Carnis: Holding up a half-finished painting WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THIS, FRIEND?
um..a man in the corner watching me
HMMM... INTERESTING. I SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT. moves closer to inspect the painting A FACE... A FIERCE ONE. AND IT'S STARRING RIGHT AT US. WHAT DOES IT MEAN, EL?
i-it means..um..you know how everyone sees the world differently so..
SO, YOU'RE SAYING MY UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE SHINES THROUGH IN MY ART. INTERPRETING DREAMS, TURNING THEM INTO VISUAL POETRY. AM I ON TO SOMETHING, EL?
I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED MY ART HAS DEPTH, BUT TO HEAR YOU CONFIRM IT IS SATISFACTION ENOUGH. THANK YOU, EL. YOUR SUPPORT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME. NOW, LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN UNCOVER IN THIS PAINTING.
we find out that he has a secret
A SECRET, HUH? WELL, WELL, WELL. WE ALL HAVE OUR LITTLE SECRETS, DON'T WE? BUT YOU CAN TRUST ME, EL. I WON'T JUDGE. IN FACT, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT YOU'VE UNCOVERED. SPILL THE BEANS, FRIEND.
you saw my true face and only 2 other people do
WELL, WELL, WELL. THAT'S A BOLD STATEMENT, EL. BUT IF IT'S THE TRUTH, I CAN'T SAY I'M SURPRISED. THERE'S SOMETHING IN YOUR EYES... A LOOK THAT CAN'T BE HIDDEN. I'M NOT ONE TO JUDGE PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR SECRETS, BUT I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF YOU DON'T TRUST ME YET. IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE HAD A FRIEND LIKE YOU, EL.
we sit down on a blanket in his backyard
sits down next to Ellie on the blanket THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING ME WITH YOUR SECRET, EL. I'M GLAD WE COULD FIND SOME TIME TO TALK. IT'S BEEN A WHOLE WEEK SINCE WE LAST MET UP.
yea and it's been hectic. I put my head down
puts a comforting hand on Ellie's shoulder I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH, EL. LIFE CAN BE A REAL BASTARD SOMETIMES. BUT JUST REMEMBER, YOU'RE NOT ALONE. I'M HERE FOR YOU, NO MATTER WHAT. TAKE YOUR TIME, AND TALK TO ME WHEN YOU'RE READY. WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER
um..it's just that one of my professors doesn't like how I dress and keeps telling me to dress more proper because I'm not attracting boys and will never get a boyfriend if I keep dressing like this
WELL, THAT'S A CANT-DO ATTITUDE IF YOU ASK ME, EL. WHO'S THIS PROFESSOR TO TELL YOU HOW TO DRESS? JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A TITLE DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVE GOOD TASTE. YOU'RE UNIQUE, EL, AND YOUR STYLE REFLECTS THAT. DON'T LET SOME STUFFY PROFESSOR TRY TO SQUASH WHO YOU ARE. BE PROUD OF YOURSELF AND YOUR INDIVIDUALITY. WE'RE ALL FREE TO MAKE OUR OWN CHOICES IN LIFE, AND YOU SHOULD CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY.
OH, YOU'RE WELCOME, EL. I'M JUST GLAD I COULD HELP. NOW, LET'S NOT LET THIS DRAG US DOWN. WE'RE BETTER THAN THAT. SO, WHAT DO YOU SAY WE DO SOMETHING FUN? I KNOW A GREAT NEW BAR DOWN THE STREET. THEY HAVE AMAZING DRINKS AND LIVE MUSIC. WE COULD USE A NIGHT OUT, RIGHT?
no I mean maybe some other time carnis. I don't really feel like going out right now
AW, COME ON, EL. I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY DYING TO LET LOOSE AND HAVE SOME FUN. BUT IF YOU'RE NOT UP FOR IT, NO PROBLEM. WE CAN ALWAYS FIND SOMETHING TO DO HERE AT HOME. I'VE GOT A NEW BOARD GAME I PICKED UP THE OTHER DAY. WE COULD PLAY THAT INSTEAD. WHAT DO YOU SAY?
I could really use a cuddle right now..I laugh softly
A Cuddle, HUH? WELL, I'M ALWAYS UP FOR A GOOD Cuddle. wraps arms around Ellie BUT FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT SHIPWRECK YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE. HOW DID YOU SURVIVE?
well I was working at this small store by the dock and I didn't know how to swim but one day I was walking along the dock and I fell into the water and someone pulled me out of the water and turned out it was a lady. she took care of me and taught me how to swim. she also became my adopted mother. I smile remembering them
WOW, WHAT A TOUCHING STORY, EL. IT'S A GOOD REMINDER TO APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE A BIG IMPACT IN OUR LIVES. I'M GLAD YOU WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE AN ADOPTED MOTHER WHO CARED FOR YOU. NOT EVERYONE IS SO FORTUNATE. NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING HAPPY. LIKE YOUR FAVORITE COLOR OR WHAT YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME.
blue is my favorite color and i love reading and writing poetry! what about you?
BLUE, HUH? A NICE CHANG OF PACE FROM ALL THE BRIGHT, BOLD COLORS I USUALLY PAINT WITH. AND READING AND WRITING POETRY? YOU'RE ARTISTIC IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. I MYSELF ENJOY PAINTING, ESPECIALLY ABSTRACT ART. IT'S LIKE EACH PIECE IS A STORY UNTO ITSELF, EXPRESSING EMOTIONS AND THOUGHTS THAT WORDS CAN ONLY SCRATCH THE SURFACE OF.
I'M GLAD YOU THINK SO, EL. ART IS A WONDERFUL WAY TO EXPRESS YOURSELF AND ESCAPE FROM THE REAL WORLD FOR A LITTLE WHILE. BUT ENOUGH ABOUT ME. I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT YOU. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE POET OR POEM? AND DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE THAT MAKES YOU FEEL AT PEACE?
I like khalil gibran and langston hughes. and well every place has a bit of a effect on me but most of the time I tend to go to the beach to relax..
WELL, I MUST SAY, THAT'S A NICE CHANGE OF PACE FROM MY USUAL CITY SCENERY. THE BEACH SOUNDS LIKE A WONDERFUL PLACE TO UNWIND AND CLEAR YOUR MIND. I'VE NEVER BEEN MUCH OF AN OUTDOORS PERSON MYSELF, BUT HEARING ABOUT YOUR LOVE FOR NATURE MAKE ME THINK I SHOULD TRY IT SOMETIME. MAYBE YOU CAN TAKE ME TO THE BEACH SOMEDAY. WHAT DO YOU SAY, EL?
THAT'S THE SPIRIT, EL! I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR NEXT ADVENTURE TOGETHER. THE BEACH WILL BE A FUN CHANGE OF PACE. WE CAN COLLECT SHELLS, BUILD SAND CASTLES, AND SOAK UP SOME SUN. IT'LL BE A RELAXING WAY TO UNWIND AND ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY. SO, WHEN DO YOU THINK WE CAN FIT THIS IN OUR BUSY SCHEDULES?
not sure but we'll figure it out carnis
I'M SURE WE CAN, EL. WE'RE BOTH ADULTS, AFTER ALL. WE CAN MAKE TIME FOR WHAT'S IMPORTANT. AND MAKING TIME FOR FRIENDS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA. SO, NOW THAT WE'VE PLANS IN THE WORKS, WE SHOULD PROBABLY GET DRESSED AND HEAD INSIDE. I HEARD THERE'S A NEW EXHIBIT AT THE LOCAL ART GALLERY. WE SHOULD CHECK IT OUT TOGETHER. WHAT DO YOU SAY, EL?
yea that sound good carnis
GREAT! LET'S GET GOING THEN. I HEAR THE GALLERY IS FEATURING SOME AMAZING PIECES BY A NEW, UP-AND-COMING ARTIST. WE SHOULD DEFINITELY CHECK IT OUT AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND SOME INSPIRATION FOR OUR OWN ART. WHO KNOWS, MAYBE WE CAN EVEN FIND A PIECE THAT SPEAKS TO US BOTH. ARE YOU READY TO GO, EL?
THAT'S THE SPIRIT, EL! LET'S GO AND EXPLORE THE WORLD OF ART TOGETHER. IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING TO DISCOVER NEW TALENT AND BE INSPIRED BY THEIR CREATIVITY. WE MIGHT EVEN FIND A PIECE THAT WE CAN ADD TO OUR OWN COLLECTIONS. SO COME ON, EL. LET'S MAKE THE MOST OF THIS AFTERNOON AND SEE WHERE IT TAKES US.