(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]

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."

[wanderingsin]

"Then I hope I can continue to be your muse." He grins playfully. "As long as you keep showing my good side."

[athelstanthescribe]

He laughs. "I'll do my very best."

[wanderingsin]

Sin smiles and drifts over to the window, looking out over the city. "I've always loved the view. As if I'm a pigeon, perched on the city's rooftop."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan follows, leaning on the window ledge.

"It's why I took this place. The same day I saw it."

[wanderingsin]

"An artist must be able to soar." Sin smiles, his eyes on the distant horizon. "This is a city of strange wonders." There's a bitter sweet note in his voice.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan glances at him sideways.

"It is. Some more than others."

[wanderingsin]

Sin's eyes are distant, his body still for a long moment.

He blinks, coming back to himself and sighs. "I ran into Dr. Fell again this morning." He needs to confine in someone and he trust Athelstan more than anyone else.

[athelstanthescribe]

"Oh." He thinks for a moment, choosing his words. "Did he - say something else?"