With the introduction of two new people, both of which are somewhat intimidating, Diana shrinks a little bit. "Th-thanks, Dr. Wilcox. Nice to meet you. Um, both of you." She seems slouch a little bit, jamming her fingers deeper into her pockets.
It's fine, it's fine, Dr. Wilcox knows them, it's fine, where did he get those scars, it's fine, deep breaths, so many people, he's in the military, what if they don't like me, what if they- Diana blinks. Remember what Owen said. "People, as a general rule, are nice. Only about 15% of them are real jerks, and only 5% of that are ones that are legitimately scary. It's fine to be awkward around new folks, just don't get scared of them." She straightens slightly, and gives Aaron and Derek an awkward wave and a somewhat tremulous smile.
"Nice to meet you Clara, I'll remember your name for future exhibits. The teachers here are nice, a little too much focus on painting maybe, but other than that they're okay. I'll keep enjoying painting, but my true love of art lies within drawings and sketches."
Michelle looks around and sees the group gathering near her and Clara.
Who are they all? I recognise the two girls as students here, but I can't say I know them that well. Same goes for that man with the dreadlocks. Isn't he a professor?
Michelle looks back to Clara after her momentary distraction.
"You're right about the installation though. Usually they take more care in timing these things right. What kind of art will you be displaying? Paintings? Sculptures? Drawings?"
Michelle glances to the increasingly larger group and Virgil seems to tug on her arm as well. He seems to like the commotion.
Seems like a lot of interest for the gallery. I wonder if that is because of Ricky.
Suddenly Virgil breaks loose from her grasp and energetically sprints towards the collected company. After making a few rounds around the group he lies down and waits to be patted.
"Virgil! I'm sorry Clara, he's quite the ball of energy sometimes. Nice talking to you, I'll see you tomorrow."
Michelle hastens towards the group and quickly grabs Virgil's leash again.
"I'm terribly sorry about Virgil breaking into your conversation. He likes crowds and large groups for some reason."
Diana jumps about two feet into the air when Virgil nearly collides with her. She gives a loud meep, and barely keeps her feet once she lands. The young woman tugs at the collar of her shirt when Michelle walks up. "Um, ah hello! It's, it's fine. Really. It's fine." She pauses. "The character or the philosopher? Um, which inspired your dog's name."
Michelle looks up at Diana after she took the leash back and smiles.
"Mainly the poet who wrote the Aeneid, though my father thinks of him as the character from the tv-series. He's quite harmless though, though a little energetic."
Michelle looks strictly at Virgil and the dog shirks back towards her side and sits down.
"I've seen you and your friend around before on campus. Never had the pleasure to get to know you. I'm Michelle Arguiz, art student here. What is your expertise?"
"Ah. I'm, ah, a game design major. Which is surprisingly more philosophy, world religions, and psychology than you would expect." Diana shifts uncomfortably, before looking over Michelle's shoulder at the exhibit. "Are, um, you going to see... it tomorrow?" After a brief pause, Diana blurts out, "I knew him. He, he wasn't really a friend, but, uh, I knew him. We worked together sometimes."
Michelle looks over her shoulder as well and nods to Diana. "Yes, I'll be here tomorrow as well. Ricky was a good friend of mine."
Michelle exhales audibly as if to suppress painful emotions.
"He did mention him being involved with some game designers. He always had a lot of interest for different cultures and different worlds. I'm not surprised at all he liked to work with you. I uhm.. didn't quite catch your name."
"It's, it's Diana Smith. Pleasure to meet you." She extends her hand, and says, "Shaking, um, hand is a thing people do, right?"
"It is.", Michelle says, offering a warm smile to Diana before shaking her hand.
"It is also a pleasure to meet you Diana. Will you be attending the Gallery tomorrow as well? I heard Ricky's section is hosted by another local artist, quite the legend actually, Jonah Vane."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll be there."
When Diana shrinks back Derek's smile drops a little and he raises a self-conscious hand to his scars. "Sorry didn't mean to scare ya, still not used to these things." after his somewhat automatic and hurried apology Derek forces a smile back on his face. "Haven't introduced myself yet have I. Names Derek, Derek Byrne, I'm an environmental studies and biology student at Romney State. Sorry again about the scars, hunting accident a few years ago, I know they can set some people on edge." Derek scratches the back of his head awkwardly after his introduction but brightens up when the dog comes running over. Derek quickly drops to one knee to greet the dog when it arrives, listening to the now introduced Diana's conversation with the other girl before once more introducing himself. "Seems like half of Romney is going to be at this thing, some of my classes were even canceled so students could go."
"No, no, it's fine! Um, I don't like hunting, but ah, I'm just.. y'know... not exactly comfortable around new people. Like, tall intimidating people with scars and I'm going to stop talking now."
"Well not everyone does, it's always been something my family did together so I'm rather fond of it but I can see how it would be unappealing to some. Good way to keep food on the table though." realizing that he's continuing to talk to the the girl that has already expressed the fact that she's scared of him rather clearly, Derek backs off a bit and glances in the direction of the truck in front of the Gallery. "So anything interesting happening or has this been pretty much it?" he asks to no one in particular.
Russel grimaces and the movement of his face accentuates his burn marks, "Well sometimes scars are on the inside not just the outside.
So Derek, that Exhibit is getting a great deal of press it seems. Good to see you.
Indeed, as I said this gathering is no coincidence.
Nice to meet you as well Michelle. So do you know Jonah Vane?"
"I'm frankly a little surprised, but I guess once people get wind that anything involves Ricky Thompson..." Aaron shrugs, watching the students interact with one another. He hadn't met any of them personally--or if he did, he didn't remember them--but he was surprised so many of them had gathered to see the exhibit. "Jonah Vane... I remember that name. He made some strange art piece around the time Ricky disappeared, with the bricks; I interviewed him once or twice, but if it was supposed to mean something I never figured it out. He's the one that made the newest addition, then?"
"Only from reputation. I've seen his work and seen him just once, though we've never talked in personen. "
"It's not so much the general interest that confuses me, Ricky was a cool guy and a lot of people knew him. What confuses me is the schools reaction to this Romney is canceling most of its classes so people can go, I get allowing absences, but straight up canceling class? It doesn't make sense."
"All classes? That's quite something. I would have thought mostly people from the arts had gotten off to visit the exhibition. That makes the most sense at least."
"It's, uh, ahm, been a pleasure! Talking to you all. But, we, I, should really get going. The, the movie is going to start soon." Diana tugs at Summer's hand.
"I can't be totally sure but my lab was cancelled and according to my friend a number of other classes were cancelled as well"turning to Diana he continues. "Well, it was nice to meet you Diana. Well I uh, hope you enjoy your movie I suppose."
Russel smiles at Diana, "Nice to meet you Summer. I suppose we may all be seeing you tomorrow Diana if Ricky is the reason why you came here to begin with. Enjoy the movie".
Russel shrugs at Derek, "I have an early class still on the calendar for tomorrow so it might just be on a Professor by Professor basis.
I suppose tonight is not the night for answers. I ate dinner already but if you are all interested I could eat again, my treat. I don't think we'll get much more standing here unless we snoop after hours..." He states glancing at the man who could make that happen.
"I won't say no to a late lunch, if you're paying," Aaron says, clapping the professor on the back. "There are a few places nearby we could grab a bite to eat; it doesn't even look like the exhibition is set up yet. No use in looking around an empty gallery, now is there?" He starts walking towards one of the many restaurants downtown, and leans in closer to Russel. "I don't mind having you along, but I'm wary about bringing college students in while I'm investigating what this might have to do with Ricky. They could be a liability," he finishes, mumbling under his breath/
Derek shrugs at Professor Wilcox's remark "I freely admit that I'm getting my info, at the very least, second hand. It's more then likely a bit wrong. As for food, I've actually got some burger patties thawing at home that I was going to grill up so I'll have to pass. ... Actually if anyone's interested I've got more than I can eat, they were supposed to last the week but if anyone would like one, they're welcome to." Derek finishes his offer in a bit of a mumble as he stuffs his hands in his pockets awkwardly.
Michelle glances at the gathering of men around her and then slowly tightens her hold on Virgil's leash.
"Thank you for the offer though, but I still have some dinner preparations to do for me and Virgil. And I'm not one to go out for dinner with people I hardly know. See you around."
Michelle quickly walks in the direction where Diana and Summer went off to. "Come on Virgil! We've been idle for far too long haven't we?"
Diana nods and quickly scampers off, Summer in tow.
"It seems it's just you and me then, Russel. You've already eaten once, I'll let you choose so you don't end up eating the same thing twice." Aaron watches the students part ways from the exhibit, sighing. "They seem like good enough kids, but... well, that's the thing; they're still kids. They'll be around to see it tomorrow anyway, which is probably for the best. Where to, then? I've been meaning to get out away from the food at the mess hall, so anything's a welcome retreat from that."
Derek nods to the retreating forms before heading back to his truck muttering quietly under his breath "Hey Nanna I tried, I made the offer, they refused, end of story." Derek swings himself into his truck and pulls out head home to some burgers and maybe a book by the fire.
Russel nods to Michelle as she heads off and smiles at Derek, "I appreciate it Derek but having already eaten pizza I think I need a salad".
Turning to Aaron he shrugs, "Any place with a decent salad is fine for me.
Agreed, they are kids but sometimes you can gain insight from someone who was closer to the age of the... disappeared than you can from even the most seasoned investigator".
As the folks at the gallery split off from one another, heading to their various destinations, it seems the interesting matters of the day are coming to a close. Dinners are eaten, movies are seen, practices are completed, work is done (or put off), and so forth. Interesting things are on the horizon, but the rest of this day slips by without much worth noting.
October 20th dawns, notably chillier than the day before, but otherwise mundane. The gallery opening looms in the evening, but the rest of the day is sprawled out before: more of the same, another regular day in the life of Romney. Perhaps its last? Even the Rag wouldn't be so dramatically doomsaying.
Russel wakes in the morning and cooks himself breakfast. He then text messages Aaron to confirm their plan to meet at the Gallery that same time tonight to walk the event together.
He then spends the morning grading papers. Mid-day making lunch along with a litany of excuses not to hit the gym. Successfully warding off that particular chore he then calls his patients for the next few days to confirm their appointments.
Finally, as the day begins to grow short, he pulls out the Ricky Thompson file that he has and reviews it to refresh his recollection on the investigation...
Finally, he gets into his car and drives once more to the Gallery.
James is up a bit earlier than usual in the morning, and he gets a good pot of strong coffee going before he heads out for the day. He does some grocery shopping and drops everything off at his apartment before heads out. He spends a couple of hours jogging, trying to keep up with his rather basic workout routine. He gets home in the afternoon and has a late lunch. The last few hours before he needs to leave are mostly spent bouncing between browsing the internet and trying to write without much success.
Once it hits six, he zips up his coat and walks to the gallery alone.
John will follow his routine: Go to class, work on his "projects", go for a run, then get changed, grabs his digital camera and a burner phone, and head towards the gallery.
After watching the movie with Summer, the two young women go back to their dorm, and Diana continues with her "project" of teaching literary analysis to a computer well into the night, before finally crashing at four in the morning. Somehow, she isn't completely dead on her feet for her classes: World Religion, Philosophy, Psychology, and, finally, Game Design. After classes, she once again fervently works on the software before finally taking a quick nap before the gallery.
She pulls on a tattered leather jacket, and replaces her sweatpants with jeans and waits for Summer for the two of them to head to the gallery.
Michelle finishes her walk/run with Virgil and then hastens back to her dorm to prepare dinner for her and Virgil.
After dinner she is still doubting about her choice of her own art to bring in for lab. Frustrated by her own indecision, she takes her three sketches down the streets towards her father's home.
"Dad! Nan! It's me!"
Michelle's grandma immediately comes up to her from the livingroom area and shouts: "¡Dios mío! Michelle, qué bueno verte. Pareces un poco pálido. ¿Todo bien? ¿No has comido todavía?"
"Relax nan, I've already eaten. Is dad at home?"
Mariana shakes her head. "He is working late he said. I've made spicy corn soup though."
"That does sound good." Michelle says before smelling a waft of freshly homemade soup. "Actually I've come to ask your opinion about these sketches of mine. They're all great, but something feels off, I'm not sure which one I should pick for lab."
Michelle's grandma, puts on her glasses and looks at the sketches her granddaughter made.
When he gets home Derek takes his burgers out to the grill on his patio and makes dinner. After he eats and finishes up a few pages of a paper that he has due the next week Derek decides to light the fire outside and pullout a book to read by the fire until the fire has burned down then heads up to bed. The next day Derek wakes up late as he only has two classes that day, or one since he's not going to lab. After his first and only class, organic chemistry, Derek goes for a run in the nearby park before jogging back home and getting ready to head out to the gallery.
After dinner with Russel and discussing his plans for having Russel in class next week--they're covering criminal profiling and he feels that having a psychiatrist discuss the difficulty in definitely profiling any sort of suspect in a case will be beneficial for his students--Aaron heads back to the base and continues to plow through all his paperwork. He intermittently flicks his eyes up to the cork board and over to his notebook on the Ricky Thompson case, but resists the urge to yet again pour over his notes in hopes of finding something. Some time around 1 AM, he finally sets aside the last few forms he needs to complete and heads to bed.
He wakes up to the text from Russel, and he replies that he'll meet Russel there around 6:15, unless he wants to do something before hand. He mentions he'll be at the gym for the next few hours, and tells Russel to just leave him a message on where to meet him if he wants to get together earlier in the day. He heads to the gym and completes his workout, lifting weights and running a few laps around the track before sparring with some of the Marines on base. He takes a shower and checks his phone to see if Russel had anything to say about meeting at a different time, then gets dressed into a similar outfit from the other day, replacing his tactical vest with a leather jacket; still, he keeps his badge in his pocket and his gun holstered at his waist. After sitting down and filing the last of his reports, he checks his watch and drives down into town to meet up with Russel.
With no class and no practice, Hunter's day is pretty uneventful. He works on a couple of projects that he's been putting off--finally starting on his history paper that he should've started on last week--while he debates whether or not he actually wants to go to this art gallery or not. Maybe he should call Luke and see if he wants to do something else, anything else. Maybe he should ask if he'd rather see a movie. Would that be weird? Probably.
As he puts the finishing touches on his paper, Hunter takes out his phone, but instead of calling Luke he pulls up the photos, scrolling through them until he gets to the ones from a couple of years ago. He had deleted most of the ones he had of Ricky--he'd never been one for taking pictures that often anyways so it wasn't like there were that many to begin with--but he had kept one picture of him. It was of the both of them, Ricky's arm over his shoulder, both of them smiling at the camera. Hunter's finger hovers over the delete button--but he doesn't press it.
With a sigh, he closed the app, texted Luke, and headed to the gallery.