Cubism.

Who was the genius that thought of cubism?

Kaylee stood in front of a confusing picture. It was smaller than him but naturally wider, and really brown. He couldn't quite figure out what is was supposed to be, looked like a bunch of squares with some markings...it wasn't that he was unimaginative, it was just that he wasn't really into 'Modern Art'.

He leaned foreward, quickly scanning the metal tag below the painting. 'Candlesticks and Playing Cards' was it's title, by Georges Braque. George Bragque...The thickly lashed eyes blink and the slim figure stands up, perfectly straight again, with head cocked to the side. Well, he could see the cards, they were the squares with markings, but where were the candlesticks? The expression on the young man's face showed how he felt, it was expression of innnocent confusion, wide eyes and an almost awestruck expression.

For once, Kaylee didn't look like he could be a display in the Modern art section. He changed before leaving the shoot, and he was glad, this was more comfortable than the rib squeezing outift he had on earlier. A black and neon green striped toboggan hat fit tightly to his head, the top of the little hat was styled so that it looked like cat ears. His jet black hair was calm, despite the hat, falling along his shoulders in the usual ringlets with a few small curls on his forehead, he needed to get a hair cut some time 'cause his hair was getting long. His shirt was tight, clinging to his not too thin frame. It was black with a neon green kitten head on the upper middle. Pants were tight and black denim, somewhat frayed at the knees and bottoms, for they were like a girl's, dragging on the ground in that pseudo-bell bottom style. A pair of neon green (he really likes this color) All Stars were on his feet, clean and neat with their black laces. The only jewelry was a numerous collection of 'sex bracelets' on each wrist, and their colors? Yes, you guessed it. Black and neon green.

He didn't get too much attention, but a six foot six tall man walking around in what could be thought as girl clothes still gets a bit of attention. Thankfully, there weren't many people in the museum and the ones that were, were a bunch of rebel or artsy teens who dressed even more eye popping than him.

Back to the art.

How long did it take to make something like that? Drawing a bunch of squares and then shading and coloring shouldn't take very long. A pale hand was lifted and he rubbed his eyes and after that task was done, it was tucked back into his denim pockets.

Some noise to his side distracted him and he turned. He found himself looking at a young group of artists who were walking by, making comments on how amazing this exhibit was. One looked at Kaylee and Kaylee looked back blinking, the other nodded a hello and continued on walking with his friends. Kaylee was able to nod back and then return back to the painting. He could go on forever wondering about this painting. The soft music playing in the background made him feel rather sleepy too, so it was even harder to concentrate on the picture.

Heh...squares...

Nienna quietly observed the painting Kaylee was observing, with slight amusement. "Nice painting, huh?" She asked, dressed completely in old clothes, looking nothing like a model. She felt genuinely crappy with the way she looked, with her hair slightly firzzy and up in a half-ass ponytail.

She had on a wrinkled, too big for her, old t-shirt, that had Merrimack Karate on extremely big letters across the back of it, and smaller letters on the front of it. She had on tight jeans, that looked moderately nice, but she hated the way they looked on her. She was cold, if only slightly. She was visibly shivering, actually, but didn't let that stop her.

She smiled very gently, cocking her head to the side, appearingly blue eyes staring at the painting intently.

(Sorry it's short and craptastic.)

Kaylee blinked and looked over to his side and saw nothing, oops wait, he looked down and smiled. Ah, there was the one that spoke. A younger girl.

"Yes, only it confuses me, I can't find the candlesticks...only the cards..."

His baritone voice was smooth and happy, he spoke with emotions so naturally if the girl couldn't se that he was confused, she could hear it. He looked her over with interest, not in the prying or lecherous sense, but to simply see what she looks like.

He thought of her as cute. Cute in that mussed up puppy sort of way, with her messy exterior. The only time Kaylee ever looked like that was...never really, even after waking up he still looks fine. He wonders at times what t is like to be messy and not get yelled at for it. He can't be messy after all, he needs to keep up his appearance.

He smiled softly, yes, she was cute. Probably only a little younger than he was, but she was really cute. He liked cute better than beautiful, do you know what it is like to be surrounded by beautiful women 24/7? After a while they all start to look the same, boring. Cute, pretty, or both is the way to be. You don't get tired of them.

Kaylee realized he had been staring for too long, hopefully he hadn't made the girl feel too uncomfortable. He shook his head, tossing he light embarressed blush off his face and looked back to the painting that he has analyzed closely for almost half an hour. He still can't find the candlesticks...maybe the girl knew where they were.

((You are forgiven...for now... X3 'tis okay lovey, don't apologize! ))

Nienna was staring too intently at the painting to notice the fact that Kaylee was staring. She would've laughed and shook her head at the idea of her being cute. She was an ugly duckling, and it'd be impossible for anyone to consider her 'cute' even in the way like a puppy. In fact, being compared to a puppy might've pleased her.

She squinted at the painting, and put her hands on her hips. "Can't find the candlestick either. But it still looks nice, to me."

"I've always liked abstract art."

It didn't matter, Kaylee found a lot of people cute even if others didn't. He was that kind of person you could say...He smiled as she spoke about not knowing where it was either.

"I've always liked abstract art."

Abstract, huh? Thought it was cubism...

"Is abstract another word for cubism or is it the category?"

Kaylee was puzzled, he loved art but he was never into it too much to learn all about it...he should though, then he wouldn't be so confused. He brushed a curl back behind his shoulder and stared on at it.

"I love art myself, I just don't always understand it...especialy this..cubism..."

"Hmmm. I donno." She shrugged. "Cubism makes sense, but so does abstract. Abstract is difficult to understand. Cubism must be the type of it, or something. But seriously, I dunno."

She gave a gentle laugh at his comment.

"Yeah, me either. My mom had a friend that lived in Italy, and specializes in abstract art. I guess he got invited into this amaing painter's private garden, or whatever. Still, it's pretty nifty."

"Woah, I don't think I'd know either."

He laughed, his silver eyes sparkling with amusement. She was friendlier than some of the people he's met before, good thing too, he was getting tired of quiet angsty like people. Even if this girl may end up being angsty it's better than quiet angsty.

"He specializes in art? That is cool, I wish I could specialize in something other than modeling...I'd like to be a Garden designer, or whatever they call them, you know, the people whocreate these gorgeous back yards with gorgeous flowers, shrubbery mazes and stone walk ways."

Kaylee loves nature, he loves being outside and laying in feilds as the wind blew the green grass and the strom clouds over head whirl around, not yet ready to release their rain. He loves storms. Reminds him of his childhood in Costa Rica and the chaos of his family life. He chuckled and looked over at the girl.

"Anything you specialize in?"

"You're in modeling? Holy crap, I'm so jealous." She smiled, weakly. "Plus, being a garden designer would be cool, too. My uncle used to work in this place where they designed all sorts of back yard things, and they make back yards really pretty, with accesories and everything."

"Plus, nope, don't specialize in anything. Just have hobbies. Art and writing, don'cha know."

"Lucky? I wouldn't say so, beastly thing, modeling. And very competetive, some models scare me. I'm always surrounded by beautiful women and men and it all gets sickening after all while, I prefer my other to be cute. Small and cute, thank-you."

He grinned and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Yes, and with a fiesty personality, he always loved firey people. Hot headed, naive, and really innocent, especially when you say something perverted and they turn pink red. He mentally squeed over the thought before looking at the girl.

"You have no specializations? Nothing you're good at? I doubt that...but you write and draw? Or paint? that is interesting, what do you write?"

"I don't know about you, but I wouldn't mind being around beautiful men all day." She shrugged and smiled, one of those honest smiles, and not the faked ones. "Small and cute's always good, too."

Unfortunately (or fortunately) Nienna was nothing like that. Other people who knew her extremely well thought her anything but naive. Plus, she wasn't hot-headed or fiery. She was more like... quiet, and had a very low self-esteem. And she had a rather sick sense of humor.

"Just draw. I was never good at painting." She shrugged. "I write novels. So far, I've written three, and am working on a fourth."

Kaylee grinned widly, "Oh yes, it is lovely being surrounded by beautiful men but they're all gay and very vain. Very vain. Think Prep highschool cheerleader in bitch mode..." He made a face and laughed.

Too bad, Kaylee thought she was cute. Maybe it is fortunetly that she isn't how Kaylee likes his lovers. But, he would like her as a friend or someone to talk to, he still has to get her name.

"Ah, that is still good, at least you have the ability to makesomething like that." He winced " I can barely draw stick people."

He raised his eyebrows when she mentioned three novels. "You've written three novels? Woah...I try to write stories every now and then, but I can never keepup my focus and I get bored....three novels...woah. What were they about? If you don't mind my asking."

"Oh dear. Sounds awful, if that's the way you describe it." She wrinkled her nose. She hated vain people. She could deal with gay men, of course, but not vain ones. Never.

Maybe it is. But secretly, Nienna likes it when people like her in that way. It's nice to know, every now and then.

"Hee. Sounds like my brother." She shook her head, smiling slightly.

"Yep, three. Not edited yet, though. Um, one was a fantasy book about some mage... he was in the Guard originally, which was for the mundane guys, but they found out that he was actually a mage. It was pretty fun writing, actually. The other two, welllll... I only have a vague summary."

"Yes, it is, very much. Especially when they hit on you and when you turn them down they get all huffy and snobbish and call you a bitch." Kaylee sighed. "I love dating men, but I have taste, I don't go for snobs, I have many different tastes but I don't do snobs."

Mrow, maybe they should get it on then. The authoress winks and purrs then goes on to laugh her bum off. Anyways, Kaylee smiled.

"Like your brother? Well at least I'm not the only one."

Kaylee nodded but raised his eyebrow when she didn't give the third summary, "Oooh...only vague?" He bumped her playfully with his hip, "Was it something...naughty?"

His tone was teasing and he stuck his tongue out, chuckling.

"Bah, humbug. Society can be such a pain in the ass sometimes, you know?" She shrugged, and shook her head sadly.

"Yep. In fact, bad handwriting and drawing runs in my family. Or at least, on the male side of things, I guess. My two brothers and my dad have difficulty drawing things that vaguely resemble anything. It's funny to watch them draw stick figures, though."

She giggled a bit, then grinned. "I donno. Depends on what you consider naughty. My daddy would certainly think I should burn in hell for writing it. Or at least be against it. I don't understand religious people."

"Plus," she pushed him gently on the shoulder, "no teaaaasing, ya meanie." Of course she was only joking, as well.

"You're telling me."

Kaylee smiled, "Heh, sounds funny, you're brothers and father must be pretty pathetic." He laughed and then smiled apologeticaly.

His smile turned into a grimace, "Meh, the way things are is much different from the way all those Bibles say. I don't like religous people myself, they are annoying, at least the ones who try to force their religion on you."

"But...that naughty thing..." He winked, "There are many things I may consider naughty, but...what do you consider naughty?"

He bumped her agin with his hip, "I'm not mean, I'm just...like that..." He raised his eyebrows, "You know?"

"Actually, yeah, they are. My dad's signature is basically the first letter of his name, and then a quick scribble or two that doesn't resemble anything like a signature. So is my brothers', except maybe, they have one, two, or maybe even three."

"Plus, seriously? I hate religion. My parents screwed it all up for me. I'm an atheist, I guess, but not... really. I don't really know how to explain." She frowned thoughtfully.

"Anyway, I donno." She smiled a little nervously this time. "I know, but I'm not exactly... pure." And he was free to take that any way he liked. Because people often had unclean minds just to be funny. Nienna wasn't one of those people, however.

"Mmm, can't say mine is much better...quick scribble of Kaylee McQueen and then I'm done. You only see the K and the M c Q then all goes for hell..."

He looked to her, "My parents weren't religous, they had...other...beleifs...But you shouldn't doubt the Gods exsistence, nah." Ooops, he let himself go plural, ah what the hell.

He noticed her weak smile and almost frowned, not exactly pure, that made him worried, but he decided not to press the matter. "Ah..." He tried to lighten up the mood, "I'm not very pure either." He raised his eyebrows purring.

She didn't really care about the slip of plural. She had no clue about the gods, really. She still just believed they existed in books, like the ones by Mercedes Lackey. Sure, she'd seen a faery... but she wasn't really sure, still. It was still very crazy.

"Yeah. I guess I know what you mean. My parents have different religions, and they're always fighting." A gentle shrug of her shoulder. She realized she wasn't looking at the painting anymore.

"Heeee. Most people like to think that about themselves, just to act 'mature'." She did the little finger quotes on the word mature. "But seriously? It's not really good."

Kaylee made a face, "Eesh, my parents never faught but I can certainly say we had some family problems..."

Kaylee had turned back to thepainting but he looked to her, silver eyes flashing under the light and with some sparkle of his own. He smiled sweetly.

"Mmm, I say it becuase it is true, if I could it wouldn't be like that..." He frowned but it was quickly relpaced with a smile, "But one can't change the past as they say, so off of unpleasant things. I agree it isn't very good."

He winked, "But now I feel unsafe with you becuase you have my name yet I have not received yours my dear."

"Heh. I think my parents had a little tiny more than just family problems, but... eh, anyway." It was more than little tiny problems, really. More like huge ones, but Nienna would never admit that.

"Mmn, true. Unfortunately true."

Then she smiled.

"Aw, c'mon. You can trust me. For serious. I'm safe. But annnnyvaaayy. M'names Nienna. Nienna Thatcher."

Kaylee nodded, "Nowadays I see a lot of families with really bad problems. I grew up in Costa Rica, France, England, and California, all in the really rich areas, there were so amny family rivalries and mess with drugs and things in those 'perfect' families." He sighed, "You get used to it after a while..."

Kaylee raised one hand up in the air and smacked his heart place, "For all I know, you could be an evil faery or some demon creature in disguise of a cute young girl!"

His tone was that of mock disbeleif, he was an excellent actor as well as model, he is a man of many talents, not all talents, but many others.

"Mm. Sounds awful. Real awful. I'm sorry." She honestly was sorry. She knew (sort of) what it was like. Not with the rich people, but with other things. She was surprised to know that her cousin would do things to her, and then practically forget her face years later. He acted casually like nothing ever happened. Perhaps he put it in the past, like she should've. But it was so damn infuriating to know that he didn't care.

"Whaa?" She asked, curiously, and cocked her head to one side. "Oh, damn it all. You've figured out my secret!" She said jokingly and started making roaring noise, pretending to be big and bad like Godzilla, and stomping around a bit.

Kaylee's experience wasn't much better, but we won't go into details for they aren't the nicest in the world. It was both nice and illegal, we'll leave it at that, it wasn't his fault his Godfather was so attractive. okay...let's stop, off the subject! That was in the past for Kaylee as were many other things.

He squealed girlishly, hopping onto one leg and throwing his arms up in the air to his side, "I knew it! Eeee! Monster! Wah-!"

Wump! The poor thing fell over, but on purpose and raised his fingers in a cross symbol, his hat was dangling over his eyes and he was staring in the wrong direction too. "Back you beast!"

His voice was cracking with laughter and it was hard to keep ihs face straight.

"Rawwwwwwwwwwwr!" Nienna continued to stamp around, over to where Kaylee had fallen. "I'm going to eaaaaat yoooooooooouu." She opened her big cavern of a mouth with pointier teeth than most people to emphasize this point.

"Aah! Not the cross! I'm mee-lltinnnnggggggg..." She made gurgling noises, and slowly 'melted' to the floor and rolled over, giggling.

"Probably shouldn't have done that in the museum, huh?"

Kaylee couldn't reply. He was curled up, feet in the air, arms wrapped around waist, hat on the ground and tears rolling down his face. He was also laughing his ass off. Not a high, fake laugh, a real one. Like dark chocolate...like deep church bells, with vibrations and amusement to the core. He hadn't laughed like this in a while, it felt good.

It is probably not the best idea to do this, but there were no others in this area at the moment and no guides so what harm can it do? His pant legs fell back, revealing slender calves and ankles. His mouth, open was flashing a pair of perfect white teeth and the tears were now like water falls. He was really, really amused by this.

She wiped her eyes a little, where tears were also forming from her laughter. "Dude, seriously. It wasn't that funny." She said, trying to stifle her giggles. "And I guess it's too late to do anything about it."

She rolled over on her back, staring at the ceiling, grinning like an idiot.

Kaylee calming down and he snuffed, flopping out his limbs, stretching out all 6'6" of him. He was still giggling like a teenaged girl hyped up on pixie sticks. He rolled over onto his side. He was now facing Nienna.

"NieNie...there is never a too late..." He purred out like a contented kitten, silver eyes half way closed and curls spilling all over his shoulders and the floor. He gave another laugh and muffled it with his hand, quieting himself down again.

It was truly and interesting sight, but Nienna calmed down eventually, and sat up. "So much for... heh... finding the candlestick in that picture. Just lucky we didn't knock it down."

Now she began to sit up, stretching as if she'd just woken.

"I gotta get outta here, though."

Kaylee too sat up, "Oy, what things can lead too, we were just alking about art and things and we end up on the floor..."

He looked over at her, "You have to go? May I acompony you or must you leave for home or somewhere private?"

He gave her mock hurt eyes, large and ridiculous looking on his slim face.

"No kidding, huh?" She asked, getting to her feet, slowly.

"Of course you can accompany me, but I won't promise it'll be interesting. I'm a boring person, don'cha know. I just need outta this musuem. It's all... Iunno." She shrugged, smiling down at him on the floor.

"Too shay lovely, it doesn't matter, you're not very boring to me!" He grinned and slinked up like a cat, up to all 6 foot 6 inches of himself. He whipped up his at and perched it on his head and winked at her, "Never know though..so..."

He stod beside her offering his arm like the gentleman he was, "So where to my dear?"

Nienna, being the very short girl she was, blinked up at him when he offered her his arm. But she took it anyway. "You're too tall, silly."

She blinked again in thought, and shrugged. "I donno. Anywhere."

Kaylee blushed and grinned, "Nonesense, you can still reach my arm though!" He laughed and began to walk, pulling her lightly with him.

"Well...we can go anywhere really...there isn't a lot in this ol' town, I'm hungry really..mind if we hop by a place to rab something to eat? resteraunt or that really expensive coffee place is a personal favorite..."

He lifted up his arm, acting like a very effeminate man, with the accent, "There are plenty of really hot guys you can find too!"

He let his arm drop and laughed at himself.

"Yeah. Any taller and you'd rip it off, though." She rolled her eyes, grinned a little, and walked with him.

"Well, sure. I'll just wait outside though, while you go in. Can't pay, y'know?" She managed a weak smile. "Doesn't matter, though. Not hungry. You can go in."

She managed a weak laugh, now. "Heh. Hot guys. I can't stare, and I wouldn't be caught dead going anywhere like that." Meaning: she has a low self esteem and believes she's ugly.

Kaylee frowned then grinned, "Well I can take you anywhere! That or I'll just dress you up like a doll, but seriously, you look fine, I'll brush your hair for you and then we'll be ready to go!"

He lifted the hand of the arm not in use and squeezed nie's hand, "You'll be fine, really. I think you should drink something then...their smoothies are really good...But you'll be fine."

He could sense how she felt, but he would help with that no doubt. He just hoped she'd let him

"Oh, really," she shook her head, slightly, "you don't have to do that for me. And plus, I'm not really hungry anyway." She shrugged a little.

"And I'm not really thirsty, either. Besides, I'd get a nasty brainfreeze."

Kaylee pouted but shrugged, "Fine, but you're still coming into the building with me!"

He gave an evil grin and then grabbd her around the waist, tossing her up into the air and catching her. Carrying her outside.

"My dear NieNie, you will have to learn that a man likes to be generous, please do not decline!"

It's true, Kaylee loved giving things to people, even if they just met, if they lpease him, amuse him, or whatnot, they are immediately transfered onto his 'nice people' list.

He smiled as he set her down and waved to a lime green Ferrari, "There's my ride, do you have one? If not, we'll both take mine."

"Ack!" Nienna squeeled a bit when she was picked up and trown into the air, but once she realized he was going to catch her, she was a little better.

"Oh... oh.. all right, fine. I'll go with you then." She smiled a little.

"No car, sorries. I walk everywhere, generally, or get rides. And holy crap-- that's your car?!"

He grinned at her reaction, "Yes, that's mah baby! Her name is Shmou!" He smiled and motioned for her to follow him.

"I love my Shmou, I've had her for a bit now and she's really reliable.." He walked over to the passenger door and opened it for Nie, "My lady, your ride awaits!"

"Shmou. Hee, how cute. That's a really, really nice car, Kaylee." She said, staring at it, and at the door as he opened it.

"You sure I can ride in it..?"