#anywhere

He realizes belatedly that his hands are stiff with cold, and sheepishly tucks them into pockets. "I have mittens, but I couldn't turn the pages."

Thistle sighs. "Of course. C'mon." She hauls Art inside the apartment building. The heavy front door leads to a shabby hallway, with an array of brass mailboxes at the left. Trina heads up the stairs. Their carpet is thin and worn to the backing in spots. "You want cocoa or coffee? Holding the mug'll warm up your hands."

Maybe not so shabby, things have been touched up

"Cocoa, please. I've been told to try a mocha at Starbucks to learn to appreciate coffee, but those drinks are nearly $5 each. I find a new appreciation for the mortal currency standard has come with this incarnation." He shrugs out of his coat and rubs hands together.

"I checked with the office to ensure I had everything, since we have some classes that are not shared." A folder is offered over.

Instructions to read a chapter in the Chemistry text, some pages with images of hand signs for ASL review, a flyer for the School Art Fair, a page of math problems.

Flipping through, nodding, nodding, WINCE, frown.

"Something wrong? The counselor said this should be included..."

"They have a big stack of those fliers in the office." Art says, helpfully.

"Yeah, they're furkin' everywhere." Sullen.

He leans over to read it. "Open submissions in 17 categories... are there even that many kinds of art? Oh, and prizes!"

Art Portfolio
Ceramics & Glass
Digital Art
Drawing & Illustration
Mixed Media
Painting
Photography
And a bunch listed as "and other", clearly not making top billing... Architecture & industrial design, comic art, design, editorial cartoon, expanded projects, fashion, film & animation, jewelry, printmaking, and sculpture categories

Art blinks as he reads. "Isn't Ceramics and Sculpture the same thing?"

"No, of course not. Both are three-dimensional forms, sure, but..." Oh, she's off to the races.

He blinks, impressed. "And mixed media?" Genuinely curious as he asks questions. How is illustration different from drawing? A comic versus a cartoon? Industrial design - is that even art?!

Design IS art, but not, because, oh, there's the matter of intention...

And a brief rant about traditional art forms being denigrated as "craft"...

He sips his cocoa, enthralled - half in what she's explaining, and half by her enthusiasm in explaining it. "You certainly know your stuff!"

"I, well..."

"I guess, nocker?"

"Not all Nocker are artists, though. I mean - like..." His brow crinkles a bit. "I suppose they are. It depends on how one defines art? To a changeling, it may mean Magicks. To a layman, it is mere decoration. But there is the understanding that the work of a crafter, an artisan is in and of itself, an artform? In the act of creation itself?" He tries to understand and put word to something that is more concept that description.

"I think so... I think there's.. there's just somethin' about creating something where nothing was before."

A bit wistful. "Do you think I'll find something that calls to me like that?"

"Like the stars?"

"I admire them... and you know - to be honest, everyone knows that I love to read. But I... consume? I do not create."

"You could tell stories."

"That's creating."

A thoughtful blink. "I do not know any."

"But you know lots of things. So you could figure out how to tell it to people."

He grins at her. "It is worth a try. Though, Gawain tells me I am not as good at stories as I once was. It seems that there are 'voices' that must be attributed to the characters in even his simplistic books. I will start there."

"Oh, voices ARE important. I think it would be good for you to experiment with those."

He nods. "I'll work on it. So which category are you going for?"

"Oh.."

"Oh, I'm not..."

"What would it hurt? Between all the schools in the area, there will undoubtable be hundreds - maybe thousands of entries. But still, it's a shot at a prize. Look, there's even scholarships, though mostly it's just recognition and small gift or monetary awards..."

"My... my stuff isn't..." She frowns.

"I don't have anything to put in."

"Maybe we could make something together!"

"I.. well, we have a lot going on with the fae stuff..."

His expression is crestfallen. "I... guess so. You're busy, and haven't the time to coach someone like me through the nuances of how to create an art project. I would not wish to hold you back."

"It sounds fun, though." There's that wistful look again. "Maybe if it was just simple?"

"If you wanted to try making something.. I mean, there's a lot of clay in the studio. I could show you!"

"Yes! I would like that." He remembers his cocoa and takes another sip. "What kept you from school today? You said all was well, but... am I prying? I do wish to know. If I may."

"The Sniffer worked!"

"The Spriggan went after Frankie... " And she starts laying out the story - Gwen, the pumpkin, the cab, the treasure and the flicker-flash (and the crotch-assaulting Muppet)

Art listens, astonished, angered, and amused all in turn. "THAT warrants at least one day off school." Nodding. "I had no doubt that it would work!"

"Well, I only could speculate..."

"But, so, like..." She frowns. "Gladiola enchanted Janice..."

"Did she take the sight poorly? I am told that it wears off quickly, if so." He reassures.

"No.. it'' it's complicated. Have you ever heard of selkies?"

"Yes, they were mentioned in a book I was looking at in Earthrunes. Kithain, once considered gallain, skin changers bound to the sea, of Celtic descent. We're not likely to meet any until we are freed for true trod travel. I understand they are quite common on many of the coasts, specifically in California."

"I could find the book again if you are interested. I do have a volume to return there."