2008-03-05: Drawn Figures

Starring:

Charlotte_icon.gif Mikhail_icon.gif Sophie_icon.gif

Summary: Coffee shops are popular for random gatherings. This one was just by chance.

Date It Happened: March 5, 2008

Drawn Figures


Common Grounds

Sophie pushes her way into the door, walking into the coffee shop. It seems like a pretty busy place, the kind filled with chattering college students and locals. She is wearing a jacket, that she removes, and gloves that she does not.

Somewhere on the side, Mikhail sits in one of the plush chairs. Sit - more like perch. His legs are curled underneath him in the seat as he leans back, bundled up in layers of designer-branded clothing. He's still wearing her beanie hat, too. Of course, he's a little too busy sketching out some of his latest -victims- subjects.

Sophie gets into the line, to purchase her drink. She waits patiently for her turn, then asks for, "Just a black coffee, please. No sugar." with a cheery smile to the barista.

The pencil pauses on one of the figures, the blunt end of it flipping around to tap the sketchpad several times. The artist looks up from his drawing to take another glance around the busy coffee shop. Huh. He doesn't remember this many people inside the building before. Eyebrows lift as he continues to observe each person, the pencil turning back on its point to start a new gesture sketch. Looks like Sophie somehow got his attention. She's just ordering coffee - a perfectly normal pose. Why not? Sketch, sketch, sketch.

At least until someone bumps into the back of Mikhail's chair. "Ooops, sorry!" She manages to keep her drink from sploshing on him - for she got her own chai, awhile ago. Just getting off the phone, her equilibrium is a little bit off. "I didn't ruin anything, did I? Oh! That's….very pretty." She cocks ehr head to the side, peering at the drawing. "That girl looks really familiar, is she someone that you know?"

Sophie starts to turn, coffee in hand. She hears what might be a familiar voice, but there's so many of them lately. Carefully handling the hot coffee, she peers around the room, lighting on.. She frowns in concentration. Where does she know.. Oh. Her eyes widen, but.. darn if she can remember a name. She walks over that general direction, as if to an empty table.

A line goes across the page like a sudden record scratch, causing Mikhail to lean forward and bring the sketchpad up automatically for Charlotte to inspect. "…" It takes a moment for him to sit back up, turning his head to answer the woman with the chai. "N…no. I just started this one. I don't know her. And…the rest of these people."

He pauses. And then holds up his arms. "It's not what you think."

Charlotte gives the boy a dimpled smile, amused by his - what she percieves to be - awkwardness. "And what is it that I think?" She asks, all friendly like. At least, until she glances up and sees Sophie. Her mouth turns to make a round O-like shape. "You don't know her but…I might."

Sophie is walking closer, close enough to hear that. She offers, "I do seem to remember you from somewhere." she admits. "But I will confess.. I'm terrible with names."

Awkwardness? Yes, one can call it that. He was about to say something along the lines of being a stalker, but with the change of subject Mikhail blinks. His eyes also follow the same direction Charlotte looks. "You do?" he asks quietly, glancing back at the woman for a moment under bleached bangs. "Huh. Definitely a small world after all." The art student offers a small smile to Sophie once she also notices them, jotting down some finer details while she's standing there.

Charlotte nods softly as she looks up at the other girl. "Yeah, I figured so." She looks back at the asian boy apologetically. "We sort of met during a mutual friend's relationship…trauma. We'll call it trauma." She explains, apologetically. Doe-brown eyes turn back up to Sophie. "Trauma…trauma's a good word, right?"

Sophie smiles a touch ruefully, "I think that's a good word." she then says, "Well, I don't think we quite got to the point of introductions. I'm Sophie Petrov."

He really has no idea what kind of trauma it could've been, but it did sound bad enough. Asking about it isn't his business, and it was better to keep things in a light-hearted tone. As if he can do light-hearted. Mikhail tries. "Mikhail Himura, fine arts major," he says with a nod. The major is tacked on because he's gotten use to saying it as a second title on campus.

Charlotte smiles to Sophie. "I'm Charlotte Corday." And smiles to Mikhail too. "An arts major!?" Her smile grows so wide, her face is sure to break. "Do you study art history there as well? I've read through the Cambridge texts on Renissance art…but…I've never actually been to school, where do you go?" Mikhail=new best friend. Art! How exciting!

Sophie ohs, "Art. I've always wanted to be creative like that." she smiles, "My major, well, I'm taking library science."

Mikhail actually looks a little more surprised now. Fast friends indeed! "Well, art history is necessary. The profs just don't want us going into things without a bit of background first," the artist says with a chuckle. He still has some of those history books in his room. Blue gray eyes go back to Sophie. "Library science? That's not bad," he grins. He's heard of it before, but it was never really one of the majors that stuck in the mainstream. "What…exactly does it include again?"

Charlotte really has to ask, "Prof?" She's never been to college. She's never been close to college. She hasn't even had the opportunity to finish highschool. So such terms are unknown to her.

Sophie says, automatically, "Professor." then carries on, "Well, right now, nothing. Its a Master's Degree. So, right now, I'm doing undergrad work on an English Lit major. I figure it kind of fits with what I'll be doing."

Whoops, college lingo. "Uh - yeah, what she said," Mikhail adds, gesturing with a hand. "I just…shorten the word completely." Again, his eyebrows lift. "Wow. Props to you, Sophie," he says with approval. He knew a couple of people who were trying to do the same, masters and all. "Man, I don't think I'd be able to continue schooling like that."

Charlotte blushes a little bit. "Oh…I've never heard that before. Prof. THat's cute." She chuckles softly as they all begin to talk about…college. She'd intended to start, really, but then there was the new job, the traveling, then the Petrelli boys and Niki Sanders. Glug, how easy it is to forget one's goals. "It sounds really tough, all that." She chimes.

Sophie nods as she says, "Its really not. I actually love going to school." then blushes and laughs a bit. "I know that sounds weird. But yeah, it can be tough, too."

"It's good to actually like it, nothing wrong with that," the artist replies with a shrug. Totally normal stuff to him. The pencil goes to a new page in his sketchpad, random scrawls and things just coming out in lead without reference. "Focus. Focus is good. I don't have that much of it, so it makes it a little more difficult." Focus in school, focus in dance, training…it takes a lot of energy to do this. He looks back up at the other two after a moment. "But…I'm working on it."

Charlotte smiles, pointing to her coffee cup. "I'm just going to run and get some more…whipped creme…" Because, you know, whipped creme is a necessity. That, and it's awkward being the non-colligate third wheel. She stands up tall and makes her way off towards the counter.

Sophie pauses, then says to Mikhail, "Focus.." she smiles a bit, "I don't know if I have that. I just really love books, I'm no writer, so it seemed a natural." then she moves the conversation onto.. art! "So, are you willing to let me see what you draw?"

Mikhail blinks as Charlotte goes off and away. He still has no clue as to why she went. "Hm…" He looks back over at Sophie as some bunny rabbits track across his page. "Well, focus or no focus, either's good. Having a natural ability to learn works, too." The rabbits are then followed by a Tyrannosaurus-rex right when she asks to see what he's doing. There's a long glance given at his current work, his mouth twisting before he hands over the half-filled sketchpad. "Here."

Sophie peeks over toward Charlotte. She takes the pad and nods to the table, "May I?" as she starts to flip through the pages.

Each page as something different. Regular people, random poses, robots, tagging, animals. Mythological, fantastical, realistic, anime-ish - Mikhail definitely does his best to try out whatever he can. And whatever comes to mind. This explains half of the crack images he has on certain pages.

Charlotte glances back after she's finished getting her whipped creme. "It was nice to meet both of you." She says with a soft wave, before turning to make her way out.

Sophie looks over at Mikhail. "Wow, that's pretty amazing." she says, with a big smile. "I really wish I could do something like this."

There is a slight bow of his head at the comment. "Thanks," he says sheepishly, the grin lopsided on his part. "Years of practice didn't go to a complete waste." And when Charlotte gives a quick notice before she leaves, Mikhail nods, giving her a wave as well.

Sophie turns to wave at Charlotte as she heads out. "Yes, I suppose so." she says thoughtfully, "But talent too, right?"

Mikhail chuckles. "Well, yeah," he says softly. He's not really one to brag about it. He holds out a hand to take the sketchpad back. "And considering that I should be using those talents to finish up my other projects…man, I'm procrastinating like whoa."

Sophie nods as she finishes up her drink, "Yeah, I have a friend I should visit. She just got out of the hospital. But I'm sure I'll see you around the college."

With the pad and pencil stuffed back into his messenger bag, Mikhail stands. Well, shifts and stands from his previous position. "Ah, I see," he says, a brief look of concern crossing his half-dazed expression. "I…hope your friend gets better." Shouldering the bag, he turns. "Yeah. That'd be cool, Sophie." He then waves a hand. "Jaa."

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