//------------------------------// // Chapter 19: The Auction // Story: The Last Impressionist // by CrackedInkWell //------------------------------// “It looks like Cleo is getting along with you pretty quickly,” I commented as he gave me my vest. Indeed, the feline was rubbing itself and arching her back between his legs. Acrylic chuckled as he reached over for my tie. “I would take that as a good sign. Perhaps she might help keep away evil from now on.” “So I see. How are you this morning Acrylic?” “A little tired, but okay,” he then turned to the closet to fetch my suit. “However, I have been thinking lately.” “Oh? About what?” “Well, about what to do in the future. Now that I have a place to live, two jobs… you, and having the blessing of having Cleocatra in the house. I couldn’t help but wonder what to do next.” “You said something about going to college as a next step, didn’t you?” I asked while observing Cleo jumping on the nightstand in the mirror. “Not to mention that I’m looking forward to our holiday in another country together. After all, I think you needed a break yourself from all that painting.” “That’s what I want to bring up,” he says, “I’ve been looking into what the cost would be for me to go to college, like the one here in Canterlot. Turns out, I would need several thousand bits a year to attend classes, pay for books and whatnot. To top it off, I think that given my raising popularity in the art world, I might have found the answer.” I glanced over to the closet, “But I thought we’re already selling your paintings?” “Yes, but not the ones that were displayed at the gallery,” he said as he brought my suit to me. “You heard what those ponies were willing to pay for. Fancy, even if I sold say… ten of those, I bet I won’t even have to take up a loan just to learn. Of course, I want to ask if you know someplace that will be willing to put my paintings up for auction.” “Are you sure about this Acrylic?” I asked as I started to put on my suit. “Why not? They’re just collecting dust up there and you’re not exactly using them. You said that you will help me get me back on my hooves, so… what do you say? With the paintings sold, perhaps I could put the bits into a savings account.” “But I can pay for it.” I pointed out, “After all, I do have enough wealth to assist you in pursuing this dream.” He shook his head, “That’s kind of you, but I want to prove to myself that I can do this on my own from what I like to do. As much as I appreciate your generosity, I want to do this as an independent to get a real education.” “But what if you run into some sort of problem? Even if you have enough money to last you through school, how do you know if you’ll be able to get in through the applications?” He blinked, “Application?” “Well, Canterlot University won’t just let you waltz in if you happen to be rich my dear. You must prove yourself if you would be able to qualify for your previous schooling, and the skills to study multiple subjects at a time.” “Is it difficult to do?” I paused for a moment to think back to my college days. “It all depends on what subject you’re studying. But if you’re really into it, then you shouldn’t have a problem at all. You see, the real difficulty isn’t the classes, it’s getting in that’s tricky.” “But there is a possibility that I can get in, right?” “Acrylic, you are so much more intelligent than you give yourself credit for. Like the idea of the auction… I do see what you mean, just put a certain amount away so that you’ll have enough by the time you get enrolled.” He nodded, “Yes si- Fancy!” I witnessed his ears folded back in embarrassment. “I’m sorry; I’m just so used to calling you ‘Sir.’ Sometimes I forget that we’re… you know.” “A couple?” I head over to give him a quick peck on the lips. I saw him blushed at this in, I admit, a most adorable way. “I don’t know if I can get used to that either.” “Don’t worry,” I said laughing. “You will with time. I don’t want to push you into something that you’re not ready for. Just don’t be afraid to tell me otherwise of what you are, and not ready to do something. You know that, don’t you?” He shrugged as he assisted me with a sleeve. “I wouldn’t know. I never have been in what you would call a ‘serious relationship’ with anypony, much less a stallion. I don’t know what the rules are.” “Acrylic, you’re doing fine,” I kissed his forehead, “Really you are. There’s nothing to worry about as long as you’re the same gentlecolt that you are. But to answer your question of selling your paintings from the Exhibition – I’ll see if I can interest Golden Gavel if he’s willing to do so at his auction house. But I’ll do so on the condition that the paintings of us stay here.” He then gave me my cuffs, “I have no objection. Thank you.” Once they have been slipped on, he then placed my watch in my breast coat pocket. “Do you think it would be a good idea to bring Celopatra along with me to work, she seems rather restless.” I looked over to the cat, which was now on the bed swiping away at a tassel. “I don’t think it would be a good idea. She’s an indoor cat, and not to mention one that might be vulnerable to being hurt or taken. But not to worry though, Cleo will be looked after by the servants while we’re away. Speaking of which, who’s your clients today?” “Only two today,” he said. “One of them is Sapphire Shores, and the other is Princess Luna herself!” “Really?” I asked astonished. “The Princess of the Night had asked you personally? Whatever for?” “I think it was something about painting from our night in the garden. Although I can’t say for certainty,” he then stepped back now that I’m fully dressed. “Will, that be all?” A thought popped into my brain, “There is actually.” I kissed him for one sweet moment, “Have a lovely day.” _*_ “And you said that the Artist really wants to sell these?” Golden Gavel asked. We were in the attic of my home where the pictures from the exhibit were carefully stacked, resting against a wall with sheets covering them. The Auctioneer was peeking at each one before flipping over to the next. “That was what he told me, Gavel. Aside from the ones that have our portraits, he wants to let his art go at auction.” Golden was using his magic to lift another painting from the group and carefully placing it behind him. “Did he ever say about what he’s planning to do with them?” “He’s planning on saving it to go to college.” “Oh yeah, I remember him saying something like that from our stallions night out.” He said, continuing to flip through the pictures. “You know, it’s a little difficult to chose the finest work there is when there are several here. So if all goes well on Friday night, your friend might reap in quite a good amount.” “Didn’t I tell you that he’s my coltfriend now?” “Huh?” he looked up at me, “You mean Acrylic?” I nodded. “Not really. You said that you weren’t sure the last time I saw you.” “Well, you can say that I’ve made up my mind on the matter.” He hummed as he examined one of the flower paintings, “Do you think that this relationship will last? Don’t get me wrong Mr. Pants, but considering past mare and coltfriends you had, how do you think this is any different?” I frowned, “For one when I offered to pay his way through college, he told me that he wants to do it.” “Your point being?” “He’s not dating me because of money Gavel,” I said. “Which, if I may remind you is the main reason why those relationships had failed, Acrylic is only going out because of me. I may not know if this will work out in the end, but I can already see that there’s some promise.” “And all I’m saying,” He told me as he lifted another painting, “Is try to be careful. Your new coltfriend may seem like Mr. Right, but you can’t be absolutely sure until you gave the both of you enough time. Who knows, maybe he is the one for you. But just because you’ve made up your mind about him, doesn’t imply that he is the one in the long run.” Sighing, I told him, “Look, I know what you’re saying is true, that I ought to be careful. But I don’t believe that Mr. Brush has any bad intentions involving me.” As he moved on to another group of paintings, he said, “Fancy, can I ask you a personal question?” I told him he can, “How do you feel about Acrylic now?” I confess I had to think for a moment about this inquiry. What do I feel about him? “Well… I do care about his well-being. After all, he is a genius at his art, even when he didn’t see it. I admire his selflessness, his fresh opinion on Canterlot society, not to mention his honesty. While I do think it’s a little too early to tell if I do love him, I can say that I care in seeing his dreams come true. He is somepony who is in need of healing, but I do see him as a passionate, strong-willed stallion that could accomplish anything. But I don’t want him to think that he’s alone in his endeavors.” The old chap adjusted his glasses, “I see… I really do hope that’s what you’ll feel several months from now.” “Why?” He chuckled, “I just think that you should settle down one of these days. Otherwise, you’ll just end up as one of those senile old stallions.” I snorted, “I’m not that old.” “Just you wait,” he said as he lifted another painting to be put on the pile. _*_ A smack of a gavel sharply cut the air, “Sold!” Gavel cried. There was applause from around the room as a sculpture was sold for forty-five thousand bits, “Your number Madame? Thank you.” I looked over at my coltfriend sitting next to me, rubbing his hooves. “Are you nervous?” I asked. He nodded, “Do you think that my paintings well sell here? I mean it’s one thing if I do commissions, but this is something different. What if nopony wants to buy them?” I rubbed his back, “Relax dear chap. I’m sure you’ll raise enough bits in the end. Ah! Here we go,” by now, a security guard placed Acrylic’s paintings on the stand. It was one of the many paintings that were inspired by my garden. “Let’s move on then. Lot: 419, a Modern Impressionist painting of a Rose Bush by Acrylic Brush that has been painted a few months ago. This and the following paintings you’ll see were shown at the Cinder Gallery. May I start the bit at twelve thousand bits?” Immediately a pony raised a fan with a number on it. “Alright, do I have thirteen then? That’s thirteen, fourteen. Fifteen! Okay, do I have twenty-thousand? That’s twenty-thousand. Do I see twenty-five thousand? No? Twenty-three thousand then? Thank you, sir. That’s twenty-three thousand everypony, do I hear twenty-four?” He looked around the room. “That’s twenty-three thousand going once, twice – yes, no?” he banged his gavel, “Sold! Your number?” I nudged him, “That’s not bad,” I whispered. “Yeah,” Acrylic whispered back, “But if I’m going to get into college, I’m gonna need at least a hundred-and-fifty bits so I can pay off for four years of it.” “Now, lot: 420,” Golden said as another painting was brought on. This one was a sunset, the one would see on the west side of town. It showed the sun in a pink and yellow sky while the mountains and rivers below were in shades of turquoise, blue and dark greens, “One landscape paintings of an Equestrian sunset, also by Acrylic Brush and from the same Exhibition, now let’s begin the bid at fifteen thousand. There we are, now do I hear twenty? Yes, Twenty. Twenty-five? Thirty-” “Thirty-five!” a voice said in the room. “Thirty-five. Do I hear forty? Yes! Forty-five? Fifty? Fifty-five? Sixty? Sixty-five? Seventy…? Anypony? Anything above sixty-five?” “Sixty-six!” “Sixty-seven!” “Yes, I hear sixty-seven thousand bits. Do I hear sixty-eight? Sunset going for sixty-seven going once, twice,” he banged the gavel, “Sold for sixty-thousand!” I did the quick math in my head. “Well done! That’s ninety-thousand bits already! If you keep this up, you might be a millionaire in no time.” Just when I expected him to see the joy on his face, I looked over to him to see something else. It wasn’t what I would call sadness or worry. The only way I can describe it was as if he realized something monumental. “Acrylic? Is everything alright?” “Uh… Yeah.” I raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?” He shook his head as the Auctioneer started another bid on his paintings. “It’s like… everything’s going according to plan. As if everything is going right. I should be happy right now, right?” “I don’t understand.” “Neither do I,” he said. “I should be happy now that it looks like I can afford college after all. And given all the things that happen since you came around, I should be happy. So… why do I feel so… guilty?” “Where did this come about?” He shrugged, “That’s just it, I don’t really know why. It’s as if my happily ever after is just around the corner. All I have to do is just walk forward. But… there’s something that’s holding me back. As if I have this guilty feeling that there was something I was supposed to do if I can ever be truly happy. Only, I’m not sure what it is.” The banging of the gavel cut our conversation in two, “Sold!”