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█████████████████████████████████ X X tabtab❧xxtab Tanis sat and listened as Skylar spoke. First on the topic of remembering, of why he shouldn't forget. Of why he should keep pushing forward and work to be better. Then came her analogy regarding art, and of all the things that she'd said so far, that one seemed to strike that strongest cord with him. "Complex, huh? I suppose that isn't the worst way to look at things." Then Skylar began speaking of a story regarding her 'Nan'. Of a Grimm attack on her hometown. How she realized that the people around her got happier as she pulled herself out of that darkness. However, one of the last things she said seemed to sort of resonate, in a way he hadn't expected. Tame the beast? Could it be tamed? It wasn't something Tanis had ever really given much thought to. Putting his paintbrushes down for a moment, Tanis pondered over the thought for a minute or so before speaking up again. "Thank you for your insight... I hadn't really thought of it that way." Tanis would go back to work on his painting, he figured now he should find a good stopping point, then apply a layer of drying spray so that it wouldn't smear when he discreetly carried it back to his room. He didn't want to ruin his work or get any more paint in his fur than he already had. After all, he was pretty certain he'd have much to think about that evening. x x x x xxxxxxxxxxxLOCATIONxThe Classroom (B)xxxCOMPANYXSkylarxxxPOST-COUNTxsixteen/16
Posted: Sun May 30, 2021 4:33 pm
☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁ Skylar replaced the binder in her bag and picked up her brush, resuming detailing the scenery as Tanis responded to her and took a moment to process everything. "I'm jus' glad ta help in whatever way I can. There ain't no single way ta look at somethin. An' ya can't tackle everythin on yer own. Sometimes, ya gotta open up an face things you'd rather not ta get a different perspective." A few minutes of silence passed and, if he looked, he wee a line of tears streaming down her cheek, though, the smile remained and was by no means forced. "Thing that hurts the most now fer me is, I can't even remember what my Pa looked like. His face...it's jus' a blur an, I ain't got no pictures o' him ta help me remember. It ain't fair. I'm glad ya didn' lose your sister. Losin like that don't get no less painful. Sometimes...feels like it starts hurtin worse as time moves on. Don't dwell on losin control back then. Focus on the blessin that ya kept her safe an got her back."
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█████████████████████████████████ X X tabtab❧xxtab Tanis didn't really know what exactly to say, or what he could say. So he withdrew a small cloth, one that wasn't covered in paint, from his bag. offering it to Skylar so she could wipe her tears. After that, he took out his sketchbook/notebook and asked. "What all do you remember about your father? Any solid details you can remember about the way he looked, his general personality?" It was a shot in the dark, But Tanis was going to attempt a sketch based on what information Skylar had. See if it could jog memories in any capacity. Maybe if he could get somewhat close it could help her fill in more details, possibly even enough that one of them could attempt a portrait in some way or another. x x x x xxxxxxxxxxxLOCATIONxThe Classroom (B)xxxCOMPANYXSkylarxxxPOST-COUNTxseventeen/17
Posted: Mon May 31, 2021 5:40 pm
☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁ Skylar looked over as he reached out, seeing the cloth. With a small chuckle, she dabbed her eyes. "Here I am, tryin ta help you, an' it's me breakin down in tears. Guess I need ta practice a bit more." She noticed him pulling out a sketch pad, and, already, she could guess what he was about to do. She'd tried to herself more than a couple times when it started dawning on her that she couldn't remember what he looked like. It hadn't helped her yet, but, the gesture was far too kind to dismiss so, she hunored him. And maybe how he drew it might spark something for her. Sure enough, he asked her to tell him what she did remember. "Pa had red hair, always kept it short an he were a big man. Strong, bout head taller than most. He were always gentle with me and Ma, but, he were a tough man, growin up most his life doin farm work. Kept a chinstrap beard, bulky build. Human. I ain't got much ta go with. I took an awful lot from Ma, not much from him so, I can't really guess ta much else."
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█████████████████████████████████ X X tabtab❧xxtab Tanis listened carefully to every word Skylar said, with each detail he made adjustments to the sketch, eventually finishing up the sketch based off of Skylar's descriptions. With it finished he turned the sketchbook so that the avian faunus could take a look at the image and see how close it was to the description of her father. "On short notice it's the best I can muster, but I did my best to match the sketch to your descriptions." Obviously, it wasn't a dead-ringer sketch or anything, but it was surprisingly good for what he had heard of the man's physical appearance. Tanis did hope it was at least a decently close sketch, if it was he could try and create a portrait for Skylar from that sketch.
(OOC: I rolled a 14 on a D20 in Dash Delta when I was originally testing for how well Tanis would do with this sketch. Interpret that how you will for Skylar's part upon seeing the sketch) x x x x xxxxxxxxxxxLOCATIONxThe Classroom (B)xxxCOMPANYXSkylarxxxPOST-COUNTxeightteen/19
Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2021 7:53 pm
☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁ Skylar watched as he sketched and she gave him what little else she had to go with. When he showed it to her, she maintained that same sad little smile she'd work before. It was pretty decent work and while she felt it might be close, not any closer than she'd managed to do in the past. But, ultimately, she wasn't even sure she would recognize an image of him if she were to see it at this point. How many of the memories she had were skewed over time? How reliable were they? She honestly didn't know. "I preciate the effort, really, it means alot. We ain't really known each other fer more than twenty minutes. It's good...and...might be close. But, ta be honest...I-I ain't even sure if I would recognize 'im. Weren't no older'n six when it all happened. I'm still small now, but, I were smaller then too. Ain't really sure what were real, what were somethin I made up without tryin? What were simply from the perspective of bein small?" She hadn't touched her work in a few minutes and, honestly, she wasn't entirely sure she was going to get much of it done, if any from this point on. Remembering still hurt a great deal, but, it was a pain she was familiar with. If they were having a class after or something, she'd have something to distract her from the memory and could focus in on that no problem. But, in her own time, it was hard to let the memory fade and do something. She dipped her brush in the water and wiped it before capping her paints and putting the brushes back into their case. But, she didn't get up to put anything away, simply sat there, staring off into the scenery before them.
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█████████████████████████████████ X X tabtab❧xxtab Tanis sat there in thought after his drawing failed to reach the benchmark. Listening as Skylar remembered her past, her father, trying to pull herself together and focus on the painting. With a moment of pause in the air, Tanis began working on his own painting. "perhaps... you could ask your mother, and your Nan? They knew your father for much longer, they'd likely have far better memories of what he looked like, how he acted and carried himself. Maybe their memories could help you paint a picture of your father, to fix the gaps in your own memories?" It was a longshot, She'd probably already tried such a thing and had gotten what she now had. Still, there was always a chance... She'd helped him a bit, to be a bit more open. He wanted to help her in some way as a thank you. Some way to repay her for her kindness. x x x x xxxxxxxxxxxLOCATIONxThe Classroom (B)xxxCOMPANYXSkylarxxxPOST-COUNTxNineteen/19
Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2021 7:14 pm
☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁ Skylar shook her head a little as he spoke. "Thanks. Means a lot ya tried, but, it's fine. Like I said, it ain't never gonna stop hurtin. I done what I could an' I ain't got no closer ta piecin it together. I ain't expectin ya to fix it fer me. Nor do I want ya to worry bout tryin. It's sweet, but, we can only do what we can an just live with the results. I ain't sure where I get my paintin skills from, but, ain't neither Ma or Nan. Neither are very good puttin memory to words. I made my peace best I can with the loss. I'm fine an I'll be fine goin forward. Ain't fair I can't remember what he looked like, but, I ain't gotta remember his face ta remember him. Besides, sometimes Life's got a funny way o' dumpin what yer lookin fer in yer lap when ya ain't lookin no more."
As she spoke, she reached behind her neck and unclasped something. Her jacket loosened in the back and a flap fell between her folded wings. Undoing the zipper in front, she removed her jacket and folded it in her lap. She wore a backless shirt to accommodate her wings and, somehow, she looked even smaller without the jacket. She was remarkably thin and frail looking, though, not as if unhealthy or malnourished. She just seemed to be naturally small and delicate and the skin underneath the jacket was paler than that from her elbows down or her face and neck. She clearly was used to being outside and, while she seemed small, there was subtle muscle definition showing, especially in her back.
"I know ma Pa cared an' I realize I can't do that no honor by jus' sittin an mopin. I remember and it's a strange mix that. Part o' me is happy, part content, an part hurts like part o' my soul be missin. But, knowin he loved us, knowin he'd want the happiest fer us...It's enough ta carry on. Wish I coulda helped more on the farm, but, lotta the work simply needs more strength than possible fer me ta have. So, I'm content ta do my part ta help others. An' if I can spare at least one family the same pain? Well...I reckon I'd balance the scales. But, I promise ya, I'll be fine an' I ain't meanin ta make ya feel like ya owe me nothin. Ya don't. Would be lyin if I said there weren't nothin in it fer me ta talk ta ya and help best I could. Just knowin that I mighta helped helps me feel better an' it's all I need. Ya done what ya could, and, I thank ya fer it. It's more than ya needed ta do and I don't want ya to worry none bout trying ta find a way ta make things right cuz they already are."In the entire time they'd been talking, her smile never once faded and, somehow, despite the pain she was in, maintained it's warmth and sincerity. She truly was fine and happy with how things were.
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█████████████████████████████████ X X tabtab❧xxtab Tanis nodded silently to Skylar as she spoke. He really wanted to find some way to help her... but currently she seemed to be dismissive of the idea, and walking the more altruistic path. All the same, he did want to help... Somehow. As she spoke about sparing families from pain, an idea struck Tanis. "Have you ever been to Orren Park in lower Vale? I used to find inspiration for all sorts of different paintings there. It's also a pretty peaceful place to simply observe what limited natural space is afforded within the walls of Vale." Tanis offered a smile at the suggestion, Orren park really was a beautiful place, and it might serve as a means to help Skylar work some things out. Plus there was a pretty decent likelihood based on her previous statements that he would need to carry an easel to and from if she accepted, simply due to the impracticality of leaving that kind of equipment out in the open. x x x x xxxxxxxxxxxLOCATIONxThe Classroom (B)xxxCOMPANYXSkylarxxxPOST-COUNTxTwenty/20
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2021 6:16 pm
☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁ Skylar cocked her head at the question, before smiling a little brighter and let out a little giggle. "Nah, I ain't never been. Til I came ta Beacon, I ain't never really had the time ta leave Ma's Farm. I weren't no help with farm work, but, I were able ta do lots cleanin an' housework. Intrestin way ta ask a girl out on a date don't ya think? But, I ain't got no issues goin. Most of what I seen of town were when going ta buy stuff I needed here an there or I were bein shot at. Be nice ta see somethin with no pressin need ta keep movin."
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█████████████████████████████████ X X tabtab❧xxtab Tanis hadn't really intended to suggest it as something of a date, but he wasn't necessarily opposed to the idea at all. With that in mind, he spoke again. "It can be quite a calming place. and with as hectic as the academy can be, everyone should have a chance at a reprieve. I often go there to make sketches I can use as inspiration for paintings... it's also pretty close to my home, so I get to see some friendly faces when I visit." Tanis smiled a bit, thinking of his home and how loud his house usually was, hard to have a quiet home when you're working with a family of eight. As he looked up to his painting, he began to deviate from the sketch a bit, maintaining the structures of beacon in the art, but altering the colors to create a more abstract and curious landscape. "All that said, Whenever you'd like to visit Orren park let me know." He was remembering happier times, the sound of his eldest sister practicing her singing voice, the twins arguing over chores, his youngest brother's voice filled with curiosity and wonder about the world around him... and of course, his youngest sister making a mess somewhere in the house as she tried her damnedest to get onto the highest flat surface in any given room. It was hectic, but it was home... and there was a comfort to that feeling. x x x x xxxxxxxxxxxLOCATIONxClassroom BxxxCOMPANYXSkylarxxxPOST-COUNTxTwenty-four/24
Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2021 8:37 am
☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁█☀█☁ Skylar pulled out a clean brush and began to lightly draw it over the still-damp paint, blending colors and adding texture with a practiced hand as he elaborated. "I try'n fly out ta visit Ma an' Nan bout once a week. We ain't got much left so, it's kinda important we get ta meet up. Know how we doin an' just spendin time as a family. Ya know? An I only keep what I need ta when I make money. Most goes back to the farm. Tomorrow, I'm gonna go visit, so, I ain't gonna be able ta then, but, I ain't worried none bout timing."When she said so, she pulled out a note pad and painted her number on it with the recently used brush and passed it to him before starting to clean things up and pack her things."Go head n' call when ya wanna go, or send a message. I ain't nothin fancy myself, so, ain't gonna take ages gettin ready, but, give me like thirty minutes warnin at least?"
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█████████████████████████████████ X X tabtab❧xxtab"Sometime after tomorrow with at least a thirty-minute warning in advance. Got it." Tanis smiled ever so slightly at this before looking back to his painting. He was done for now. With that in mind, he reached into his bag and retrieved the spray that would prevent the colors from smudging or running while he was moving it. Having sprayed the painting, he carefully set it to the side on a classroom desk, before fully cleaning all his brush, putting away his paints, and gently picking up his heavy easel. "I suppose I'll see you then." He said sincerely before giving his painting a gentle check to make sure the spray had worked. Once he was sure, he gently picked up the easel and prepared to head back to his dorm. He hadn't really... talked to his dorm-mate yet, so he needed to get introductions properly sorted at some point since they would be on the same team after all. x x x x xxxxxxxxxxxLOCATIONxClassroom BxxxCOMPANYXSkylarxxxPOST-COUNTxTwenty-five/25
