You Only Hear The Music When Your Heart Begins To Break - OPEN

[injectablefame]

Party's already been warned off of vampire territory a few times and for now he's willing to play ball, but that doesn't mean he's going to be happy about it, especially now that they've taken Greenwich. His career is pretty halted without access to the art galleries in their territory and he's taken to what some people might see as panhandling, but what he chooses to see as an entry-level artist position.

Lately, he's taken to setting up shop with his art outside train stops in various non-hostile areas. He's got a little cardboard display with postcard prints of his favorite pieces and a travel easel with a tip jar. Every day he finds a new stop to set up at and he starts to paint. If anyone shows interest, he'll offer commissions or even just chat with people.

In the evenings, he'll move to hipper places, outside of nightclubs and bars where he might catch the eye of others in the art scene. Most of his art focuses in the juxtaposition of nature imagery and neon colors, especially wolves and forests, but he'll branch out to anything that might interest him if it fits his style of bright contrasts an harsh shapes.

On more than one occasion, he takes advantage of the cover of night to paint over old tags and ruder graffiti with his own quick spray paint work, especially in alleyways that look like they could use a little love and a brighter palette.

[ OOC: Party can be found anywhere that would be non-hostile to werewolves for any of the above scenarios. His art is along the lines of this or this or this. If you're interested in a more specific starter for something, let me know! ]

Comments

[emotioneater]

"It was for your own good, bucko. Would you prefer to be stuffed 'n mounted inside Harris' mansion right now?" As he speaks, Cooper picks up the postcards, and flips through them, studying each of them carefully. They are quite good, no matter how much he'd like to heckle otherwise.

He reaches into his pocket, pulls out two pounds, and sticks it into the tip jar, selecting a brightly-colored one from the bunch. There. He's done his job to make sure Fluffy here won't go hungry.

[injectablefame]

"At the risk of soundin' like a beauty queen, I'd prefer world peace." He lets out a mirthless laugh, but the tip earns Cooper a kiss blown his way. Truthfully, Party can't bring himself to hold too much of a grudge. It's not like the guy attacked him, even if he seems like he might be a tool. There's bigger fish to fry in the world, as far as he's concerned.

"What do you think is the chance of me gettin' something worked out so that I can come and go?" His hand goes back to the piece he's working on, but his attention is equally split between his movements and the conversation.

Bah, this is what happens when I do tags from e-mail and can't check them. Broken html...

[emotioneater]

Cooper watches him draw with avid interest. Despite being older than electricity, he's got no talent for the arts. The only thing he's ever been truly talented at was riding motorcycles.

"The chance of that happening will be when the small end of never rolls around." Time to squash that idea good and flat before Fluffy here ends up in some really deep shit. "You do realize Harris gives out nice little prizes for the vampire that turns in the most werewolf pelts?"

[injectablefame]

"Then I'm stuck panhandling until we get our turf back or I get some new art contacts in another neighborhood." There's something entirely nonchalant about his demeanor. He really doesn't mind a little panhandling and he doubts the lines will stay where they are forever, anyway. Besides, he's pretty good at getting attention and art doesn't always require that the attention be positive for it to pay off.

"So what's the prize for my extra-cute pelt?" He wiggles his hips in his worn skinny jeans, just in case there's any question as to whether or not he's actually taking this entirely seriously. Spoiler: he's not.

[emotioneater]

"Money's a nuisance anyhow," Cooper says airily, in the way that only someone who doesn't have to worry about it can say. Times had been when he had to scrape just to get two shillings together. At this point in his life, he figured he deserved to have a nice bit of money tucked away.

Cooper leans in, a shit-eating grin on his face. It's still there as he reaches over, quick as it takes to blink, and whacks Party on the side of the head in rough cuffing motion. "Suit yourself then, Fluffy. Better hope you can deal with whoever comes after you. I can guarantee they'll be a lot less nice than me."

[injectablefame]

Party's laughter is light as it rings out with that awkward quality that tends to come from certain types of long-term overindulgence. It's the kind of laugh that isn't forced out, but born from something genuinely tickling him.

"Nicest bat I know. I should be thankful that the world's brought you into my life." He makes smooching noises at Cooper.

[emotioneater]

"I'm flattered, but I got a girlfriend, bucko." He leans back, shaking his head. Looks like nothing is going to get through Party's thick head. Oh well. Maybe he'll get stupid lucky and manage to survive this city without getting eaten alive.

He eyes the werewolf up and down, not in the 'I want you bad' way, more like he's trying to picture who Party reminds him of. Then it hits him. "Christ, but you remind me of me 'bout two hundred years ago. Before I got old and cynical." That's a bummer of a statement to make, so Cooper lightens the mood by winking. "'Course, I've also been this handsome since then."

[injectablefame]

"You saying I'm not handsome?" Party makes his best effort to look offended, but falls a little short as he's still laughing through it a little. Maybe Cooper's not so bad for an old man.

"I'd be more upset if I didn't feel bad for you with all your cynical moodiness. Is your girlfriend still in high school?" He flails in Cooper's direction. "Wait! Wait, are you still in high school? That would be sad."

[emotioneater]

Yep. Party's a completely incorrigible rascal. No wonder Cooper is reminded of himself. Those are qualities he possesses and likes to see in others.

"No, she's almost twenty, I'll have you know." He looks a little offended. After all, he wasn't about to go chasing jailbait, being one of those creepy eternal teenage vampires that supernatural literature seems to adore. At the second question, he looks a lot more offended. He already knows he looks like a kid. The mirror tells him that every day of his life. "Don't be rude, pup. And I will have you know haven't been in school since World War Two. It's a little thing called a fake ID."

[injectablefame]

"Most of us use those to drink when we're too young, old man."

He can't even tell if almost twenty is some kind of joke, but then again Party's not much older than that and he feels pretty adult at this point in his life. He's on his own and everything. Definitely a fully functional adult.

"You're cheating yourself out of perfectly good old people discounts. You know that, right?"

[emotioneater]

"Get pulled over by the truant officers every month 'n you'd start carryin' one around too." Cooper's been complaining about being eternally young pretty much ever since he got turned into a vampire. There's not many advantages to being an eternally young, short creature of the night that feasts on blood. Not that Cooper wanted to die at age seventeen. He just would have preferred being a little older before being turned into a vampire.

"Riiiight. I'm so sure the movie theater is gonna believe I'm over two-hundred so I can get in as a senior." He rolls his eyes.

[injectablefame]

"Maybe if you get a fake beard, you'll look older than 12." Party tries to school his face, all wide eyes and faked innocence.

"Maybe I could do some age make-up on you." And then he cracks and his smile breaks through again.

[emotioneater]

"I do not look twelve, you mutt!" Cooper says, the lack of heat behind his words betraying how he was amused by Party's words. After a moment, he can't help but grin. Strange how this is the second werewolf he seems to be developing a friendship with. Still, it might come in handy down the road to have some wolves in his corner.

So he decides to do Party a good turn. "Look, you ever get in trouble in Islington territory, you tell them you know Cooper. Might not look like it, but I got some clout t'my name." Marquess of Hackney came with some privileges after all.

[injectablefame]

Party really hadn't expected that, but he appreciates it all the same and his face softens a little. He's hardly had a warm welcome from the vampires here, but he's not one to judge people for what they are. It can't hurt to have a name to swing around the next time he's in trouble, anyway. Cooper might not know what he's getting himself into with that offer.

"So I shouldn't just bark at 'em?" If there's any question of Party's nature, his toothy grin highlights his canines in a way that's far too animalistic to be anything else.

[emotioneater]

Indeed, Cooper is probably going to regret this sooner rather than later. Party looks like the type to get into mischief without even trying. Still, he's already made the offer and can't very well rescind it now. He'll just have to hope Party knows better than to mouth off to any Islington vamps, not when they're so keen on spreading chaos throughout the city.

He sighs and shakes his head when the young wolf turns flippant. Party is probably doomed at this rate. "Let's hope your bite is worse'n your bark, Fluffy, or I might see a new pelt in Harris' office."

[injectablefame]

"Least do me a favor and steal it so you can use it for something cool." When he smiles, he's careful to show all of his tiny, sharp teeth. Even in this shape, he can bite like a motherfucker. No one ever said he was civilized or house-broken.

[emotioneater]

Cooper just rolls his eyes at Party's words. He should have known better than to try and knock some sense into a fearless wolf puppy. He remembers being young and thinking that he was untouchable. That was a very long time ago. "You're incorrigible. Be seein' you around, pup."