Private High Art Society

[Persephone Dashiell]

NEW VERTICA CITY

Persephone navigated the city streets with ease. Born in the undercity of Taris, Nar Shadda seemed no different. One had to have a bit of smarts to walk around - it also helped her bodyguard droid, Zee, was behind her. Zee was also carrying a small wrapped item, roughly eight by ten, firmly in his hands. Wiser that the droid kept on to the potentially costly possession. They were heading to a local art dealer with a galaxy-wide reputation. A reputation that rivaled some of the big name art galleries in the Core Worlds. Not that it was wise to visit such worlds in this time without caution.

Moving to an upper level of the city, the teenager soon found the gallery she was looking for. Ran by Mauve du Vain , known for a collection of unusual and hard to come by items. Persephone had considered becoming an art dealer and was still toying with getting a second degree in Art History. Still had to get that first one however, so for now it was just a nebulous thought.

Hand touched the handle of the door, a small chime sounding as it was pushed open. She was greeted with amazing sights of art and various art-adjacent items such as sculptures and pottery. Head craned up, everything in the space was filled but not in a cluttered way. Very deliberate. Very haute. It was a place she could get lost in for hours.

​

 

[Mauve du Vain]

A thud came from a back room and a Zeltron appeared from a doorway, peeking through an array of ancient pottery.

“Who do we have here?”

Mauve rounded the corner, her deeply purple hair a little disheveled, flyaway strands stuck to her forehead. She wore a simple carmine dress, which may have clashed with her magenta skin or complimented it depending on the taste of the beholder.

The information maven’s light violet eyes studied the young girl before her, then moved to her droid companion. A brow arched at the bundle it carried.

“Can I help you?” Mauve asked, not unkindly, though she did wonder if the child got lost somewhere. Couldn’t recall the last time she’d seen a teenager enter her gallery. Willingly, at least, and not dragged in by parents or school.

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Having been staring at a painting of a woman laying on a chaise in a stylized fashion, Persephone found herself a little startled when the woman emerged. Then immediately star struck. For her, this was like meeting a celebrity. Miss Mauve du Vain was a celebrity in her own right, but not one anyone would just immediately recognize.

Realizing she was standing around like an idiot, Persephone stuck out a well manicured pink-nailed hand.

"Persephone Dashiell. A pleasure to meet you Miss du Vain. I've read all about you in High Art Holomag. "

Okay Persie, dial it back. You're sounding like stalker. A small flush came to her cheeks at her own internal embarrassment. For someone who met nobility and politicians on the daily one would think she would be better composed. Taking a deep breath, she continued on her spiel about the wrapped item.

"I have acquired a painting done by Doctor Isabella Draellix. An amateur work, but one of importance given her status at one time in the Ashlan Crusade. I hear she has taken a hermitage in the Tingel Arm."

 

[Mauve du Vain]

"The Ashlan Crusade," Mauve repeated, raising both her brows. "Well, you certainly know a thing or two about a thing or two."

So, this girl read all about her? Mauve knew she had... fans. But they typically took the form of obsessive bounty hunters, anxious to acquire the million credits on her head. This was a first.

The Zeltron, perceptive of emotions in the way other species might see colors beyond her own spectrum, saw the purplish tint of embarrassment glowing around the girl, but she could also see others. Eagerness. Excitement.

And wow, look at those nails. Pink polish. Hm.

Mauve shook the offered hand, a slow smile curving up her lips.

"Pleased to meet you as well, Ms. Dashiell. Don't tell me you came all the way out to New Vertica just for me?" Her smile grew teeth in a flash, "Well, let's see this painting."

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"I did come all the way to New Vertica just for you, Miss du Vain. This is not my usual....area but it is well worth it."

Persephone already had her eye on a few pieces in the gallery. Plus, it was exciting to visit another gallery that wasn't in the Core. This was just as upscale as any Coruscanti one - perhaps better. The style of art and artifacts reflected more unusual pieces from the Outer Rim and Wild Space regions, something Core worlds often turned up their nose at.

"Zee, go on."

The large droid unwrapped the painting. A more abstract piece of art and clearly done by someone as a hobby. It was more the name associated than the subject. Perhaps once the subject was deceased the value would increase as was nearly always the case.

"According to my research, Doctor Draellix painted this during a trip to Dra III while the Admiral was on a trophy hunting expedition. It appears to be the cliffs overlooking the Barosa sea, but I am not sure. I have never been to the planet and had to rely on holos and third hand information. I find the movement and colors of the piece quite dynamic myself."

Mauve du Vain​

 

[Mauve du Vain]

"Incredible," Mauve breathed, eyes lighting up with appreciation as she took a step forward. Her gaze roved over the dozen shades of blue and white transitioning to teals and verdant light greens. She tilted her head this way, then that, studying from different angles. Typically, she didn't go in for abstracts, but this piece was wonderful and with a story behind it - which made it all the more appealing.

"It's beautiful, the Doctor must have loved the planet."

Pulling her stare away from the painting, she looked at the confident young girl who masterminded bringing this to her. "Not our usual piece, but I can certainly find a place for this in the gallery if you're selling."

Mauve shifted her hips, raising an eyebrow. Now let's see what sort of gift horse this is.

"Are you looking to donate or sell?"

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

"Are you looking to donate or sell?"

Donate?! Did people really donate to a for-profit business? That was wildly stupid if such a case existed. Well, it had to exist because Miss du Vain just mentioned donating. Unless the Zeltron thought she was some stupid gullible teenager which wouldn't be the first time someone thought she was a complete idiot.

"A proposition." Persephone paused, a little nervous to continue. Always nerve racking to be potentially shot down. "An exchange of kind. I hand over the painting and in turn I get to spend one day with you and learn the ropes. A day in the life of Miss du Vain and I your shadow. I promise to be quiet - think of it as an educational opportunity."

Was the art broker going to go for it? Doubtful. Persephone was skeptical she wanted a teenager buzzing about her business for an entire day. Not that she didn't have manners and a full finishing school education. Wasnt like she was going to be rude to the customers or clients. Or scare off anyone.

"If not, than I am not interested in parting with the painting at this time."

Mauve du Vain​

 

[Mauve du Vain]

Mauve's brow arched impossibly higher.

"I'm both incredibly flattered and wondering if someone sent you to spy on me."

She ran a finger across the top of the painting's frame, studying the patterns that looked like colored glass shattered in places. She tapped the top of the painting and turned to look at Persephone.

"Remarkably plucky of you, isn't it. Have to admire that," she pursed her lips in thought. Most of what she did on the day to day wasn't exactly age appropriate for this young Dashiell, but she would have to learn someday. And even if she was a spy, what was she going to do - get another bounty put on Mauve? The Zeltron smiled to herself.

"Fine, deal."

She snapped her fingers and a butler droid appeared from the backroom carrying a large fur coat, which it placed around her arms quickly.

Swaddled in the folds of some expensive and probably illegal fur, Mauve beckoned Persephone to follow her as she started walking toward the landing pad near the gallery entrance.

"Leave the painting inside. What exactly are you hoping to learn?"

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Plucky. Wasn't the first time she had heard that. When her Mama died and she travelled to Zeltros alone the Companions had called her plucky. Mother henned over her until family arrived to claim her from the Guildhouse she had taken shelter in. Resourceful. Determined. If anything she was used to getting what she needed in an unusual manner.

"Fine, deal."

Eyes went wide for a moment. First at the fact Miss Mauve du Vain agreed. Two that they were leaving now. Persephone had expected to be called back in weeks or months time when the woman had more free time for a teenager to hang around. Seemed she was ready to raise the landing gear and get going - in style too, with a fur coat.

Carefully placing the painting on the counter, the teenager scurried to keep up.

"Potolli or Carannian fur?" A small pause as she regarded it. "Looks carannian."

Zee silently followed behind as she laid out what she was looking to learn. Heading off to a landing pad, Persephone wondered if they would choose a location based on what she said next.

"Last year I spent my entire summer internship at Browncoat Industrial and Arceneau Trade, buying textiles for armor and other projects. There's a lot to consider...yet that is buying in bulk, anyone can negotiate how to buy in bulk. I want to know how you select a piece and what drives you to buy it. Your collection seems highly curated."

 

[Mauve du Vain]

"No wonder you have a good eye."

Mauve walked out onto the landing pad, where a private shuttle was waiting for her. The driver got out and opened the door for them. Mauve slid inside.

"Arceneau Trade is still a hegemon, after all these years. You know how many nations it's outlasted?"

Quite a few.

The Zeltron pulled her fur coat tighter as the speeder took off, climbing high into the air before banking toward the Corellian sector.

"You want to know how I select a piece. It's partly a matter of taste, but mostly a matter of evoked emotion. My people are something of experts in that field. I just put our natural abilities to use. I can feel emotions, even yours. Most people think it ends there, but it doesn't. Every artist leaves an impression on their work. People speak about the emotion put into every brush stroke and they're not wrong. I choose the pieces that I find have the greatest emotional residue."

Explaining it dispelled some of the mystery and with it the allure. Mauve sighed and glanced out the window.

"That might not be helpful to you, so we'll teach you something else today. Scarcity breeds value."

The shuttle made for a landing pattern in a dingy part of the Corellian sector. Not at all a seemly place. As the shuttle touched down, Mauve saw they already waited for her on the platform: a heavily armed Nikto and two kneeling figures, their hands over their heads. One was a Rodian art thief, W'coll. The other was a human woman, his accomplice whose name Mauve didn't know and honestly didn't care.

The door to the shuttle hissed open.

Persephone Dashiell

 

[Persephone Dashiell]

Zee was squished in with them as Persephone listened with rapt attention to Mauve du Vain . She had been to Zeltros once before, she knew their ability to read people. To also influence them. Yet she wasn't aware of being connected to a piece or art of being able to decipher emotions from it. Persephone supposed if one was that highly attuned to emotions then it was easy enough to decipher them elsewhere - art or the written word.

Sounded exhausting to her. Either way, Persephone wouldn't be able to replicate such a thing. Job security for Miss du Vain.

"Yeah, I don't think emotional readings would help me at all, but I appreciate the explanation either way."

Their shuttle landed and the doors hissed open. Persephone disembarked with Zee, now catching the sight of two figures kneeling on the duracrete. She regarded them for a moment, looking for anything that stood out to her. Nothing beyond the fact the male looked a bit like a pirate. She hated pirates.

"Miss du Vain, they don't look to be worth much."

It was as if to say, I hope you didn't pay for a bounty on these two.

 

[Mauve du Vain]

“Oh, they’re not,” Mauve said airly. “But sometimes it’s not about the value of the piece.”

She pulled out a Hapan gun of command from the folds of her heavy fur coat and eyed its sleek lines and aurodium plating.

Violet eyes slid sidelong to glance at the girl beside her.

“Sometimes it’s about sending a message.”

She shot W’coll. The blast scrambled the art thief’s mind and he stared vacantly up at her.

“Answer my question: what will you do if I let you live, will you try to steal from me again?”

“Yes.”

Mauve sighed, then waved a dismissive hand to the Nikto thug.

“Get rid of them.”

The Nikto would shoot them, or sell them off world. Mauve really didn’t care which.

She turned back to Persephone.

“This is the underbelly no one talks about. You think those art pieces just sit all happy in the gallery because people enjoy them there? No.” She shook her head, “I’m holding them for politicians and warlords, while they arrange for their acquisition or sale. If one of them is stolen, then the price falls on me. And every one of those pieces is priceless.”

Mauve slid the gun back inside her coat.

“If you don’t look out for yourself first, no one else will.”

Persephone Dashiell