#anywhere

Caesar gets a... text? Hey, Mom says you bought the joint, that is why shit is getting fixed by not me.

Next, a picture - one of Ted's works from an alleyway in town.

txt: Well, I don't mean any insult by it

TXT: Not insulted is it is fixed right.

TXT: U see that?

TXT: pic

TXT: nice! Yours?

TXT: No, neighbor kid

TXT: He did the wall by dumpster last year, but old guard powerwahed it off

TXT: IDK, maybe he could legit paint something over boring brick?

TXT: You want me to hire him?

TXT: Yes. For $$

TXT: I don't have $$, but could work out something in trade? I fix shit

TXT: But then Ted gets to say he does legit art, not 'vandalism' 😡

TXT: You got Moxie, kid, which is an ancient word for spirit, courage, and in your face energy. I'll make him the offer, though I got one proviso

TXT: What is it?

Caesar can almost SEE the nocker-face through the simple text.

TXT: Needs to be $$, not &(*&^%& 'exposure' (How did she even achieve that word via mundane keyboard? It makes Caesar's phone spark.)

TXT: You work with him, and give input. I am okay with giving a lot of freedom for you two, but If it's ggot crude lingo, or nudity etc the city will get complaints and some busy body will want to have it wiped out again. No point to that. So PG 13 awesomeness possible?

TXT: Not my medium, he is really talented, should get chance to shine.

TXT: PG-13 should be easy tho

txt: i know it's nnot your jam but share some ideas, you're the one living there. I'm hoping you most of all like seeing it when go home.

TXT: Ted lives here, too. 7B

TXT: Guess I could help prime and shit, but should be HIS

TXT: Not trying to be jerk about this

TXT : 😄 a few jokes come to mind. but I get it. Okay. let me put it this way. you're making a commission, so if it were up to you, what theme would you ask him to go with? Greek guys wrestling bulls? Star Wars with smurfs?

TXT: So pedestrian. He does baller abstract stuff, feels like music, is my favorite

TXT: Some people hate it because it doesn't 'look like' anything

Thistle scowls at her phone. "Some people" being one person in particular.

Caesar gets sent another pic.

TXT: you're an old soul from 70s prog rock aren't you? you know what... if that's tthe style you like, push for it. Tell him.. and he names a rate, less than nhe paid sparrow that one time but still impressive

TXT: I want to let Ted be Ted. You tell me what work u want, I can do it. Fix shit at complex, or make things at the big house

Thistle whuffs, eyes boggling at the number. That's going to be a LOT of work to pay off.

TXT: Ok. Might take some time to pay u back

TXT: oh that

TXT: Fuck that.

TXT: ?

TXT: You just saved me work looking for a good artist. You just acted like his agent or my talent scout- whichever you prefer. If I like what he does, you get a finder fee

TXT: U shittin me?

Nockers.

TXT: nope. i've set up artists before in other towns to do walls inside and out. It can take weeks to find , or send someone else to find, talent. Here. Let me show you some shit

Annd a picture of an Greek forest, ala Sparrow, on an intterior wall comes up

Anotherr pictue, Sparrow, exterior, blue sky , songbirds

TXT: Huh. Ain't drek High nocker praise!

A third, earl DeBuke ... a alley way tha looks like someone is walking by a grave yard at night, eyes in the trees, facial reflections on gravestones

TXT: That guy is copying DeBuke

TXT: i got more. but point is, talented artists can be a pain to find if you don't already know them. you saved me time. time is money blah blah business talk

TXT: hA! That guy IS DeBuke. He owed me a favor... prefers to do paintings to ouside work