Welcome to Gaia! ::

The pause was notable. The grinding of thoughts and how to quantify the vagaries of a difficult partner equally plain. Sometimes even the smallest silences can speak volumes.

And all the more accompanied by such answers. 'Physical?' Quenton slowly blinked, eyebrow lifting slightly with a note of singular impression. Well, certainly farther then we. Am I jealous? Or more concerned for how such casual liaisons can cut? Or something else? "Rare the light we find outside in life matches the windows of the dream churches we were raised in, the rose windows full of ideals that find few analog out in real gardens and meadows, forests and mazes. "

Hopefully things would work out to at least some benefit for Alex when it came to the mysteries of company and love. Knowing some measure of Alex's preferences and youth combined, the best that could be offered was a heartfelt, "Just be safe, if you can."

Alex was smart enough himself to have done his research, and if the admissions were any telling, now had far more experience to speak from on matters of love or physicality. The Young man was a breath of more worldly air, for all that his echelon was a good deal above what most conventions called 'worldly'. I don't expect I can be the friend that you talk to about such things, I'm afraid. But you have many more friends than I. There must be someone among them that can be that voice of wisdom and whispered confidences about lovemaking and experiments, advice and fantasies. I look too much to build a bier.

Quenton sobered, considering the shared poetry in the museum and shadows through leaves in the canopy of swaying ropes, and put down his utensil as all appetite fled. "I wondering if he curiosity might be as a rival suitor finds an ex. I suppose I was not wrong then. Do assure him, if you can, that we're friends only? I'll do the same if it comes up again. If I can keep my brain organized enough to think of anything outside of just projects."

He slid down from his chair, surreptitiously brushing off, "Speaking of- the relief pieces."

It was the work of a couple moments to load the counters on casters, but if was a welcome distraction that he performed. Once they were, he rolled four different examples over to near the table so that Alex could look them over without having to leave the lunch.

Alex's having gotten down just to follow him while he loaded things onto casters was...odd, but the youth was welcome to stand or follow as well as sit at his pleasure.

The options ranged various degrees of relief to the patterns and whether the plant forms were lighter, the same shade or darker than the counter base. They mimicked fossil forms- delicate fronds of fern, pine, ginkgo or reaching, bare branches. The colors were all naturals, texture very convincingly stone despite their resin-origins. Each version looked and felt expensive, as high quality furniture tended to, though whether that was noticeably to one accustomed to fine things and rich surroundings as Alex was remained a mystery as far as Quenton could predict.

"If you like the patterns on one but the colours on another, its all open. I can mix and match the aspects for the final pieces to your preference."

Pulling a grease pencil from one of the canisters strategically placed around the room, the sculptor marked the indicated master with some notations.

"I've only got the master molds right now. How quickly will you be needing them? Stroud said the turn around was rapid as I could make it. Or how many need to be cast even..."

"I think a week might be the best I can manage. I could have you three by then if you don't need many, or I can spend the first 48 hours making extra molds. It woudl increase the number I could have for you to 6. The size and amount of seating was uncertain when she approached me about it. " Approached was putting it gently. Alex's compliments were kind, but it was the smaller youth's hands tracing the pieces that spoke with more volume.

"You'd need only to take the appropriate classes. Casting and pouring is gone over in basics for the 3d Compositions final. You have a good eye for art already, it is just a matter of training and technique. It would be sad to take time away from your watercolour, though."

Rather than leaving the matter to memory alone, Quenton pulled out his phone and set a date and alarm for a few days hence and again a few more as reminders. As an extra precaution, he also returned to the table and bags, pulling the most recent Moleskin out and wrote it at the top left on a series of the subsequent blank pages. "I'll definitely keep the 'deadline' and opening itself on my mind. And if not there, then force-feeding reminding myself. "

"I don't want to miss it. It's ...good to be able to support a friend. Or try to, anyway."

"As for how I do it? Who's to say I'm succeeding?" I lost you, after all. And more is lost each night...so much time in the ER, and a bevy of scars. Those generals still alive. But the tone was light, not belying the sentiment thought. "I don't exactly sleep- that's when I have to work on the music major. You've a better balance, Alex. Don't admire my stupidity~ "