#kc_necropolis

It's 12:15, and August finds himself leaving Algebra. It may not be his favorite field of study, but a scholar born, August enjoys the mental stimulation.

He waves to a few classmates, speaks with a few (the purple-haired girl lingers), and head off to the college library before home, and the evening class.

Before he leaves Campus, he hears a voice "Hey, August"

He looks around, of course.

Earl is a tall slender man, but his choice of clothing has improved over the years. Here in the autumn world, most just see him as the artsy looking blonde guy, but as he is an artsy blonde guy- it works.

August grins widely. "Hey! Hi! What's up?"

"Just the man I was looking for," He says, "This a bad time? Zara gave me your schedule"

He laughs. "No, it's fine, I'm good till 5 or so. Want to get, ah, coffee or something?"

"Actually, yeah. I'll buy. I wanted your opinion on something"

"Sure. But, if you want, I'd be happy to buy." He give a sunny grin and leads Earl to the college coffee shop, where they wait in line to give their order.

"Nah, I'm good, really. Starving artist aside, I recently got a local patron, but it's not in my usual genre. That's why I wanted to talk to you" He has his canvas bag with him, they place their orders "You mind me bouncing these off you?"

"Nnnnn....." He hesitates. "You want to take lunch somewhere, ah, private?"

"Up to you" Earl says. Both of them without Zara to sigh and direct them properly may be a bit rudderless at making a choice

August nods. "Ok, let's get it to go." He gets napkins and things and the food arrives, and they head out to a park bench August knows about. "Ok, so.... yeah, show me!" He bites into the burger. Growing boy.

Earl pulls out one and what comes out, may surprise August for it is not Earl's usual, it is a painting of Jesus, made of light, waves of holy illumination flowing down upon a man whose eyes are now white... Saul! On the road to Damascus? The look on Saul's face reflects wonder and terror mixed as he realizes he has triffled with powers that are very real. Earl normally goes for heavy shadows, but here is is the light that frightens and also amazes.

August stops chewing and gazes.

"Not my usual hire, you know?"

He swallows hard, getting the food down so he can speak, and croaks "It's ... wow, Earl. I didn't expect this."

"Neither did I, a priest at one of the Cathedrals here saw my work, and hired me. I was a bit worried I'd end up stuck on a ceiling, but he assured me that wasn't required. He chuckled though. This isn't my usual style. I'm more..morbid, though religion has that element too. I'm trying to.. did I get this right?"

August is studying it, not touching, but respectfully. "I would say, yes, Earl. My opinion. But yes. It's.... It moves me."

A relieved look, "THank Odin for that" A pause "Little joke there." THen "I have two more... you have the time?"

Still looking at the first...." Yes, of course."

Earl sighs, no one gets his jokes..then smiles, then again, if it's his work that's drawing the Liam's attention, "This one was tricky..." and pulls out the next, Christ on a cross, and little held back through the pain Crucifixion caused and yet there is worse, much worse... Jesus' head tilted back crying out, and dark clouds gathered, a path of light falls between them, but does not touch Christ himself. The two crosses near his own seem to almost tilt away from him, the crowds ring ABOUT Him, and even his mother is held back... and the light of God does not touch him "I call this one The Forsaken Moment. I thought about going with a lash striking a back, but then it occured to me this would be the most painful part for a son. At least, I think it would be."

"My God, My God.... " He murmurs quietly "... Why have you forsaken me?"

A sigh, heartfelt. "Earl, this is.... powerful. It's not wrong, I think."

"Yeah? I.. did I get it..." Then he's told it's not wrong "Whew, answwers that."

He looks up. "Just my opinon. Nothing official."

Then he chuckles, "Barring the priest himself you're the best source I got. I just don't want to show up and find he hates them all. At least this way I would know it's not offensive to all"

"Would you like me to find a priest you could talk to?" Seriously.

"August, your life path is different than you thought it would, but you're one of the most devout and learned people I know- I trust your opinion on this matter and not just because you're a friend. I know if I screwed up you'd tell me." Earl says "Last one?"

"Sure." Sincere.

He pulls it out, "A bit different this one, "One not of Jesus, but Peter, the old man is hung upside down, yet the shadow behind his upside down Cross is right side up, and the shadow is bigger than the cross that casts it! Light and shadows stream about in lesser amounts, and the crowds around him are in various poses. It may take August a moment to realize that some stand out, letter like... saying 'Well done, Good and Faithful servant' in latin

"It's a bit more impressionist in style, this last one"

Softly, "It's beautiful, Earl."

"Thanks, because you get one of them" He says "Unfortunately you don't get to pick which. See, he wants two, so I told him I would make three and he could pick his two. I figured you might know a good place to keep which ever is left behind."

"Ahh... " Hesitation. "Earl, who commissioned these?"

"I'm afraid if I tell you you'll do something Liameque"

August raises pained eyes to the troll. "And what is that?"

"Well, in this case: Something that somehow mixes pride and humility in a way that confounds others because you don't feel worthy of something to the point of even turning down a gift." Earl says "August, your birthday was recently. This third piece is meant to be part of it."

A faint smile. "Gonzo Pete."

"You lost me there" He admits

He chuckles. "Peter was the ... crazy apostle. He was the one that said he'd never leave his Lord, and said he did't know the same man."

"Confused, troubled.... loyal. The Cornerstone of the Church."

"So he was already upside down at times eh?"

"Legend says he was crucified upside down at Peter's own request; that he didn't want to die like his Lord did."

Quietly.

"I heard that, and that an upside down cross isn't some satanic symbol, at least, some may try to use it that way, but rather in the Church it has to do with both the Pope and humility. I tried to put elements of humility in the painting"

"It worked." He grins, and sits back. "Earl, there are good, in my opinion. for what it's worth."

"It is a lot, and if you still want the name of the fellow who hired me I'll tell you, but I do hope you don't try to thwart your own belated gift"

A deep sigh. "I think.... I'd like to know, Earl."