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The Gallery (3): Beyond the Crystal Garden is an art gallery, decorated with an array of beautiful pieces of art meant to captivate and enchant. Most of the pieces on display are available for purchase, if you’re willing to pay for an original. Some have only been loaned to the gallery, but all of the pieces were specifically selected for the event. It’s hard to tell what the theme might have been, but somehow there is a cohesiveness about every piece. It’s easy to get lost in the work, especially because of the emphasis that these are all local artists who have used Destiny City as the source of their inspiration. Some artists have made prints or photographs available in the gift shop. Proceeds are advertised as being split between the artist and a charity of their choice.

He was here for family support, no other reason. He wasn’t there with a date, wasn’t looking for a present for his significant other, wasn’t even there for the holiday itself. Pat was only there to support his niece. Sadly he had officially broken up with his long term girlfriend after months and months and months of issues, all on because of him of course. He just didn’t want to keep her waiting for him. Didn’t want to keep impacting her with his problems, so he made it official. He was now a single man for the first time in years…. A single man at a Valentine's day event where couples were all around him.

So, that's how Pat found himself just wandering the event, drifting towards the Gallery to check out all the stuff people submitted. He was doing his best to just ignore all the lovey dovey stuff going on around him but it was pretty hard, the whole event was tailor made for couples. The redhead was looking at all the art when he absently bumped into someone, he quickly backed up and apologized. “I’m sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going. Are you ok?”

“I’m alright, as long as you're ok as well.” Pat assured the young woman, absently noting her appearance. She had some seriously curly hair. Definitely could give his cousins a run for their money in that department. “It really was my fault. I got a bit too absorbed by the various pieces that are displayed.” The redhead lightly gestured to all the art around them, breaking into a smile when he realized they were standing in front of a few familiar pieces. Well, not really the photographs themselves but the artist who took them.

“Something about this one you like?” He asked, nodding towards the one where the lanterns were being released. Ryan really was damn good at his job.

Pat tried to look at the photographs the way the woman obviously was. He saw movement. Life. A kind of contained chaos that only came with a mass of people living and working. Time rushing by. But he liked her interpretation better. He didn’t really see it but he still liked the idea of it more. And then she asked him what pieces drew his attention, at which point he hummed. There were quite a few honestly.

“I would have to say… I like a lot of the glass sculptures. The flow and vibrancy of them. Some look like frozen water or crystallized flames.” He pointed out a few of the pieces he was talking about. “Don’t get me wrong. I think Ryan’s work is fantastic. He really does have a way with his camera but I really like the ethereal feel of the glass. Fragile but strong. Kind of like Prince Rupert’s drops.” He didn’t get to see this kind of glass manipulation in his everyday life. What glass he dealt with was normally shattered or soot stained. Nothing like these pristine pieces.

“There is also that one,” He pointed to one ribbon of glass that wove into the air. “With all those greens and blues it looks like an Aurora, or the Northern Lights. That is one thing I would love to actually go see,” He smiled over at her before shrugging. “It's a bucket list trip though so for now I’ll just have to content myself with things like this.” The redhead just glanced back at the art around them, “Really though. Everyone is very talented. So many fantastic pieces.” And to think, his niece’s work was among them. He hadn’t drifted past her work yet so he wondered if he would recognize it when he saw it.

Pat drew his attention back to the woman, sheepishly smiling when he realized that they had struck up a conversation but he never did introduce himself. “Pat,” He started but corrected himself, “Patrick O’Ryan but everyone just calls me Pat. Nice to meet you too… or should I say, nice to run into you?” He tried to crack a joke but shrugged and made a face. “Yeah, I know. Pretty corny. Just forget I said that.”

“There are,” He grinned. “Tons and tons of natural wonders that are just amazing to see.” Pat was glad that both his idea of seeing the Northern Lights and his joke wasn’t as cheesy as it seemed. He could actually go on about some of the stuff out west that were really fantastic. All the state parks and everything. He still had dozens of places he wanted to go but well… time and money did put a crimp in that little hobby of his. While camping was relatively cheap it did take money for decent equipment and the money to get out to the places he wanted to see.

Pat paused a moment before shrugging, “I’m mostly just wondering but I am looking for a particular artist. My niece has a few pieces displayed. I just haven't spotted them yet. I would be glad to escort you until you meet up with your family if you're ok with trying to track down my niece’s art?” He made her a deal. Honestly Pat wasn’t too sure he wanted company but it was only polite to return her offer, he did run into her in the first place after all.

Pat nodded, she had quite the bucket list as well. One he could completely understand. The natural wonders he could spend all day talking about but they were here for a reason… one he was definitely pulling a blank for. “Um…. comic books?” His response was definitely more of a question. He really had no clue what Dess had submitted. “How about we just wonder, that way you can keep an eye for your siblings and I can see if I can spot my niece's stuff.”

With that they went on their way, chatting as they came across various art pieces.