welcome

[Romana Lundar]

Romana had a thing for museums. Let it be art, history, science, medicine, even museums about aliens, she was there. It was seeing how far humans and aliens came to be. From start to finish. It was breath taking seeing such ancient pieces preserve to this day. So when Stephen Carsle, a professor of history and a past love of hers, called up and offered her tickets to an exhibit she jumped and grabbed them. It was sad that he and Kami along with their children couldn't come along. However a family emergency called them away. Romana was left alone and with the tickets. She did try offering some of the spare tickets to her co-workers but they didn't seem wanting to go with her. Commander Harper looked a bit interested but that was it.

Romana dressed up in black, knee length skirt with a silk black ribbon in the front and dark red satin blouse. She walked towards the museum, ready to spend the whole day there. Stephen told her that the archeologist team that recover the artifacts in the exhibits was going to be there. He had planned to introduce her and his family to them, seeing as he was in the same league of them. Maybe Romana could meet them and perhaps even ask for a private tour of the things they found. It was one thing to read it off the plaque but to hear it from the people who found it was another.

The female doctor walked towards the art area of the museum. It was close to the new exhibit, just go through a doorway and you were there. She was going to head over there but something caught her eye. The brunette walked backwards until she was facing it. It was a portrait of a woman with dark hair, her hands folded over each other, and she gave a look. Romana tilted her head to the side, looking over it. It was one of the few portraits that made it from the 16th century, the "Mona Lisa".

"Why paint a portrait without any eyebrows?" Romana mused out, her voice echoing off the walls of the gallery.

[River Song]

It wasn't hard to pick out the head archeologist who was responsible for excavating the artifacts on display that night. Mostly because she was in a heated argument that was taking place right by the Mona Lisa.

River Song didn't exactly look out of place in a long, wrap around gown but she didn't look her most comfortable. Maybe it was the way she walked - paced, really - that gave away the fact that she was not in heels very often. Her steps here small and planted, as if she were unconsciously trying to make sure she didn't fall flat on her face. As Romana edged closer, she would be able to hear the two's annoyed hissed words. It was a benefit event, after all, and it wouldn't do to get into a yelling match in front of the oer dourves.

"---with my money," the tall blonde haired man gestured lazily at the painting, the hallway, perhaps the entire museum.

"Maybe it was with your money that we managed to recover these specimens, but I'm the archeologist you hired to get them. And I'm trying to tell you that you don't have them under the proper light. I didn't just risk my neck in a sunken Louvre for you to ruin a masterpiece because you've got the wrong bleeding light bulb pointed at it."

"The other ones make it hard to see. If the investors can't see what they're investing in, they're much less likely to fund any more of your expeditions. Really, it's quite a lovely portrait. It's a shame to think of it wasting away in darkness."

River furrowed her eyebrows at the elder blonde man and crossed her arms in front of her. It didn't take a genius to assume that she was upset. Eyes alighting upon Romana, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

"Miss, excuse me." Rather than the annoyed and superior expression she gave her investor, River was all smiles and pleasantries now. "I do hope you're enjoying your visit, but I was hoping I could ask you a question or two to resolve an issue I'm having with that gentleman over there."

[Romana Lundar]

Voices boomed throughout the museum, the sounds echoing off the pieces. It was mostly heard in the same gallery Romana was. She looked over and saw two people arguing back and forth. It was hard to ignore when it was loud and so close. At first the doctor thought it was a lovers quarrel but then she picked up the words. They were talking about the pieces of art scattered around the walls and on the ground for the statues. It was about the proper lighting.

Romana wanted to get an idea about what they are talking about so she glanced at the portraits. The lights were essentials spotlights on each piece of art. It was put up like that because the man (judging by the conversation) wanted everyone to see them. They were bright, a little damaging to the eyes but something people could get use to. However, the pictures weren't living beings. The lights would affect some in a way.

"Miss, excuse me."

Romana turned her head back around. She saw the woman from the previous argument coming over. She was looked professional and had the air of someone who was in charge. Defiantly not someone who would take advantage of whatever her position was. "Yes?" she replied, wondering what the woman wanted.

"I do hope you're enjoying your visit, but I was hoping I could ask you a question or two to resolve an issue I'm having with that gentleman over there."

Romana looked over her shoulder and saw the tall blond man huffing and glaring at the back of her head. He looked put out, with his arms crossed and pouting. He was acting like a child during a hissy fit. The brunette looked back at the woman in front of her and gave a quick nod. She wanted to help out, picking a side so the issue could be resolve. If the argument continue, it would ruin the night for people.

"I would love to," she smiled and offered her hand in greetings, "I'm Romana Lundar by the way. So what is the problem?" she asked though she already knew what it was. Though it would be best to hear it from the beginning and without arguing.

[River Song]

To some it may seem like such a trivial thing to argue about: a light bulb, the amount of light shining on a priceless painting. However, to River, it's all much more. If she's going to go about risking life and limb for these artifacts, they're going to be treated well or they'll have to answer to her for it!

"I would love to. I'm Romana Lundar by the way. So what is the problem?"

"Oh, good, I'm so glad to hear it." River barely allowed enough time for Romana to introduce herself before she started talking again. That's simply the way she was. As soon as she had someone's attention that she needed, she wasn't about to let pauses get in the way of something important. "River Song, pleasure." For the moment, she keeps her position to herself, should Romana not have heard it already. No need to spoil that quite yet.

"There's no problem. Or, at least I hope there won't be. I was just wondering what you thought of this painting? I, personally, am quite taken with it. I like the detail, the half smile, how the background seems to fade into the distance quite convincingly. Don't you?"

It's hard to tell what River is up to. Her investor certainly doesn't seem to. He slides closer to the pair of women, nervously glancing between the Mona Lisa in question and the curly haired archeologist who is speaking. He can't seem to see how this will solve their argument, but he's not willing to speak up to say so in front of someone who may just be a well-paying customer. River ignores him for now.

[Romana Lundar]

River Song was her name. Romana had to admit, the name sounded very mythical. She could image a sliver of a river, enchanted to sing soft melodies. Something to draw in thirsty travelers to drink upon and get instantly revived. She inwardly sigh, being in the art gallery was getting to her. The place was inspiring and the doctor wished she could paint something, but all she could do was stick figures.

Speaking of pictures.

"There's no problem. Or, at least I hope there won't be. I was just wondering what you thought of this painting? I, personally, am quite taken with it. I like the detail, the half smile, how the background seems to fade into the distance quite convincingly. Don't you?"

"It's quite good," Romana blurted out. The tall blond man was hovering behind them and heard her words. He let out a soft scoff, almost sounding smug. "I mean for a famed picture, it's....just quite good. I am concern about the lack of eyebrows." Romana said, tilting her head to the side and took in the picture.

The lack of the eyebrow was just something that Romana could not ignore. All the other pieces had eyebrows in them. But Mona Lisa did not. It was like seeing a big red dot on her forehead. Could not be ignore.

She shrugged her shoulders, "For Earth it is a prize possession but there are a lot more pictures out there in the universe that are greater."

[River Song]

That wasn't quite the response that River had in mind when she asked Romana about the Mona Lisa. It shows quite in the raised eyebrow that she gives the woman. At least she likes to think on her feet. While her goal was to make a point to her investor, she'll enjoy a bit of a detour on the way to getting to that.

"Well. Despite the lack of eyebrows problem, I'm glad to hear that you think it has some redeeming quality to those on Earth." Despite her somewhat harsh words, there's still that quirk of a smile that she has on the corner of her lips. "It was considered quite an important painting back in Earth's history, I'm not sure if you knew. But, my question to you would be this: wouldn't it truly be a shame if this unique young woman in the painting were to lose more than just her eyebrows because the lighting that was directed at it bled out all the reds and blues from the paint? Would you, instead, prefer to pay what I'm sure is an extraordinary amount of money to come see this painting if it looked like, say, a washed out dish cloth?"

While she's speaking, she continues to glance over Romana's shoulder to the blonde investor. The smile never leaves her face, nor does the pleasant tone of voice that she was using before.

"Even if there are greater pictures out there in the universe, wouldn't it be such a crime to lose this one forever because someone was pig headed enough to think that he could squeeze a bit more money out of the patrons by making it brighter? Or, do you think you, as a patron, would understand why it was in a bit dimmer light so as to keep it safer for those to come?" She paused and smiled widely. "Please do speak up when you answer, if you would. There's a man standing right behind you that needs to hear your answer."

[Romana Lundar]

"It was considered quite an important painting back in Earth's history, I'm not sure if you knew. But, my question to you would be this: wouldn't it truly be a shame if this unique young woman in the painting were to lose more than just her eyebrows because the lighting that was directed at it bled out all the reds and blues from the paint? Would you, instead, prefer to pay what I'm sure is an extraordinary amount of money to come see this painting if it looked like, say, a washed out dish cloth?"

Romana frown when she listen to River. She didn't have it in her to pay for such a painting, way out of her budget. However, she understand her logic. The painting was close to four thousand years. Whoever brought it from the buried museum and didn't even scratch it must be amazing! It was a delicate piece of art, being made from materials that were not part of the main stream world around them. And just the thought of it being destroyed by something as lighting made her blood boil. Romana didn't care too much for painting itself but the whole history around it.

"Even if there are greater pictures out there in the universe, wouldn't it be such a crime to lose this one forever because someone was pig headed enough to think that he could squeeze a bit more money out of the patrons by making it brighter? Or, do you think you, as a patron, would understand why it was in a bit dimmer light so as to keep it safer for those to come?" She paused and smiled widely. "Please do speak up when you answer, if you would. There's a man standing right behind you that needs to hear your answer."

Romana looked over her shoulder, finally acknowledging the man behind them. Unlike River, Romana didn't hold back at glaring at him sharply. She knew that he was the 'pig headed' that Rive spoke about. The doctor wanted slap him silly right now, but she held back. Turning back to River, her glare dropped as it wasn't being targeted at her. "Yes, I do believe it be a crime. The painting was created over close to four thousand years ago, correct? It was a prize piece, hardly something that can be damage by the simple matter of which light bulb to use. I know that when Mona Lisa gather her fame, the museum took far better care for it. And, furthermore, the light bulbs they used to just enough to light up the painting but not bright enough to make the paint run. Unlike now, where the lights are brighter then three thousand years ago." Romana explain, backing up River 100 percent.

The brunette looked back at the blond haired man again, her glare returning. Now she was speaking to him. "It is a highly offense, good sir, to submit a great work of art to being ruin so carelessly. If you don't take proper care of it and sell it to someone who has no idea how to manage it, and should the paint run off...then it can be classed as a scam. A scam that I don't think Torchwood would ever ignore. Unless you wish to have Torchwood on your ass, I suggest listening to Miss Song and getting the proper light fixtures and take care of it like if it was a living and breathing thing." her eyes were lowered and sent daggers at him. If looks could kill, the man would be six feet under and his family putting roses at his headstone.

[River Song]

While River was sure to be flattered by the compliments Romana was already thinking about her - albeit unknowingly - for now her main concern was the Mona Lisa. It was too important of a painting to be caught up in something silly as admiration. That is, admiration for anything other than the amazing artifact hanging in front of them. If Romana wanted a history of the Mona Lisa, she certainly stumbled onto the right person. River was rather extensive in her research before digs; if there's much information to be found before heading out. The Mona Lisa, at least, was something that was well documented.

Putting a proud hand on Romana's shoulder at the other woman's rant, the curly haired archeologist merely smiled in a superior way to her investor. While he may pay for her digs, that didn't mean that he owned her. No one owned River Song.

"I wouldn't argue with her, William. Now, be a good host and run to get a proper bulb. David will know all about it. I'll be here to keep a good watch on our girl here."

The blonde man, obviously fuming at being talked to by both a patron and who he thought of as his employee in such a manner, bowed curtly and then turned on his heel. Off he went to fulfill River's request and the archeologist was left with the Time Traveler, all but bursting to laugh. As soon as William was out of earshot, she let out a short bark of one.

"Oh, that was too much fun. It's a shame I don't come to openings more often. Too busy down in the dirt and muck, I guess I would say. A good bluff with Torchwood, miss. I doubt they'd have much interest in Dear Mona here, but he hates the idea of them sniffing about his property all the same."

As she turned around to face the painting again, she attempted to turn Romana with her. "You were right about how they cared for her in the past. They took amazing care of her. She did look a little sad behind her thick plastic casing, but at least you knew they were doing it for her well being. Not because they'd like to foist her off onto some rich arm like she was a tart for sale."

The idea of buying and selling artifacts was a little disgusting in her opinion. They belonged where everyone could see them and appreciate their value.