2020-05-07 'What do you think?'
'What do you think?'
Location: Deserted Los Angeles streets
Date and Time: May 7th, 2020
Summary: Caught in the act, left to consider
Mood Music: Kavinsky - "Nightcall"
Night Triumphant - and the Stars shine Eternal. Glimmers of light strewn across the city like jewels on a crown, flashing from the corners of buildings, from streetlights, from windows clad behind curtains. Night is when the unknown comes out to play. When mischief is done without too much fear of being discovered, and when art is created in places that art normally isn't.
A small red wagon sits at the curb near a driveway that leads to a nondescript parking lot of a Catholic Church just across the road from the Los Angeles Public Library. Beyond gates - visible from the street - a figure in black has been hard at work painting an image on the wall. This isn't the usual graffiti, though. It's not a scrawled name, a tag, or anything of the sort, but an image. A mural, that fits the building's white walls remarkably well. A splash of color that is stark against the white marble. Sure, it won't last more than a day or so before being cleaned, but in that day thousands of people will see, will think, and will wonder.
A bit further down the street, that figure dressed in muted, dark colors shakes a can of Yard Master Honey, the rattle echoing off darkened buildings, and crouches, spraying a small crescent and loop, with five small spritzes of paint at the top of the crescent. A stylized foot. She takes a step back and paints another, then another.
Nighttime and once more Luu feels the pull of the city, and something even older, the depths of which almost make her panic when she really thinks about it. Wandering the night streets, it's never a proper wandering, not anymore. That would suggest an aimless meandering, and though Luu sets off with those intentions, it's never what it ends up being. Barely visible with the light pollution and just general pollution of the city, Luu sees a shooting star streak through the sky, and when she blinks the few stars she can see have shifted their positions. A quick and inexact calculation tells her up until then she had been looking at the night sky as it was some six thousand years ago; maybe more, but if it was more she doesn't want know.
It's warm out, but the breeze that blows by adds to the feeling, and she can't help but shiver. Hairs now standing straight-up, her goose-fleshed skin reflects the few lights, while her attire seems to allow the night to swallow her up. Hair dyed black, up in a bun, a tank-top with a faded screen print -- no bra underneath -- military BDU pants with the legs cinched almost newsies style just above the only part of her ensemble tonight that's not black: the two white stripes at the top of her knee socks. Everytime she steps through a shadow she wonders if she'll ever emerge again, wonders if where she does emerge is quite the same place. She thinks she sees little differences, but she can't be really sure, and it's best not dwell on matters in which you have no say.
The clicking of a spray-can being shaken, echoing around the quiet night, gives her momentary pause as she tries to place it. The next shake, a little faster this time seems to being synchronized with her heart beat, leaving her to think that it might explode and worry that it might stop. But rounding a corner, her senses extending almost involuntarily, she manage to catch a small note of a familiar scent mixed in with the spray paint.
It comforts her.
"You scared me."
*rattle rattle rattle* *HISSSSSS* *pssh* *pssh* *pssh* *pssh* *pssh* A pause as she moves. *rattle rattle rattle* *pssh* *pssh* *pssh* *pssh* *pssh* Another pause and then? Nothing. The shape swaddled in dark clothes freezes in the shadow she's found herself in, a half-painted footprint on the concrete, glistening in honey yellow. In the darkness, it doesn't show, but when the sun hits it just so, it will sparkle like burnished gold. And it's something that Luu has seen before on the streets - if not a week prior to this moment. The shape rises and turns towards Luu's voice, revealing a familiar colored red hair covered by the hood of the sweatshirt, nose and mouth covered by an industrial respirator to keep the paint fumes from coloring her lungs. She takes a step back, out of the shadow and into the light, revealing dark gray cut-off jeans over black yoga pants, dark shoes, and the aforementioned hooded sweatshirt, obviously spattered with paint. Hands are covered in black Latex gloves - also showing signs of paint - and she stands there quietly. Did...did Luu recognize her? She's got to make sure.
"Just...just painting." she says, trying to lower her voice, to not sound like she normally does.
Slowly Luu's attention moves from Jinny down to the fresh footprint, holding there as she looks to it as if it was something she hadn't noticed until that very moment. Then slowly her attention moves back up and her eyes lock with Jinny's. "Is that what that is?" she asks with a dry-wonder, that clearly indicates she was aware of this, without verging into bitchy sarcasm. Glancing to the small red wagon, Luu gives a small nod as if taking mental inventory of things, before again moving her attention back to Jinny. "I was wondering what that was," she notes, perhaps raising on questions on why she was wondering such things, and what she thought it might have been other than a wagon. Glancing at the respirator hiding most of the other woman's face, she smirks, noting, "it brings out your eyes," before bititng her lower lip ever-so-slightly.
Okay, so Luu definitely knows who is standing there with the paint and the hooded sweatshirt and the mask and everything, even with her awesome ventriloquist attempt. The can of spray paint is slid into the big pocket in the front of her sweatshirt and the hood is pulled back, revealing that familiar red hair, pulled up in a messy bun on the back of her head. This is followed by the reveal, as it were, of Jinny's face as she pulls the respirator off, the outline of the seal still around her nose, mouth, and over her cheeks and chin. "Thanks." Jinny pulls her gloves off and rubs her cheeks with the heels of her hands, leaving a little smudge of gold on her skin here and there, tucking the gloves into her pocket with the can. "The mask does a lot for anonymity when it comes to it. Lots of people just ignore me, most of the time. I chalk it up to being innocent-looking." It's always the innocent ones, isn't it? She glances over to the wagon, heaped high with cartons that almost certainly are full of spray paint, the trash can next to the street having a couple more sitting on top of it, ready to be recycled later that day, looking back to Jinny. "So." She finally says, dragging a sneaker-covered toe on the pavement. "I suppose you want to know what's going on?"
Folding her arms across her chest, Luu can't help be amused, but just manages not to laugh. "You got some paint on you," Luu advises her. With her attention on one of the foot prints, Luu drops her hands, beginning to walk a slow-and-wide loop in orbit around it. As she walks away from Jinny, she also walks closer towards her. "Also," she adds, her attention still on the footprint, "the anonymity it affords you tends to fade when you reveal yourself behind it. I might have to turn you in." A moment later as her arc brings her much closer to Jinny, she looks up from footprint, her face slightly serious looking as if maybe she will have to turn Jinny in for these crimes against propert. Reaching forward, Luu gently brushes Jinny's cheek with the back of her hand. Looking to her hand, Luu then turns it to show Jinny, as she adds, "or become your accomplice." With that the seriousness turns to a smile. Giving a little shrug, Luu looks downward and lightly kicks at the concrete, her slow movements continued now as she begins to loop around Jinny. "I figured you were painting," she says, as she rounds the other side of Jinny, letting their shoulders just brush. Coming to a pause now, she looks at Jinny and says, "or is there more? I'd say this certainly counts for one of the surprises."
Getting paint on you is one of the hazards of being a Graffiti artist, which is why Jinny tries to mitigate as much of it as she can by covering face, arms, and hands. Even then, there's always a little bit that gets on her no matter what, which is why she heads home immediately after, her wagon rattling along behind her. "If I hadn't known it was you, I'd have been fleet of foot and gotten out of here before even daring to show my face. Keep it a mystery. The mysterious graffiti bandit, or something." she shrugs, glancing down at the spray painted footprint, half done, and ducks down to finish it, adding the toes with little squeezes of the nozzle of her paint can. "Can't leave something unfinished if I can help it." she says, glancing to Luu with a sparkle in her eye as she straightens.
"This wasn't the intentional surprise to share. I've kept my...ahem...extracurricular activities quiet from just about anyone save for a blog that follows graffiti around the street. I give them little tips on where to look to find the art before it goes away, and they save it for posterity and get a lot more traffic to it." She glances down after her, where the footsteps wind down the block towards the church. "There's more if you want to follow the footprints and see what I've painted."
"Can't run from everything," Luu notes softly as she watches Jinny finish-up the footprint, "and can't keep secrets from everyone. Not possible and not healthy." Thinking about what lead her here, Luu notes, "People usually don't know consciously what they show, but I always wonder how much intention there is behind it, and how much just a quirk of the cosmos." Not explaining herself exactly, Luu instead looks up to the dark sky, wondering if she's still under the same stars, but only really seeing a couple. Not enough to be sure of everything, just somethings. Reaching over, Luu gently takes Jinny's hand into he own, as she replies, "lets."
It's worked so far, running. Disappearing into the crowd or letting the City embrace her until the heat died down. She's been very careful to not be caught, it seems, and it's worked out rather well. Stowing her paint can again, she crooks a finger at the wagon which obediently trundles over to park next to her, letting her take the handle in her left hand, Luu's in her right. "Go on." She says. "Follow the footprints."
And they do.
Winding about half a block, the footprints do, starting at a sign advertising St. Joseph's Catholic School and down the side of the white walled church. On the left, the Los Angeles Public Library, and on the right, walls on top of walls, behind wrought iron fencing. And as they draw closer, Jinny hangs back a little to let Luu take in the art as it was meant to be taken in, with paint actually going through the fence and down to the street below, naturally drawing a viewer's gaze to a simple wall with four small windows, equally distant from each other. The sketch that Luu saw the previous afternoon has been realized in art now, a girl floating between the windows, her chains breaking, men of all faiths and creeds trying to hang on to the few still around her legs to keep her from fulfilling her destiny, which she's gazing towards with a determined, joyful expression, one hand reaching up. Not towards the cross, of course, but to the sky, the moon, the stars. Reaching towards the universe.
Behind them the wagon squeaks along and in the distance an emergency vehicle can be heard making it's rounds, but otherwise the street is quiet as the two Angelenos walk hand-in-gentle-hand along the footsteps and around the corner. As Jinny stops, Luu looks back a step, while their hands still touch. A small nod of understanding is given, as Luu then looks forward and takes another step, trailing fingertips as they slowly disconnect. And yet moving alone to be with the art makes her feel more connected to the other woman, a connection beyond the physical, a connection of their souls and the self revealed both consciously and subconsciously.
Sometime is taken to study the fresh mural at a respectful pace that still keeps in mind the cautious illegality they're sharing as 'accomplices' this night. Having disappeared into shadows and walls, Luu emerges, walking slowly back towards Jinny.
"You brought it to life."
The juxtaposition of the wrought iron fence and the chains, along with the location chosen, is a fairly powerful statement that can be taken a multitude of ways. The church. The patriarchy. Triumph over adversity. Never letting go of the dream you hold most dear. Each viewer will assign their own meaning to the piece - at least until it's power washed away. She does crouch down, rummaging for another can - black, this time - from her wagon and does sign her work. Jin. Ambiguous. Could be male or female. Could be anyone passing by on the street. Certainly not a white girl from the suburbs of Los Angeles! The city, though, keeps her safe. Her anonymity keeps her safe. Standing, the two cans and gloves are put in the box on top of the wagon, closed tightly, and will be disposed of later. Safely, so there's no chance of prints being found to be matched to her somehow.
"I brought it to life." Jinny agrees quietly. "All over the city I leave these. Sometimes they're messages of hope. Sometimes they're messages of resistance. Always they're messages to bring the city closer to itself. The people."
Taking a step back, as Jinny takes one forward, Luu watches the other woman sign her work. "bad girl, huh?" Luu responds with a small smirk as she folds her hands across her chest. "The works I make," she notes, her attention still on the artwork, "tend to move around, but all throughout the city as well." Thinking about this, Luu notes, "I'll have to keep you up-to-date on 'the plan' as it unfolds, I think you'd be interested in it, though it's up to you how much you want to involve yourself. All these things can be dangerous, maybe not as dangerous as Owls, but dangerous still. Because of that they should always be entered into with full agency and awareness."
Looking over the artwork some more, Luu softly notes, "Bad girl, Wonder woman."
"We all move in mysterious ways." Jinny tucks the other can away, making sure the boxes are secure before moving to stand next to Luu, looking up at the artwork on the wall. "You've got me intrigued, I admit." she finally says. "A lot of my works do have a hint of magic in them, too. Mostly to last longer, but sometimes to reach out and communicate to the viewer. Nothing mind control like, of course, like that guy at the Chantry." Whatever his name was. "Just feelings of hope, joy, determination, community. Things the city needs more of."
Remaining silent for a moment or two, Jinny rests a hand lightly on Luu's shoulder, standing close behind her, listening to the city around them. Traffic. A helicopter. A jet taking off from LAX. "If you'd like to tell me all about it, I'm sure there's a fairly quiet coffee shop somewhere that's open at this late hour. Standing in front of the scene of the crime isn't a way to stay out of the spotlight."
Giving a little nod, Luu listens as the other woman speaks of her art and magick. "Sometime soon," Luu responds, a smile coming from a quick glance to her sie as Jinny touches her shoulder. "Yeah, that was strange," Luu agrees of Nash and his electrode brain stimulating tools. "But it's sometimes confusing," she notes softly, as she turns away from Jinny. "Free will," she continues, "what is is and where it is and it's subtle dances with destiny and things that are just beyond or control." Luu's slow pivot continues around, as she turns further away from Jinny only to come back around to her. "I don't know," she says as she walks behind Jinny, "and perhaps I'll never know or never bother to know. Sometimes it doesn't make sense to question things."
Reaching forward from behind, Luu's hands start at the crook of Jinny's elbows, before slowly running up the other woman's arms. "What do you think?" she wonders, and with her hands on the sides of both of Jinny's shoulders, Luu leans in to kiss the other woman on the bottom side of her neck. "What do you think?" she asks again in a close-up whisper, her lips momentarily grazing Jinny's ears as she speaks. Luu's fingertips trail along Jinny's back as she pulls away, as if trying to extend their touch as long as they can.
and it's strange and it's familiar, and perhaps even a little funny, the way things end so others can begin.
one could chart the fashion of seasons, and see how hem-lines rise and fall, just like empires before them.
and it's Summer now in Los Angeles for all that means.
and out of darkness cometh light, and out of light cometh darkness,
and it seems almost certain that Luu would have something to say on the matter, but not just yet ...
"What do you think?"
echoes that seems to hold in the city street's tonight, they can be only heard with certain eyes, because for most they are gone or never were.
and it seems more than certain that Luu would say something on the matter, but not right now ...
The shadows have swallowed her up this time, leaving Jinny alone with that question ...
"What do you think?"
... at least until morning.
