Posted by Lieutenant Commander Charles Tenkiller (Chief of Security) in Promenade - Art for Art’s Sake (Open to All)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Jessica Teller (XO) in Promenade - Art for Art’s Sake (Open to All)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Charles Tenkiller (Chief of Security) in Promenade - Art for Art’s Sake (Open to All)
Posted by… suppressed (24) by the Post Ghost! 👻
One of the more prominent shops on the Promenade was the art gallery of one Franklin Turner. Turner’s Gallery was fairly well known throughout the sector’s art circles as the place where hard to find pieces could be found, artists commissioned, and most importantly… for the shows. Turner’s shows tended to showcase well-established artists in all mediums, but every now and then he hosted a new up-and-coming talent. It was one of these shows that Franklin was setting up for.

“Trust me. No one will know it’s your work. Quite honestly, the anonymity of the artist is drawing as much attention as some of the pieces in the catalog.” Franklin said with a pat on the shoulder to the man standing next to him. They were both watching one of the gallery workers hang a particularly striking piece of black and gold fractal patterns.

“Ok, as long as we are clear. I don’t want nobody gettin’ back to me on this.” the dark-red skinned man said.

“Not at all. I guarantee you. And, to put the rest of your mind at ease, I have arraigned the proceeds of any sales to go as you have directed. Seventy-five percent will be sent to the accounts of the Osage Nation via anonymous donations. Twenty percent goes to the Medicine Without Borders Foundation, and the remaining five to the account on the colony. All as you have requested.” and he stepped forward “Up on the left corner, Saul… yes. Right there. Good.”

Tenkiller looked around. There were about two dozen pieces he had done, each abstract… but with an underlying sense of order. It was almost as if he… painted… mathematical concepts. Complex ones, and ones he himself had never studied. He looked around again and then said “Ok, Frank. They’re all yours. See you for the opening tonight.” and the Osage Security Chief walked out of the gallery.

Tenkiller, CoS… Anonymous Artist

---

It was 2000 station time when the doors opened and a small crowd entered the gallery. Some had come to the Outpost specifically for the show, some just had nothing better to do. Tenkiller was dressed in a charcoal gray suit with an earthy-red bolo tie with a silver and turquoise clasp, and dark red square-toed cowboy boots. His black hair fell loosely down his back. He picked up a glass from a passing tray and took a sip, made a face, and put it back on another passing tray. Frank then stepped up next to him and handed him a beer. “Here. Thought you might prefer this.” Tenkiller nodded once and then took a breath. “So? How’s the turnout?” “Meh, fine for now. If it gets a little more crowded in a few hours, then that’s a good sign.” Tenkiller nodded and looked out over the crowd.

Tenkiller, CoS

As the first hour passed, Tenkiller walked around and looked like the rest of the crowd… looking at the paintings, making small talk here and there, and generally just enjoying the party. As he stood next to a piece he called ‘An August Body’, made up of spiraling gem-colors, he overheard a conversation from the other side of the display wall.

A male voice said “I can’t believe she would show up here.” to which a female voice replied softly “Oh, I know! And in that, of all things.” “Exactly! Like she has the figure to pull off something like that anymore.” “For sure. She just let herself go after Michael left her. Not that I blame him!” and a chuckle of both voices followed. Tenkiller walked slowly around the display to find a very well dressed couple standing with their back to another of his pieces, their eyes focused on an older human woman near the wall of the gallery. She was dressed in a form fitting red dress with sequins along the hem. Her fading red hair was a done up in a tasteful, if somewhat older style bun. Tenkiller looked at the woman; and he could see that the couple near him was not the only one casting remarks about the woman. Eyes darted to her more often than anyone else in the room; and hands hid mouths, smiles, and whispers as the eyes spoke volumes.

Tenkiller was pissed.

He looked at the couple, still laughing at their own clever retorts, and sid loud enough to be heard by most of the people in the general vicinity “Excuse me. I’m glad y’all are having a good time and seem to be enjoying the art. Now… keep the maliciousness and shade to a minimum or get the hell out.” and he raised his beer to them and turned and walked past more than a few open mouths and stunned faces to stand next to the woman in question who was looking intently at ‘Oklahoma’.

Some faces glared, some flushed red with embarrassment, but the looks faded as people made their way around the room… or out of it.

“Hey, Ma’am. Saw you looking at this. You like it?” he asked politely. She didn’t look away from the painting, but said “Oh yes… very much. It just seems… familiar… even though I know I’ve never seen it.”

Tenkiller smiled and looked at the painting himself. “You know… that’s probably the best critique I have heard tonight.” and he chuckled slightly and took a drink of his beer.

Tenkiller, CoS

The woman kept her eyes on the piece and smiled slightly. “I hope the artist hasn’t heard too much of what this crowd is saying. They wouldn’t know good art if it sat on their lap.” and she took a sip of her champagne before slowly turning to look at Tenkiller. “And I appreciate what you said, Commander. Although I stopped listening to these trust fund airbags months ago.” and she smiled. “But always nice to have a knight in shining armor at one’s side… even if they are in a nice a suit.”

Tenkiller smiled back and said “Commander, huh? I guess you know who I am, then?” and he took a swig of his beer. “You are the station’s Chief of Security.I keep abreast of who the Command staff is on the outpost, Commander. My hu-… er… ex-husband… has much business coming through here, so we used to spend a great deal of time here.” and her eyes went back to the painting. “Not so much now…”

Tenkiller, CoS

Tenkiller looked at the painting with her for a moment and then said “F%$& ‘em. His loss.” and he looked at the woman and bowed his head slightly. “Ma’am. Have a good evening, ok?” and he smiled and held his hand out to her. “And I’m sorry, I didn’t ask your name, Ms..?” and the woman turned and looked at Tenkiller, a large smile on her face. “Oh, it’s Mrs.… Mrs. Jane Avery. I got the name in the divorce.” and she leaned in and whispered “Along with 90 percent of his fortune.” and she laughed softly and held a finger to her lips. “Shhh… no one is supposed to know that.” Charles laughed and said “Your secret is safe with me, Mrs. Avery. You enjoy the show, ok?” and they shook hands and she nodded at him. “Oh, I will.” and she turned back to the painting. “The work is most excellent.”

Tenkiller, CoS

Skip smiled at the compliment but moved along. Soon, he found himself nearing Frank and he nodded. Frank looked over and tilted his head towards the drink table, and the two slowly made their way over and met. “Beer.” Skip said and Frank said very quietly “The show is going ok… I think you may sell a piece or two, in fact.” Tenkiller nodded slightly and said “Cool. Didn’t really think that would happen, actually.” Frank looked at him and said “You know, I never asked… but why are you selling now?” Skip smiled and took a sip of beer. “Folks back home need some help, so I’m helping. Thats what we do.” and Frank simply nodded in understanding.

“And how do the two you know each other, might I ask?” came a familiar voice form behind them. Turning, Mrs. Avery was looking at them and smiling. Frank smiled and kissed her cheeks and said “The Commander here helped us beef up our security a few months ago, and we just became friends. And you, Racheal… how are you, my dear? I heard there was some discussion about Walter wanting to come back. Please tell me you aren’t entertaining such notions?” Mrs. Avery laughed and said “Rumor mill at it again, is it? And no… nor would I ever. He can have his starlettes and eye-candy. I am quite content with where I am and who I am with… which is no one. And that suits me just fine.” and she retrieved a glass of champagne and looked at Frank.

“Now then, Franklin. You will tell me who we are seeing tonight, or else.” and she playfully swatted his arm with her handbag.

Tenkiller, CoS

“Oh, all of these were painted by the Commander here. He has quite a gift.” Frank said flatly. Charles, to his credit, didn’t flinch. Years at the poker table had taught him even a small expression can give away your hand. He just looked at Frank and then at Mrs. Avery and shrugged slightly and took a drink of his beer.

Mrs. Avery looked at Frank and then at Charles, then back at Frank… and she smiled and laughed softly. “Oh, I’m quite sure that he does.” she said with an appraising look up and down the muscled Osage officer. “But I doubt he has the time to paint.” and then she smiled at Charles and looked at Frank and laughed again. “Oh, you boys… were I twent-…” and she smiled coyly at both men, “- ten… ten years younger… I would probably suggest that I just buy all the pieces so you can close and the three of us could go find some trouble to get into.” and she smiled and shook her head.

Frank smiled a truly friendly and understanding smile. “Racheal, I doubt the both of us could handle your ten year younger self.” and Charles smiled and said “And I doubt the missing decade would make a difference, Ma’am. You are still outta our league.” Mrs. Avery smiled and blushed slightly and playfully tapped Tenkiller’s arm with her handbag like she had Frank’s. “Well, since you won’t tell me who the artist is, I suppose I should go make the rounds and see what else is on display.” and she cast a glance over her shoulder at the piece she had been staring at.

“Save that one for me, though. I’ll take it.” and she shook each man’s hand and turned and walked away. Frank watched her go and then said quietly “One down.” and Tenkiller took a drink of his beer.

Tenkiller, CoS

---

Another hour passed, and Tenkiller and Frank had mingled and reconvened again. “Looking good, Charles. Five pieces have sold and I think you’ll get another one or two before the night is over.” Frank said very quietly as they stood together near the back of the gallery. “Of course, I still think that if they knew it was an Earth Indigenous artist, they would sell like wildfire.” Tenkiller subtly shook his head. “I want ‘em to buy it because they like it; not because of my genetics and ethnicity. Thats people buying me, and I ain’t for sale.” Frank smiled slightly and said “Charles… how little you know about art.” and he chuckled under his breath. “Every piece you have done has a bit of you in it. Your mind, heart… your soul. Artists just have a lot more of those to spare than the rest of the universe.” Tenkiller tuned and looked fully at the man. “Your pretty sharp for a art dealer.” he said and chuckled. Frank smiled and said “Im so bright my mother calls me son.” and Tenkiller smiled and took a drink and shook his head.

Tenkiller, CoS

A pair of men approached the two, well dressed in matching suits and walking in unison. Frank said quietly “Be on your toes.” and the louder “Horace and Harold. So good to see you my dears. How are the little ones?” and he sir-kissed each on their cheeks. Horace… or Harold, who really knew which was which… said “Running us ragged, Franklin. Ragged, I say! Beatrice will not take to potty training and Beaneth is just horrendous to the babysitter! Biting and hiding and not minding… its sooo tiring.” Tenkiller just nodded in understanding. “Kids can be an handful, that’s for sure.” To which Harold… or Horace… said “Indeed, sir! And with Beatrice peeing all over the Aurian rug and Beaneth eating from the trash, we just are beside ourselves!” Tenkeller stopped for a minute and looked at them like he looked at suspects he knew were feeding him a line… then he smiled. “Well, make sure you don’t throw away chocolate. Fur-children can get really sick on that.” Frank smiled and his a soft chuckle behind his champagne glass, and Harold / Horace looked at him and nodded emphatically. Then they surveyed the room and looked back at Frank.

“Now Franklin…” said… know what? HH from here on… HH. “You simply must tell us who your artist is. Their work is so… precise… yet abstract. We simply must have a few pieces for the Andor house.” Frank smiled and said “I am very sorry, Gentlemen, but the artist wishes to remain anonymous. It is out of my hands. But if you want me to pass along a message, I am happy to do so.” HH clapped and said “Yes yes yes! Tell them we wish to sponsor another show in two months time on Vulcan. We think they will do very well there. Give them our information and do tell them to be in touch, won’t you?” Frank inclined his head and said “Of course. Consider it done.” and HH laughed and clapped and walked away.

Tenkiller shook his head and said “Art has such… unique… persons in it, doesn’t it?” Frank chuckled. “Indeed it does, my friend.”

Tenkiller

bump

There were three hours left in the show. Nine pieces had sold, and the crowd was full. Frank looked at Skip and nodded him over. As they met by the drink table again, Frank said “Sooo… Mrs. Avery wants to buy another four pieces; but she wants commissions, not already completed pieces. And HH are bragging about the Vulcan show. Now, if you are willing to forgo the anonymous thing with regards to Mrs. Avery, I am pretty sure I can get HH to honor it for their show… if thats something you even want to do.” Tenkiller eyes the crowd and shrugged. “Lemme think about a bit, ok? But if you can swear Mrs. Avery to secrecy, you can tell her that the artist will meet her for brunch tomorrow at the Grotto. That work?” Frank grinned and said “Better than I hoped, actually. I’ll let her know.”

Tenkiller, CoS

“Secret lunches,” Jessica came up behind Tenkiller and said with a small laugh. “Sounds more like intelligence than art sales but then again there was that mission on Telleguse X I did with Ransom that involved both.” A smile spread on her face remembering their dear friend that had moved on to shed his wisdom and light to other parts of the galaxy. They all missed him but Hunter “Gunny” Ransom was a force of nature that could never be contained.

“So anything left,” she asked looking around. “I don’t know art from a hill of beans but I am a sucker for good charities. How about we do this. I have seen you milling about here all night. Find me something I like and I will use all my ill-gotten credits are going to make the world a better place.”

Jessica Teller XO

Tenkiller turned and looked at the XO and smiled. “Didn’t take you for the artsy type, Commander. As for what is good, you’re asking the wrong guy. Frank here is the expert.” and he gestured to the other man.

“You know me too well. Beer and Barbecue is far more in my expertise range,” she let out a huge laugh. “I mean what self-respecting girl from Texas can’t name ten different meats to barbecue and fifteen different sauces to barbecue them in. We learn that stuff in finishin’ school.” Her soft drawl was far more pronounced due to her poking fun at her heritage. “If we don’t rope it, stuff it, or barbecue it, we are supposed to marry it.”

“Leave it to a texan to think you need sauce on bar-b-que. And I thought y’all married it and then roped it? At least thats how your family reunions work, right?” Like her or not, Oklahoma and texas did not get along.

“And if you rope a dud,” she laughed. “Sometimes from a distance you think you are getting Wagyu but you only end up with an Angus. Trust me you want to inspect it close up before you slap your branding iron on it.”

Jessica Teller

Frank stepped forward and took Jessica’s hand and bent over it. “A pleasure, Commander.” and he kissed the back of her hand formally and smiled. “The artist wishes to remain anonymous, but the charities benefiting from the sale will be most appreciative of any contribution. Now, if you will tell me a bit about yourself, I could perhaps help in the selection of a piece?”

Tenkiller chuckled. “Don’t let ‘em snow ya, Commander. He’ll just convince ya to buy the most expensive one.” and he looked at her for a moment. “Ya know… you should look at that one piece over yonder…” and he tipped his beer bottle at the far wall. “I think it’s called ‘Evocation’. Might be right up your alley.” Teller was as close to a real friend as Tenkiller had on the station. He knew her well enough to know that that piece was the one she would like: red, gold, green, and amber colored rhombuses spiraling outward from a central point into six arms forming a perfect circle.

Tenkiller, CoS

Jessica nodded and moved off with Frank passing people who had mastered not the art of painting but the art of cocktail chatter. Approaching the painting Jessica titled her head to the right and then the left trying to make out what the image was. “The colors are nice,” she said scrutinizing the work. It wasn’t that the painting was bad. The colors were right up her alley as Tenkiller stated. “They remind me of Dallas but is it of something,” she asked Frank waving her hands about as if she were painting it, “or it just shapes and colors?”

Jessica Teller XO

Frank smiled and said “No, it is a unique abstract style. There have been some who believe that the images represent mathematical equations. I am not certain, but I do not believe the artist is well-versed in that field, though. Are you, Commander?”

Frank

“Me? No,” Jessica cocked her head to the side. “I just like something and typically don’t know why. Like this. I like this but I can’t say why,” she let out a laugh. “I can barely draw a straight line. I know the greats but at times I still don’t see what everyone else does.”

Aedan had been late, per usual when dealing with issues it seemed with a recent deal he was working out with a firm from Helios VI. They were a newcomer to the global community, and getting them locked into various goods and media that Teller Industries provided, whether it was OMAP broadcasting, or medical supplies from the companies he controlled, or weapons for border control, he wanted everything to come directly from him.

Still, Aedan always made certain he didn’t miss altogether events like this. If he felt he was going to be late he still had a cut-off time that regardless of where he was in the meeting he would take off. It was a promise he made to Jessica, and one he had always been certain to fulfill even at his busiest. Moving through the crowd in his dark three-piece navy suit, his hair seemingly always perfectly cut with his beard trimmed to perfect he looked like he could instantly be part of the room as he glanced to find Jessica.

Spotting her in a corner looking at a piece that reminded him greatly of something he once stole for a client in his youth, he hard to smirk a bit as he pulled up to a waiter as he grabbed a glass and began making his way over to where she and Tenkiller had been at.

“If you are wanting it I will have to free up a wall somewhere… we could get rid of your trophy case for your rodeos,” Aedan suggests as he came up next to Jessica as he leaned in and kissed her cheek before offering his hand to Tenkiller. “Charles,” Aedan said with a large smile. He knew enough of the man, being a friend to Jessica he was often spoken of fondly at times as he began to look around at the pieces in the room.

~Aedan Teller

“Mr. Teller.” Tenkiller replied. He knew of the man, but hadn’t met him prior, so he went with formal even if he was Jessica’s husband. “Frank Turner, Aedan Teller.”

“Let’s stick with Jessica and Aedan,” she made the introduction more personal and less intimate. “I get enough Mrs and Mrs Teller at these events. The ladies at the garden parties like to toss around their husbands name. I figure they know him or the don’t.”

Jessica Teller.

Frank extended a hand and said “Mr. Teller I know quite well… at least by reputation. Although I was fortunate enough to sell you a piece directly several years ago, sir. Cardassian piece, sculpture, titled ‘Naussican Feast’. A most… well… disturbing… piece, if I do say so. You said it was for a particular friend. I hope your ‘friend’ enjoyed it, Mr. Teller.”

Tenkiller

Taking Frank’s hand he nodded curtly, “Everyone always gets what they want in the end. I am though here about these pieces. Jessica said she wanted something new but… wasn’t sure what she had her eye on. Is this it?” Aedan asked as he looked over at Jessica.

“Yes,” she said but with little conviction to the answer. Aedan would know she was just saying yes to say yes. It wasn’t the whole-hearted yes indicating Jessica was satisfied.

Tenkiller looked at the piece and smiled internally. He was really happy with that one, and was glad Jessica liked it as well. It would be a good fit for her, he thought. He took a sip of his beer and looked around the room.

Tenkiller, CoS

“Yeeeeeees,” she drew out the word slightly unhappy about something. Letting out a sigh she looked at Frank and chewed her lip. “I mean I love this and we will take this. It is going to look amazing but is there any way we can meet the painter. I know he wants to be anonymous but I am fine with blindfolds or meeting in darkness if I can just have a moment with him.”

“We have tons of art all over the apartment but I was looking for something more pink, purple, and blue with unicorns or mermaids,” she admitted. “The guy is obviously talented and while the fuzzy and fantasy motif is usually not the top choice of murals, I was looking for something fun for Cera’s room. If the guy can paint this stuff which is magnificent I am positive he can come up with some fluffy clouds with a unicorn or ocean waves and a mermaid and some sea animals splashing about. Aedan will pay anything,” she gestured off-handed to the man beside her with the wallet. “I just need something with a horn or a fin but not something that will scar our kid for like and send her to Harland for the next ten years.” Leaning towards Frank she said in a low tone, “I was Gaggling for things and some of the images I have found are going to send me to therapy,” she finished with a laugh.

Jessica Teller

“I still think we should add a mural to Manchester United like my den.”

“Then I still think you were dropped on your head as a kid. Less is more love,” she countered. In truth Jessica had no issues with a room Aedan could tuck away and no one saw unless she needed them to be out of her hair. The red and black design however was in stark contrast to everything else in the house. This was not a problem however at times the decor of the room tried to take over other areas of the house.

” She needs to learn to love Red and Gold… do you think you can do that?” Aedan asked as he looked over at the man. It was a half-joke but he was mostly curious how Jessica would react. The den which was a tribute to Aedan’s favorite football team wasn’t quite her taste, something they quite frequently fought over.

“You need to remember that you love Consequela…think you can do that,” she gave him a side glance. Several months ago there was a small uprising in the Teller household. Aedan had lost his mind and moved a seven-panel mural of his favorite player over her couch. Jessica immediately moved it out. This dance of the mural went on for two days until the housekeeper sat them both down on the couch like small children and read them the riot act. In a very surprising turn of events, Connie had dictated where the mural would go and that if she heard one more peep out of Jessica or Aedan on the topic, she was going quit but not before changing all the codes in the house for the things the couple used all the time. Jessica had thought this had ended Aedan’s fascination with bringing some team spirit into the rest of the house yet she might have been wrong. “Ignore anymore more statements that involve Manchester, United, or Manchester United.”

Teller, OMAP CEO

Frank looked at Teller confusedly and said “Could I? Oh no, sir. I am no artist. As far as this artist goes? I have no idea. They work mostly in abstracts… although I have seen a few landscapes and one scene painting they have done. They were simply wonderful. But if they are currently taking commissions, I have no idea. I could send them a message if you like.”

Franklin Turner, Art Dealer

“Yes please, but on my commission,” Jessica directed Frank’s attention back to her. “If they can do a scene painting I am positive it can’t be that hard to slap a starfish, octopus, and mermaid in the waves but,” she downed the drink in her hand looking around the room for the person to give her another one, “easy on the tentacles. Tentacles can be creepy…again too many late-night Gaggle searches. So we need to make sure it is cartoony but not anime cartoony.” Thinking back as to what she wanted and was trying to avoid, Jessica stopped talking and began digging in her purse. “Baby do you have a pen,” she asked Aedan.

“Because I am going to sketch out what I am looking for. I need to give the guy some idea of what I am looking for and what I am going to approve of you getting,” she said simply before directing her attention back to Frank. “I’m the CFO of the house. It’s kinda a misnomer because all I do is spend it but there are times he has lapses in taste. We have a talking fish in our entry,” she confided. The mounted bass on the wall by the door was a father’s gift from last year. Aedan and Cera were thrilled with it. Jessica, while mildly amused with it, did not think it was going to be placed at the door so that people coming and going were serenaded by ‘Don’t worry be Happy.’ ” Leaning in close she whispered to Frank, “they have one that sings Christmas songs but I am hiding that fact.”

Taking the pen from her husband, Jessica moved next to Tenkiller as she sketched the image. “So what did you buy here tonight and any chance you know who the artist is? I mean I get he wants to be anonymous but the man is good. Think we could cross-check the arrivals to figure out who he is,” she mused as she continued to draw. Tenkiller could watch her as she sketched and would notice that while Jessica claimed it was a rough drawing, she seemed to be putting a lot of effort into the image. Elbowing him she looked at the security chief showing him the cocktail napkin. “What do you think? Can’t be that hard to do right? I mean whoever this artist is he is insanely talented.”

Jessica Teller

OCC: Oh yes Kate takes posting up a level and yes this is the extend of my artistic ability. https://i.imgur.com/FOZoeYNh.jpg

Tenkiller looked at the napkin, choked slightly on his beer, and said “Ahem… I’m here to stop any issues. I can’t afford this crap. And first - NEVER do that to me without warning again, ya hear?” and he grabbed the napkin and wadded it up and tossed it on the bar behind him. “Two, of course I know who it is. I gotta screen people, don’t I? But I can’t say. They got stroke and I ain’t in the mood to get chewed out by civilians. Besides, they came and went, ain’t even here right now. Three - for an XO you can’t draw for s&^t.” and he laughed. He turned around and ordered another beer… but snagged the napkin without being seen.

Tenkiller

bump