[action]

[selfhelp]

[Love is very clearly in the air, and what do NPCs live for but to offer their services to the public? That's why Billy and Teddy can be found outside every day after school this week, with a couple of tables set up just down the street from the art gallery, not far from the plaza. When they aren't all cozy and being sickening with one another, Billy is seated on a stool in front of an easel, with a bench and scattered chairs a few feet in front of it, and Teddy is hanging out by the table where various baked goods are displayed or wrapped in fancy little packages to be taken away for later if desired.

There's a sign hanging from the street post above them, displaying their services:

~*~

Portraits

Looking for the perfect gift to woo that special someone? Or perhaps you and your already woo'd special someone would like a memento of your perfect romance? Look no further! Potts Art Gallery wants to put you on display! This week only, have a custom portrait created right before your eyes, in whatever style you desire! All you need to do is pose and smile.

*Refreshments and snacks available while you wait!
**Ask about our commitment counseling service any time!
***All portraits will be on display in the Potts Gallery for the duration of the event and can be claimed when it has ended. Come visit us! We are open to the public every day!

~*~

[The boys will be available and eager to serve any date-able characters- they may even go so far as to kidnap encourage disinterested potential customers if they get bored. (Resistance is futile!) Also, despite what the sign says, they will be dispensing the most useful of love advice to just about anyone, whether they ask for it or not.

Responses will most likely be from both selfhelp and halfnhalf, but one or the other can be requested if you want! Just say so in the subject line or tag.]

Comments

Either/Both? :D

[maximoff_girl]

[Wanda is about town on her usual business, headed from point A to point B when she spots an unusual set up. Curious, she heads over to see what this routine-breaking table is all about.

Glancing at the sign, she opts to not even try; far too many words. Instead she smiles at the two young men who are amongst her favourite in the village. ]

... What's... all this about then?

both because we love you

[selfhelp]

[Billy's in the middle of sharpening his pencils, and he looks up with a smile at Wanda's voice.]

Oh, hey! We're doing portraits for the gallery. Are you busy right now?

very very much

[halfnhalf]

[Teddy's wrapping up a plate of appropriate Valentine's cookies in a clear plastic bag, and he looks up at the same time, an equal smile on his face.]

And have you found anyone special yet?

D'aaaw :3

[maximoff_girl]

[She shakes her head, amused, though who's question she's answering with that gesture she doesn't specify.]

I didn't know you guys did-- art. That's so cool.

either or both. Whatever you guys want

[theboywiththebook]

[Henry's been watching everything going on in the village in silence so far. Never has he seen so many sickeningly lovey dovey people in his life. It was getting to the point of being ridiculous, with people randomly proposing out of almost nowhere.

So, when he's walking back to the apartment from school, he see's Billy's and Teddy's excellent adventure table. He stares at the sign out front for just a moment before groaning:]

Oh no. Not you guys too.

[selfhelp]

[Billy quirks a brow at the comment. Excuse you, this is a brilliant enterprise.]

Us too what? Is someone else doing this?

[They have competition!?]

[halfnhalf]

[Who else could think of such a brilliant idea?!]

Do we need to go check out some competition?

[... Not that they'd move, since they're kind of designated here for a while. But they're blissfully oblivious to it.]

[wipesfaith]

[The set-up is a new addition to Jean's usual route toward the stables, so of course it catches his eye - consider him officially sidetracked as he flicks his gaze over the sign, standing a noncommittal distance away.]

Seems kinda narcissistic, giving a picture of yourself as a gift.

[He's pretty sure Marco would laugh. Well, okay, he only thinks this because he knows he would laugh if it were the other way around. Seriously, what is he supposed to do with that? Frame it and stick it next to his bed?

Fucking weird.

...Maybe he secretly wouldn't mind.]

[selfhelp]

[A cynic appears! Let's dispel that theory as obnoxiously as possible, shall we.]

Is it, though? If it's to someone who loves you, I'm sure they'd be happy to have a picture of you to look at when you're not around them. Right, Tee?

[Photos or portraits, what does it matter?]

[halfnhalf]

[The happy couple is on it!]

Right. If they get lonely, they can just look at the picture and know you're not too far away. Especially if it's the both of you in it; it's not a picture of you, it's a picture of the love that's there. Right, honey?

[Lord knows the two of them have plenty of pictures of them all cuddled up.]

[wipesfaith]

[He's vaguely familiar with both of them as classmates, and by now he probably suspects that there's something more-than-friends going on there...and if this were any other week, he'd be totally weirded out by the romantic chemistry oozing between the two, but is it is, he finds it only mildly grating.]

I guess that makes sense. [Still looking a little skeptical, though.] At least if it's both of you in it, it's less creepy.

booooth

[wildbluevagner]

[Kurt takes a moment to look the sign over carefully, rubbing his chin like a savvy consumer. And finally, he turns to address them.]

Is this true?

[selfhelp]

Is what true, the sign? Would we be sitting here if it wasn't?

[Do you dare sit down and see for yourself, Kurt?]

[halfnhalf]

How about you see for yourself?

[Assuming he's talking about the sign, anyway. Billy's got the magic artist hands and Teddy's got the food that's making the air smell wonderful; of course it's true.]

[wildbluevagner]

Good point. [He smirks and goes to sit down.] So... What if I want you to make something of me?

Whoever

[complicatedliar]

[Here's Loki, stopping by to greet his fellow NPCs. It's a hard knock life, man.

Though he does have to question their decision to hand out advice. They're not exactly old and wise. Bleh.]

fweep fweep

[selfhelp]

[NPC he may be, but he's also a resident... and that makes him a customer. Kind of. (They're bored.)]

Loki! Come get a portrait done, it'd look great.

[complicatedliar]

Of course it would look great. It's a portrait of me. [He grins.]

[halfnhalf]

Then what are you waiting for? Come on, we've got some snacks for you too. [Teddy holds up a plate of cake samples, just cake cut up into little, bite-sized squares.] And stuff you can take home, if you like it.

[complicatedliar]

[Well, he did say he'd talk to Rogue about it. More and more, Loki had found he liked the idea of having a picture of them done, either to keep or--and he liked this more and more--as something for the gallery. Let it be a firm, not-so-subtle statement that they had (however impossibly) shared such intimate space for a year and would continue to do so.

Though to Rogue he'd just mostly said that he thought it would be "nice" and Billy had asked. With whatever wheedling ended up being necessary. Cake was probably mentioned as well.

However he achieved it, he returned to Billy and Teddy with Rogue in tow after a few hours.]

[touchofrogue]

[As a whole, Rogue is less-than-thrilled about this idea. For one thing, she's had to watch Loki act like a babushka this whole week, and while that hasn't been without its hilarious points, she's pretty sure that Billy wouldn't be wanting to see her unless he'd been similarly affected.

For another, the idea of sitting still and letting someone sketch her was altogether too close to being studied for Rogue's comfort. No, she really didn't like this idea much at all.

But Loki did. And since the idea seemed to make him really happy, she'd acquiesced. So here she was, holding Loki's hand. She was still wearing her gloves, despite everything. She always did, in public.]

Well, looks like you two have really set-up shop.

[selfhelp]

[Success! Billy is immediately pleased at their unexpected victory, offering up a barely-restrained grin and a wave.]

Hey, you made it! I wasn't sure if you were going to convince her or not.

[To Rogue, his smile is more cautious and polite, but he holds on to the enthusiasm regardless. He is happy she decided to come.]

Either/Both/Whatever makes you guys happy, I'm late anyways

[elevatoravatar]

As she moves about town looking at the shops Elizabeth stops and peers up at the sign, then the two under it, then back up at the sign. She tilts her head with a perplexed look.

"What are commitment counseling services?"

[selfhelp]

[As she speaks, Billy's intensely focused on adding the last few details to the hair of his latest portrait, so he lifts a finger, a silent request for... well, silence. Just for a moment, though. He just doesn't want to screw it up.

Maybe Teddy can help.]

[elevatoravatar]

She simply nods and peers at the sign again quietly.