𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 / 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒏

      It did not take a lot to render Ira silent. Not in moments like these where the event was bustling and the soft chatter of conversation he cared little to listen in on consistently buzzed around him. Solace was sought in each of the rooms in an attempt to lose himself in the art itself. But this kind of silence was not the same as the social anxieties that made his hands shake in slight ---this was in awe. Each of the lights and mirrors erected in such a way the felt both like a cityscape and outer space, where Ira could easily close his eyes and imagine floating in the blissful nothingness worlds beyond ... there was a sense of peace, here.

      “ You cannot look up at the night sky on Planet Earth and not wonder what it’s like to be up there amongst the stars. ” He breathed the quote softly, his own eyes glittering as if he were a child fresh home from their Halloween candy catch ---as if he belonged in this room of the exhibit as well. “ I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. I didn’t expect to be this impressed by the exhibit. Especially not coming from the mushroom room. ” Candid ---it took a lot for him to speak to a potential stranger, never mind to spark conversation out of the blue. But the wonder in his features made him bolder.

  “ You and me both,” he let himself rest his back against the wall, eventually lowering his figure until he was sitting on the ground. “The kitchens here aren’t…” He didn’t want to bad mouth his employer for the night, but frankly, how could he be positive about it. “Let’s just say it’s a good thing we’re organized and we can work quietly.” Even though this was true, the kitchens were too small and too loud and anyone who knew him a little knew that he didn’t like working in a loud environment. He’d tried ear plugs, but even that didn’t do the trick.

“I’m afraid I’m gonna pollute some of that fresh air,” he tapped his cigarette’s ash to the floor and offered a smile of apology to the man standing there. “Ugh. My girlfriend’s obsessed with candles. I just don’t get the thrill of those. Your room is supposed to smell like room, not like Morning walk on the beach or Fresh strawberry jam.” Although it did smell like the latter every summer when he prepared jam for the year. “

-

      Eyes followed the figure of his company as they slid down onto the ground, as if it were the most comfortable seat in the world instead of the only option on the balcony. He understood dog tired. There were more than a few instances of cat napping in the forensic labs at the station, though Ira would be remiss to admit that aloud. Their secret was safe with him ---he wouldn’t repeat what he witnessed now. “ I can imagine how insane it is on your side of things. The illusion of a smooth evening out front is only as successful as the chaos below, from all sides of staffing. ” Which wasn’t to say that Ira attended a lot of these down-your-nose events. Only that he’d been on the other side of it in some capacity at least once.

      “ Do what you have to do. ” Less permission and more understanding. If he were feeling it socially he’d ask for one himself, but his stress level hadn’t reached the threshold of wanting a cigarette just to take his mind off of how tiring it all was. “ My former fianceé was really big into candles to set an atmosphere. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it gave me a massive headache, depending on the scent. Anything meant to smell sweet turned my stomach. Still does. ” He chuckled softly at the memory, but a slow shake of his head dismissed it silently. “ She went through an incense phase, too. Though I can’t complain on that one, she turned me onto the smell of sandalwood with it. ”

OPEN STARTER LOCATION : THE TATE MODERN An exhibition wasn’t normally her speed, but as Kiraz had received the ticket as a gift from a client she felt she had to attend. More so because she was certain the client was also attending and if she didn’t make an appearance it would seem rude. Whilst she had spent the first part of the evening slowly making her way around, taking it all in; the mirrors, the lights, even the elite taking the opportunity to network, Kiraz had kept to herself.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever truly understood art. At least not exhibitions like this one. Is it just something pretty to look at, to distract us from the mundane, or is it supposed to mean something? Does it have a hidden meaning or a rich story behind it?” the question was out there as she looked from the lights around the mirrored room to the other standing beside her.

-

      “ I think it’s just supposed to be something nice to look at. ” He was fond of the illusions, at least. The room with the mushrooms was less appealing than the cityscape. All of the lights cast the illusion of stars to him and Ira had been remiss to move onto the next room. He wasn’t sorry that he’d attended the event, merely that he had been exposed to so many people initially. Rubbing elbows was something he was only good at when it happened for work. In his own personal social life? Not quite so much. “ I mean, I’m sure it means something to someone. But I think art, as a whole, is supposed to be open to interpretation. ”

      He could understand the meaning of simple things. There was an artistry to using one’s hands for fixing up everyday household objects, but even then his appreciation came with the skill itself. Music was more where Ira’s knowhow lay ---while he wasn’t some professional he certainly had enough personal skill invested (with the piano at least) to make useful commentary. Here he was floundering, left only to admire something that he himself would have never been able to make or even conceive. His mind simply was not set up for this. “ It’s pretty, at least. ”

HEADCANONS 01 || body language.

bold what applies! 

DEFENSIVENESS. arms crossed on chest // crossing legs // fist-like gestures // pointing index finger // karate chops // stiffening of shoulders // tense posture // curling of lip // baring of teeth 

REFLECTIVE. hand-to-face gestures // head tilted  // stroking chin // peering over glasses // taking glasses off —  cleaning // putting earpiece of glasses in mouth // pipe smoker gestures  // putting hand to bridge of nose // pursed lips, knitted brows 

SUSPICION. arms crossed // sideways glance // touching or rubbing nose // rubbing eyes  // hands resting on weapon // brows raising // lips pressing into a thin line // strict, unwavering eye contact // wrinkling of nose 

OPENNESS & COOPERATION. open hands // upper body in sprinters position // sitting on edge of chair  // hand-to-face gestures // unbuttoned coat // tilted head // slacked shoulders, droopy posture // feet pointed outward // palms flat and facing outward 

CONFIDENCE. hands behind back // hands on lapels of coat // hands on waist // steepled hands // baring teeth in a grin // rolling shoulders // tipping head back but maintaining eye contact //chest puffed up // shoulders back // arms folded just above navel 

INSECURITY & ANXIETY. chewing pen or pencil // rubbing thumb over opposite thumb // biting fingernails // hands in pockets // elbow bent // closed gestures // clearing throat // “whew” sound // picking or pinching flesh // fidgeting in chair // hand covering mouth whilst speaking // poor eye contact // tugging at pants whilst seated // jingling money in pockets // tugging at ear // perspiring hands // playing with hair // swaying // playing with marker // smacking licking lips // sighing // rocking on balls of feet // flexing fingers sporadically