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thoughtfullyrainynightmare · 4 years ago

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Chapter 4 of my oc fic. I took a bit longer with this one, mostly because I was just staring at it, wondering what to say at this point. Not a lot about Thea, yet, but I am giving canon characters a footing for asking more questions about Thea in the future. There is a reason why Solara doesn’t tell a lot yet, but it’ll be revealed little by little, that I promise. Still a lot of emotional denial on her part, yes, we’re still at that point.

Thank you for reading! And I am happy to answer any questions or critique that you might have ^_^

Keep in mind that this work will have mature content in it, so reader discretion is advised.

Word count: 5083

Chapter 4

Morning. Another morning dawned, making Solara’s eyes flutter open. Do I have to? She asked herself as she still felt the weight of her eyelids from last night, but fully well knowing the answer to her question as well. So, she sighed and sat up, not daring to stay lying in bed any longer, in fear of falling back to sleep. It was only her second day with the squad and there was so much to be done, so much to catch up to. And she didn’t want to be the newest addition, who slept in right before having to actually start working.

She got up, got dressed and brushed her hair, still tucking her pendant under her clothes and started making her way out of the door. But she was struck with a sensation of having forgotten something and stopped in her tracks. Her gaze went around the room, before landing onto a cape.

She sighed to herself. I can’t believe I almost forgot. I wore it yesterday, but suppose it still hasn’t grown in on me. She made her way to the red piece of fabric and swung it around her shoulders, taking a last glimpse of herself from the mirror as her hair draped over the vermillion braids attached on the front side of it. I wonder what’s the story behind these? She thought while her fingers fumbled with the braids before shrugging and turning away to leave, while her mind immersed itself with the tasks to be completed for the day.

She took out the list of matters that would require her immediate attention, giving it a quick read through as her feet carried her towards the mess hall. A sigh escaped her as she could already feel exhaustion weighing her down, for she knew that today wasn’t going to be easy. I wonder if I can do this right? Well, I mean, this is what I’m expected to do at home as well. And this is something that I have done… at home… But that is precisely what makes it difficult. Or one of the things. I can’t just get caught up in trying to learn the appropriate terminology in this language, but I have to take into account that all the practises that I’m used to, don’t apply here. So, even if something is given, I should regardless, most likely, still check it up with Randal…

She was woken from her thought by a cheerful voice calling out to her: “Solara aneue!”

Her eyes landed on Leo, who waved to her with a bright smile on his face. She folded the paper back into her pocket as a smile tugged her lips. “Morning Leo,” she greeted with slightly less enthusiasm as he had, but all things given, was to be expected.

“Morning!” He flashed her a grin before continuing, “we’ll continue the story tonight, right?” His entire being oozed excitement as they met in a crossing of two hallways, which eventually would lead to the mess hall.

“Of course,” she replied with a pause of her own, “as long as we don’t get to it quite as late as yesterday,” she smiled.

“Sure!” he exclaimed as they continued their way forward.

A brief silence fell between them as there was something Solara wished to ask him, but wasn’t quite sure how to do so. Which eventually lead to her deciding to ask it just how it was, without tip toeing around it, even if it might’ve been something obvious in this kingdom. “Leo? Can I ask you something?” she inquired, giving him a gentle gaze.

“Hm? Sure thing aneue,” he flashed her with an energetic smile, clearly focusing on her.

“What does ‘aneue’ mean?” She tilted her head with an apologetic smile as his eyes turned to her.

He blinked before his eyes shifted to the floor, his hand rubbing the back of his head. “Well… it means ‘big sister’…” he mumbled, as if he had only then realized calling her such. “I just thought that you are very sisterly so I… but I can stop if you don’t want me to call you that,” he stated, a bit more firmly this time, as if to assure her of his statement.

“Leo,” Solara began, as the apology left her expression and reassurance took its place. “I’d be honoured if you call me ‘big sis’,” she continued, making the young lion’s face light up.

“Really?!” he exclaimed without a moment of hesitation, to which Solara only nodded. “I’m so glad! Mereo aneue is lucky to have made a friend like you, and so am I since you’re my friend too. And I’m sure that aniue would like you too!” Leo started pouring his thoughts out without a care in the world, but Solara could feel her heart skipping a beat at the mention of his brother.

The hell is going on with me? I really should get myself checked, since this can’t be normal. I can’t- I don’t even know him! Yes, I keep telling myself that, but it’s true. There is absolutely no reason for me to-

“Solara aneue?” Leo’s voice pierced through her thoughts once more.

“Yes?” She asked with a smile, which was met with a frown on Leo’s complexion.

“Is everything okay?” His tone sounded worried, too much so for her liking, as he shouldn’t be worrying for her.

“Yes, everything is fine,” she assured him, but saw no difference in his expression. “I’m just a little… apprehensive, since I’ll be starting the work with Randal today and there’s a lot to consider.” She admitted; her statement being truthful, though not the reason for her distracted behaviour.

“I’m sure you can do it! Mereo aneue wouldn’t have given you the job if you couldn’t!” He cheered, making Solara let out a small chuckle.

“Thank you, Leo,” she smiled. “I have no reason to doubt that, as it’s not a completely new territory for me. But given that there are so many similarities, is precisely what makes it difficult, since I might not even realize that I’m deviating from the norm.”

Leo listened intently to her explanation, eyes wide open, as they reached their destination. “Were you in a magic knight squad before coming here too?” He asked through the chatter of the room as they made their way to the dining table.

“No,” she replied. “Thea doesn’t have magic knight squads per se, even if each of the noble Houses have their hands tied in certain aspects of the government. It’s just that since the Equinoxes and Eclipses have always worked closely with the Royal House, that I’ve been schooled to attend such matters. Though nowadays it’s only the Equinoxes. With the assistance of the rest of the noble houses.” Her explanation continued as they sat down, tension building in her stomach. I can’t say a lot more. Yes, I’ve already been shown a lot of trust on their, which is why I can tell this much, right? Yes. I’m sure that it’s fine. After all, it’s given that building relationships with other nations is relies on interactions and… trust… I have no right to show them distrust. The tug of guilt contested with the built-up tension as she tried to keep a straight face. I just haven’t disclosed this much already this early on. Though technically I’ve known Mereo for some time already, even if it’s a matter of weeks. And I’ve been told that I’m too apprehensive.

She smiled to Leo, who was quick to inquire more: “So you’re royal too?” He asked, enthusiasm clear from his tone.

“No, no. That title is reserved only to the Queen and her family,” she replied, the corners of her mouth staying as they were. Yeah, I should open up more. And I- I want to trust them. So, I suppose I can tell them, as long as it’s within the confines of the law.

“But nobility nevertheless?” Solara turned to look at Randal who was taking a seat beside her.

“Yes,” she replied, but as she saw Randal’s expression, she realized how she had been inconsiderate.

“May I ask why you didn’t mention it before?” His question was more than reasonable, making her gaze shift from him momentarily.

“Well, quite frankly, I thought of it to be of little significance. After all, if I’m here as a member of the squad, I want to be recognized as myself. The status of being noble is only a small part of who I am, and I don’t want that to be the defining factor of my being. So, I didn’t think much more of it.”

A small pause fell between them as they gazed at each other, Randal giving her a nod. “Titles can be burdening, so I can understand your reasoning, but still I would’ve liked to know.” His tone was laced with sadness as he looked away, a slight frown decorating his expression.

Solara opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted.

“What does it matter if she’s nobility or not? I don’t go rubbing my titles into people’s faces.” Mereo stated while taking a seat by the table, raising her eyebrow and giving a stern look to Randal’s direction. “The strong are strong, and the weak are weak. It’s as simple as that and titles have nothing to do with it,” she continued, making Randal swallow.

“But it bears similar connotations as not telling one’s name, does it not? Or giving a false one. Which can make a person feel betrayed,” Solara remarked, giving Mereo a smile, who stayed quiet for a moment.

“Isn’t that statement against yourself?” she asked, pointing out the contradiction.

“Yes,” Solara admitted, “but while I agree with your statement of a title not being an indicator of strength, or their character for that matter, I can also understand why my actions can be seen as hurtful. I didn’t intend it as such, but...” she sighed, “but that’s what I did.” She looked at Mereo, who only nodded, before turning to Randal. “And I apologize for it,” she said, meaning every word.

Randal gave her a small smile as he replied: “It’s all forgiven and forgotten, Lady Equinox.”

Solara grinned at the mention of her title, letting out a small chuckle. “Just ‘Solara’ is fine, as it has until now.” They shared a glance and turned their attention to breakfast, Leo looking as if he was about to ask more, but was told by Mereo, rather forcefully, to eat. Solara’s lips tugged into a smile as she saw the display of sisterly affection, even if it was given in a way that was more than characteristic to Mereo.

This really does feel like home… So, I’ll- I’ll treat it as one, and I’ll put my faith in them. Within the realms of what I am allowed to say and reveal, as I still have a duty to my people as well. I can’t just go around doing quite as I please, and the regulations are there for a reason. A good reason. But just as I’m curious about them, they’re curious about me and my culture. It’s given, but it seems that I’ve been blind to it. And I’ve really only been passing through countries until now… or then they’ve been Ally Countries, so they know about us already. This, this is completely new to me. To be welcomed into a new nation like this, and… she bit down her molars, trying to conceal it as her chewing down her food. And I’m giving these impressions… And they’re rightful impressions in the sense that I really am not revealing everything. But then again, who would? There are things that they won’t tell me, which is only smart of them. But I’m glad. I’m glad that I’ve found people such as these. She smiled as she let her gaze wander around the room, the happy faces and the continuous flow of conversation.

---

“Could you start by revising these documents?” Randal asked while handing Solara a list of the files.

She let her gaze dance over the lines for a moment before replying: “Yes, of course.” She paused as her eyes lifted from the paper. “Something I forgot to ask yesterday.”

“Hm?” Randal uttered, letting Solara ask her question.

“You showed me the archives, but I can’t recall being told where I’ll be working,” Randal blinked at her remark, gears turning in his head as he gazed to the ceiling.

“This was a sudden change of events,” he sighed. “But I suppose, for now, you could use the Captain’s office. If it suits Captain Mereoleona, of course,” he paused as his eyes feel back down. “If not, I’ll think of an alternative solution, or then we just need to prepare an office quickly. Though, that we’d need to do soon in any case,” he shrugged, an action to which Solara joined.

“I don’t mind either way, but if Mereo allows it, I can do these in her office while waiting for being supplied with my own,” she stated while lifting the document in her hand slightly upwards.

Randal gave her a nod before bidding her off and heading to his own office to start his own work for the day.

Solara made her way to the Captain’s office, not too far from Randal’s, and knocked on the door even if she couldn’t feel the flutter of Mereo’s mana anywhere nearby. There was no reply, but still Solara stood in place for a moment. I suppose she’s out taking care of more pressing matters… She thought while opening the door and discovering the room exactly as she had left it the day before. Well… I can’t say that I’m surprised. She smirked to herself while closing the door and heading for the archives to retrieve the necessary files for the tasks at hand.

---

Solara tapped her fingers against the wooden surface of the mahogany desk as she let out a sigh. It really has been a while huh, the thought weighed her as she felt the pressure in her chest, as frustration was trying to break free from her. This used to be second nature to me. Or well, not exactly. But I used to be more efficient than this. I really am not making mother proud at the moment, nor myself for that matter… Though suppose it’s understandable. It’ll take time to get myself back on a roll with this. She lifted a cup of tea onto her lips and took a sip. The amber coloured liquid warmed her bones, melting away some of the tension in her.

It was really nice of Gareth to bring me tea. She smiled to herself. Everyone is being so kind. It seems like this squad is a kind of a family where everyone is seen as their own people. As individuals and not ‘just’ members of a squad. I think I’ll really enjoy it here. She leaned back in the chair with the cup in hand, her head resting against the soft lining. The scent of lavender lingered around her again, bringing her a sense of comfort that she couldn’t remember knowing before. She could feel her eyelids closing as the feeling of being at peace wrapped around her, as if a warm blanket on a cold winter’s day. Her grip of the cup loosened, as she took a deep breath and let out a hum. But before she was overtaken by the sweet cradling of gentle sleep, her eyes cracked open, only to see the still remaining tea in the cup nearing the edge of the tilted piece of porcelain. She regained her composure just in time. “[Really? Now I’m spilling my drinks as well. Almost. That’s just great…]” she mumbled sarcastically in Thean, right before the door opened.

Mereo walked in an raised an eyebrow at her. “Did you say something?” She asked, even if certain that she had heard Solara mumbling under her breath.

“Hm? Ah, yeah, it was…” she paused and set the cup back onto the table. “Nothing important. I was just mumbling out my frustration. That’s all,” she sighed and glanced at Mereo who closed the door on her way in, giving her a nod.

“I’ve never been a fan of pushing pencils, so I’d be doing more than just mumbling it out,” she smirked while crossing her arms and walking over to the desk.

Solara chuckled with a veil of tiredness over her tone, but giving Mereo a genuine smile afterwards as she felt the twitch of the last threads of frustration being unspun from her. “Oh, I can believe that,” she smirked right back, making them let out a small chuckle in unison.

“Anyways,” Solara began, her tone settling back to a more serious one. “Do you mind if I work here while they’re setting up an office for me?” She looked at her friend, who let out a shrug.

“I don’t mind. It’s not like I’ll be spending a lot of time here, so there’s no hurry.” Solara felt her eyebrow tugging at the statement, but brushed it off quickly as she knew Mereo. “Actually, there’s something I need to tell you,” Mereo’s tone lowered as if weighed down by gravity, as heavy clouds settled into the room and her gaze fell to the crimson carpet.

“Yes?” Solara frowned as worry crept to her, the feeling of restlessness tangling to it, eating her insides.

“There’s something that needs my attention, more than the Crimson Lion Kings at this time. They just appointed me as a captain of the squad, but things have been brewing for longer than they should’ve. Things that should’ve been dealt with yesterday, but,” Mereo sighed, her gaze lifting to meet Solara’s. “That’s what you get when you leave men unattended,” Mereo’s statement was stern and unwavering, the seriousness of which both amused and affirmed Solara.

“And now they’re sending you to set things straight?” She laughed while giving Mereo a smirking smile.

“That’s precisely what they’re doing, and not a moment too soon,” Mereo smirked back, before her smile faded from her face. “But I’m planning on getting even and making them pay for what they did to Fuego,” her worry dripped from her syllables, even if only for a passing second. But it was quickly replaced by a stern expression, nothing else, as all the fearless Lioness knew, was to move forward. Despite having a roaring ocean of emotions beneath the surface of her ocean blue eyes, a feeling of sorrow, that was an emotion she couldn’t summon forth.

“So, you need me to stay here?” Solara asked, hoping to pull Mereo from the sea of turmoil. The pair of ocean eyes turned to Solara.

“I need you to keep the cubs in check while I’m gone,” the statement flowed from Mereo, and yet still inflicted gravity and implore that twisted Solara’s heart.

“If that is what you want. Though they could probably get by even without me,” Solara smiled, her eyes radiating compassion, which made Mereo give a subtle smile to her direction.

“Ha,” Mereo scoffed. “They were years without having a woman looking after them, and look where that got them. Ranking fifth in the Star Festival… Never has the squad been humiliated like that before,” Mereo’s tone grew graver, as her eyes lit up with irritation.

“I’ll do my best,” Solara affirmed, hoping to shift the conversation to other things. Mereo only nodded to the statement, letting out a sigh and pausing for a moment.

“I’m taking the squad out for training tomorrow to the strong magic region. They all could use a proper training session.” Solara blinked at Mereo’s statement in surprise, but her expression was soon washed over by relief.

“First thing in the morning then?” She asked, her lips tugging upwards. But Mereo’s eyes shifted away from her once more, even if only momentarily.

“Actually, I was hoping that you could stay here and look after, the base.” There was a small pause in Mereo’s statement, telling Solara that it wasn’t the base itself that Mereo was concerned about, but rather who laid there.

A veil of melancholy cascaded over her complexion as she felt the golden strings of fate clenching her heart while empathy pulled it down to her stomach, the tugging, twisting and squeezing made her feel slight nausea. But she forced the softest smile she possibly could, onto her lips as she simply replied: “Of course.” A trace of relief was cast onto Mereo’s face as she smiled and nodded to Solara. The action making Solara’s condition ease, even if for a tiny bit, but it didn’t remove the weight in her chest. Solara, just as Mereo, was still bound by worry.

She worries so much for her brother, and… so do I, even if- Worrying for another isn’t a bad trait, no, but I- I have felt others’ sorrows as mine, but this isn’t like that. This… this is worry of my own, and I know, I know I keep telling myself that, but I have no reason to feel like this. Do I, do I have a right to feel like this? Solara interrupted her train of thought and directed a question to Mereo: “Are you going out with the squad today already, or tomorrow perhaps?” A hint of gratitude for not getting caught up with her worry passed through Mereo’s eyes as her posture straightened back to the epitome of strength and determination that it usually was.

“Yes. Though there’s a couple of others I need to collect before heading out,” Mereo smirked as if training in the strong magic region would’ve been a game.

“In that case, I’ll keep the base standing until you come back,” Solara grinned, making Mereo scoff amusedly.

“See that you do,” Mereo remarked before heading off and leaving Solara alone with her thoughts once more.

It’s not like I don’t want to watch after his brother. It’s not like I… wouldn’t, want to, ta-ke, care, of him…The admission was forced, but a truthful one. And yet her jaw clenched. I do want to. And it’s important for Mereo as well, so suppose there’s no issue… She sighed and continued with her work, but her mind drifted off from the world of legislation and documentation each time the smell of lavender reached her.

---

Evening had already started to fall and the base was quiet. Not a sound pierced through the shadows as Solara gazed outside into the distance. The squad still hadn’t returned, but given where they had gone, it was no surprise. And though Solara had wished to get better acquainted with everyone, being able to spend a quiet evening all by herself wasn’t a cause of complaint for her.

She had made herself dinner, filling the kitchen with a faint humming of a tune and the smell of food, feeling grateful of the fact that she had learned the basics of cooking despite her noble upbringing. Though, she had to admit that she wouldn’t have done so if her mother hadn’t advised her to know such a skill. After all, if she wished to immerse herself into other cultures, it was more than useful to be able to converse with all citizens and not just with those of a distinct bloodline. And thus, knowing at least the very basics of some domestic tasks would give an easy starting point for some friendly conversation. But as she was alone at the time, there was no conversation to be made. There was only her and the subtle flutter of a candle next to her, as she let herself tune out from the world, and enjoy the serenity of the moment.

She exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of her eyelids, and straightened her posture. I suppose I should start turning in for the night, she thought as she let her eyes wander around the room, and checking that everything was cleaned and put back in place. I think it’s all as it should. Her brows furrowed slightly as she thought, but shrugged as nothing surfaced, and made her way out of the room; the soft glow of the candle lighting her way. Shadows bounced around the walls before being driven away by the fluttering flame, as she travelled down the twists and turns of the hallways.

A quiet hum escaped her once more, making the soft melody echo around her, only to quiet down as she reached the door of the sick room. Solara stopped, her hand on the handle, feeling her brow twitch slightly as she felt a weight in her chest. There is no reason for me to knock. He’s in a coma, so he won’t reply. She sighed. But it also feels wrong to just enter without a knock. Well, as long as I’m alone, nobody will know about me knocking the door of an unconscious person. So, she gave the door a small knock before entering. The sound of wood moving against stone and metal pierced through the air, the sound seeming more prominent now that everything else was quiet. Every single one of them. Every sound, every word, every action, they were heightened by the frozen time. It was just the two of them. Even if she would have to do all the talking. Talking? Well, I do believe Selena when she said that coma patients can hear sounds around them… Though the question of being able to remember them after waking up is entirely different. She thought before closing the door.

“Good evening,” she greeted, letting the words flow from her, gentle as a spring stream. A smile rose to her lips as warmth cascaded over her entire complexion. “I thought that I should check up on you, though I can’t do a lot.” She made conversation as she placed the candle onto the nightstand next to the bed, and moved a chair a bit closer. “But I hear that the doctor… um.. what was his name again?” She hummed while trying to recall the name, feeling slight frustration as names sadly weren’t her strong suit. “Owen…? I believe it was Owen. But in any case, he’s coming tomorrow to check up on you. I hope that you’re doing better.”

Silence fell between them as she thought, wondering if she should say what she wanted to say. “And... I, um,” she swallowed as her gaze fell to the side for a moment. “I would very much like to meet you, so that you’re awake, I mean. So, I do hope that you’ll wake up soon. … That sounds a bit selfish, doesn’t it?” She let out a nervous chuckle, taking a deep breath right after. “But I do hope that you’re still in there, and slowly, but surely, making your way back. … Your family and friends, your squad mates, they’re all worried about you. And I can tell that they miss you a lot, Leo especially. So, I hope that you don’t mind me reading to the both of you in the future,” she laughed, the corners of her mouth remaining upwards. “But no story tonight, after all, we couldn’t have Leo missing out, now could we? Though you already know the story, so suppose you don’t mind.”

Silence fell back into the room as she sat there, quietly, just watching his tranquil state. And even if you did mind, you wouldn’t be able to say… Her expression fell with the thought, bringing the veil of melancholy over her complexion again. “But I trust that you don’t. Or, the very least, that I’d be told by your near and dear if you did.”

Near and dear… she again felt the tug of the strings around her heart, wanting to feel included. Wanting to just give in to the burning wish of just laying her emotions bare, but instead turned her head away in retaliation. Stop it. You’re just being selfish. Yes. That’s what this is. Selfish, unreasonable and illogical. Well, those are all human characteristics and we all have those moments, but That Is Not The Point! The point is that you can’t. Alright? … Just take a deep breath, wish him good night, and be on your merry way. It’s nothing more than a crush. It’s nothing more than a crush.

She stood up and moved the chair away, the echo of her steps being the only sound in the room until she stopped to take the candle. She felt a small kiss of frost from the cold that radiated through the window, as her hand drew closer, guiding her gaze outside. It’s going to be a cold night, or relatively cold at least… She turned her head to Fuego, and to his blanket, that was pulled only up to his elbows, a slight frown raising to her face. I know that you’re a fire mage, but… I- I don’t want you to catch a cold, she sighed and grabbed the edge of the blanket. It was thin, but on most nights would have served the occasion.

She pulled the soft fabric further over him, slouching a bit over him. Her fingers brushed against him, making warm shivers course through her body as she felt blush rising to her cheeks. And by the time, she had pulled the blanket to his collarbones, she could feel her hands trembling slightly. Calm down… she thought to herself as the smell of lavender flew to her through the air as she hovered over his torso, her head much closer to his than ever before. She swallowed as she straightened her posture and closed her eyes.

This should suffice, she thought as turned to collect the candle from the table, focusing on containing her beating heart. Calm down. It’s nothing. This’ll pass. It’s just a… temporary state of insanity caused by … a very intense crush. Her eyelids fell for a moment as she inhaled, allowing herself one final glimpse of him for the day.

“Good night,” she whispered with a gentle smile that contested the first soft rays of morning light, before turning to leave. The golden strings kept a hold of them, imploring her to turn back around, but with the promise of coming back to read for him, the promise of return; the violent twisting and clenching that had been before, was dispelled. Only the silent whisper, asking her stay nearby and visit once more, lingered in the air. And though Solara didn’t notice it, she wore a bright smile all the way back to her room, where it only faded once she was in deep sleep.

#embers of sun and flame #black clover fanfiction #oc; Solara #chapter 4 #fuegoleon x solara #fuelara

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theheadlessgroom · 6 years ago

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Rules: Answer the questions, then tag blogs you’d like to know!

Nickname(s): My name is Kirsten, but more often than not on the Internet, I go by Majora! Both are fine, however, I’ll answer to either of them.

Zodiac: My Western is Leo, and my Chinese is the Rabbit!

Height: 4′10

Time: As of writing this, 12:32 PM, Pacific time!

Favorite band/artist: Either Fleetwood Mac or Paul Williams-it’s a toss-up!

Song stuck in my head: That really cool mash-up between Earth, Wind and Fire’s September and Daft Punk’s Digital Love: Listen to it, you won’t regret it.

Last movie I saw: I can’t think of any ‘new’ movies I’ve watched lately (either new to me or a new release), but I did recently re-watch The Mummy’s Curse for fun-it’s a total B-movie just like the other 1940′s Mummy movies, but they hold a special place in my heart just the same

Last thing I Googled: ‘old barbie dress-up games’: Show of hands, who else used to play those old Flash Barbie games on the computer as kids? I’ve been honestly nostalgic for the old EverythingGirl site, and all the old games I used to play on there, and some of them you can still find out there!

Other blogs: Just my main blog, majora-the-trekking-hobbit!

Do I get asks: I do! Whether they’re for ask memes, the start of a new RP, questions for myself or Randall, or just goofy memes and other general shenanigans, I do love seeing that little ‘1′ notification in regards to this blog!

Why I chose this username: I wanted this blog to have a really unique name to it, something that stood out, and given Ol’ Hatty’s trick, and his status as the groom to the Beating-Heart Bride, what better handle than ‘theheadlessgroom’?

Average amount of sleep: I usually try to shoot for 8 hours, at least, but during the summertime, I like to stay up later and sleep in a little more. With fall coming up, I need to start going to sleep a little earlier...

Lucky number: 2!

What I’m wearing: Blue jeans and a t-shirt advertising a pizzeria and brewery that I like to visit when I’m up in Washington, visiting family

Dream job: An author! I’ve been writing since I was about 8 or so, and it’s been my dream to become a published author someday. I’m working at it, and RP’ing as Randall has really helped me when it comes to building a story and working on characterization-there’s always room for improvement!

Dream trip: I have so many! Here in the States, I’d like to (obviously) go to Disneyland someday and actually ride The Haunted Mansion (and say hello to my muse), and I’d like to go to Universal Studios for their annual Halloween Horror Nights celebration, complete with my favorite Monsters stalking the streets of the park! Outside of the States, however, I would like to go to New Zealand, and take a tour of the sets of The Lord of the Rings, and I’d also like to go to London someday-the Shakespearean Archive has a recording of one of my favorite Shakespeare plays with one of my favorite actors in the title role, so if I wanna see it, I gotta get out there!

Favorite food: I’ve never met a taco I didn’t like-I’m also very partial to spicy dishes and a good bowl of Chinese noodles, preferably with shrimp!

Instruments: I don’t know how to play an instrument, but I do like to sing! I’m an alto, and I like to think I can carry a tune in a bucket pretty well, but you probably won’t catch me doing karaoke anytime soon, unless I’m feeling particularly bold-I’ll stick with singing in the car for now.

Eye color: Green! Depending on the light, they can look more blue or gray or even a little hazel, but they’re most defidently green.

Hair color: Red! My natural shade, but as I mentioned, the curls are not natural, they’re the product of a perm! I’m very happy with them, though; I’ve always wanted curly hair (naturally, my hair is a little wavy, but not a lot), so it’s cool to finally have it!

Languages spoken: English-although I’m planning on learning German in the near future, which I’m looking forward to!

Most iconic song: Oh man...one that always sticks out to me is Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac: It’s beautiful, dreamlike, ethereal, and is best listened to when driving home on a cool, dark night in the wintertime, with the only lights coming from the passing cars, and all the homes across the valley. I’d also recommend listening to the original demo, if you ever get the chance-it sounds different from the final product, but it’s no less vibrant and lovely to hear.

Random fact: Most movie monsters don’t scare me-vampires, werewolves, mummies, ghosts, witches, gill-men, invisible men, aliens, they don’t scare me at all. But zombies? Nope, can’t do it, not today, no way, nada. I love movies like Night of the Living Dead and Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, but I just can’t watch them at night, unless I want to spend my night wide awake from some sort of nightmare!

Tagged by: No one! I’m tagging: Any and all who’d like to do it!

#OOC: Mun Talk

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caveartfair · 8 years ago

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What Sold at Frieze New York

Installation view of David Kordansky’s booth at Frieze New York, 2017. Photograph by Mark Blower. Courtesy of Mark Blower/Frieze.

Frieze New York’s signature serpentining white tent on Randall’s Island was as bright and airy as ever this week, but the energy inside was subdued.

This was not unexpected. Frieze this year fell on a week following a string of major European art events, including Art Brussels, Art Cologne, and Gallery Weekend Berlin and just before the opening of the Venice Biennial—with Documenta, Skulptur Projekte Münster, and Art Basel in Basel just around the corner. It is newly decoupled from the emerging art fair NADA (which now takes place in early March, during The Armory Show), but this year coincides with TEFAF New York, an older, genteel European affair. The spring New York auctions are also newly decoupled from Frieze week, taking place two weeks from now to avoid Venice congestion.

With all of that action on the calendar, many said Frieze felt a tiny bit anticlimactic this year, despite reports of strong sales. Adding to that anticlimax, was the fact that a number of galleries seemed to have wrapped up most of their business while the Frieze tent was being set up, hedging their bets by confirming deals with collectors as fair previews were sent out.

Los Angeles’s David Kordansky Gallery sold out its booth of Tala Madani paintings, ranging from $22,000 to $110,000 each, to both collectors and institutions, building off momentum from her concurrent appearance in the Whitney Biennial. Gallery director Irina Stark said, “There is a waiting list for the works, so lots of works have been placed while sending out the previews.”

Brazilian gallery Mendes Wood DM had also mostly pre-sold its booth, largely to Brazilian and U.S. collectors who’d put things on hold after seeing them via email and at the gallery’s opening in New York on Tuesday. The works—by Adriano Costa, 2016 Turner Prize nominee Michael Dean, Solange Pessoa, Sonia Gomes, and Luiz Roque—ranged between $10,000 and $50,000.

“[Collectors] just came to close everything,” said head of sales Martin Aguilera, who is based at the gallery’s New York location (the others are in São Paulo and Brussels).

The bulk of Hauser & Wirth’s paintings and sculptures by American artist Lorna Simpson, sold on the range from $150,000 to $300,000 on opening day, going to both major museums and private collections, according to the gallery. It was her first presentation with Hauser & Wirth since she joined the mega-gallery from New York’s Salon 94.

Installation view of Hauser & Wirth’s booth at Frieze New York 2017. Photograph by Mark Blower. Courtesy of Mark Blower/Frieze.

David Zwirner sold out of works by Swiss sculptor Carol Bove, who is representing Switzerland along with Teresa Hubbard/Alexander Birchler at this year’s Venice Biennial. The four sculptures and one work on paper went for $50,000 to $550,000. Five photographs by William Eggleston, the booth’s other artist, sold as well, for $185,000. They were from his “Democratic Forest” series, and were being shown for the first time since they were shot in the 1980s.

Greg Lulay, a director at Zwirner, said it was difficult to gauge the impact of so many European events on fair attendance, since, as he pointed out, “there’s always something happening in New York,” art-wise.

“The art market is cyclical,” he said. “What Frieze decided to do was look at a moment in New York that had an opening in the calendar, and they chose quite wisely because typically it aligns with the contemporary and modern auctions. This year because of Venice there’s a sort of window in between.”

Jack Shainman Gallery senior director Tamsen Greene described it as “a normal, good fair,” with brisk sales on the opening day, including a large-scale work by El Anatsui for $1.1 million, a mixed-media work by Nick Cave for $75,000, and a work on paper by Toyin Ojih Odutola for $40,000. Additional works by Radcliffe Bailey, Hayv Kahraman, and Brad Kahlhamer also sold for undisclosed prices.

At Lehmann Maupin, Californian artists Mary Corse, Liza Lou, and Catherine Opie sold a pair of works each. Two canvases from Lou's “ingxube” series went for between $175,000 and $250,000, two Opie portraits sold in the range of $40,000–$50,000, and two Corse paintings sold for $80,000-$120,000 and $200,000-$300,000 respectively.

Carol Bove, Prélude à l’aprés-midi d’un faune, 2017. Courtesy of the artist, David Zwirner New York/London.

Thaddaeus Ropac’s Frieze New York booth was a rare flash of bipartisanship, with its large-format charcoal work by Robert Longo, Untitled (Obama Leaving) (2017), and its smaller portrait by Yan Pei-Ming, President-Elect Trump (2017). On the same day the president visited New York for a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and House Republicans voted to repeal large portions of the nation’s Affordable Care Act, collectors voiced dissent, with Longo’s Obama selling for $550,000 and the Trump finding no takers. A Georg Baselitz painting, Bergspitze (2010), went for the same amount, a Robert Rauschenberg work on brass sold for $675,000, and the Jack Pierson sculpture Pray went for $190,000.

“We sent out the works to our collectors and they confirmed [as the fair opened],” said Ropac, fresh off the opening of a new space in London’s Mayfair, his first away from the European continent. He said most of his U.S. clients were in town specifically for Frieze, as they are more focused on contemporary art than the wider range of offerings at TEFAF. They came from across the U.S.: Boston, Texas, Los Angeles. He noted seeing surprisingly few clients from Europe.

Leo Xu of Shanghai’s Leo Xu Projects brought works by Li Qing painted on the glass of antique window frames discarded in the process of Shanghai’s gentrification. Xu was keen to introduce Li, a nominee for the Prix Jean-Francois Prat this year, to New York institutions, and the concentration of East Coast collectors and other U.S. and North American collectors who travel for the fair, even if the fair was less international than it typically is due to the crowded calendar.

“European collectors are not here, Asian collectors are not here, but Americans are here!” he said brightly.

Installation view of Jack Shainman Gallery’s booth at Frieze New York, 2017. Photograph by Mark Blower. Courtesy of Mark Blower/Frieze.

Frieze New York’s Spotlight section, which focuses on 20th-century art, was newly expanded this year to 31 booths from last year’s 16. The new booths, including Michael Rosenfeld Gallery and Fleisher/Ollman, took over space left from a decline in the number of emerging galleries showing at the fair. This year, 45 galleries show in the Frame and Focus sections, down from 51 in 2016.

Bryan Davidson Blue of Chelsea’s Garth Greenan Gallery was participating in Spotlight for the third year, with a selection of paintings and drawings by Paul Feeley. He said the small, focused format at Frieze was ideal for presenting a mini-exhibition, when, for example, the limited number of works available by an artist prohibit a full gallery show. Alpharatz (1964) sold to a private collection for $400,000.

At another Spotlight booth, eight drawings by Irma Blank had sold for between $18,500 and $30,000, said Chiara Tiberio of P420 in Bologna, Italy. She said many of the people interested in the 82-year-old German artist, who is showing at the Venice Biennial, asked if she was an emerging artist, “because the work is very fresh,” she said.

Whether the number of curators or European collectors in attendance at Frieze New York this year was adequate depended on who you asked. One prominent dealer said museums and institutions were notably absent, others insisted their Europeans—especially the British, if that still counts as European—were in full force. The result was a bit like a safari: If you happen to miss certain animals, it’s a letdown. If you spot them all, it was a great trip.

For dealers and other professionals servicing U.S. collectors, who turned out reliably, Frieze New York was a success. This was especially the case due to it being coupled with the first spring edition of TEFAF New York.

“I think it’s the biggest draw on the calendar,” said Evan Beard, who heads U.S. Trust/Bank of America Private Wealth Management’s art services practice, of Frieze Week.

Installation view of Cardi Gallery’s booth at Frieze New York, 2017. Photograph by Mark Blower. Courtesy of Mark Blower/Frieze.

“We have collectors from all parts of the country that come in for this week and both [fairs] are a major draw. A subsegment of that class will then zip off to Venice, and then Documenta,” Beard said, but he noted that the European events targeted a more curatorial crowd, while the New York fairs are geared toward acquisition-minded collectors.

Beard and his colleagues hosted a number of their collectors at TEFAF on Wednesday night, and he said the healthy sales meant great collateral business for those who service the art trade, such as logistics firms, insurers and financial institutions like his.

Nicolò Cardi of London and Milan’s Cardi Gallery was also a fan of New York’s newest double-billing, which places the week in a more established than emerging art conversation. He sold multiple works by Mimmo Paladino at TEFAF, and works by Giuseppe Penone, Palpebra (1990) and Jannis Kounellis, Untitled (2009) at Frieze. Prices for the works ranged from $200,000 to $600,000.

“I think it’s a good combination, for the city, for the art world,” said Cardi, who is alternating days between the two fairs. “It brings a lot of attention, good vibes, positivity, and sales as well.”

—Anna Louie Sussman

from Artsy News

#Artsy News

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nofomoartworld · 8 years ago

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Hyperallergic: Strong Solo Booths, Leo Lookalikes, and Plenty of Trends at Frieze New York

In the aisles at Frieze New York 2017 (all photos by the author for Hyperallergic)

Now in its fifth year, Frieze New York is diversifying. Though the 2017 edition of the London-based mega-fair has all your typical trappings of blue chip collectors’ mall — vintage Mike Kelley from Skarstedt, new Anish Kapoor sculptures from Lisson Gallery, fresh Llyn Foulkes from Sprüth Magers, massive Nick Caves from Jack Shainman, a bounty of Carol Boves at David Zwirner, “provocative” Elmgreen & Dragset installations from Massimo De Carlo — there are also plenty of surprises. The most bizarre may be one of this year’s commissioned Frieze Projects, by the Swiss artist Dora Budor, who has hired actors resembling Leonardo DiCaprio to traipse around the tent dressed as some of the actor and collector‘s most famous characters. (Another of this year’s commissions, a dazzlingly surreal animated dream journal by Jon Rafman, is uncannily incredible for very different reasons.)

Dora Budor’s Frieze Project “MANICOMIO!” (2017) consisted of hiring actors who resemble Leonardo DiCaprio to walk around the fair dressed as his characters from Catch Me If You Can, The Wolf of Wall Street, and The Revenant

The booths themselves hold plenty of unexpected treasures, too. The most startling may be the stretch of spaces showing pre-Modern, non-Western art. Paris’s Galerie Meyer, for instance, has a stunning array of spirit boards from Papua New Guinea: traditional objects that were typically arranged in shrines in large communal houses. A little farther down the central aisle, Donald Ellis Gallery has a stunning and eclectic display of native and indigenous artifacts, including Plains Indians ledger drawings, wooden sculptures, and ritual objects from the Pacific Northwest.

Spirit boards from Papua New Guinea in the Galerie Meyer booth

A raven rattle from either the Tlingit or Tsimshian people of southeast Alaska and Northern British Columbia (c. 1870) in the Donald Ellis Gallery booth

As is often the case at such enormous fairs, the strongest booths tend to be those devoted to a single artist, and there are plenty of examples of this at Frieze, including a standout coterie of women artists. A personal favorite is Simone Subal Gallery’s presentation of works by the late Pop artist Kiki Kogelnik, whose playful and bold paintings and sculptures do not seem to have aged a day. San Francisco’s Anglim Gilbert Gallery is showcasing similarly playful but far more loosely rendered paintings by Judith Linhares. Michael Rosenfeld Gallery is also showcasing a pioneering woman artist whose work has only gained in gusto: its booth of metal and steel sculptures by Barbara Chase-Riboud is not to be missed. Nearby, Kobe-based Gallery Yamaki Fine Art is showing a spread of Kimiyo Mishima’s incredible ceramic sculptures, which she silkscreens to make them look like paper goods, including newspapers, manga comic books, packaging, and cardboard boxes.

A painting by Kiki Kogelnik in the Simone Subal Gallery booth

Judith Linhares, “Sphinx” (1990) in the Anglim Gilbert Gallery booth

Judith Linhares, “Davy Jones Locker” (1975) in the Anglim Gilbert Gallery booth

Barbara Chase-Riboud, “Matisse’s Back in Twins” (1967/1994) in the Michael Rosenfeld Gallery booth

A ceramic sculpture by Kimiyo Mishima in the Gallery Yamaki Fine Art booth

Ceramic sculptures by Kimiyo Mishima in the Gallery Yamaki Fine Art booth

Two of the standout painters of the current Whitney Biennial also have solo booths at Frieze. David Kordansky Gallery is showing a new set of Tala Madani‘s irreverent and scatological scenes, which perfectly nail the diffuse lighting effects and colors of a bleary club night. Glasgow-based gallery Mary Mary is showing three new large paintings by Aliza Nisenbaum that depict domestic scenes layered with narrative details.

A painting by Tala Madani in the David Kordansky Gallery booth

Aliza Nisenbaum, “The History Lesson” (2017) in the Mary Mary booth

To be sure, there are standout solo booths by male artists, too. The most prominent, due to the sheer scale of his portrait paintings, may be Alfred Leslie, whose work is on view at Bruce Silverstein’s booth. His enormous triptych painting “Americans, Youngstown, Ohio” (1977–78) is an ambiguous monument to a very specific yet somehow universal time and place in modern US society. Nearby, Kayne Griffin Corcoran is showcasing the impressive and eclectic oeuvre of seminal Japanese artist Tatsuo Kawaguchi. The works on view range from colorful abstract paintings and mirrored tabletop sculptures to wall-mounted configurations of vinyl, acrylic, and resin that evoke Eva Hesse. More singular in approach is the work of the late Cuban American artist Felipe Jesus Consalvos, whose inimitable and precise collages can be found in the Fleisher/Ollman booth applied to guitars, stools, chairs, mirrors, garbage cans, and more conventional flat surfaces too. Another artist whose aesthetic evokes the single-minded labor of the stereotypical outsider artist, Étienne-Martin, is being shown by Paris’s Galerie Bernard Bouche. The sculptor’s rough-hewn and loosely figurative assemblages of plaster, wire, wood, and found materials are instantly engrossing and pulse with inner life. In Casey Kaplan’s booth, two sculptures by Kevin Beasley also possess inner life, although for much more obvious reasons: The sculptures, made from colorful dresses and kaftans coated in resin, conceal speakers that play back ambient noise from microphones hidden around the fair. Snippets of conversations and half-heard words emerge from the hoods, suggesting a ghostly presence.

Alfred Leslie, “Americans, Youngstown, Ohio” (1977–78) in the Bruce Silverstein booth

Sculptures by Tatsuo Kawaguchi in the Kayne Griffin Corcoran booth

Works by Tatsuo Kawaguchi in the Kayne Griffin Corcoran booth

Collaged instruments by Felipe Jesus Consalvos in the Fleisher/Ollman booth

Étienne-Martin, “Le bouclier” (1983) in the Galerie Bernard Bouche booth

Works by Kevin Beasley in the Casey Kaplan booth

A sculpture by Kevin Beasley in the Casey Kaplan booth

Naturally, there are plenty of worthwhile works beyond Frieze’s solo booths; you just have to sift through lots of forgettable art to find them. Or they’ll stop you in your tracks as you stroll by — such was my experience of a very large new graphite-on-paper triptych by Kara Walker, “Securing a Motherland Should Have Been Sufficient” (2016), which dominates the Sikkema Jenkins & Co. booth. The cinematic and enigmatic scene, which shows an act of either valor or betrayal, seems to reflect Walker’s increasingly fantastical interests. Another showstopper, though of a decidedly more playful sort, is Anton van Dalen’s “The Pigeon Car” (1987), which anchors PPOW Gallery’s booth devoted to members of the East Village art scene of the 1970s.

Kara Walker, “Securing a Motherland Should Have Been Sufficient” (2016) in the Sikkema Jenkins & Co. booth

Anton van Dalen, “The Pigeon Car” (1987, wood, wire, live pigeons) in the PPOW booth

In addition to the aforementioned works, Frieze is ripe for contemporary art trendspotting. Some are not particularly surprising, like a prevalence of rainbow-hued works and several appearances by the new and most recent US presidents. However, walking the aisles during Thursday’s preview, I was struck by the prevalence of two types of works: text-based art, much of it incorporating neon lights or vinyl letters applied directly to the booth walls, and artworks incorporating or consisting entirely of more or less untreated rocks. Both, it seems to me, are emblematic of the desire for a kind of permanence and site-specificity, features of contemporary art that are inherently incompatible with the nomadic and ephemeral nature of art fairs. Even so, the writing’s on the wall: This year’s Frieze New York rocks.

Lee Ufan, “Relatum” (2016) in the Lisson Gallery booth

Richard Long, “White Onyx Line” (1990) in the Cardi Gallery booth

Park Hyunki, “Untitled (TV Stone Pagoda)” (1982) in the Gallery Hyundai booth

Lee Seung-taek, “Tied Stone” (1980) in the Gallery Hyundai booth

Sculpture by Jose Dávila in the Travesía Cuatro booth

Waltercio Caldas, “Escultura para todos os materiais não transparentes” (1985) in the Galeria Raquel Arnaud booth

Julian Charrière, “Metamorphism XXXXI” (2016) in the Sean Kelly booth

Jose Dávila, “Joint Effort” (2017) in the Sean Kelly booth

Solange Pessoa, “Sem título, da série Caveiras” (2016) in the Mendes Wood DM booth

Stefan Brüggemann, “ALLOW ACTION (…)” (2017) in the Parra & Romero booth

Gerd Stern, “NO OW NOW, USCO, Two Mantras” (1966–70/2017) in the Carl Solway Gallery booth

Jack Pierson, “PRAY” (2017) in the Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac booth

Cibelle Cavalli Bastos, “The Artists is Presence” (2017) in the Mendes Wood DM booth

A neon sculpture by Asuncion Molinos Gordo in the Travesía Cuatro booth

Jeppe Hein, “Please Participate” (2015) in the 303 Gallery booth

Alfredo Jaar, “Be Afraid of the Enormity of the Possible” (2015) in the Galerie Lelong booth

The Frieze Tent

The 2017 edition of Frieze New York continues at Randall’s Island Park (Randall’s Island, Manhattan) through May 7.

The post Strong Solo Booths, Leo Lookalikes, and Plenty of Trends at Frieze New York appeared first on Hyperallergic.

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