AU: Exhibited

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

This woman was insufferable, and what was worse, Michael and the artist seemed to be enjoying a full conversation about Penelope as if she weren’t there. Standing right next to them. But she knew that. The Australian had even spared a glance back at Penelope, to which she caught. The Brit tried to shift her attention to the crowd, but it did little to ease her discomfort. If anything, it only made things worse.

She pursed her lips, pressing her palms to her dress and flattening out the invisible creases in it. Those were her exact words. How she convinced Michael that she was the artist he wanted for this project. And even now, she still couldn’t take back the words. It was all still true. Only now, there would be a few more adjectives Penelope would have added to her description of Lucy Serrano.

The Brit wanted to speak up; defend herself and her conversational skills, but she found herself growing less patient with both of them. She sucked in a breath, dark eyes moving to the fresh ink on Michael’s back, then to the woman. Her gaze lingered a little longer than she expected it to before she turned on her heel and left the room.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

The Australian wore an uncontrollably smug grin at the idea that this painfully uptight woman had used such words in regards to her. Of course, meeting someone was far different than reading an eloquent description put together by writers paid far too much money for far too little work.

"Ah, so she gave me special treatment." Lucy denoted, making no effort to hide the amused expression she wore. "I'd hate to see how she goes when she's keen on someone."

When she made the motion to look over to see if the words had landed, she was gone. As much as the ink manipulator felt the curiosity to follow flare up, she was hardly about to distance herself from the task at hand. So she turned herself back to the unfinished work in front of her. Because if nothing else, she knew she'd captured some of her attention. And that was enough for now.

So she took the necessary time to bolster the dark lines of his piece in tandem with the explosive stint of blended red to burnt yellow across his shoulders. Well enough that she doubted anyone would have been able to produce anything similar in such a limited amount of time. When she finished, she dressed and wrapped the older Blaise's back for him before finally managing to snap the gloves off. Rifling through the necessary paperwork, she handed the disclaimer and disclosure agreements off towards him.

"Good to meet you both." Lucy offered, despite the fact that one of them wasn't even there. She was sure the message would get back to her.

[Michael Blaise]

It wasn't until minutes later did Michael even notice his sister had left. Really, he should have expected as much. The fact that Penelope Blaise stuck around for as long as she had surprised even him, her brother. He couldn't help but to be a little disappointed, she had been doing so well.

The process of getting a tattoo was hardly ever pleasant, but he hardly let the pain distract him. His attention remained fixed on the screen, occasionally shifting to the crowed that continued to watch. She was good. Her ability worked wonders for her as a tattoo artist; he was finished more quickly than he initially expected to be.

When he stood, he rolled his shoulders, stretching the muscles that had just been worked on. He raised his eyebrow as the artist referred to both him and his missing sister, but smiled nonetheless as he signed the disclosure form. “A real pleasure.” He replied, handing the paperwork over. “I’m sorry for my sister’s behavior.” Michael added. Although, this wasn't over. At least not if he could help it.

“I'm sure I’ll be hearing from you again.” He smiled politely, before excusing himself. “Thank you again, Lucy.” Stepping through the crowd, the eldest Blaise headed to the exit, expecting to find his sister waiting outside of it.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penelope hadn’t, in fact, left. Nor was she waiting for Michael to finish up his impromptu tattooing. Penelope instead had gone back to the gallery, dark eyes again focused on the galaxy she had walked away from earlier. Despite how badly she did want to leave, she had to finish what she was started; doing otherwise felt as if she were giving up, letting that insufferable tattoo artist win whatever game they were playing at.

Her brother, oblivious as he was, hadn’t noticed as he left the building. Then again, it was easy for one Penelope Blaise to go unnoticed. She was used to it, and preferred it that way. She watched him as he headed to the elevator on the opposite side of the room as herself before returning her attention to the painted stars.

One of them had to finish this job.

She crossed her arms, straightening her back as she waited. She had never dealt with purchasing anything this expensive before, but the Brit assumed there was someone there who did the Australian’s bidding for her.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

With the proverbial main event out of the way, the ink manipulator still had imperative work to do. Dominique had always told her she had some level of charm hidden within such a rough exterior. Fine tuning it to a sales point had been difficult, but by now it was simply second nature.

Truly, the presence of the younger Blaise slipped her mind. She assumed she left, as her brother did too, and so she Australian went about her business.

People were in awe. Sales were easy. Ivy had left to continue on, and the ink manipulator promised to catch up with her later, because she faltered on a step. There was still someone else there amidst the dwindling numbers.

She stayed, and Lucy couldn't understand why.

Still, she took her time with her approach, but eventually she made her way over again. Her unimpressed expression was more than enough to deter most, but Lucy Serrano had that air of confidence that dismantled most people's opinions before they truly reached her.

"You stayed."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

It wasn’t long before the gallery was filling up again from the crowd that had just watched the tattooing. They seemed impressed. In awe, even. Did anyone see the potential dangers in what had just happened? Or at least the Australian’s intolerable attitude?

In time, people began to filter out. Penelope remained at the same painting, studying it with dark eyes and a neutral expression. It would have been easy to push forward and finish what her brother seemingly abandoned, but instead she chose to remain behind.

Until the artist approached her. She didn’t need to look to recognize the accent.

Penelope didn’t turn to look at her, instead she kept her gaze fixed forward. “Do you have any idea of the idiocy you just preformed?” She questioned instead, lips pressing into a hard line. She took in a quick breath. “You had been drinking.”

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Absolutely no eye contact was offered, and Lucy supposed that was fine. She wasn't about to strain herself working for the attention of someone so engrossed in an idealistic situation's potential outcomes. The main thing the Australian kept her focus on was the fact that while she wasn't looking at her, she was looking at the galaxy. And despite the irritation, Lucy knew that look.

"There's no idiocy here." Lucy replied, folding her arms and keeping her gaze fixed to her.

Even if she wasn't going to look back; that didn't matter. "I'm guessing you didn't spend enough time on google. Otherwise you'd know that I don't make mistakes." Purposely, the ink manipulator took a half step towards her. Something about the breach in distance felt almost imperative; "And I don't get myself into positions where I can." Raising her eyebrows once, she couldn't help the curiosity that took over her system. She could be angry about the accusation later.

"Did you watch?" Lucy asked, tilting her head a touch to one side.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penelope’s eyebrows shot up at the woman’s argument. Finally, she dragged her gaze from the galaxy and turned to look at her, and it was only then did she realize how close she was. She held the breath in her chest, jaw growing tense at the unexpected proximity. She wasn’t extremely close, but she was close enough.

“Everybody makes mistakes.” Penelope shot back, “You shouldn’t be so full of yourself, meta or not.” The Brit brought palms to her dress, flattening out the wrinkles that were surely there. Something about the way the ink manipulator spoke caught her attention. How she claimed to never put herself in a position where she could make a mistake. Her air of surety over it.

“I left.” She stated factually, although she could not deny that she had watched for a time before she left. She caught more on a monitor later, as well. Still, the artist didn’t need to know that. Her gaze traveled as she tilted her head, traveling along the line of her jaw before catching the curve of her lip. It lingered there for a moment too long before her eyes snapped upward.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

"And here I thought factual arrogance could be a little forgiven." Lucy replied, though she hardly found offence within a statement like that. Everybody makes mistakes. Perhaps that could be true, but when it came to ink and paint and work, Lucy Serrano was the best of the best in her field.

Lucy crinkled her nose, her amused expression stating that she doubted the factual statement this woman provided was all that factual. Doubt was heavy in her features. She left one room, yes, but there she was.

As footsteps behind her started to dwindle further, she knew everything she'd worked for was drawing to a close. That almost seemed irrelevant now, under the weight of such a challenge. Such a look that clearly wandered with its own intention. The Australian had a notable stubborn nature, and it well and truly held her captive.

"So you came back." She denoted, opting to play along. "I'm flattered, Penelope."

There was so much in a name, Lucy knew. One she knew she'd never used before. She let the realisation and its after effects settle before she continued. A tap to her shoulder, and she turned her head to be granted the keys. When it came to her own work, she was always the last to leave. "Did you want something from me?" Lucy asked her, granting her every ounce of her attention again, "Is there something I can do for you?"

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Factual arrogance. Penelope resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She was good, yes, excellent even, but that hardly took into account for human error.

The way her accent wrapped around Penelope’s name was almost startling. It felt surprisingly intimate when the artist said it in such a way. The Brit didn’t shift her gaze again until someone grabbed the Australian’s attention, and Penelope again found her attention held in her features. The line of her neck as she turned her head. It was an involuntary response. One she wished she’d stop doing.

Especially when posed a question in such a particular way. Penelope raised her eyebrows. It was then she realized that she’d be lying if she had said she stayed to buy a painting. Her jaw tensed as she stared back at the ink manipulator. The click of the door registered in Penelope’s mind; they were alone, and she became acutely aware of that fact.

Still; she could push the painting. It was why she was there; or now she was trying to convince herself of it. “Your arrogance is insulting.” She tried, “But I’m interested in one of your works.”

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

The click of the door resonated through the gallery with little resistance. Walls were still coloured, and the galaxy still moved with the ink manipulator's presence all the same. Penelope carried tension and Lucy carried residual confidence regardless of whether it was a sea of eager eyes on her or one single dark pair.

"My factual arrogance isn't designed to be insulting." The Australian replied without a beat, "When you study your brother's tattoo - which I know you will - I'd be happy to hear of any mistakes you think I've made. He's got my card; you can ask him for it."

With a half step forward and distance well and truly dwindled, Lucy turned to the side to at least offer some of her attention to the piece she supposed was in question. "What was it that made you recommend me?" She asked instead, "If it wasn't the insulting quality of work you're looking to purchase."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

“Well, it seems you’ve made a mistake.” Penelope raised her eyebrows once. Because it was insulting. It was true, however, Penelope was intent on looking at her brother’s tattoo. “I’ll be sure to call you if I do.” She added, unaware of her own implications.

As Lucy stepped closer, Penelope didn’t back away. She was determined to hold her ground, despite being able to acknowledge the way her pulse raced from the proximity.

“I never said your work was insulting, nor your skill.” Penelope stated honestly. Despite her annoyance with this woman, the Brit could at least give her credit where it was due. “It was.” She admitted, bringing her gaze back to the painting. She recalled the art book she had seen it in. It had grabbed her attention more than anything else offered in it.

Her gaze moved back to the Australian, and she unconsciously leaned in closer. Just barely. “But it’s not the one I’m looking to purchase.” She didn’t want such a piece to belong to a person who didn’t even take the effort to look at before deciding to buy. Really, none of these paintings deserved such treatment. “The one I chose was sold.”

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

There was strength to be found in being recognised for her artistic skill. Lucy couldn't help the boost to her already steady ego. Credit where credit was due. Despite how she felt about Lucy's attitude, at least she was willing to admit that she came here for that reason.

"Just my interpretation of my own work and skill." Lucy denoted, because she couldn't help herself. She desperately wanted to point out the chain that linked the two together, and why her statement could be taken as a relatively denouncing insult. But she didn't, because the conversation had moved on and with it, so did her attention.

"Which did you choose?" Lucy asked, raising her eyebrows once as she glanced back towards it again. "And why are you standing by this one?"

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penelope followed the flow of the conversation, even if she did want to point out that, yes, she did take issue with the Australian’s attitude. “Does it matter?” If it was sold, she couldn’t very well purchase it anyway. Her brother and his client would have to find something else.

She took in a breath, her gaze again shifting to the painting, settling on a cluster of stars as she stood in silence. “It’s enticing.” She admitted carefully, “It captured my attention when I first saw it.”

Rarely did anything manage to grab Penelope’s attention, and this particular painting did. The longer she looked, the more she found within it. In the book, she flipped through the pages, looking at everything, taking it in, and then let it go all within a few moments. She saw everything, but that galaxy had stopped and made her look. Although the artist clearly was not in need of a boost in ego, the Brit continued. "I have trouble walking away from it."

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy simply shrugged. She supposed that no, it didn't matter. And yet, she was still curious about it. A choice like this always said a little more about a person than one would expect. But then, it wasn't really for either of them anyway, so she figured regardless the option didn't matter.

The galaxy, however, was something she do something about.

"I can see that." She reasoned, her evident attitude settling on a mutual topic. To have someone stare so intently at something so under appreciated was a little rare, really. She unfurled her arms and raised her hand, her fingers tracing the line of her own jaw in a seemingly idle movement.

And then she moved again, waving her hand in its direction. "Take it." She reasoned. Given the money she'd just made, a wayward painting was hardly a great loss.

"It's yours." With purpose, she raised her gaze to search her expression again.