily. It took him another prolonged moment to gather his thoughts. "Umm... Do I know you?" he added. Unable to quite figure out this sudden gesture of random kindness from a complete stranger.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

It seemed the man hadn’t realized that Gale was speaking to him for several moments, but when he did notice Gale, he seemed awfully confused. His face completed the look of confusion when he took a moment to question whether he knew him or not.

“McCenry. Gale McCenry. Seems that you do now. “He smirked at the confuzzled man.

Gale wouldn’t be so eccentric if it weren’t for the fact he was trying to act different then he normally does. Talking to a person who can’t deal with his own problems wouldn’t help anything. Besides, trying to be happy like all the other Zeltivans is one of the few ways to adapt and not get taken advantage of. So it was more both of their sakes he wasn’t himself at the moment.

[Valo]

The words "Seems that you do now." made Valo chuckle just a little bit. This involuntary smile lit up his face a little, softened his features.

"Seems that I do now. I'm Valo. Nice to meet you sir." he replied holding out his hand. "And with regard to your previous question; petty things become so problematic these days. Seems that my very ability to paint has diminished so greatly, that the only way can hope to paint something worth looking at is when I am well and truly drunk. But thank you very much for asking. I'm afraid I shall not be good company tonight Gale."

[Gale Austin McCenry]

It made Gale feel like he had accomplished something when the man let out a chuckle and a smile. It had been a while since Gale had made someone lighted up a bit. A smile spread across his own face as he took Valo’s hand and shook it for a greeting.

It seemed he had met another artist. It rather confused Gale as to how someone can just “lose” their ability to paint or draw. It’s not as much not being able to do it anymore; it’s more of a lack of inspiration in his eyes, which Gale needs a lot of as well. The man couldn’t be that bad at drawing to be upset about it, unless he’s just starting out. And even then it’s only the beginning. It took Gale a while to get to the point where he was and he still had a long road ahead of him. But in order to grow you had to have the right mind set. And it seems that Gale suddenly realized what that was.

“Well, that depends on your definition of good company. Is good company someone who keeps a good conversation or one who prevents one from being lonely?”

It was rather funny to Gale how he was trying to sound wiser then he really was. It was also difficult, but uplifting in a way. He didn’t feel as naive and that was an improvement he supposed. Looks like he was already learning from this experience. How about that.

[Valo]

“Well, that depends on your definition of good company. Is good company someone who keeps a good conversation or one who prevents one from being lonely?” the question repeated over and over again in Valo's head. What does make good company indeed? For company without good conversation is no company at all. But what is a conversation when one's heart is filled with loneliness. Was there a simple answer to this simple question?

Valo like how the man spoke. He liked his friendly tone, the words he used, the way he formulated his sentences. An indication of an educated mind. And education was something that Valo valued very much, consequently taking a sudden liking to this stranger.

Much to Valo's dismay, Mother Nature had granted him with impeccable eyesight. For if he had glasses, he would push them up on the bridge of his nose, something he had always wanted to do. But the expression on his face had to surface in expressing his pondering. "I'd have to say, good company is a person who prevents one from being lonely with good conversation. Wouldn't you agree?" he finally replied, unable to come up with a better answer.

[Gale Austin McCenry]

A silent moment passed between them, having the man guessing whether he was ignoring him completely or just in thought. Luckily it wasn’t a long moment or else Gale would have said something to keep conversation when it wasn’t needed. It wasn’t a very complicated answer, much like his simple question. Both however could be expanded to more complicated and philosophical ideas. Then again, so can anything if you thought about it long enough.

His shoulders raised and his eyes squinted,”Eeeeeh, sometimes.” The blonde’s shoulders and face relaxed to look back at the Inarta. His baritone voice continuing, “Occasionally just the presence of a familiar face is just enough to lighten the spirits.” Another slight smirk snuck its way to his lips. “Once again, it depends on how you look at your current relationship with the other.”

If the hypocrite was able to go on, he would endlessly talk about his philosophies on the subject of loneliness and how to cure it, as if it was some sort of fungus that gradually grows on you. Continuing to the topic of other things that inject themselves into someone’s personality, such as depression, hopelessness, and other feelings of sadness, Gale would start to bore the person he wanted to cheer up. He’d then drift off the topic and move to physical disease and various things he has seen in his time here. That almost always leads to the worst interaction he had with an unidentified infection, in which took the person who prevented him from collecting these funguses of sorrow. But if he did so, the whole reason he came over to would be abandoned and it would end up being a pointless storytelling that would bum the chap even more, if not, scare him away. So in attempts to keep off the subject of his past, he cut himself off with those simple words and changed his approach somewhat.

“But you mentioned painting, did you not?” The murderer always enjoyed talking about a subject that he was fairly knowledgeable about, doesn’t everyone? If Gale had to pick a top two topics they would indeed be about the emotions of grief and the ability to draw. Painting itself wasn’t the artist’s best or worst subject in the visual arts. However, whenever he did have the materials for a canvas and oils, he always starts with a sketch and tried filling it in the best he could. Maybe his obsession with drawing could aid Valo in his time of shameful pictures and images.

[Valo]

A soft crescent of a smile appeared across Valo's face. The blonde now caught his attention with his statements. He talked as if everything he said was so well thought out and Valo appreciated that indeed. He always had time for a soul with a brain. And perhaps there was no relationship between them yet, but he did look forward to forming one. It isn't often that a man such as himself takes immediate liking towards someone in such a simple manner indeed.

But before Valo could respond to the topic at hand, the conversation quickly shifted to something less other worldly than emotions and feelings and loneliness. "Well yes." replied Valo with a tint of surprise in his voice. "I don't suppose you're an artist too." he smirked, though he probably already knew the answer.

The truth is Valo wasn't a bad artist. He may have a long road to travel before he reaches true finery, but his soul was sensitive and his ability to quickly comprehend the little secrets which lay in paint and charcoal, was indeed admirable. He has a vast knowledge of colour theory, different paint mediums and anatomy. And above all else, he would throw all this textbook knowledge away to experiment and learn what no man would begin to experiment with.

But Valo's greatest problem was his perfectionism. Indeed he was never quite happy with anything he created. And if he could sell a painting, he would do it as quickly as he could just so he didn't have to look at it.