Artful Preparation

Posted on Sun Sep 23, 2018 @ 4:43pm by Lieutenant Commander Arrda

Mission: An Oceanic Shoreleave
Location: Mallory Quarters
Timeline: MD 38 | 0830

It was early, not as early as he usually rose, but this was Leave, so he did not have to get up early. Not to mention that he had a beautiful reason to stay in bed longer. But now, he had something he wanted to do... for that lady beside him. So he silently, gently eased from the bed and slipped out to the living room to retrieve his easel and paints.

Returning to the bedroom, he set the easel at the end of the bed then quietly moved the chair to it. Sitting, he stared a long moment at his wife, still sleeping peacefully, letting the image permeate his mind and heart. But it was more than that, this stare of his. He was also allowing the Art in him to fully capture the lady. When it had, he closed his eyes and began to paint in the way of all Marai Artists.

The Marai believed that the Art led; the Artist was merely the tool through which the Art expressed itself into the medium. The Art was directed by the image in the Artist's mind but created, from that image, a rendering that was the subject at its most basic, with none of the baggage, stress, or masks they learned to wear. The essence of the person being captured, transformed into art. That was why they could paint with their eyes closed; to look at what you painted made one want to control it. And to control it was to limit the Art. So for several long minutes, his eyes remained closed, and his hands worked.

After that time, he opened his eyes, laying his paint brushes down in the grooves for them in their case. Studying the picture for a moment, he smiled. The Art had indeed captured her. Standing, he put the chair back, still silent as not to wake her, and turned the easel so that it faced the bed. He then quietly took his paints and left the room. There were two more preparations to make; he hoped she did not wake before he finished.

First, he set down the paints and took the brushes to the sink, cleaning them thoroughly. He then wiped down their places in his brush case and put them away. Next, he started breakfast, setting it to cook while he made the final bit.

Retrieving the calligraphy set Danielle had bought him, he smiled, running his fingers over it. Even when the ink had dried, this would still hold a place of importance in his heart and home. Taking the set to the couch, he set it down and got a small square of card stock from the replicator. On this, he wrote, "Two forms of Art for the one who inspires me every day" in beautiful, calligraphy. Then he put the set away and finished preparing the breakfast, her favorite.

When that was done, he put a cover on the dish and placed the card on top of that cover. That dish, some juice and a cup of coffee went onto a bedside tray which he rolled into the bedroom. Stopping it beside the bed, he smiled, leaned over and kissed his wife softly. Then he moved off to take a shower while she woke to his surprises.