Cultured {Jane} [Casual] FIN

[JANE EYRE]

Jane politely declined the snacks and went to find the other still life. She knew one that would be perfect. She had gone through a phase with lighting where she collected different sorts of lightbulbs and drew them. They were in different sizes, electrical fixtures and in different settings but they were all lightbulbs. The pictures were done in all sorts of mediums, pencil, pastel, paint, and varied in size and brightness. Some of the pictures were very light while others were darker and a bit more grungy.

"I think these ones would work perfectly," Jane said, showing them to Claudius. He could always use them as a tongue in cheek ice breaker, citing bright ideas at Chandler Enterprises. They could fit into any decor and were interesting enough without being distracting.

"What do you think? I have a whole series of them and could always create more,"

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

As Jane had declined the snacks, Claudius set the plate back on the counter and returned his attention to Jane herself rather than the food she had on offer.

The paintings she showed him next were, in a word, perfect. Not only were they as well done, as all Jane's work was, but the fact they were done in a variety of materials made them all the more eye-catching.

"I think these ones would work perfectly. What do you think? I have a whole series of them and could always create more,"

"I think I've seen the light," Claudius said, with a laugh. "No wonder I had no clue what I was looking for...I never would have thought of something like those...and they're perfect, Jane, just perfect!"

Having said this, Claudius turned momentarily back to the counter but, not finding what he wanted, he returned his gaze to Jane.

"You wouldn't happen to have any wine, would you? To toast our success at finally finding the right paintings?"

The fact Jane didn't drink was something he seemed to have forgotten.

[JANE EYRE]

Jane smiled happily when Claudius gave his approval for the lightbulb pictures. Taking the stack, Jane stood up and went over to her dinning room table. She sat all the paintings and drawings down there and went through the process of gathering butcher paper to wrap them all in. Jane bustled around, happy to be doing something productive that wasn't as awkward as showing pieces.

"You wouldn't happen to have any wine, would you? To toast our success at finally finding the right paintings?"


"Um, no," Jane looked over at Claudius, mildly confused. "I don't drink, I'm too young," Jane reminded him. Had he been drunk when she mentioned that before? "I do have tea and lemonade though, in the refridgerator. Feel free to help youself,"

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

"Um, no. I don't drink, I'm too young. I do have tea and lemonade though, in the refridgerator. Feel free to help youself,"

"...I knew that."

Claudius laughed, somewhat weakly, before thanking Jane and procuring lemonade from the fridge while she busied herself in wrapping up the paintings. He poured two glasses, one for himself and the other for Jane and took them over to where she stood. Handing her a glass he held his own aloft.

"To bright ideas!"

[JANE EYRE]

Jane stopped wrapping to take the glass of lemonade. Raising it as well, Jane added after Claudius's toast, "And to wordplay," It was said teasingly and light, obviously meant to amuse not to offend.

Jane took a polite sip and sat the glass aside so she could continue wrapping. There were several pieces that needed to be tended to then all bundled together. Jane wanted to make sure that they arrived at Claudius's office in one piece.

"May we discuss pricing now?" Jane hated talking about the cost of paintings but it was necessary. She kept careful records of every piece that sold and for how much, just to be safe. It was easy enough since she didn't sell that many pieces but when she did, she had very careful records.

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

Claudius grinned as Jane followed his toast with one of her own. He nodded in agreement and took a gulp of lemonade; the stuff had nothing on champagne but Claudius couldn't deny it tasted nice, nor that it was a surprisingly welcome change.

"May we discuss pricing now?"

"If you insist," Claudius replied, with mock resignation. In all honesty he didn't have a problem with discussing pricing; he had more than enough money, that much was obvious.

[JANE EYRE]

Jane, once again, burst into motion. She was tying the paintings into a bundle and pulling out her receipt book at the same time, all while talking about how things were typically priced. Jane rattled off what each piece would typically be and then suggested a price for all of them. Having become quite involved with the gallery scene, Jane had gotten adept at pricing things. It had been awkward at first but it was easy enough to get the hang of it.

"If that price doesn't work for you we can always negotiate another one," Jane added helpfully after giving Claudius a specific price.

The price she suggested was already the bare minimum, covering hours spent and supplies. Of course, now that she had more than enough money, Jane didn't even need to price her pieces that high but she felt it was only fair.

Economically speaking, Jane was getting a fair-return, covering the cost of production and nothing else.

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

"If that price doesn't work for you we can always negotiate another one,"

Claudius listened as Jane gave him a specific figure, continuing to drink his lemonade as he did so (it still had nothing on champagne). He was surprised at the price, and therefore made his feelings known in his usual manner.

"Never mind if that price doesn't work for me, what about if it doesn't work for you?" he exclaimed. "Considering the number of paintings you're giving me, plus the time spent on them and the materials used...I'd say they're worth double that! Deal?"

[JANE EYRE]

I'd say they're worth double that! Deal?

Jane was taking a sip of lemonade when he spoke and almost choked on it. Coughing, with a hand covering her mouth, Jane shook her head. "Absolutely not! That's far too much," There was no way she could ever accept that much extra. It was too exorbitant; the pieces weren't worth nearly that, nor was her time spent on the pieces. Jane worked little by little on paintings, she never worked a whole day away.

"I can't accept you offer," Jane said after a moment. She had paused to compose herself and tried to repeat her message more politely. "It's very generous and I am deeply flattered, but I simply could not accept it,"

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

Jane's coughing and spluttering, having nearly choked on the lemonade, indicated to Claudius that increasing the price that much had not been the brightest of ideas. Before he could attempt to rectify the trouble, Jane spoke.

"Absolutely not! That's far too much,"

It wasn't, in Claudius' eyes, but he reckoned it was best not to argue back.

"I can't accept you offer,"

"Well, in that case-"

"It's very generous and I am deeply flattered, but I simply could not accept it,"

Claudius' smile returned when Jane said she was flattered, yet he realized her decision not to accept the price was final. Claudius would have to come up with some other way of thanking Jane.

It was then an idea sprung at him. Despite his blind date with Joanne Jefferson awhile back, rumours were still circulating about him and Harry's mother. Yes, Jane was far too young to be with Claudius in the dating sense, but that wasn't to saw he couldn't treat her and thank her for her artwork (making it look like a date).

"Well then," Claudius said, at last. "At least let me take you to the opera." This was said with his signature winning grin on his face; the sort of grin that is difficult to resist (or so Claudius had found over the years).

[JANE EYRE]

"Well then, at least let me take you to the opera."

Jane blinked at Claudius, not entirely sure how to respond. He was giving her a rather charming smile and seemed too at ease offering to treat her to a night out at the opera.

She had hoped that her first experience of the opera would be with Erik but it was hardly appropriate to turn down such an accomodating and generous offer.

"That...that would be lovely," Jane accepted slowly. She smiled back and looked back to her work. Jane wrote out the reciept and finished bundling all the paintings. She held out both to Claudius, it being up to him to decide how to pay her.

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

"That...that would be lovely,"

The slowness and hesitance in Jane's response did not faze Claudius in the slightest. He'd expected her to be a bit uneasy about the whole thing, considering how it was likely to be interpreted, but he was pleased she had accepted all the same.

"Brilliant," he said, still smiling. "I'm really glad. I'll see what's on next week and get in touch."

It was then that Jane handed over the receipt and the paintings. Claudius took both but set down the paintings on the table again to look over the receipt. He then extracted his wallet from his suit jacket pocket and took out the money Jane requested with no great theatrics.

He couldn't resist slipping in an extra hundred and, hoping Jane hadn't noticed, he pressed the money into her hand before leaning over to kiss her on the cheek.

"It's been a pleasure, Jane," he said, stepping back again and picking up the bundle of paintings, thinking nothing of the gesture he had just imparted.


ooc: That was all the Nessiebrain could come up with for this, apologies. D:

[JANE EYRE]

Jane opened her mouth to bid Claudius goodbye when he pressed the money into her hand and leaned in to kiss her cheek. Jane was left gaping, a pink blush creeping over her cheeks.

That....that was unexpected.

Jane clutched the money tightly but carefully so she didn't wrinkle the bills and coughed lightly to clear her throat. It just didn't make sense for Claudius Chandler of all people to give her a kiss! He was rich, well-known, and a far cry more attractive than she. Jane realized, of course, that the kiss may not hold the same intimations for him as it did for her.

To Jane, a kiss on the cheek was a rather big deal, a sign of affection and genuine compassion. It wasn't a simple adieu.

"Y-Yes, Claudius. I look forward to receiving your call," Jane managed to compose herself without much trouble and went to the door, opening it for Claudius.

[CLAUDIUS CHANDLER]

The fact Jane was blushing and was evidently embarrassed by Claudius' gesture did not faze the Hamlet Enterprises CEO in the slightest. Jane wasn't at all used to his mannerisms, it was clear, and Claudius couldn't fathom what the problem was. To him, at least, there was no problem.

"Y-Yes, Claudius. I look forward to receiving your call,"

Jane had moved to open the door; the meeting seemed, for all intents and purposes, to be over. Still smiling, seemingly oblivious to how uncomfortable he was making Jane feel, Claudius adjusted the paintings in his arms and headed for the door himself.

"Until next time, Jane," he said, all politeness. "Adieu!"

And with that, Claudius left as swiftly as he had arrived.


ooc: I presume we're ending it there; thanks so much Kay for a brilliant thread - I hope it lived up to your expectations! (: