004: My love & loathing always collide [ VIDEO ]

[saxophone]

»VIDEO
[ Misery enjoys company, but Gren has discovered that he lacks the associations to coordinate such an affair. The realization hit him hard after a recent fallout with a friend that brought his numbers down to 2, and that’s including a fifteen year old acquaintance that he just likes to harass. His social standing is pretty abysmal at the moment which is disappointing considering just how outgoing and personable he actually is.

He acknowledges the lack of effort on his part, but now he’s willing to give it a good honest try now that he’s no longer fussing over the friend he lost. It still hurts, but he’s found distractions in work, his music, a cute guy, and now in the pages of a sketchbook.

He’s not an artist by any stretch, but he enjoys the odd doodle from time to time. It’s been good enough to charm an ancient, reticent type so Gren figures it could work on others too.

The feed starts on a curtain-esque black, sweeping mass that is soon revealed to be the drape of Gren’s hair as he leans over his phone trying to stabilize it. Once it’s secure he backs away, sits down, and settles himself in the frame. ]

We good? Okay... Hey.

[ He smiles and grabs a black sketchbook that was sitting just out of frame. ]

So, I’m doing portraits for anyone who wants one. I’m a musician, so this isn’t exactly my thing, but I do enjoy it at times. Just don’t expect the greatest quality. I think it’ll be a fun way to get to know some of you more and you get a little something out of it, too. This is what you can expect. Quality will vary, sorry.

[ He flips open the sketchbook and turns it to the camera. The first image is of a handsome dhampir in a horrendous hat. ]

Cute guy, cuter in person.

[ He turns to another page. It’s a woman. Her name is written in cursive and beneath that there’s a small heart. A sweet, little detail that no longer bears any meaning. The sketch is old. Gren’s smile falters and he turns to the next page without a comment. The next image, well... ]

This is Sora the Soaring Menace laying eggs upon the public for absolutely no reason. That’s me being assaulted.

Comments

[Video]

[myfayevalentine]

*It takes Faye a bit of time before she is able to reply to this. She hesitates and doesn't turn on her video until she has taken a deep breath. She looks to have just finished a shift, her new deputy hat in her hands, twisting and fidgeting. Faye can't bring her eyes to his just yet, and her voice is full of trepidation*

The woman... Could you draw her looking sad and full of regrets? With the words "I'm sorry" underneath, and an even bigger heart...?

[Video]

[saxophone]

[ At the sight of Faye an emotional upheaval breaks out in his head. He can’t discern whether he’s more sad or angry, and the confusion of it all melds with everything else into a spuming, hot brew that burns him up inside. He drops his sketchbook and the pages flap uselessly in the descent. He’s up and approaching his phone with the intent to end the feed, but he stops short of doing it.

He instead snatches up his device and his face, a fretful display, fills the frame. ]

You’re just making noise, there’s nothing to it. Do you even possess the awareness to know what you’re apologizing for? Or are you just arranging noises to make the most appealing sound for me? Why are you sorry? What are your regrets?

[Video]

[myfayevalentine]

*She knew it. She knew she shouldn't have said anything. She should have left it alone, kept herself as far away from him as possible. Her shoulders tense at his anger and she keeps her eyes down, not paying attention to way she is twisting her hat in her hands*

For being awful...and selfish...and hideous...and rotten... For saying the wrong things... For being completely. And utterly. Fucking. Horrendously. Useless. And worthless.

*Then her breath hitches and she bends over more as the tears come thick and fast. Admitting to herself how terrible she is, that hatred for herself so open and so clear... Faye can barely stand it*

[Video]

[saxophone]

[ His humanity isn’t lost in the bitter tide that surges in his head, so seeing Faye crumble in tears nearly brings him to the point of shedding his own. He shakes his head, but the gesture isn’t clear in its opposition. He disagrees. He is dissatisfied. He can’t decide on which matter to voice first. It's difficult to formulate anything comprehensible with all the crying. It hurts him to see it. ]

Godammit, Faye.

[ He turns his head away and closes his eyes as well, doubling up the protection against the wretched view. ]

...You’re not worthless, but you are careless and oblivious. My god, would you get a clue. Maybe just start with the fundamentals of friendship because clearly you’re lost somewhere around there.

[Private Video]

[myfayevalentine]

*Faye looks up for a moment to switch the video to private - she doesn't need anyone to see her in this mess. As she does, she will show a glimpse of her face, all puffy red eyes and running mascara. Even after admitting that, after airing her true feelings about herself, Faye still hasn't got theough to him how remorseful she is.

Then it was her turn to shake her head, sorrowfully, like the weight of the world is burdened on her shoulders*

I read those posts... I know what people think of me...

*Then she lifts her face again, if only to swipe her hands at her eyes to swipe away the tears, fingers black too with her eye makeup - at least it's the end of her shift...*

Of course I don't know about friendship... Why else do you think I don't have any friends? Why else so you think...that I wound up...so alone?

[keymemory]

....

Did... you ... just.

[ Sora is flattered, happy, then angry, but not really, mostly he's flattered but then also a bit concerned. Now everyone is going to think he lays eggs out of his butt.. THERE'S VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF A LIE. How did this even snowball like this? ]

Why have you done this?! [ His voice is small, low, confused, betrayed? ] You doodle .... pretty good. [ So their last anonymous back and forth came to an awkward revealing from them both.. Hopefully Riku won't ever find out about that and Gren, well... Sora knows just how much Gren enjoys his own butt! ]

[saxophone]

You’ve got some nerve showing your face after what you did to me.

[ He taps a finger to the the artist’s depiction of said events and shakes his head. ]

[keymemory]

What YOU fantasize I did to you! Let's just be real here! You have some wild ideas of what someone such as myself is capable of!

[saxophone]

[ Gren flips to a clean page and begins to draw something. The process is a wordless one, but when he finishes he turns his sketchbook to show Sora the image. Finally, he speaks. ]



You right now.

[video]

[draconixaviarix]

[Oh hey, it's her music friend..and with pictures!]

You're a man of many talents, these drawings are amaaazing..!

[Hana trilled, recognizing Sora and giggling]

What would you like for the portraits?

[video]

[saxophone]

[ Gren recognizes this face! He brightens, recalling her enthusiasm as he prattled on and on about music. It seems she even has some enthusiasm to spare for his mediocre doodlings. So sweet. ]

Thank you. All I want is a little of your time. We can chat a bit as I draw you? How've you been, Hana?

Re: [video]

[draconixaviarix]

Then as much of my time is your's, Gren~

[Hana was sitting contently on the roof of her new home] I've been doing pretty good. I picked up another job and I got a home that's FILLED with pillows, blankets, and beds!

It's super comfy. I even made some walls with the pillows. Much more fun with those and not with rocks.

....Although rocks are a little more..sturdier, gotta say..

You've been doing okay?

[saxophone]

[ Gren studies Hana’s face as she speaks. Soft features and lively eyes all culminate into a pleasant expression. It’s a proper display for her sweet disposition and it’s something that makes him smile as he places his pencil to the page and attempts to capture the authenticity of it. ]

It sounds like you’re literally living in a pillow fort, that’s amazing. If you haven’t already, you should hang lights throughout your place. You know, the ones strung along a cord? It’ll give it a magical sorta ambiance.

[ He glances up when she asks about him. You’ve been doing okay? Not really, but that’s not for her to know. He smiles and nods. A-okay. ]
Yeah, I have a new job too. I’m working as a barista at Moonbucks, but I still play music part-time on the side. What’s your new job like?

Video;

[faithfulsinging]

You say it isn't really your thing, but you really seem to have a lovely talent for it.

[ She smiles brightly, trying to hide her confusion about the Sora picture.
She wasn't going to judge his artistic choices, but it... really did confuse her.]

Re: Video;

[saxophone]

[ He smiles, appreciating the compliment. Although, he's still not receptive to the idea that it's his thing. Music is his thing and he's dedicated years to it for it to be so. Doodling was just something for an idle moment or an instrument for teasing (sorry, d. sorry, sora), but he's flattered that people seem to like them anyway. ]

Thanks. Would you care to be a subject?

Re: Video;

[faithfulsinging]

Me?

[ She knows he mentioned that he wouldn't mind drawing others, but somehow it still caught her off guard. She looked a little flustered at the thought.]

O-Oh I don't know...

Re: Video;

[saxophone]

Yeah, come on. You'd make a great subject.

video;

[brbgettingwrench]

[What on earth was that last picture? Winry really had no words for it as she appeared on the feed. She just keeps quiet for a minute or two.]

Apart from the last one, the rest of your pictures were really great. But um... What is the last one?

[saxophone]

[ Oh no, it's Winry. He still feels bad for trying to make her eat a spider.

He manages a crooked little smile and looks down at his picture. ]

What? You don't like it? It's Sora as a bird laying some eggs.

[brbgettingwrench]

It's unusual. That's all.

[She would have never really expected it really.]

It's an interesting style as well.

[saxophone]

I guess some people can't appreciate fine art.

[ He smiles and flips to a blank page in his sketchbook. ]

May I draw you? I won't give you the same treatment, I promise.

v i d e o ;

[v_hunter_d]

[ D's face flickers onto view, his hair is thickly draped over each shoulder and his face has a good lighting on it -- he's without his hat. ]

Your talents continue to amaze me. Gren. [ His tone is soft and his eyes are kind, though there's a lingering afterthought that he won't voice. Why do you deny yourself the praise you deserve? ]

[saxophone]

[ Gren’s countenance flares with new light at the sight of D and the warmth of his smile sinks into his chest and then spreads into his stomach. So beautiful. ]

It’s cute guy! Hey.

[ He flips back to the sketch of D and glances back and forth between the real thing and the drawing. ]

Eh, you guys are being so nice about it but it’s really no big deal.

[ It’s not about false modesty, either. His talents are with music and he’ll happily boast about that. These doodles are just for fun. His music is everything. ]

[v_hunter_d]

For some, it is.. Art is as timeless as music. My world has gone through various efforts of restoration of ancient pieces of both kinds. It was a great loss and we may not ever know how these pieces could have shaped our world if they were not destroyed..

In any case, you offer this world so much.

[saxophone]

[ Gren's smile sags under the weight of all of that. ]

...Feeling the pressure now.

[ He sets his sketchbook aside as he recalls something that's been bothering him a bit. ]

Oh yeah, why'd you bail on me on that anonymous post? Your stamina for dirty talk doesn't quite compare to your stamina for the real thing.