Page 50 of He Who Sleeps

“And you can tell me about yours.” She grinned. “Sand and Fog, or Crowsnest?” Both small eateries were close to the gallery, just a few minutes’ walk away. Both were out of the way and they wouldn’t be disturbed. “Or dim sum?” which was where she usually went.

"Whichever is your favorite," he said with a shrug. "I'll eat anything."

“Even those foods based on dares?” she teased. “Come on.”

Fifteen minutes later they were sitting in the back corner of her favorite dim sum place just a block away, their order having been taken for drinks. “They send the dumplings out as they are ready. I told Yuki to bring out non-vegetarian ones since I’m sure you’re not vegetarian.”

"That's very presumptuous of you," he said, but the creases at the corners of his eyes said he was teasing.

“You are right, but something tells me you aren’t...satisfied without a little blood.” She winked and then shook her head. “But you are right; I should have asked. I can have her bring just the vegetarian ones out.”

"No, I'm good." He shook his head. "Meat is fine. I was just teasing."

She nodded. “I know, but I should have asked regardless. I don’t know much about you and what I do know...well, it doesn’t really correlate to food. So...” She looked down at her plate and picked up the wooden chopsticks, and started to work with them to get them ready for their meal. She wasn’t sure what to say; Easton was so hard to read.

"That's partly why I stuck around today," he told her. "We need time to get to know each other. One day these things will all be familiar. I hope...I hope we can do this again...often."

She nodded. “Me, too. I mean, I know the other guys largely have regular day jobs that keep them busy, but you are the artist and make your own hours. Which is like living the dream, isn’t it?”

"It is and it isn't." He shrugged. "When the muse rides me, she rides me hard. I can go days without eating and sleeping, and then I crash. The others have to check in on me."

“The hallmark of an artist,” she offered. “I have had to go and check on a few of our regulars when they don’t check in...proof of life and all that.” She smiled. “But that’s part of the genius. And your work is always amazing, Easton. The study in shadow that was your last show was some of the most moving work I had ever seen. I wasn’t surprised all the pieces sold in the first hour of the show.”

"I was," he laughed. "Talent is not a gift we received from He Who Sleeps. I'm always surprised when my paintings sell well."

“I would think not. I mean talent shouldn’t be something given, but inherent to the person. But you have real talent, in a way so few do. I mean some can take a picture, or work with oils. Some can draw. Not me, though. I can’t draw to save the world,” she teased. “But you can do everything, and it’s beautiful. Your talent... You will be remembered with the greats in years to come. And no, that’s not me blowing smoke up your ass. You have all the benchmarks of timeless work. I’m just honored I could be part of that.”

Yuki came back with several steam baskets and set them in front of them, and then came back with a platter of sauces. Petra thanked her, then opened the nearest one to her and grinned. Veggie Gyoza.

"Mixed media is a journey," he shrugged, refusing to accept the compliments. "That's part of the joy of it. I'm always learning new materials, new techniques." He selected a dumpling and ate it with a small moan of satisfaction. "That's good!" he said. "I'll have to remember this place next time I'm in the area." He ate another one like he was inhaling them. "So what about you? Where did you learn about art?" he asked.

“School,” she said. “I always liked it, and it was my favorite course in high school. When I went to college, I majored in art history and restoration. Something that stays with the world, long after the artist is gone, that’s true immortality, and it makes the world more rich and layered.

“So many artists, though, they go undiscovered or unknown. Some of the best works out there aren’t even signed. I wanted to be a part of that. It’s why Lorne is doing the undiscovered talent shows every six months. I suggested it, and after he found Gizzy Baker and Tawret London...well, he’s kept it. Neither of them would have had a chance to make it to the big time if they hadn’t shown at the gallery; they were too obscure.”

"You're a champion of the arts," he told her with a small smile of satisfaction. "It helps that Lorne has a good eye for new talent. People trust his judgment when he says someone is going to be big. He's always right."

“Yes, he is. And I have learned a lot from him since I started working there,” she agreed. They ate a few more pieces before Yuki came back with new steam baskets. Opening the next one, Petra grinned. Tofu bao for her and she saw what she knew were pork dumplings in Easton’s basket. She picked up her bao and dipped it, taking a bite and gave a little moan, and butt wiggle. “Yummy.”

"That was fucking adorable," he snorted. "Do it again."

“Wh...what?” She looked around and frowned. “Bite some bao?”

"The little happy food dance butt wiggle thing. You looked like a newborn lamb."

“Oh...” She blushed. “I didn’t even realize I was doing it. Yummy food makes me happy.” And few things did before.

"It's lovely," he said with a genuine smile. "We have so few joys in our lives. Seeing someone truly experience them to the full is a blessing."

She smiled, blushing again. “So, why did you become an artist, Easton?”

"At first, it was therapy," he admitted. "There was an art program I was allowed to attend from the foster home. I wasn't into it at first, but it got me out of the house and away from... Well, it got me out of the house. For whatever reason, The Order allowed me to continue when they took me in. They even brought in an art tutor to refine my art when some of my pieces were seen by The Elders. One of them is apparently quite the collector."

She looked to him. “You were raised in the system, too?”

"You knew that. Unless you weren't paying attention during our session?" he teased.

“I did, but I mean, full on system. When were you out? We didn’t discuss it. Myself and the girls, we were all in ‘til we graduated from high school and went to college.”

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