Episode 3: Gallery.

Veronica is still flustered when she get to the gallery. So, flustered that she knock into somebody.

Veronica:- "Sorry!"

Veronica:- (And not just anybody, but a woman who might as well have invented the suit.)

She frowns as she adjusts her bow tie.

Veronica:- "Are you okay?"

Invented the Suit:- "Fine."

Her voice is cool and dry.

Veronica:- "Um...are you debuting, tonight?"

She snorts.

Invented the Suit:- "No, I'm just here to look."

Veronica:- (An art buyer, then?).

Invented the Suit:- "Not that there's much to look at."

Invented the Suit:- "Everything here is so simple."

Veronica:- "It's not about how complicated it looks, it's about the commentary it presents."

Veronica:- "Even a black dot in a white canvas uses space and contrast carefully."

Veronica:- "Getting something to feel simple can be the most complicated part!"

Invented the Suit:- "And that super boring vase?"

She nods toward a work of porcelain, spotlit on a white pedestal in the centre of the room.

Veronica:- "A lot is going on there."

Veronica:- "Look at the detail in the painting, and experimental use of the glazing."

Veronica:- "I've seen similar pieces go for five million dollars!"

Invented the Suit:- "Just because something's expensive doesn't mean it's good art."

Invented the Suit:- "Look at this one."

She gestures to left, where a bunch of blank screens are set up.

It’s titled 'Millennials.'

Veronica:- "Oh...a statement on screen addiction..."

Invented the Suit:- "Yeah. Real hot take."

Invented the Suit:- "I can do better."

She pulls out her phone and long, nimble fingers fly over the keyboard.

Instantly, the screens start flashing, pulsing soft colours along with the music playing overhead.

People touring the gallery stop to watch.

Veronica:- "Did you just hack into that person's art?!"

Invented the Suit:- "No, you're dreaming."

She glances at Veronica, calculating.

Invented the Suit:- "You're an artist."

Invented the Suit:- "Can I see your phone?"

Invented the Suit:- "Let's put your stuff up here, instead of these blank screens."

Veronica:- (But I didn't earn a spot in this gallery.)

Veronica:- (...What if this is my chance to get noticed, though?)

Veronica pulls her phone out on instinct, torn, and the woman plucks it out of her fingers.

After a few expert swipes, Veronica's art pops up all over the display.

Veronica:- "What about the original artist?"

Invented the Suit:- "If they didn't want their spot stolen, they should've come up with a better concept."

Even with Veronica's nerves, she's hit with a wave of admiration.

Veronica:- (She's so daring!)

Invented the Suit:- "I'm done."

The woman slips Veronica's phone back into Veronica's hand and studies Veronica's art.

Invented the Suit:- "Yeah, this is much better than what was there before."

It's not gushing praise, but from the woman, it feels hard-won, Veronica can't stop herself from grinning.

Veronica:- "That's amazing! I'm really in a professional gallery!"

Veronica:- (Side by side with pieces worth millions of dollars...)

Veronica:- (This is way more exciting than the student shows in college!)

Veronica:- "Thank you so much."

Veronica turns to the woman, almost breathless.

Veronica:- "You have no idea how much this means to me."

Veronica:- "I've almost missed my chance to make it with my art, so..."

Veronica:- "If this is the last moment I get, at least it's a good one."

The woman smiles, bright and full, warmer than the lights beating down overhead. As soon as she realises she's doing it, she bites her lip to make it disappear.

Veronica:- (But it's such a pretty smile like art all on its own.)

Veronica:- (I wish I could've looked for longer.)

Before Veronica can think of something to say, the woman nods to the vase in the middle of the room.

Invented the Suit:- "What's that guy doing up there?"

Invented the Suit:- "Now that's what I'd call art."

Veronica follows the woman's gaze. A man is pouring black sand out of a brocade bag and onto the floor.

He circles the vase pedestal, connecting curves and swirls into some larger pattern.

Veronica:- (Performance art?)

He's also dressed to the nines: pocket watch and all.

He glances up with a smile keen enough to cut diamonds.

Arresting Artist:- "This part's interactive!"

Arresting Artist:- "I need an assistant from the audience."

His eyes sweep the crowd, pass over the woman in the suit...

And land on Veronica. Veronica feels an electric jolt as his smile widens.

Arresting Artist:- "You! Get over here!"

...★★★★★ TO BE CONTINUED★★★★★...

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