video; poi 16

[happyends]

Um.. hi, everyone!

[ Madoka is smiling on the screen, though it's definitely a faint smile. A smile with something awkward around its edges, like the girl is trying really hard to smile, even though it's difficult. ]

I hope everyone has seen the art car already.. I turned my points into votes so we could get it as soon as possible, and it seems like it really worked. [ Thank god for the train actually following up on its promises. ] The carriage is really nice, so.. please make sure to check it out. Even if you don't think you like art, it can be a good way to.. um, to just.. release your feelings a little, I guess.

[ And that's something a lot of people could maybe use right now, she thinks. ]

And.. there's something else too. Maybe some other people got messages from the Ministry too, but I also got one, right around the end of the mission.. It said..

[ ...

Madoka suddenly grows quiet. ]

.. It said my world is gone, just like I thought. I.. um. [ She bites her lip, obviously having more trouble speaking. ] I just thought I'd share that information. Because.. I think it's important to keep remembering that a lot could be happening back home while we're stuck here, s-so.. it'd be really nice if the people who want to go home could go home soon, and make sure their worlds are okay.

[ There's another pause, and then the girl sucks in a breath, shaking her head before quickly adding: ]

D-Don't worry about me, by the way! They said that they.. they'll try to see if my world can be restored somehow, s-so.. um, I'm sure it'll be okay! [ Look at her suddenly talking so much more quickly, like she wants to get saying this out of the way as soon as possible. ] A-Anyway, please enjoy the art carriage..!

Comments

[happyends]

There's a few art books in the carriage! [ Madoka has spotted those already. ] Those might help you a little bit. There's not many, but I'm sure there's one that's all about painting..

[ There's got to be, right? That's one of the main forms of art! It'd be a huge oversight if it wasn't there. ]

But if you'd ask me, I think acrylic paint is a little easier to work with at first. Watercolours are really pretty, but they can also be.. um, a little finicky, I guess. It takes some more practice.

[ Not that she doesn't think Wangji could do it, but she'd rather have him have fun right off the bat, rather than just getting frustrated with his first few attempts. He could always try watercolours later. ]

[eternalinquiry]

[Ah, good. Wangji is pleased to know there are manuals to study; he never likes to go into anything half cocked.]
I will have to see what they have to teach me, I only know traditional ink painting from my hometown so any information can only be beneficial.

[He listens intently, taking everything Madoka has to offer as seriously as one can. He is intent on learning and trying to find a new hobby to while away some time on board, and this will give them more to talk about.]

You are a keen artist? I must admit I have enjoyed the arts in any form but only as an observer. It will be nice to create something and see the outcome. Would you like to come and show me what you know?

[No harm if Madoka says no, but it could help take her mind off things.]

[happyends]

[ Well, Madoka is a little shy about showing her art..

As she is about many things, really. On the other hand, Wangji's interest seems very genuine, and she wants to encourage it. And if it takes showing off some art to make his interest blossom, then that's the least she could do for him, right?

So Madoka slowly nods. ]

Okay.. If you come over to the art carriage, then I can show you whatever you'd like to learn. I've tried out most things you can do there already in the past.. Except sewing. [ But thankfully he doesn't seem to be the most interested in that one, so they can skip over it for now. There's enough other stuff to show off, anyway. ]

[eternalinquiry]

[ Madoka is shy yes, but Wangji has worked with rabbits and small children. He tries his best to approach in a manner that lets them come to him at their own pace. ]

Thank you for taking the time, I am sure many others would like your guidance in these matters.

[ He will offer an arm, like a Victorian gentleman escorting a lady to a ball. He wants to make Madoka feel welcome and at ease... He's not really sure how to do that beyond being patient and taking things at her pace, but art is a start! ]

So there is calligraphy and painting? Why not sewing?

[happyends]

Um, there's both of those.. and then just regular drawing, of course. [ Of course. That one almost goes unsaid, since it's the easiest thing to do when you don't even have an art carriage at your disposal.. ]

There's also mannequins and some supplies for sewing and making clothes, since there were people here on the train before who liked doing that.

[ Rapunzel, mostly. It's that girl that Madoka finds herself thinking of, even though she disappeared. But maybe other people might enjoy that sort of thing too, and maybe she just never knew about it before as she's counting these art forms on the fingers of her free hand. ]

I put the pottery wheels in there too. You know, the ones I already bought from the train a while ago! So people can do pottery or make other clay things in the carriage too.

[eternalinquiry]

[Wangji nods, understanding that drawing really can just happen anywhere. He has had enough experience with bored students to know that, in his class or when he was a student himself.]

Hm, Sewing is a skill I know only the bare essentials for, even then I never practiced it. I had help if my garments needed mending. I know there was a spider that liked to make clothing as a passenger, it is a shame I never met her.

[The train has caused almost as many problems individually as they solve as a collective, but he has enjoyed the sheer bredth of people he has met because of it. He doesn't get out much at home.]

Ah, those pottery wheels. Did anyone manage to make them work?

[happyends]

Uh-huh. They work just fine now-- if you know how to do pottery, anyway.

[ Because Madoka had been trying to teach people after learning about it herself, but.. well, let's just say that not everyone has had some sort of talent for it.

And that's putting it mildly. ]

I can make some stuff with it, but I don't want to do it too often since we had a limited supply of clay. Maybe the train will supply it now we have an actual art car.. [ Which is a marvel in and of itself. No more spending points on art supplies, the way she and her friends used to do before! ] It'd be nice if anyone could spend time here making art without having to buy stuff for it now. Having to spend points first sometimes made it feel like such a bummer..

[ Especially when it often felt like those points were better spent on other stuff - like potions, or other stuff that was for the greater good of their train group. Madoka is too selfless to not feel bad about spending points on stuff for herself, even when it's just art supplies. ]

[eternalinquiry]

Hm... Only what I have seen on television.

[Wangji isn't known to do art, but when you live that long you watch a lot of documentaries. He would probably be glad not to be wearing his white robes if he does decide to try it.]

I will refrain then until we manage to discover if the train is feeling generous. It must be much easier to indulge without having to spend points, I only just understand how to get them in the first place.

[He pauses, thinking it over before fixing Madoka with an indulgent expression.]

But it is vital to have enrichment to make life worth living. Especially in the hard times.

Is it available to draw in, now?

[happyends]

Of course! There's so much space that I don't think it's ever going to be too full to do anything in.

[ That's the upside of the art car as a separate carriage, after all. Madoka used to have to travel all across the train before to try and find a quiet spot to work somewhere.

But now there's plenty of room readily available for it at all times. ]

So you can draw now.. or whenever you want. No one will have to worry about having not enough space to make art again. [ At least that's a relief, even in the middle of all this. ]

[eternalinquiry]

Perfect. Then I will not disturb anyone else.

[He's more than happy to have a nice quiet place to rest and try something new.]

You will have to show me your skills in the future.

[It'd be nice to hang out without life or death in the balance. Wangji smiles and heads off in the direction of the new carriage.]