Thames was sitting outside his workshop, the sun bea ing down on him, but he was flapping an old fan he still had on his dresser. He watched the various people passing his failing workshop.
I should start advertising..
His stomach grumbled.
I need food..!
He sighed and closed the fan, resting his chin on his hands while the sun continued its assault on him.
Gah!
He covered his nose swiftly as the stench of gunpowder, ash, and sweat approached. Thames looked down the road, the opposite direction of the fountain, and saw two taller men approached.
They were dressed in ponchos and heavy looking long sleeve and pants despite the hot weather. A cowboy hat atop both their heads casted a shadow covering their eyes, but Thames continued to watch them walk down the street.
Mercenaries? Nothing to catch in this town..
He grumbled as they walk past him, the stench heavy in the air, but by now Thames had grown used to it. Watching them head to the fountain, he stood up and brushed the dirt off his grey pants.
Checking his sleeves and adjusting his silver cufflinks, a gift from his mother before he moved to this town, he turned back to his workshop.
I'll make a sign at least?
He walks back in and finds a loose piece of wood, a smaller one, but large enough to write something on. He grabs a paintbrush and draws "Support a Painters Dreams!" in big black letters.
Below it, he draws grass, and above it he draws a sun.
May as well..
Thames adds a smiley face to the sun. Feeing satisfied with his sign, he goes to search for his small toolbox, a gift from his father.
He finds it behind a stack of blank canvas'. He blows off the dust.
Click!
The toolbox clicks open, showing a small hammer, a 30 centimeter measuring stick, a box of nails, a bottle of adhesive, and rope. He takes the rope, a single nail, and the hammer.
Setting the box down next to a grey paint bucket, he walks outside the workshop with his tools and sign.
Oh.. I need adhesive!
He rolls his eyes as he sets his tools down on the curb, and walks back to his toolbox. This time, he takes the bottle of adhesive.
Back outside, he unravels about 15 centimeters of thin rope. Unscrewing the cap of the adhesive, the smell of alcohol fills the air. He dabs the brush, which was attached to the cap, and puts two adhesive marks near the center of the sign.
He then pressed the two ends of the rope to either dot of adhesive, forming a loop.
Dad didn't buy the fast dry..
He thinks, then raises the sign to his mouth, and blows on the adhesive.
Step, step, step..
The sound of heavy footsteps comes from direction of the fountain, but it sounds like it's approaching Thames. Just as he notes the steps the scent of a calming vanilla lavender fills his nose.
Huh? Someone smells expensive..
Stopping the blowing, he twists his head towards the fountain. Staring at a curly, brown haired man dressed in a fine black suit. Around his neck was a yellow neckerchief with a swirling pattern mixed with darker yellows.
The finely dressed man walks up to Thames and bends down, looking over the painters shoulder and at the sign.
"Your a painter, eh?"
With a smile across his face, he questions Thames, his yellow pupils investigated Thames' face thoroughly.
"Yes!"
Thames jumped back from the man, standing up straight.
"Would you like to view my stocks?!"
Thames asks while opening the workshop doors, the sun shining into the messy workshop.
"Hmmm.."
The strange man scratches his chin while looking into the workshop.
"How much do ya charge?"
"Oh! It depends on the size of the painting, but smaller ones go for 7 silver dollars usually, but if it's elaborate it could be a gold dollar!"
Thames glances between the man and the sky as he recounts his prices, his hands now clasped behind his back so that he looked professional.
"Seven silva dollas?!? No wonda your workshop looks broke! No one round 'ere got money to spare for paintings!"
The man laughs in Thames face, grabbing his stomach.
"They're worth it, sir! Trust me if I could live in a bigger city, I would."
"Then show me! Show me your paintings."
"Okay!"
With a determined look on his face, he leads the man into his messy workshop. Stepping over the various paint tins, he leads the man to "The Blind Reader".
The man's golden eyes fixate onto the painting, studying the fantastical sky above the giant. Observing the readers blinded eyes, the wilted grass below it, and then the small figure at its feet.
"What's it called?"
He asks Thames while pointing at the dream like scene captured in the painting.
"The Blind Reader! An original."
Thames voice has a hint of arrogance as he notes that the paintings an original.
"Show me another paintin."
The man responds dryly to Thames while rubbing his neck. Thames then leads the golden man to a painting hidden under off white bedsheets. In a grandiose manner, he reveals the painting to the gold man.
Underneath the bedsheets, the painting portrays a night sky. Using magnificent purples, blues, greens, and golds, the colors swirl together to portray a vibrant sky. Below the magic sky is a raging grey and deep blue sea. The waves swirl up and down into each other and against a ship.
"Eva been on one?"
"On what?"
"A ship."
The man points at the ship on the raging sea while his golden eyes stare back at Thames. Thames gulps and looks back at the painting.
"No.. No, but I will! When my paintings are everywhere!"
"So you're afta fame?"
A smile creeps across the man's face, but he turns away from Thames.
"What's the paintin called?"
"The Sea of Dreams."
Leaving out the part that's it an original, he responds quickly to the man.
"You paint the skies weird.. Eva see it like that actually?"
"…No.." Thames responds nervously.
"Magic can make it like that.. Eva seen magic..? Nah 'course not. Ain't no mages that powerful out 'ere."
The man scoffs and turns back to Thames.
"Want me to show ya things like this?"
"What?"
"If ya come along with me you'll see the sea. And skies as dark and colored with strange colors like these."
"Why would I come along with you?!?"
Thames jumps back at the man's proposition, taken aback completely.
"Follow me and paint whatcha see. Like this! How bout this.. Since moneys king.."
The man sighs and reaches into the inside of his coat. He produces a roll of silver dollars, about 70.
"I'll pay ya for each paintin too.. Your food'll be paid by me, your bed, whateva ya need."
"I just have to follow you around..?"
"Simple, right?"
Thames stares at the money anxiously then back at the man.
"Let me collect my belongings!"
The man just nods and goes back to looking at the painting while Thames rushes back to his room.
"I'm Ode by the way!"
"Thames!" He yells back.
"Pleased to meet yo acquaintance!" Ode carries on.
"As am I!"
Thames disappears into his room as the door shuts behind him.
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