{ video } To be in love with the masterpiece

[airshipswank]

[ Buckingham, being the magnificent and universally beloved god that he is, has been utterly undeterred by Wonderland's musical program for the weekend. Wonderland's last event however, with its drab and colourless days, has reminded him of a long overdue matter in need of transmission: ]

My good people of Wonderland, if I might have a moment of your day! [ Pause to imagine the resounding Of course, Your Grace! and: ] My home knows me as George Villiers, their Duke of Buckingham, and you may as well, should... I've not yet been so fortunate as to make your acquaintance in person.

[ Cue the winning smile and kindest of kind unspoken thanks for enduring the formalities of such an introduction. As for the matter at hand: ]

I speak to you on behalf of the gallery I installed here some months ago, you... may have celebrated its grand opening on the third floor, just... near the library doors, room number four. I would certainly recommend a visit to all who have since arrived, but today I particularly address anybody who... might wish to aid in expanding its selection.

[ Buckingham nods to the scene behind him, and shifts slightly to grant a brief view of some of the works on display. ]

Wonderland houses such a wealth of artists, and I would urge you to call on me, should you ever desire to... share your work with us. We shall find it a deserving place at the gallery as soon as possible. I would extend the same offer to those who have acquired pieces from the vendors or elsewhere, and care to make them available to the public.

[ Cue once more heavy on the smiling, as the duke reaches to end the transmission. ]

I thank you kindly for your time, and hope the... rest of the day finds you well.

[[ OOC: You can find a little more info on the gallery here, and use that post anytime to have your character contribute art, regardless of whether you would like them to thread with Buckingham or not! If you have any gallery questions, just PM this account or ping me over at pimpfox! ]]

Comments

[ video. ]

[humanities_greatest]

[Woah there, hold up. She's not sure she heard you correctly.]

The Duke of Buckingham, born in 1592?

[Impossible. She has an art piece of you in her manor!]

[ video. ]

[airshipswank]

[ Buckingham arches an eyebrow. Why, might this pertain to his favourite subject of conversation? Himself? ]

We shan't celebrate it again 'til August, but I am the very same.

[ Of course this demands an especially winning smile! ]

You have heard of me before?

[ video. ]

[humanities_greatest]

Of course, considering I am English myself.

[Yeah, she is just going to lean in and watch him carefully.]

To think, even historical figures could be pulled from a world...

[ video. ]

[airshipswank]

Quite refreshing, isn't it, Wonderland's utter disregard of... chronology, as it were.

[ It used to displease him, this land, which would render him so far from the latest and greatest; but as the months passed he caught on and up, feasting on the future he now finds to be a delightful treat. ]

Mhh, but you have me at a disadvantage, I'm afraid I've no notion of your name, Miss...?

[video]

[jivitadana]

[Dude, you realize that (since the last time the gallery was mentioned and I sort of failed to tag that thread) you set up the gallery right near or across Minato's room? XD Anyway, it's all good!]

Do you accept photographs as well?

[Since there don't seem to be too many of those. ;o;]

[video]

[airshipswank]

[((OOC: o yes of course. he sneakily placed it there. as a gift. to spring surprise art on minato. ok i actually forgot why i picked that room, but shhh MORE ART PROFIT FOR MINATO)) ]

[ Photographs, ah yes, Buckingham has heard a great deal of the invention, and seen many of them at the library. Why, Miss Tohru even took one of him in person, and he was rather pleased with the result! ]

Of course, I would be delighted! There is more than enough room, even ample space for sculptures, although I've... not been offered such as of yet.

[video]

[jivitadana]

[OOC: It is the best location, no worries. XD! Thanks. XD]

[Minato nodded, thinking perhaps if he developed a picture or two and framed them that that should be okay.]

Submissions should be brought to you as curator then?

I'm sure someone will bring a sculpture sooner or later.

[Video]

[psalmed]

How kind of you to extend your offer, monsieur. I am certain you will be gaining quite the selection of art works. I have often envied those with which God has endowed such a talent.

[It sounds a little fake but she's actually entirely sincere, her expression gentle and kind of pleased, actually. Noble breeding is becoming so difficult to find.]

Are you only the one who arranges it and not an artist?

[Video]

[airshipswank]

I often find that a sufficiently large collection stifles my envy rather well.

[ Made all the easier in a time and place where the collection is often admired with greater passion than the artists who brought it to life. Buckingham laughs softly. ]

Just as I find that one artist alone oft struggles to balance what is and is not his own. My eyes are... more impartial, as it were, and my reward is knowing that I have done my utmost to allow... God's given talents to be seen by His creatures.

[ Perhaps not how he'd have worded it on his own, but he can play along. ]

Video;

[avoirfaim]

[ Hannibal found the gallery early on, but hadn't seriously considered submitting his work. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the skill level and talent of his drawings--of course he did. Those drawings got him into medical school, they supported him in his youth and gave him focus when he needed it.

He simply hadn't considered it because there were more pressing matters at hand.

That's less the case now, and he makes the connection. ]

I wasn't aware that the gallery was your doing. [ a lie. ] I'm glad to see that someone appreciates the importance of art in the public sphere.

Video;

[airshipswank]

[ Was he not? How disappointing. And the duke so loves to be recognised and adored for the magnificence of his work. One might say he utterly desires to draw the most attention possible to his success. Much unlike his failure. Or defeats. Or deaths. Why, to have those exposed for all to hear, he would... he would just loathe that.

Buckingham smiles broadly into the camera. ]

Nor is it, truly. Mine is... merely the pleasure of providing a venue for the display of... far greater talents, all it houses is... the sum of Wonderland's dedication. [ The liest of lies. ] And your appreciation is a greater reward than I could have hoped for, you must understand how it pains me to hear it thought superfluous by some, even here. Especially here.

[video]

[coldhardy]

[The woman onscreen is young, in her early twenties, and appears to be serious, but friendly enough. She has a heart-shaped face, white-blonde hair, wide blue eyes, and a pale complexion. What can be seen of her dress is blue.]

No, we haven't met. I'm Elsa.

[She leaves off the rest of who she is, for the moment.]

Your title... is that hereditary?

[This is not a leading question; she's just curious.]

[video]

[airshipswank]

[ He greets her transmission likewise garbed in blue and seated on a chair in the middle of the gallery. Instantly curious about the fair face he finds that he cannot recall catching her appearance on the network before, and so dons his best smile for their first encounter. ]

Miss Elsa, a pleasure!

[ Over the network he offers merely a small nod; it will need to suffice, in lieu of a kiss on her hand in person. ]

The title would pass to any son of mine now, but for myself its creation was a... most gracious honour and reward by His Majesty King James.

[ Of which Buckingham could not be prouder, and prouder still for each and every creaking cry of outrage from his country's old nobility as they scorn his rise amongst the peerage. ]

Is there a... particular reason you should ask?

[video]

[thepointisdolphins]

[Crowley has seen this guy on and off and also heard about him getting brutally killed, so he figures it's high time he actually met him. Also Duke of Buckingham ahahahahah.]

So you're the one who installed the gallery?

[video]

[airshipswank]

[ Much the same applies for the extent of Buckingham's acquaintance (or lack thereof) with the demon. A few transmissions, little more; on and off and on top of some blond angelic being. Well. Anyway. ]

I'm just the one. Have you seen it before... Master Crowley, wasn't it?

[video]

[thepointisdolphins]

That's me. One of the Crowleys, at any rate. Generally the better one. And yes, I've seen it. Nice little place. Very...diverse selection.

[Video]

[luckynumberthree]

Duke of Buckingham? [Simon sounds thoughtful as he echoes that, searching his memory for a moment.] I didn't realize we still had one of those. Then again, maybe we don't.

[He shrugs, because technically, where he's from, he's not sure any of the nobility are still around. Although he's still been avoiding London entirely, just in case.]

Think I'm one of those unfortunates, either way. I didn't realize we had a gallery, either.

[Video]

[airshipswank]

[ Why, and yet another unfamiliar face! Just as the duke had hoped, in truth. ]

As it happens I'm rather certain you have one here, although for your own home I... could not speak. And now that you have my title and the location of my gallery, perhaps... your name in exchange?

Re: [Video]

[luckynumberthree]

A lot of people can't speak when it comes to my own home. [It's more of a lot of incoherent moaning, actually.] Oh yeah. Sorry about that. Simon Lauchlan. Um, of Abel Township. It's tiny. You probably haven't heard of it. The closes thing I have to a title is Runner Three.

[ex_alighthouse135]

I.. kind of went overboard when I was a little out of my head and painted up a storm. They're all portraits of people who are in this world.

[airshipswank]

Overboard? [ Buckingham chuckles. ] Why, Miss Elizabeth, I can hardly imagine, you... have a gift, all the better to make ample use of it!

[ He glances at the wall where some of her previous work hangs on display. ]

Shall I come fetch your latest, so we might find a suitable place for them?

[ex_alighthouse135]

Would you? I could really use the help.

[She's just not sure where to hang them all.]

video;

[thestormcomes]

[Athos remembers the opening as though it were yesterday, when Buckingham imbibed enough wine to drop a horse and subsequently attempted to claw Athos' clothes off while the musketeer valiantly dragged him to his chambers to deposit him in his bed.

No, no, don't thank him. It was his pleasure.]

I may have a contribution,

[he volunteers, because keeping George's painting locked up above the mantle in his room seems a bit crude when the Mirror possessed such admirable skill in the arts.]

video;

[airshipswank]

[ Buckingham remembers the later hours of the opening vividly as well; a vivid, gleaming blackness, through which only the smallest glimpse of a memory shines through.

Their passionately entwined retreat is very purposefully not amongst them, and only a singular treacherous item of clothing betrays the Musketeer's involvement. It is currently being chewed on by a lion cub in the background of the feed as they speak. ]

Athos! My dear Athos, I'd not taken you for an artist! Although truth be told I did... have my suspicions, of course, your... counterpart behind the looking glass takes to ink so very well, doesn't he? Small wonder to imagine you should... embrace it in due time as well.

[ He beams brightly, quite satisfied with his (not at all deliberately wrongful) interpretation of Athos' response. ]

video;

[thestormcomes]

[Athos allows Buckingham to get it all out of his system, because the duke has a flair for the dramatic and for blowing things* out of proportion. So he waits, patiently sitting through the grand introduction, hands folded on his lap. Nary a wine cup is in sight, it appears that Athos is attempting sobriety today.]

My artistic accomplishments are few and far between, better relegated to my Mirror and his unusual proclivities,

[comes the plain response. While Athos knows a little cartography, he was never very good at rendering people, places, or things on paper. Not like the masters in Italy.]

I have a piece above my mantle that may find a better home in your...hallowed halls.



[*See what I did there]