nightmare-in-violet:

wrapped-in-shadows:

He nodded his head slightly, looking up at the ceiling for a moment. “Th-that may be true but who knows h-how many don’t know h-how to deal with fabric o-or designs or an-anything like that?” he asked, looking back at her. “Some m-may not even be s-stepping out there because th-they don’t look good. It’s just an i-idea though,” Jack shrugged as he looked back down at her book, at another costume design. “Y-you gotta go with what calls to you m-most, don’t you?”

It was very easy to see where Violet had gotten her ideas for the next two costumes: one from the mythological Phoenix, and the other from the Tron movies. The firebird costume was meant for a woman, judging by the figure’s shape, and there was also some influence from Carnivale costumes in the design of the feathery mask and wing-like cape. The figure in the Tron-esque bodysuit was male, and Violet had drawn him “in action”, flying on a hoverboard.

“But it’s a good idea,” Violet replied. “I’m just not really sure how I’d go about it. I’ve been … well, I do have kind of a mentor in the field, but I’ve never had any formal training, and I doubt supers will want to hire someone with no credentials.” She chuckled. “Can you see it, ‘majored in heroic fashion design’?”

Jack paused for a moment to take in the designs of the Phoenix inspired work, the use of feathers, and cape, the flow and feel of the material before looking at the Tron-like work. She could work with various mediums, and forms of material, that was good wasn’t it? They liked that.

“Maybe y-you can just go f-for usual fashion de-design and when you g-get out on your own y-you can add your o-own touch of fl-flair to it?” he asked.

nightmare-in-violet:

wrapped-in-shadows:

He nodded, understanding a little as he gave her a questioning look as he lifted the book. Once he could, Jack held it on his lap as he slowly leafed through the pages, looking them over. “W-well somebody’s got to d-design clothes for super heroes…” he admitted, “L-like that doctor I h-heard about who works with heroes and v-villains…” he had over heard about Dr. Valerie but hadn’t met her, at least not yet. Sometimes Metro City felt so small, how word got around about people who stood out of the crowd by what they did with their time.

Or if they had powers.

“I like th-these.” he finally settled on, smiling at some more costume designs, these of a more feminine nature. “For just a h-hobby you’re very good.”

“You mean Dr. Whitewall?” Violet was surprised, but then, he was right – this dimension could be a remarkably small world sometimes. “I’ve met her, actually. She’s pretty cool.” Since she didn’t know Valerie that well, she didn’t elaborate.

The costume designs might be different, but they were clearly a series, because the model in all of them was the same – a curvy Latino girl with bobbed black hair. Violet had clearly been trying to give her an “opera diva” motif, and run into trouble when she couldn’t find a way to make a long, formal gown suitable for the battlefield.

“… I hadn’t thought of going doing that, though,” she admitted. “I mean, most superheroes design their own costumes, don’t they?”

He nodded his head slightly, looking up at the ceiling for a moment. “Th-that may be true but who knows h-how many don’t know h-how to deal with fabric o-or designs or an-anything like that?” he asked, looking back at her. “Some m-may not even be s-stepping out there because th-they don’t look good. It’s just an i-idea though,” Jack shrugged as he looked back down at her book, at another costume design. “Y-you gotta go with what calls to you m-most, don’t you?”

nightmare-in-violet:

wrapped-in-shadows:

Of course his parents being the left-wing ‘hippies’ that they were Jack had been gifted with recycled paper books once they had come into being. Before that he would draw on chalkboards, on the pavement, or with paint on big pieces of canvas his father would get from friends. His home had really been the only place the young, blue child had been able to truly express himself and while most Megaminds branched into technological wonders, Jack had been the one to go with art.

It just spoke to him.

“I like y-your use of shading on this one,” he paused her turning the page when he spotted one of a costume. “It, it’s really nice and I like your technique here, the thatching of the m-material.” Jack said quietly. “These ar-are really good, you show a-a lot of promise! D-do you want to do this s-seriously or i-is it more of just a h-hobby?” he asked, glancing up at her before looking back down at the design.

The costume in question was being worn by a tall, lanky young man with long dreadlocks – a trace of shading suggested his skin was supposed to be dark. The main piece of the outfit was a knee-length duster coat, the collar high and marked with an intricate design of leaves and thorns. Under it, Violet had drawn him in a tight black shirt and jungle-camo pants. A bandolier and utility belt were on display, their pouches designed to look like they were made of different types of leaves. All in all, the whole thing suggested a cross between a military commando and a mythical wood sprite.

“It’s … mostly just a hobby,” Violet admitted. “I’ve designed stuff for my friends occasionally, but I’m not sure I want to do it for a career.” She shrugged. “I guess I’m a little afraid that would suck the fun out of it. Besides,” she indicated the drawing, “the kind of stuff I come up with isn’t exactly mainstream taste.”

He nodded, understanding a little as he gave her a questioning look as he lifted the book. Once he could, Jack held it on his lap as he slowly leafed through the pages, looking them over. “W-well somebody’s got to d-design clothes for super heroes…” he admitted, “L-like that doctor I h-heard about who works with heroes and v-villains…” he had over heard about Dr. Valerie but hadn’t met her, at least not yet. Sometimes Metro City felt so small, how word got around about people who stood out of the crowd by what they did with their time.

Or if they had powers.

“I like th-these.” he finally settled on, smiling at some more costume designs, these of a more feminine nature. “For just a h-hobby you’re very good.”

nightmare-in-violet:

wrapped-in-shadows:

Jack followed her and set his own backpack down on the floor as he sat down besides her, folding one leg on the other so his ankle rested on his knee. “T-that sounds interesting though! Me, I-I’m more into painting scenery and people. Cl-clothing isn’t my thing. I’d happily p-paint already established things, though!” he added, eyes all but locked on the sketchbook. Just how many of those had he plowed through as he was growing up, once he was adopted? Far too many.

It had been a treat for Violet when she was actually able, and allowed, to buy the nicest sketchbooks she wanted. As a kid, she’d made do with pages torn from her school notebooks, or sheets taken from the library printers when nobody was looking – Layla Morgan hadn’t been as encouraging of her daughter’s talent as the Maples had been of their son’s.

Violet turned the pages, showing images of her friends around the city and her family back home, as well as a number of featureless figures that were, basically, the sketch equivalent of store mannequins. These were where she truly let her imagination through – in the styles of fantastical gowns and costumes. Normally Violet was proud of her work, but at the moment, she couldn’t help feeling it was a little childish.

Of course his parents being the left-wing ‘hippies’ that they were Jack had been gifted with recycled paper books once they had come into being. Before that he would draw on chalkboards, on the pavement, or with paint on big pieces of canvas his father would get from friends. His home had really been the only place the young, blue child had been able to truly express himself and while most Megaminds branched into technological wonders, Jack had been the one to go with art.

It just spoke to him.

“I like y-your use of shading on this one,” he paused her turning the page when he spotted one of a costume. “It, it’s really nice and I like your technique here, the thatching of the m-material.” Jack said quietly. “These ar-are really good, you show a-a lot of promise! D-do you want to do this s-seriously or i-is it more of just a h-hobby?” he asked, glancing up at her before looking back down at the design.

nightmare-in-violet:

wrapped-in-shadows:

His green eyes lit up excitedly, and he clasped his hands together. “O-oh could I see? P-please? I love l-looking at other peoples w-work…!” Jack pretty much pleaded. “A-and don’t say that, a-about your work. C-come on,” he opened his hands to her. “S-show me?”

Violet felt her cheeks heat up. “Uh … okay.” It was hard to resist any version of Megamind when they got like that. She glanced around, and spotted a cushioned bench against the wall. Taking a seat, she pulled her sketchbook out of the shoulderbag. “It’s mostly poses and outfits,” she said. “Clothing design’s one of my hobbies.”

Jack followed her and set his own backpack down on the floor as he sat down besides her, folding one leg on the other so his ankle rested on his knee. “T-that sounds interesting though! Me, I-I’m more into painting scenery and people. Cl-clothing isn’t my thing. I’d happily p-paint already established things, though!” he added, eyes all but locked on the sketchbook. Just how many of those had he plowed through as he was growing up, once he was adopted? Far too many.

nightmare-in-violet:

wrapped-in-shadows:

“She me-mentioned that you drew, yes!” Jack said as they walked through to an area marked ‘Metro Beauty’ which was more or less paintings, photographs, or sculptures inspired by Metro City. It was interesting to see people’s takes on the giant, noble looking city. “D-did you bring anything to sh-show?” he asked, smiling gently. “O-or no?”

Violet felt suddenly embarrassed. “Um, I did, yeah – I brought my sketchbook.” She shifted her shoulderbag nervously. “It’s not like a real portfolio, or anything that good, though.”

His green eyes lit up excitedly, and he clasped his hands together. “O-oh could I see? P-please? I love l-looking at other peoples w-work…!” Jack pretty much pleaded. “A-and don’t say that, a-about your work. C-come on,” he opened his hands to her. “S-show me?”

nightmare-in-violet:

wrapped-in-shadows:

He smiled faintly as they walked in, and he offered some money into the entrance way. They didn’t have to pay but it was always appreciated and being something of a starved artist he always gave some spare change to the place when he walked in. “I, I haven’t sought out any o-other showings just yet.” he admitted, putting his hand back into his pocket. “Most of m-my stuff is done by private s-sales and business.” he had his website, which detailed most of his professional work that people commissioned but he’d also stuck up a personal gallery which showed his private work.

Violet nodded quietly. “Well, if you did do another showing, I know I’d be there. I don’t know how much Katelynn told you about me,” she went on, “but I’m kind of an amateur artist myself.” With emphasis on the amateur, she thought, nervous herself. Jack was a professional, after all, and she knew her own sketches weren’t that good.

“She me-mentioned that you drew, yes!” Jack said as they walked through to an area marked ‘Metro Beauty’ which was more or less paintings, photographs, or sculptures inspired by Metro City. It was interesting to see people’s takes on the giant, noble looking city. “D-did you bring anything to sh-show?” he asked, smiling gently. “O-or no?”

nightmare-in-violet:

wrapped-in-shadows:

“Mmm! I love art,” Jack admits as he glances around the entrance way where they had posters up detailing what was being shown, or what was coming. “I come b-by here sometimes just to waste some time or t-to really take a good look at w-what’s being shown. Who knows, m-maybe one day my stuff w-will be good enough to be in here.”

“Hey, I bet it will,” Violet replied. “I’ve seen articles from when your work was on display at the Splat! Gallery – you’re good. I’m just sorry I didn’t get a chance to see it in person.” She knew he probably wouldn’t like being reminded of that, but it was true, and she wasn’t going to dance around the subject. “Do you ever do any other showings, or are you just operating online these days?”

He smiled faintly as they walked in, and he offered some money into the entrance way. They didn’t have to pay but it was always appreciated and being something of a starved artist he always gave some spare change to the place when he walked in. “I, I haven’t sought out any o-other showings just yet.” he admitted, putting his hand back into his pocket. “Most of m-my stuff is done by private s-sales and business.” he had his website, which detailed most of his professional work that people commissioned but he’d also stuck up a personal gallery which showed his private work.

nightmare-in-violet:

wrapped-in-shadows:

Awkward on both counts since he wasn’t the type to shake hands either. “T-thanks. And sure, y-yes! Good idea. Good idea.” he glanced skywards; there were some clouds overhead and there’d been talk of snowfall. So he walked ahead and held the door open for Violet, and once she was through he followed in after her, rubbing his blue hands together. “I hope you d-didn’t have to come far?” he asked.

“Nah, it was fine.” She was surprised, but pleased, that he held the door for her. Violet had said more than once that she saw minds before she saw faces, and right now she was grateful for that – it made it easier for her to remind herself that Jack was his own person, and she shouldn’t be comparing him to the other Megaminds she knew. “I just finished work, and the bus line goes right by. What about you – do you come here often?”

“Mmm! I love art,” Jack admits as he glances around the entrance way where they had posters up detailing what was being shown, or what was coming. “I come b-by here sometimes just to waste some time or t-to really take a good look at w-what’s being shown. Who knows, m-maybe one day my stuff w-will be good enough to be in here.”

nightmare-in-violet:

wrapped-in-shadows:

Jack was, of all things, not a man who was good at hiding his emotions. Sure, he tried to appear not as nervous as he felt but it didn’t really work. Just looking at his green eyes alone would tell anyone how he felt. Still, he was glad to be meeting a new person. It was a good thing, widening his friendship circle little by little. “Nice t-to meet you too. S-sorry about the s-stutter it just h-ha-happens a bit.” he decided to tell her right off the bat as he held his hand out to her.

Well, that answered that question. Violet took a moment to brace herself, then clasped his hand and gave a friendly, though slightly awkward, shake. “Don’t worry, it’s okay. I understand you just fine,” she said with what she hoped was a comforting smile. “So, you wanna go inside? It’s kinda chilly out here.”

Awkward on both counts since he wasn’t the type to shake hands either. “T-thanks. And sure, y-yes! Good idea. Good idea.” he glanced skywards; there were some clouds overhead and there’d been talk of snowfall. So he walked ahead and held the door open for Violet, and once she was through he followed in after her, rubbing his blue hands together. “I hope you d-didn’t have to come far?” he asked.