lempereur | IC CONTACT;

In the mood for a distraction from this weirdness?

Ivy. It's nice to hear from you.

[ He isn't used to it yet, not at all, but the panic is more mild. He's even...done the deed. It wasn't even traumatic! Still: ]

I would like that.

Glad to hear it!

So, there's an art gallery in the Up. Have you been?

I have not. I have taken some time setting settled in and collecting my own supplies
How did you know?

How did I?
Oh, I didn't know lol. I figured visiting an art gallery would be some nice like normal thing with zero pressure involved!

I was an artist back home.
I still am. However, the stress of everything has halted any productivity.

Did you want to go together?

Aha, I knew I had a good sense about you. I guess you could say I'm an artist too.
Yeah, if you wanted! I've mostly gone on my own.

[ Of course she is. Who would have thought he would meet so many like-minded people in a place like this? ]

I would like that.

You live in the Up, right? I'll send you the address.
I can meet in an hour!

I will see you there.

[ in her red bomber jacket, ivy stands out by the entrance to the art gallery. she had sent the proper location on the map before getting ready, primping just enough because she always wants to be presentable. with her phone in her pocket, she holds onto it to feel for any vibration in case he cancels or gets lost.

taking the advice of several friends into mind, she should fill her days with other distractions, to focus on some good that she can get her hands on. making a new friend is a nice solution, especially since that friend seems to have shared interests. ]

[ There will be a vibration to confirm when he is almost there, but Yusuke does not cancel plans. He arrives in a bright floral print with black, skinny pants, hair put together and the rest of his perfectly poised. This is his normal, as opposed to the moment of weakness Ivy witnessed at the orientation. Yusuke's voice is soft, but firm, always sounding sure of himself even when he's anything but. ]

Ivy. It's good to see you again.

Same to you, Yusuke.

[ and there she is, admiring his outfit; she's been exposed to all types of people but it is refreshing to meet a teenage boy who cares about his style and is far more creative than she is. her smile is big as always, though this time it isn't for show because she has been looking forward to this outing. ]

I received an invitation to show here, but I – chickened out. I mean, I'm not ready yet. [ she pushes the door open first. ]

You have? [ Yusuke's eyes get wide for a moment, and then soften. He's only just got here, he hasn't had the time to build a body of work worth showing off, but to know that it's possible for them, people foreign to this world, is encouraging. Maybe it won't be all bad. ]

Why didn't you take it?

I'm –

[ ivy looks up at the ceiling, avoiding looking back at her new friend for a moment. she crosses her arms over her chest and laughs humorlessly. ] I'm not very good. Not talented enough to be on display or – yeah. I'm not there yet. I just got this offer when I was asking people to sit for me so I could practice portraits.

[ she's embarrassed, feeling stupid at her confession, that she turned down diana's offer, that she even dropped her portrait requests after a while. ]

If they asked you to show here, they must think you are good.

[ It's an opportunity Yusuke wouldn't pass up. Maybe here, he could even make a name for himself on his own terms, without the memory of Madarame lingering over him. He could be Yusuke Kitagawa, not Madarame's Tragic Student. ]

Do you do a lot of portraits?

Diana was just – being kind. I think.

[ for all that she postures herself as confident and carefree, ivy is suddenly uncomfortable at someone insisting that she's a creator, that she's good enough to display her work. her cheeks are suddenly flushed beneath the light dusting of blush and she turns away slightly to approach a large, pollock-esque painting on the wall. ]

I like faces and figures. I'm kinda traditional in that sense.

[ If this Diana was very good at her job, she wouldn't make the offer just to be kind, he thinks. However, Yusuke doesn't know her, and hasn't seen Ivy's work, so he makes no further comment. ]

It may be traditional, but for good reason. There is nothing more compelling than the human body. So many different kinds of beauty, that no one can ever see it all.

She hadn't seen my stuff then, [ ivy feels the need to say anyway. ] I–I told her I'd contact her once I'm ready.

[ but she leaves that at that, finding the discussion of the actual creation more comfortable than her previous circumstances along with the admission that she had fretted even a little over the offer. ] There are many beautiful faces here, too. I've drawn lots of people so far, from strangers who offered to sit for me to people I've been with. [ she smiles fondly, tucking some hair behind her ear. ] I like capturing those people when they're most comfortable and, like, really happy – sleeping or just laying around.

[ Yusuke stops, only half-listening now that he's found a painting that interests him. It's a messy kitchen, with piled up dishes and ingredients left all over the counter, but the couple on the canvas look happy together, despite it. Or because of it. It makes him smile. ]

In their natural state, you mean?

[ she follows him, standing a few steps behind his shoulder to look at the painting that has caught his attention, folding her hands behind her back. ]

Yes, their natural state. It's really nice. I sometimes think they're the prettiest or handsomest like that.

I used to prefer particular poses. An idealized form, if you will. But now...

[ He's found ways of being intimate with people that he'd never experienced before, seen parts of them they've never shown anyone else. He feels like his understanding may be changing. ]

I think I would be interested in exploring a more naturalistic approach.

Oh, I see. [ given what she does know about him, from their few exchanges, that makes a bit of sense. she can't imagine herself asking anyone to hold a pose, though; her own methods are fast and loose for the most part.

playfully she nudges his arm with her elbow before moving onto the next painting, offering over her shoulder, ] I'm happy to pose.

I will take you up on that. I think I will turn the spare bedroom into a studio, at least until I have a contract.

[ she spins around to eye him carefully. ] Can I sketch you too?

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