River smiled. "Except when your watching, that is?" Cae had incredible talent for the visual arts. Ocllo respected that... and stayed out of her way when she was working. Cae was highly focused when she painted, and would become quickly irritable and icy if River interrupted her or looked over her shoulder for too long. In fact it was quite clear that Caelum preferred to work on the painting when she and Richard were alone...

"I'm sure she will get the portrait talking soon." River tilted her head to one side. "How is... everything else going between you two?" She did not want to pry where she might not be welcome, but she was [i]curious[/i]. 

Part of that curiosity was selfish, she had never dated anyone herself and she craved insight to that strange institution. The other part that curiosity was [i]fear[/i] for her friend, Caelum was beautiful but she also was one of the most confusing humans River had ever met, passionate and distant at the same time. She sometimes seemed disinterested, yet she had gotten herself involved in all their activities. She seemed like someone difficult to get close to, complicated, but perhaps Richard liked that. Richard was a bit mysterious himself at times.

She rested her elbows on the banister and clasped her hands looking back toward the parade.