Levi Open Post ((for nexus_crossings))

[tryingitall]

The angel Balthazar spends most of his time at Lucifer's villa these days, to no one's surprise. He hasn't let go of his apartment, though. He's only rearranged it for Levi's comfort. The sleek modern furniture has been replaced with antique reproductions, and the plain walls covered with art that matches the painter's tastes. Levi's very fond of copper, and shades of deep blue. The art studio that used to be dedicated to one small room has now expanded to encompass all but the bed and bathroom of the place. There are shelves of supplies, several paintings in progress, books and references, sculpting supplies, and in one room there is even a workspace dedicated to glass. Nothing bigger than jewelry or small vessels can be made there--there simply isn't enough space, but Levi relishes the opportunity to experiment.

It's weird having a time-share situation with his own body, but he can't deny that he's never had this much encouragement for his art before, neither in the way of supplies provided or financial support. If only Bart could have seen this!

Well, maybe he will, some day.

In the the meantime, even with all the opportunity surrounding him, sometimes when the angel retreats to let him play, all he wants to do is drink coffee and sketch and watch the world go by. That's what he's up to today, sitting on the veranda outside the lobby of the apartment building. It's late afternoon, and he's watching the tawny sky darken over the Nexus, listening to music of various ages and styles and planets drift from open windows in the apartment building above him. He's got an open sketchbook, a pile of charcoal pencils and tortillons he's stuffed into an empty dopp kit bag, and on the table at his elbow is a very foamy caramel-coffee drink, and a half-eaten plate of cheese fries.

It's hard to tell what he's drawing at a glance. It's a subtle swirl of gray, but if you sit with him long enough, a picture may emerge...

Comments

[chiaro_oscuro]

Ben's something of an artist himself, progressing from calligraphy to full-blown sketches. It's something he dips into as one of several strategies to help himself settle and calm, someone so agitated on the inside needs all the relaxing hobbies he can get, but outside of his talk with Hunter in the Plaza he hasn't met that many artists himself. It's not often that he ventures into the public spaces of the Nexus unless it's on business matters or he's hawking his wares, but he wanders the apartments.

That's how he's connected with Mantis, among others. It never hurts to get to know your neighbors. While he has very mixed feelings on how naive many Nexus inhabitants seem to be, he's in no position to complain about it and he's built some sturdy connections in this place.

"Mind if I make myself a cup?" While he doesn't have his grandfather's caf addiction, Ben will admit to a taste for it. He's convinced himself that it's good for his nerves, and in limited amounts it won't interact with his powers. "I see you're working on something. One of these days I'll have to show you a couple of my pieces. But maybe I'm being hasty - haven't even introduced myself. My name's Ben."

[skeksisheretic]

When skekGra comes to visit Levi, he's brought urGoh the Wanderer with him. The Mystic looks around in his slow, deliberate way, reading the environment.

"urGoh! We're here to say hello to our friend, not to look at scenery!" He shakes his head at Levi apologetically. "Sorry about that, he does it on purpose to annoy me. That is my other half, urGoh the Wanderer. I don't believe we've met in person, exactly, though we've met your other half."

It was easy for them to grasp the concept of angels and vessels. Two creatures sharing one body - in a way, it's the opposite of their own situation, one creature divided into two separate bodies. skekGra wonders if that's what being an urSkek again will be like, or if the skekGra parts and urGoh parts will simply be fused together, as if they were never divided. Maybe that's what the Skeksis fear so much. It is death, of a sort. The Skeksis and Mystics have their own memories and experiences now that would be taken away.

The Wanderer speaks up next. "You...are Levi...right? We...know Balthazar. Pleased...to meet...you."

[the_rebel_son]

Lucifer and Phenex were out walking because the younger angel could see the stress. They didn't know everything that was going on but the king was starting to isolate, never a good sign. They had been out drinking wine in galleries and giggling at some of the stranger alien items available for sale.

That was when Phenex saw the other angel and teased "There's the end of our night."

Attention pulled up Lucifer shakes his head. "No, you are the one that is going to shoo me away."

He's smirking at Phenex when they walk up. "Good evening, Levi."

Lucifer raises a brow at Phenex and the other angel flushes pink at the implication that was missed.

"Is my better half off playing without me?" Lucifer asks Levi still amused that he caught the other angel off guard with his comments.

[ginger_firebird]

Far from concerning himself with sketchbook and canvas, Mantis plied his artistic endeavors into practical things. He's a bit of a tailor, a knitter, a crochet practitioner, and very occasionally, a composer. That said, he does admire those who can make form and line come together into a singular image.

Yaga is on his walking harness and making a good show of wanting to take to little bursts of flying as he climbs on things that interest him. His wings have come in quite well and Mantis is glad to know growth and health have made his catwing strong enough to start properly taking flight. That said, the catwing is a mix of two very distinct animal nosiness, and he pulls strongly on the lead to see what this man is up to with his bag and all his interesting things. Yaga sniffs at the dopp kit bag and tries to stand on it to see what can be found inside.

The former madman, however, is much more interested in the art that the new face is making. He clicks his tongue to get the catwing away from the bag and leans over slightly to see what's becoming of the sketchbook.

"My apologies for Yaga. He's hopeless about respecting personal space and property."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy was out with his mother, both in lovely, brightly colored summer dresses. Aletayria's to the ground and Ziggy's, as expected, scandalously short. It was cooling down as the day started toward evening. It was finally survivable for the Antheans who were unused to this much heat.

He was taking his mother to get coffee. Truthfully, he had been dragging the poor woman around to experience new things for days now. When he sees someone he recognizes he starts walking over. His mother is even taller and thinner than he is but the family resemblance is clear.

"Hey, Baltha...." Ziggy trails off when he sense the person is mostly different. He's run into a lot of strange things lately and stares for a moment while he tries to figure out what is going on.

[sohoangel]

Aziraphale is out for a stroll in the Nexus, preferring the clear skies and mild temperature to the current gloomy London rain. He's left Crowley back at the flat above the bookshop, dozing in their bed, promising him some treats from an alien-run chocolate shop that happens to make the best raspberry truffles that either of them has ever had.

His wandering has led him past Balthazar's apartment building, thinking he might see if the fellow celestial is home and inviting him along to the chocolatier. He's initially pleased by the serendipity of Balthazar sitting outside and waves cheerfully, but his angelic senses tell him a moment later that it isn't Balthazar who is currently in control.

"Oh, um... hello." He puts his arm down and smiles politely, suddenly feeling a bit shy. "It's Levi, is it? I'm a friend of Balthazar's. Sorry to interrupt you."

[tr1ckortreat]

"Not bad. I have to say I do like those forms you are creating..."

Loki had found himself at the top of the apartment building perhaps out of curiosity or perhaps because he had found out somehow about the man painting. Either way, he was entranced as to what the outcome would be. Loki, himself, appreciated art and the forms it produced, often sitting reading or even sketching himself when the need took him. The swirls of grey looked like dark clouds forming with an intent behind them.

The man was a stranger but Loki was gradually meeting new people all the time now he was a permanent member of the Nexus. The charcoal pencils caused the god to raise a curious eyebrow. He stepped closer, slowly placing both hands behind his back just watching, not intruding but casually remaining a silent observer.