Welcome to the gallery of humanity: a body art/modification meme

[dreamymemey]

Adonis Studios
a place for body art, modification, and transformation

Welcome to the Studios.

They offer a gallery space for up and coming artists, and space and tools for those wishing to try their hands at artistic endeavours. There's one difference between them and most art galleries, though: they don't have paper, don't have clay.

Here, the raw canvas is humanity.

---

Artists here work in a number of ways: and anything goes, as long as the medium being used is the human body. Some do nothing more than face painting or body painting, for their clients to show off happily to the world or have photographs taken for private viewing. Something for both the young and the young at heart!
Some work in more permanent media: tattoo artists are common here. Their studios are clean and bright, and their needle work can range from a discreet little private mark to a piece covering any area of the body or all of it. No questions asked, as long as the result is artistic and beautiful… Other similar artists work with them, with piercers willing to work with any sort of jewellery around here, from simple first earrings to ornate or private pieces.
And most unusual of all are the artists who work in flesh and bone. Their subjects are transformed in ways that the others can't manage, varying from alterations in natural skin and hair colour, to scales, fur and feathers, to additions and changes to body parts, eyes and ears, horns and tails and teeth and hands, anything goes… all to create their masterpieces. Is it magically based? Scientific? Whatever the case, it's as possible as any other art form. Perhaps the nature of creation itself just makes itself usable by the artists...
A lot of the artists work in all the forms described, depending on their mood and their needs.

The Studios rent out all their equipment, too. Anything that their artists use, visitors and clients can use, if they're willing to sign their name to it. They can rent out a booth to use between themselves and company, try out things they'd never thought they'd be able to try. Surprisingly, the end results tend to turn out a lot better than the users might expect… is there something in the air, here, that brings out their creative side?

There's a lot of artwork on display, here, too, and that means just what it sounds like. Models can be found all over the place; some show off painted pieces, to be reworked daily. Some show off ink, with their artwork growing over time. Some have been reworked totally to be works of living sculpture, bodies far from human - though who would allow themselves to become such a thing?

So, what brings your character here?

Is your character an artist in residence at the studios, who's learned the ins and outs of their trade, or someone who's always wanted to try such things for themselves, a casual or first-timer? Be careful, though, for as the atmosphere here brings out a newcomer's ability, the artists have been known to get carried away by the muse despite their client's or model's requests… not always. But it happens.

Are they a client looking for something new and exciting, or a friend who's there for support? Dabbling in paint, or taking things to ink - or beyond, with the gallery's resources? Perhaps they come from a world where the latest trend's more than just pretty pictures to decorate the body? Or do they just want a fun day with an exciting new look that they can leave behind?

Perhaps they're just a visitor coming to see what's on display? Observing just what can be done? The studios attract many who just want to look around, maybe getting involved further once they've seen what's inside...

Or are they one of the gallery's models? Some sign up willingly to be exhibited as artwork. They might be walking in for the first time to be made into something beautiful, or they could be an established part of the gallery. The air here has been known to move potential models, potential artworks, in the same way that it moves the artists…
Some are less willing, possibly being pressured or coerced by another, or being the subject of an artist whose impulses led them far past what had been planned, seeing only a canvas to work on. The sculptures have stories to tell (those who can still speak)…

---

Comment as usual, letting other players know relevant facts about your character and their canon, any preferences you have, any scenarios you'd like to try out and any you'd like to avoid. (As this meme may contain descriptions of nudity and sexual/explicit scenes, as well as other sensitive material, please make sure to let people know what's going on. Communication's what it's all about.)

Tag other players: remember that here, if a character can pick up a brush, they can make another into a work of art, or explore things they'd never imagined they could. However, there's plenty of ways they can interact with others in the gallery.
Most of all? Enjoy!

Comments

Steve Rogers | MCU | OTA

[puncheshitlerforjustice]

[Gonna go with a first-time artist here, specifically body-painting. He's gonna be pretty awkward about it, though.]

[canfixpeople]

[Guangqi will try anything once. But this particular new experience holds more attraction than most. Though modified to the core of every cell on the inside, he's kept his appearance smoothly human, an anomaly at his home in Konishi. The idea was to make himself palatable to the unmodified spacers that he'd hoped to someday meet, but some feeling of awkwardness, and an intense curiosity, stayed with him. He's eager for whatever the artists of the gallery have to offer. Anything.

He grins at the other man as he walks up, already unbuttoning his shirt, all casual ease and excitement.] What do you work in - paint? I suppose paint is a good start.

Axel χ Kingdom Hearts χ OTA

[flurry_of_flames]

[As an artist: He's the sort for outlandish designs and breaking the rules. Might also be the sort to get carried away by the mood when he's working on someone...

As a model: Very willing to try new things, either temporary or permanent, as long as he can hide the end result under his coat: though I'm up for scenarios where he's otherwise heavily altered or worked with. A nice flame-themed or dragon-themed work, perhaps...]

[helborn]

[He'd volunteered to do this - it was interesting, and he's never minded being a canvas. Growing up with his father running a funeral home was a good way to start seeing bodies as just that - bodies. Just things, his included.]

[So it's with an easy smile that he approaches Axel, freshly washed and trimmed. He has on a loose white shirt and loose black pants, so that his clothes can easily be removed or changed around.]

Hey there. How are you doing today?

[flurry_of_flames]

[Axel's waiting outside his studio space with a smile, giving a wave as he sees the latest model approaching. It's always good to see a new face coming in: though quite often, around here, it's not the same face they go out with, after all.]

Hey, doing just fine, thanks. You're here for the appointment, aren't you?

[And he'll be extending a hand to shake, too, one already emblazoned with a brightly-coloured geometric pattern that runs all the way down to his fingertips.]

[helborn]

[He nods, and reaches out to shake Axel's hand. His body's unmarked, but it's been marked before.]

I am! You're Axel, right? I'm Casper. It's nice to meet you!

[jotunblooded]

[Loki has never been terribly artistic. But he has always been curious, and while business took him to this gallery that had nothing to do with the creations that get made here, curiosity made him linger at the edges, watching the proceedings.

Art had its own kind of magic - maybe nothing he should get involved with, but something he found himself wanting to understand, the more he saw. And so when Axel caught his eye, apparently not working on anyone or anything, Loki found himself approaching.]

Would you like a volunteer?

:D - oh ps, anything you'd want doing to him in particular?

[flurry_of_flames]

[Axel's having a little bit of a quiet period between commissions at the moment, otherwise he'd maybe think that being approached out of nowhere with a request like that was a bit too much. But he's got to say, the itch to try something out's getting to him, and there's only so many of the usual models he can call up before they start getting sick of his voice.

Smiling, he remarks, looking Loki over-]

If you've got a specific design in mind, those are commission only. I've gotta eat, you know. But if you're volunteering to let me experiment a little with techniques...

[He laughs, waving a hand lazily-]

Sure, man. Come on in.

Body paint, tattoooing, light body modifications. Wings seem appropriate.

[jotunblooded]

Of course. I would hardly wish to deprive you. [He doesn't necessarily like the idea of giving Axel free reign over him, but at the same time, Loki has no money and he'd demand the same in the artist's place. It doesn't seem like this place is actually dangerous. Just strange, and he's sure he can get away if he has to.]

A good thing that is what I'm 'volunteering' for, then. [Very little can be accomplished without some experimentation, after all. Loki can respect that, and so he steps inside the studio and takes a look around.]

Kanji Tatsumi ~ Persona 4

[realmenknitplushies]

[Serious option: Sneaking into a place where he can get away with tattoos at his age. Maybe getting roped/pressured into things he shouldn't be.

Silly fun option: Face painting! :D]

Re: Kanji Tatsumi ~ Persona 4

[snake_eyes]

[Getting away with a tattoo or two is certainly an easy thing to do, and Kanji's come to the right place for it. Of course, there are so many artists and so many customers...finding the right person for the job is a lot harder than finding the right place, but maybe Kanji will have some luck with a private booth in the far corner of the studio.

There's no crowd, no onlookers, no lines. There's a bored redhead wearing what looks to be a red yukata smoking and lounging next to some of the tools of the trade...no machines, just brushes, inks. He doesn't seem to notice anyone approaching, either. He's content to smoke from a golden pipe and pour over a portfolio he's been working on.

The space is pristine, almost like no work's been done here at all, but Cenek just keeps things organized. There are a few pictures of his work on the wall, all of tattoos on various men, but those are just the lure. Kanji might find himself with more than he bargains for if he decides to choose this particular man.]

[ooc; If OCs are fine? If you have any preferences, feel free to let me know. I'm open to most things. Any changes further than tattoos might be done without permission.]

[realmenknitplushies]

[It'd taken him a little to work up the nerve to actually come in here, but: perhaps it was true what they said. Getting one was just the start, and given his reputation already, what harm can a little more do? Kanji's not planning on much, mind: maybe just a little lightning-bolt design, or something similar, a little homage to his role in his team.

Curious, his eye caught by the work, Kanji heads into the corner booth and gives a cough to catch the artist's attention. Please let him get away with it...]

Uh, hey, man. This your work?


((OOC: OCs just peachy! :) And hee, yeah, feel free to mess with poor Kanji. The wilder the better...))

[snake_eyes]

[The redhead takes a moment to answer. He takes another hit of his pipe and exhales, waiting for the air to clear. He doesn't move from his perch; Cenek is lazily sitting on a large chair, and not even a delicious new subject is going to get him to look as he excited as he feels inside. No, there's a slight smirk as Kanji talks to him, but nothing more until he decides it's time to lift his head and look over at him.]

S'all mine. Y'like what you see? [He speaks quickly, some of his words blending together. That's how they talk where he comes from, a place without formal education of any kind to tell him his words are wrong. His brush is so much more right, anyways.] If you're lookin' for tattoos, you've come th'right place.

[ooc; Do you have any limitations I should know of/things to avoid? Or just anything you're looking for in general? If not, Kanji's probably going to end up animalistic.]

Lexaeus | Kingdom Hearts

[echoingsilence]

[An artist: one for ridiculously detailed, meticulous, patient work of whatever sort. May pick fidgety subjects up and sit them down how he wants them, dammit.]

Model/Sculpture

[waterintowhine]

It's not the first time he's been slated to be made into statuary, and it probably won't be the last, either. Demyx has been working at Adonis Studios for years, and has enjoyed himself thoroughly for most of the time he's been there--where else could he get such a sweet ride? A job that involves lounging around naked or nearly so, getting admired by people, and getting paid for it..... it's an unbelievably good deal, especially when he considers the fact that he's helping to showcase the talent of their fabulous local artists and giving them a chance to expand their skills.....

And hey, sometimes he's even in a position to be able to practice his art as well, and play sitar to entertain the visitors that come to the gallery. Now that is what he calls win-win!

It looks like he's been volunteered for Lexaeus today. That shouldn't be too bad..... Some of the more abstract artists here, especially if they were one of the body modification ones, could make things get really weird..... But he doesn't expect any problems today. Demyx knocks on the door even as he opens it, poking his head in to check and see if anyone was in. Today, he's wearing little more than a fluffy white robe, a pair of shockingly pink bunny slippers, a cute pair of dolphin-and-starfish covered boxers, and a bright smile; gotta be freshly washed and easy access for his darling coworkers, after all!

He's yawning as he comes in, mussed hair still dripping from the shower. "Morning~"

[echoingsilence]

On one hand, Lexaeus appreciates it when a model's taken the time to take care of their appearances. Some, going through so many forms, forget to pay attention to the body they'd started off life with. However... bunny slippers? Well, he supposes he shouldn't be so surprised. Someone like Demyx, after all, isn't the most high-strung of subjects out there.
And that's rather the way he likes it. There are so many who protest or try to be picky over their new looks: completely against the contract, of course. And it's such a disruption having to deal with them... ah, well. He doubts he'll be having to haul Demyx back into line too often.
Hopefully.

The studio's fresh and clean, with sketches and reference photographs hanging on the walls around the place. Lexaeus is setting up his equipment as Demyx arrives, retrieving racks of paintbrushes and sculpting tools from a safe-like storage unit with ultraviolet light shining inside, and a collection of small tubes and lotions from a fridge. Even if he's not one to work with the traditional ink and needle, there's still enough material likely to be entering a subject's body that he knows just how many precautions need to be taken.

"Good morning to you, too." He raises an eyebrow at Demyx's condition, though, almost smiling but not quite: "I see you're making yourself at home."

[waterintowhine]

High strung? Never! If you wind your strings too tight, they snap, that's what they do. And does Demyx want to snap? No way! You can always give loose strings a tune-up, that's no big deal. It's a lot harder to wrench loose those tuning pegs once they've already been locked into near immobility from being twisted so hard. Besides, he happens to like the body he was born in--quite a lot, actually, even if he makes a living letting people do whatever they want to it. He enjoys getting to pamper himself, and it isn't like they don't have the facilities for doing so..... after all, they want their canvases to look their very best, right?

And if that just so happens to mean bunny slippers, then by all means, he'll happily wear bunny slippers. As often as he wanders around nude, and as little as he personally minds doing so, most people don't like to see him doing it unless he's already inked or modded for the day. Ah, well, it's a minor inconvenience at best. They don't fuss at him (too much), and he won't fuss at them (too much) while they're working.

So Demyx watches instead, mildly curious and fighting back another yawn as he admires the artwork and equipment. It's always interesting, seeing how different the tools and techniques could be between the different artists that worked here..... Sometimes Lexaeus' stuff looks almost scientific, but then it veers right back into the typical painter schtick..... It's kind of cool, actually. Most people seem to like sticking to one to the other. "Mmhmm! Might as well settle in for the day, right? What's on the menu?"

Minako Aino | Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon | OTA

[noticemylove]

[It's been Minako's dream to be a model! She'll be a hopeful ingenue, a jaded veteran, or a warning sign to any new hapless arrivals. Taggers can feel free to encounter Minako during any stage of her modeling career here. Also open is how extreme taggers are willing to go regarding modification.]

[sazanka]

[They won a contest. Makoto Kino and Minako Aiko were chosen to become models among dozens of entries seeking for the same privilege. While Minako was clearly born for the role, Makoto always assumed she wouldn't get picked for something like this, but now that it's happened she is happy.

Makoto's joy in her smile was clear, but hers was a little more contained. She takes some time to marvel at the works of art of the gallery as they walk through halls to their appointed site.]

I can't believe we're going to be models. I didn't think I stood a chance with everyone who entered.

[noticemylove]

I know, right??

[Minako giggled as they traveled through the gallery of exotic mannequins and statuettes lining the halls. What beautiful models must have been hired to pose for them all! And what an amazing step to building her career!

She tugs on Makoto's arm, trying to urge her friend just a little bit faster.]

Come on! We don't want to be late!

Bilbo Baggins | The Hobbit | m/m

[veiled_hero]

Music Meister | Batman: The Brave and the Bold

[hypnotic_patter]

[While Meister's happy to be a model or to have someone beautify him with paint and not very much clothing, he also won't pass up a chance to turn someone else into a masterwork. And then use them in a mesmerizing performance.]

Ryoji Mochizuki | Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 | OTA

[notsogrimreaper]

[Could be many things here. If he's an artist, he'd likely stick to paint, and create more romantic pieces based on his or the model's memories. If he's a model, he's been suckered into this somehow... which wouldn't be hard, since he's a little naive. He could be a visitor, but if so, expect him to be more than a little wary around everyone.

All scenarios are welcome!]

[deadlyvelvet]

[Of all the things Elizabeth had expected to encounter in the outside world, she hadn't expected this. Art galleries? Sure, she understood the concept! But this place? How did it even work?
It was a distraction, perhaps, but even she needed a break. So ... she'd signed up for classes, and so far, they'd been enjoyable - she'd been told she was a natural. Natural what? Some of the models had seemed rather confused, though...

The latest... hm. There's something oddly familiar about him. Where have they met before? She just can't put a finger on it... for a moment, Minato comes into her mind, but it's probably just her natural preoccupation showing up. Nothing to do with this boy at all.
She goes over to introduce herself, all happy smiles.]

Oh, hello!

((ooc: Because I haven't played her in a while... Thanatos-buddies represent? :p Velvet Room mojo and inspiration = what she's doing ending up all ~topical~? Death/Seal/tarot blahblah leading to eventual mutual 'oh crap'?))

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji's fidgeting just a bit as he approaches the artist, and it's not just because of nerves. Certainly, he's starting to wonder why exactly he signed up... it had sounded fun until he noticed how some people preferred to dabble in mediums other than paint, and even he won't suffer for the sake of style.

Besides all that, the woman is another source of worry. She seems nice enough, though a tad eccentric, but her personality isn't the issue. She seems very familiar, and he can't seem to place why. Maybe Minato mentioned her once or twice? She seems more important than that, though.

He tries to push the confusion aside once he's approached, and he offers his own charming, if slightly uncomfortable, smile.]

Hello! Are you one of the artists here?

((I am up for all of these things! Surely this whole scenario will be cause for great awkward even without the Thanatos talk. I'll give you permission for Elizabeth to get as crazy as she wants with her inspiration!))