5 April, 1894 — Live Sculpting Salon

One thing Emrys had always enjoyed: finding new and interesting ways to make genteel society uncomfortable. The contortionists at the Sonata several years ago had been his doing; he used his position as a patron in some art circles to advocate for the inclusion of some more risque pieces. It delighted him to imply that any hesitation they had about it stemmed from a lack of appreciation for high art. There was nothing wealthy people liked less than to be accused of not having good taste (Emrys included), and so it was generally an argument that carried the day.

This was one of his ideas, as well. The people who hadn't objected during the planning probably hadn't realized what sculpting live clay was really like. The sculptor who was in the center of the ring at the moment had his once loose white shirt slicked down with greyish clay water, clinging to his torso most delightfully as he wrestled with the half-formed leg of a sculpture he was working on. Exquisite.

He accepted a drink from one of the footmen and turned to make conversation with the nearest guest. "And are you an artist? I find so many people dabble." Though he doubted most of the people in the audience had done anything quite like this.

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Lou made this! <3

Evangeline, perhaps above all else, had a deep and abiding appreciation for all the things that society told her she shouldn't. And on the one hand, an appreciation for art was all but encouraged for a genteel lady. On the other, she thought this was... not quite what anyone had had in mind when encouraging an interest in art in her.

Needless to say, Eva was amused--at the very least--by the more risque displays on offer. And if that entertainment somehow grew dull, there was plenty of enjoyment to be had from observing her fellow guests around her. That alone was worth at least double the price of admission.

Turning at the voice next to her, Eva said, "I don't think anything I can do would be called true art by comparison, but I do appreciate the..."--she turned to look back at the sculptor wrestling with his creation.--"...skill involved."

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Set by Bee <3

Emrys was watching her face for any sign of the thoughts beneath. People who frequented these sorts of things were usually practiced in keeping their expressions neutral, so if he wanted to catch any hint of discomfort he had to be on the lookout for the subtlest sign. She wasn't looking away from the sculpting — not embarrassed? He might have expected a woman of society to have taken the first possible opportunity to avert her gaze, grateful for any distraction, but she had done no such thing. Interesting.

"It's certainly skillful," he agreed. "I had some hand in helping select the artists for the exhibition today. And for the upcoming garden. Have you sculpted before, Mrs...?"

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Lou made this! <3

"I'm afraid not," Evangeline admitted. She thought she liked art well enough, but thought it likely took much more time than she wished to devote to it to be any good at all at it. "Though something like this does rather inspire one, don't you think?" Which, admittedly, was a very bold thing to say, considering, but if this man had helped set up this event, she couldn't imagine it was too shocking.

Still, the smile she turned on him then could have theoretically been argued to be innocent. Ish. "Evangeline Rowle."

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Set by Bee <3

It did rather inspire, didn't it? And what an interesting choice of words on her behalf. Had she selected those intentionally, or had they just slipped out? Either way it was intriguing. Emrys mulled over her name; did he know Evangline Rowle? Widow, he thought — one with a whiff of scandal about her, if he recalled correctly, though he was finding it hard to place the exact nature of the scandal. Scandals came and went so often that though he always took an interest in them he hardly ever remembered them longer than a Witch Weekly columnist did.

"I've always thought so," he agreed. "It's a pleasure to meet someone else with such a keen appreciation for art, Mrs. Rowle. Emrys Selwyn," he offered. The way he emphasized art made it sound as though he meant something else.

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Lou made this! <3

Eva's smile broadened. All things considered, her reputation--to those who paid attention to such things, anyway--likely implied she had more experience with... well, the fun parts of scandal... than she really did. Sometimes, she thought that it would have been better if her behavior had been more scandalous--at least than she might have had time to enjoy it, even for a little while, before it all came crashing down.

Not that that mattered now, of course. She could pseudo-innocently imply what she liked to whatever degree she was willing to push it. And anyway, it was fun. "I couldn't agree more, Mr. Selwyn," she said. "It's really a pity more people aren't true art connoisseurs." She thought she knew exactly what sort of "art" he was implying, and she didn't mind implying the same thing.

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Set by Bee <3

"Indeed," Emrys agreed, turning slightly in his chair to give her more of his focus. He wasn't worried about missing the performance down in the arena — he'd been the one to coordinate most of these exhibitions, anyway, so he could always get a more personal performance later if he felt he'd missed out. And a personal performance would probably be more fun, anyway — if it was happening in his house, it could involve some amount of drugs and there was no obligation for him to stay clothed throughout.

"I've never been an artist myself, but I like to spend my time and money curating things like this," he said, with a nod towards the sculptor. "I'm something of a professional connoisseur. Well, I suppose technically imports are my profession, but this is more interesting," he joked. "And one must have hobbies. I'm sure you'd agree, Mrs. Rowle?"

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Lou made this! <3

"Oh yes," Evangeline agreed, smiling. "It keeps life interesting, and it would all be a waste without something to keep things... lively." Certainly her greatest challenge these days was boredom. We should always find time for our passions."

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Set by Bee <3

Emrys' eyes sparkled. "What are your passions, Mrs. Rowle?" he asked. Perhaps too bold a question out of context, but she'd created a perfect opening for it; no one who overheard them could possibly have objected to this line of questioning when they'd established they were discussing hobbies — even if the hobbies were of the lively and interesting variety.

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Lou made this! <3

The smile on Eva's face could have been mistaken for innocent--if you squinted very hard. "Oh, I think it would have to be people," she said. Her tone was mostly innocent enough. She could have very well meant "people" as in "socializing," after all. And to be fair, she did mean that, too. So technically, no matter how Mr. Selwyn took it, it wasn't a lie.

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Set by Bee <3

Emrys' smile was vaguely predatory — the look of a well-fed tiger who was nonetheless intrigued by a doe across the glade.

"In that case, perhaps I should invite you to one of my parties," he suggested. "As the curator of the guest list I am admittedly biased, but I'd wager it offers a more interesting selection people than... just about anywhere else."

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Lou made this! <3

"Well," Evangeline said. "If they're as interesting as you say, I'm sure I would enjoy myself."

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Set by Bee <3