video; un: markus

[compartmentalise]

[Markus has been busy. Since the festival, he's been working through some things. The humans here are so nice to him, so accepting. A few he's spoken with even encouraged him to try things for himself just like Carl did. It turns out that art is a good way of working through his feelings.

Most of what he's been doing are just recreations of scenes from the festival: the food carts and the various people working them, the float from the children's parade, people wearing body paint-- and here he included himself, wearing the android-appointed uniform instead of the scrubs he actually wore while attending. He did, however, include the face paint one of his new human friends did for him.

But that's not really the focus. He centers the camera on a portrait of an elderly man]

I was missing Carl, and so I painted this.

Comments

video;

[neversurrender]

[The paintings are reminiscent of the type of artwork Steve likes to do as well. Although he uses a different medium, sketch, he likes to capture the environment and moments around him. The buildings, the people, the celebrations. These paintings draw him in with their vibrant colors and details.

After a long moment of staring at the screen, trying to capture a glimpse of everything, he finally starts recording his own reply.]

They're all very lovely. I think you really captured the energy and life of the festival.

[The portrait of the older man has clearly been done with some care as well.]

Carl looks great too. I'm sure he'd appreciate the gesture.

video;

[compartmentalise]

[He tilts his head as he considers the paintings again. He finds himself feeling pleased that someone likes what he did]

It's a way for him to be here. I don't know if he'll ever come, but he can be here in spirit.

[He knows it's not logical, but it's the way he wants to think of it]

video;

[neversurrender]

[Steve nods, understanding the sentiment completely.]

It does make him feel closer, doesn't it? I've done something similar for people that I miss back home. Not paintings though. Just sketches.

They help me remember what I still have beyond this place.

video;

[compartmentalise]

I haven't tried sketching. [He could, though. He was never taught how, but he could certainly try it on his own]

video;

[neversurrender]

It's convenient for on-the-go purposes. I carry a sketchbook and pencil with me usually, just in case the mood strikes. Can't do that with paints and an easel.

[He smiles, his tone light and joking.]

[ video | un: drn0167 ]

[sentiences]

[ It's the LED light on the side that catches Dorian's attention. Another robot. Like himself? But Dorian can't just come out and say that, can he? ]

It's very well done. Who is Carl?

[compartmentalise]

[The username catches his interest. It reads a little like an android model, and he was told there were more like him. But it could just be random letters and numbers; humans did that sometimes.

Markus takes a moment to think of the answer to that question]

He taught me about painting.

[sentiences]

[ Dorian smiles. ]

That tells me what he does, yes. But not who he is.

[compartmentalise]

[He gets the sense he's being asked who Carl is to him specifically, which is why he hesitates in answering. It's hard to mask the fondness he has for Carl when he tries explaining]

Carl is a kind man and wise. The public love his art and often send him fan mail. He doesn't always like the attention, though. He cares very deeply about art, not the fame or the fortune it brings him.

video; un: yakyuu.luvr

[yakyuuman]

Waaaah, you're super good at this! Your friend would be happy to see it if he was here!

[ Jyushimatsu is as much of an expert about art as the next person, but he can tell that portrait looks real just like a photo and how the heck can this guy pull it off???

But more importantly, that LED looks awfully like what Connor's got on the side of his head, too... ]

Hey, are you an android too?

[compartmentalise]

["Friend" is an adequate word to describe Carl, but it's not completely accurate in the way Markus feels. He does not mention this. Besides, the question is what gets his attention. A person who recognizes he's an android right away]

Yes, I am an android.

[yakyuuman]

Oooh, awesome! I know someone else who's got that thingy on your head!

[ He pokes at his own temple to indicate it. ]

He's a good friend and a fun guy, maybe you know him! Does Connor ring a bell?

[compartmentalise]

[This guy thinks androids are fun, too. So strange]

Yes, I spoke with Connor during the festival. He and I were both built by Cyberlife.

[That's a less strange way of saying they're from the same world]

video; un: kirk

[winscenario]

So you did take up painting again.

[ Jim smiles; he had a feeling Markus wouldn't have been able to resist for long, not with how fixated he seemed to be on the idea. Fond, even, he might say. ]

You even included yourself. It looks really wonderful. All of them.

[compartmentalise]

I liked all the colors in the festival and wanted to recreate them.

[He smiles a little] You're there, too. [He points. It was probably hard to see right away since Markus included the circuitry, but the figure he points to is definitely Jim]

[winscenario]

You did a pretty great job, for the record.

[ He leans in to take a better look at the painting. ] Huh. Yeah, it is. [ His smile widens. ] That's a very flattering angle, thank you.

[ He's teasing, really. All his angles are flattering. ]

[compartmentalise]

[It feels good having something he made from his own thoughts so well-liked. Even the festival scenes aren't exact copies of what happened. In one scene, for example, he included more androids mingling freely with the humans]

I was told there are festivals like this every month.

ice.tigrr; video

[bespredel]

Woah. You're really talented man. [ Yuri doesn't really have an eye for art in this sense, although he's been called an artist on the ice. He knew it was different, though. He could never make anything like that. Could only imagine the kind of time, and practice it took for that kind of skill. ]

Carl has a nice smile. Reminds me of my grandpa. Same sort of... warmth. Does that make sense?

[compartmentalise]

Yes. It's a good way to describe him. [Except with Leo's way of life, Carl isn't likely to be a grandfather anytime soon]

[bespredel]

I'm sorry you miss him. [ A beat, and then Yuri speaks in a softer voice, blowing out a slow, soft breath. ] I miss my grandpa, too.

How did you meet Carl?

[compartmentalise]

[He actually thinks for a second before answering]

He was in an accident and lost the use of his legs. I became his live-in helper.

If it's too late to reply, totes okay!

[11calls]

[Alex sounds impressed.]

Wow, it's pretty amazing! You've got a lot of talent!

never too late :)

[compartmentalise]

Thank you.

[11calls]

Of course! Definitely need to give credit where it's due!

[compartmentalise]

Then the credit should go to Carl. He's the one who taught me how to paint.