(no subject)

[wanderingsin]

Sin rushes home to shower and change his clothes, texting Athelstan as he goes.

Sorry, long night at school. I'm on my way to you now. <3 Sin

He looks at himself in the mirror, noting the bags under his eyes. He hesitates a moment before grabbing a bag out from under his sink. He hasn't worn make-up in a while but he still has some stashed somewhere. He manages to find some concealer, using just enough to tidy himself up.

Dressing a clean outfit, rather more casual than normal seeing Athelstan won't care what he wears, he dashes downstairs, a slice of toast between his teeth as he pulls his jacket on.

A quick bus across town and he's standing outside Athelstan's building, tapping the buzzer lightly.

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

"I'd like to work a bit more on this one", he says, indicating the picture on his easel. "Just the finishing touches."

[wanderingsin]

"You'd like me back in that pose?" He nods, stepping behind a curtain to undress.

Despite the fact he trusts and likes Athelstan, there's always that moment of trepidation as he undresses. Pushing past it, he steps out and onto the little podium.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan has noticed, and never rushes him.

He moves to start work.

[wanderingsin]

And Sin appreciates that greatly.

Normally Sin can sink into a distance headspace, just drift off into his own thoughts. But today his thoughts seem to roil, tangling around those two chance encounters with the mysterious Dr. Fell.

[athelstanthescribe]

The silence continues for a while, as Athelstan goes between focusing on his painting andoccasionally glancing over it at Sin.

[wanderingsin]

Silence is fine. Sin knows he's here as Athelstan's model, not his friend. He's being paid to be a shape, a texture, a colour. And fortunately, he's good at it. Even if a frown slips across his features every now and then as his mind replays this morning's conversation.

[athelstanthescribe]

Conversation can - and will - come later, but for now he's in the zone.

Right up until he sets his paintbrush down.

[wanderingsin]

Sin recognises the signs and takes it as his queue to stretch and relax a bit. Until Athelstan's ready to do something else.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan rolls his head back, cracking his shoulders.

"I didn't even ask how you are today."

[wanderingsin]

"You were working." Sin smiles. "No fault in that."

He gestures to his clothes, checking if Athelstan's ready for him to dress. He can always strip off again later but if they're taking a break, he'd rather have shirt on.

"I didn't ask how you were either. You seem rather in the zone today?"

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods approval.

"Sorry about that. Sometimes when I get started... well, you know."

[wanderingsin]

"You have nothing to be sorry for." He pulls on a tee-shirt and jeans, leaving his hair out and flowing. "That's what we're both here for. I'm the same when I play."

[athelstanthescribe]

"How's that been going? Did you get your composition finished?"

[wanderingsin]

Sin pushes his hands through his thick curls. "Mostly. I have the first draft down. I need to sit down with some of my classmates to play it out. To make sure it layers the way it sounds in my head. I have rough recording of me playing I've mixed on my computer but it's not the same as playing it with an actual quartet."

[athelstanthescribe]

He nods.

"Nothing quite like hearing it the way it's meant to be played."

[wanderingsin]

"Just so." He smiles. "Like knowing when a piece of art is right, I'd imagine?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Exactly. Though", he adds, "there comes a time you have to send a piece of art out into the world or you'd never stop poking at it."

[wanderingsin]

Sin giggles. "It's the same with music. Right up until I play a piece in public for the first time, I itch to tinker with it, to change little things. Something you can only do as a solo artist, not playing with an ensemble."

[athelstanthescribe]

"The others would get tired of it pretty quick", he agrees.

[wanderingsin]

"And it increases the chance of getting something wrong during the performance." Sin nods. "And there's nothing more embarrassing during the maiden performance of any piece."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Oh yes", he says with a nod. "At least that's not a problem with a painting."

[wanderingsin]

"All artistic endeavours have their own challenges. But that's what makes them worth doing." He smiles. "And why they take so much of our hearts and souls to do."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes. And why it can be so difficult to share them with other people."

[wanderingsin]

"Your art is beautiful, Athelstan. Deep and soulful." He offers Athelstan a warm, confiding smile. "That's why I agreed to model for you. Because I knew you saw more than flesh."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan smiles back.

"I don't just use any model, either, if I can help it."