Back to the Basic

Deccan Valenzuela stepped off the teleporter with a heavy sigh. “A new frontier in art? This city looks rather standard.”

“Oh come off your Plasma-whip Slug, Deccan.” Izabella Weaver replied. With her usual chipperness, which drove Deccan to his wit’s end. “The dock is a bit bland, but there’s some simply lovely structures in the town square. In part—”

“Why are you here?” Deccan said. “And have I not told you a lightyear’s worth of times that it is Mister Valenzuela?”

“You know why I’m here, Deccan.” Izabella replied. “But why you are still doing something that gives you so little joy, I'll never know. Go watch some star shows in the Pegues Sparrow Galaxy or something.”

“I have.” Deccan replied. “As long as you are here, perhaps I could make use of what little talent is left in this pathetic display of crafters?” Even behind his usual, grainy, stoic tone, there was enough respect for the girl he was conversing with in his voice to make that stardock’s workers stop

“Oh come on, it’s not that rare.” Izabella said. “And get those to the artists they need to get to.”

Deccan adjust his hat and robe. “They don’t carry their supplies on them?”

“Some can’t this time.” Izabella replied. “Contest rules, and the complication of following them. Some of the stuff the transporters were never designed to take.”

“Were yours?” Deccan asked. “What is it you’ll be using this time?”

“Mine material also wasn’t, actually.” Izabella said. “At least not initially but since it fits on me it turned out fine. After a few safety tests.”

“You can’t even transport the creations here?” Deccan replied. “I shall concede that I am curious.”

“Some you can. Others you can’t” Izabella said, as she dug through her jacket. “Teleporting my entry on its own does not work, for example. Though we’re not really sure why, but no worries.” She held up a piece of paper. “Got my blueprints right here.” she quickly put them back into her jacket’s pockets.
x
“And the theme, Miss Weaver?” Deccan asked. “Rather unusual for it not to be in the judging rules.”

“Funny you say that, honestly.” Izabella replied. “We weren’t told the theme either, even in the ad. Show up, pick something, and then make something.”

“Why in a galaxy cluster would anyone agree to such a thing?!” Deccan asked. “And you of all people, for that matter?”

“Deccan Valenzuela” Izabella replied. “Izabella Weaver has never turned down anything that peaks her curiosity, and she is certainly not going to start the moment it gets a little more interesting.”  With that Izabella walked away.

Deccan walked around the town for a little while getting his bearings, and using his extra time to learn where he needed to be tomorrow.

 All across town were various structures, paintings, oddly made buildings. Some of which Deccan thought above the usual standards, but as usual he quickly grew bored. So he went to his hotel room, and studied the rules a bit more. As Izabella said, they were vague. In fact, there was barely even criteria of any kind. So after asking himself a few more questions, Deccan went to sleep.

 Several artists, and critics burst through the doors the next day. “Honestly.” Izabella sighed “not like the results are coming out any faster.”

“Quite so.” Deccan replied. “Even if you are going to hate it, judge it properly first.”

“Well, Shall we?” Izabella asked. “Yes I’m still determined. Someday, even if not today I will make you enjoy art again.”

“As always Izabella, annoying as I find you, you have my interest.” Deccan replied. Following Izabella, Deccan glazed at other works. “Marbles, and a track for them. Cards portraying the more primitive games… not without its merits.”

“And here we are all, this is mine.” Izabella made a grand gesture to a small dog made of matches with their matchbox as its body. Glued together in a mismatched fashion, so it seemed as though the dog had red spots in various places. As well as, two red spots on the top of its ears. “So? Seems you’re interested.” she said, a bit excited.

 Deccan walked around the small statue a few times. Studying it, and tilting his head. “Why a dog? Why so mashed together? And the material is rather.. Dangerous, no?”

“Only if you light it with that part.” Izabella pointed to a spot on the matchbox. “You know Deccan…” Izabella said. “Some of these I like, but this was just not the crowd for this. I mean half of them drop out. A lot of others just grabbed something metal, magnetic, something they thought they could work with.”

“6 maybe 7.” Deccan replied. “Winners, my apologies.”

  “I.. yeah.” Izabella said. “They told us 8 were going to be shown overall. I do know I happen to be one of them.”

“Because you didn’t grab something you thought would work, Miss Weaver.” Deccan replied. “You grabbed something that from records is thousands of years old, at least. A thing of utility, and occasionally destruction. And yet made into a loyal, and fun loving creature.”

“Does that mean?” Izabella took a step back.

“Yes, but what is it that you will do now?” Deccan asked.

“Well,” Izabella replied. “Whatever it is, I'll need another match box.”