thenormalsquint | find a way to get to you;

Depends. [But she sounds friendly enough that it's not a irritated response.] Who's this?

I am called Jihae. Your reputation as an artist precedes you.

I'm hoping that's a good reputation and not one where people say I throw paint at walls and hope something good happens.

What can I do for you? A commission?

Not at all. The recommendation was glowing... If you are available, I would like to consult your expertise to improve my own meager abilities.

Oh! Oh, well then, that can be arranged. Do you have any formal art training?

None whatsoever. Merely a peripheral appreciation as its subject.

Okay, so at least I know where to begin with you. My schedule is usually busy during the days, so it's far easier to catch me in the early evenings. What works best for you?

Might we discuss your fee and proceedings over dinner? To make the best use of our limited time.

That'll work. Anywhere in particular you'd like to meet?

As it happens there is an establishment which I intended to revisit.

[A text follows with directions to a named restaurant where staff definitely have their shirts on at all times.]

[Shame. She kind of enjoys shirtless people bringing her some refills.]

So will seven work for you?

[500+ affection points are required to unlock the Peeled Grapes & Palm Fan CG.]

Yes, that is fine. I look forward to it. Until then?

[Now that's just rude.]

Until then!

[Jihae heads for the restaurant after work but he doesn't show any signs of being tired or rumpled. Casual wear for him is a suit although he left the tie at home. He likes bright colours, nothing crazy, but it works. With enough modeling in Ariel under his belt his face might even be recognizable despite never having met Angela.

He waits outside, being the type to be early to any appointment. Most of the time he hides the rabbit ears atop his head for professional reasons but he's let his hair down, so to speak. A hint that ordering the steak would not go over well.]

[She makes a stop at her place to freshen up and change her clothes into something a little looser and relaxed. There's gear for work at Masamune and there's gear for working on her side hustle. Hustle outfits are simple with brighter colors and almost abrasive patterns and today's include a nice paisley dress that hits mid thighs, tights and flats. Nothing showy and still comfortable.

It's when she gets in front of the restaurant that she realizes she has no idea what Jihae looks like. Nothing but a name in her head. She's not expecting a rabbit boy either (somebody would have mentioned that, wouldn't they?), so she waits in front too, sending him a text message to see where he's at, peeking over to the man with the strange ears every once in a while. Well, this place has aliens and half demon half angel people. Why not half animal too?]

Hey, I'm in front of the restaurant. Just got here. Where are you?

[Participating in a type of employment where his appearance was known before he walked in the door must have coloured his expectations. It completely slipped his mind to make mention of it, and for Angela he thought to look for an artistic type. Mousy? A bit stressed? He only knew University students in the art program so his biases were...mistaken.

The text was unexpected, startling him a little. Jihae looked around but Angela was older than the image in his mind, and he passed her over completely. He hadn't noticed her glances - people did that all the time.]

I am outside the entrance as well.

Miss Angela?

[If she was nearby she would recognize his voice, hopefully? How could he have planned this so poorly...]

[Granted, it's not totally his fault. After a few weeks or being in Ariel and being bombarded with sexy ads, Angela's gained the ability to just tune them out, even the more eye-catching ones. So maybe she has passed a few of his pieces of work; they just didn't register and that's through no fault of his own.

His biases have some truth, but Angela's been out of art school for over a decade and even then, she always had her own style. Mousy has never been her thing and it never will.

The combination of the text and his voice brings her eyes directly on him with them widening slightly. He's not what she expected with the ears, though considering the way he spoke, the rest of his appearance falls into line with easy assumptions.]

Oh, there you are. [She holds out a hand for a shake.] Wasn't sure what you looked like, and didn't know you were here already. Also, just Angela. No need to be proper.

[Jihae grasped her hand gently with a slight bow of his upper body. She was older than he anticipated which came as a relief. It meant more experience in her trade and he was glad to work with someone closer to his own age. Art was sadly something which many people gave up after their youthful days of freedom were gone.]

My sincere apologies. It is a pleasure to meet you, Angela. May I escort you inside?

[The imposition on her time was his, so Jihae took responsibility for the mix-up. He knew very little of her personality but was eager to add something new to his daily life and would do his best to ferret out if they were compatible with minimal fuss if they weren't. Perhaps they could look over her portfolio once the basics were sorted.]

[He really knows the wrong people. She doesn't know many people who gave up art just due to age; sure, due to a lack of steady money (starving artists are truly a thing) or a lack of inspiration or even just one negative review, but the artists around her usually kept trucking along way into their older years. The passion never leaves and Angela will fight tooth and nail to keep it near her.

She gives him a rather amused quirk of the eyebrow. This guy's really overly polite and formal. She's much more casual and down to earth, but at least he's not calling her Miss anymore. Angela'll let him keep it up if it pleases him.]

Sure. Before it gets crowded and we can't hear each other.

[The restaurant's atmosphere and design suited quiet, small gatherings where a pair could savour their meal and linger over a glass of wine without interruption. The lighting was low but not so dark that it suggested certain activities would be entirely kept out of view. Jihae liked the wrought iron swirls on the walls and the careful architecture that prevented sound from carrying across the room.

The hostess led them to their table, reserved under Jihae's first name as he apparently did not have more than one, and presented them with menus. No prices were listed.]

If you do not mind the subject of your past, would you tell me more regarding your education? Which style is your specialty?

[In Angela's experience, no price listings on menus meant it was a place that was too expensive and they probably charged for the water too. That's probably the case here, aside from the ambiance leaning towards that impression. Most times, she wouldn't care or worry, but here in Ariel, her marks run short and she's not going to assume Jihae is paying her way, especially when he'll have to pay for the classes.]

I have a degree in Fine Arts and I'm certified in Biomedical Illustration and most days I'm a forensic facial reconstructor. I doubt you'll have any interest in the latter, though. My usual mediums are oils, charcoal, and clay, but I don't hesitate to use anything else, including metalworking if the inspiration hits.

[She takes another peek at the menu and decides to play it safe. A glass of wine can't cost as much as the fish or steak, so that's what she orders. Pretending she's not hungry is easy enough.]

Is there any one style you're particularly interested in?

[Biomedical illustration? He had never heard of it. Her words were modern beyond his understanding except to say they had an impressive ring to them. A degree in Fine Arts, that was recognizable and worthy of respect. His expression was attentive and approving.]

That is a surprising variety. I had thought painting, as a beginner, would be less wasteful. Of both materials and your time, however that is an opinion you are welcome to change. If my understanding is correct, charcoal is difficult and its dramatic style is limiting. Clay, I...have no interest in it.

[Jihae wasn't fond of alcohol as a rule but he could put up with it in small amounts when a social instance called for it, so he asked for white wine before the hostess left the table.]

Ah, please order as you like. Your presence is at my request, after all.

[It wasn't a date but Jihae was soft on women and would go out of his way to be of use or benefit them. Being raised by a single mother left a trace of automatic deference in him.]

[All it means is that she's able to draw those anatomically correct diagrams a person sees in medical textbooks and animate them on a computer when needed. Nothing she truly thinks he's interested in.]

Actually, it's the opposite. If you can use a pencil, you can use charcoal. It's versatile and really the first thing they teach you how to use in art school because it helps you learn how to turn the same line into different lines, but if your main interest is in painting, then that's doable. You have your basic watercolors, oils, acrylics, and pastels to begin with. I wouldn't suggest moving onto other kinds of paints until you have some familiarity with one of those.

[There's a few more technical aspects to that medium she could explain, but she's not quite here to change his mind on his ultimate goal, just to show him the best way to get there.]

I'm good, thanks. [Now she's wondering if it's safe to assume he's a high level resident if he's willing to put out for her (and not in that way that Ariel encourages people to.)] Is there some subject you want to do with painting? Still life, landscapes, abstract...?

Edited 2014-09-21 19:04 (UTC)

[Art was nearly entirely outside of his experiences in life so it wasn't a surprise that he would get some things wrong. He wasn't entirely certain if he could use a pencil for anything other than writing. Maybe he ought to have attempted to draw something before moving forward with hiring a tutor...

The types of paints Angela listed were familiar in name, at least. Identifiable. Apparently there were other types, too. That art appeared from the outside as a seemingly endless world on its own, mysterious and beautiful, attracted him. But as a beginner it was also daunting.]

I...don't know.

[A thoughtful look settled over his features, his gaze moving off Angela. He often paused while speaking, inviting interruption, assuming anything that related to his own likes or dislikes ultimately didn't matter. It was a difficult mindset to break. He hadn't predicted that Angela would ask what he wanted.]

...There was a small art gallery in Busan which my Lady and I enjoyed. If I were able to create a memorable piece suitable for its halls of any style, I would be satisfied.

[Angela doesn't mind if she has to start completely from scratch with him. She didn't burst out knowing everything herself. All she needs is him to be willing to learn the basics before anything else.

At his uncertainty, Angela purses her lips. Definitely from scratch here. He might not like her next question, but if he's going to hire her as a teacher, she has to figure out what she's jumping into.]

Do you have any experience in art? From a practical standpoint, not appreciative.

find a way to get to you;

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