open | why such a long face

[esperimental]

WHO: Ritsu, with closed threads with Nikolai, Garry, Charlotte, and OPEN in the post itself!
WHERE: At home, then around Apprassage
WHEN: Backdated, Closed 03/06 - 03/08, Open 03/09 - 03/10
WHAT: Ritsu's unfortunate history of head trauma meant he had to stay still and miss a week of class after suffering a silly (but deemed serious enough) bonk in the same place during the blackout. Most students would rejoice over this sort of thing, but Ritsu is not most students, instead he's fretting over his lack of productivity. And so, Ritsu talks more than he's used to, pettily causes trouble for his babysitter, then wanders about aimlessly.
WARNINGS: Talk of bullying and hospitalization with Nikolai, otherwise none

Finally free from house arrest, Ritsu still wasn't cleared for going to school, so he thought he should further familiarize himself with the city that, at the moment, didn't feel like home yet even after a few months of being here. Ritsu doubted it ever fully would, but his parents had been so enthusiastic about his scholarship there that he'd feel like he would let them down if he said he wasn't happy. What was happiness, really? The preteen with no hobbies other than studying--and even that he wasn't sure if he did for enjoyment rather than habit--sure didn't know.

Recollé History Museum

"Huh, you're not on a field trip or something kid?" Ritsu shook his head. The man at the counter looked amused. "Well, you sure are a rare type these days. Don't go getting lost now."

Stopping himself from making a snide remark that he's not that incompetent without an adult, Ritsu went inside, looking around for evidence that the Chocobo has indeed replaced the horse in all forms. Sure enough, he comes across a statue of a Chocobo with its rider, the feathery form looking like it must have been more tedious to craft than its original base that Ritsu would now never see. "No more horses, huh..."

"Horses?" A curator looked at him quizzically.

Ritsu's shoulders tense up at the realization someone heard him. "Oh, um. Nothing."

The curator moved on, and Ritsu looked at the statue again. Maybe he'd find other Retrospec users here? But he supposed there was no way to really tell. At the least, he'd be learning a lot and at his own pace, he always hated how field trips forced you to move on before you could read everything.

Recollé Art Museum

Personally, Ritsu never really cultivated his artistic sensibilities, so he wasn't sure why he was here. He must have really been that bored. Staring at a silly piece that just looked like a bunch of house items tossed and pieced together, he muttered to himself.

"Do people really make analytical essays over this type of thing?"

Some people blabbed about true art being incomprehensible but this was something else.

Apprassage Outdoors

"Excuse me..." Ritsu was getting peckish, and he wasn't really sure where would be a good place to get a bite to eat. Not in the mood to turn and head back home yet, he ends up asking a stranger for a recommendation. Or maybe he just doesn't recognize them from over the Internet.

"Do you know a good place to eat? One that isn't too expensive."

He'd appreciate not having to go all the way to Chata or Tisse which seemed to have the best eateries, but if he had to stick with street food he didn't mind so long as it looked clean.

[ Will match formats! ]

Comments

[appraiser]

I wonder! [ a laugh, because Ryoji has heard that before, even if he doesn't think he'd make a great poet ] But no... I just say things from the heart. Phrasing things in such a way that people can understand is a whole different story.

[ That's art though, he supposes, meaning intermingling with interpretation. ]

Do you write? I feel like you would be good at analyzing poetry, at the very least— words can be more concrete than pictures sometimes.

[esperimental]

Honestly, I'm an honor student so... [ There's a wry smile here, it's a strange thing to admit. ] For the most part, I can guess my way into what a teacher wants to hear, I don't really know how I do it. My marks are consistently high. I probably don't even need to worry that much.

But... truly absorbing art's meaning is something else, whether visually or in words. [ A cross of his arms. ] I guess I just don't appreciate enough about what's around me.

[ Ritsu's certainly missing that feeling of wonder that a kid his age is supposed to have; he got called out by himself on his phone about it not too long ago. ]

[appraiser]

[ Guessing what a teacher wants to hear is pretty impressive though; it involves understanding the teacher and their expectations after getting to know them. That's sort of like analyzing art and coming to understand it. Sort of. ]

Awareness is a good first step. And meaning ties in with appreciation, and that's something you can practice. Come here— [ Ryoji steps in close to the painting they're standing in front of, hovering the palm of his hand over a corner of the canvas just sort of touching it. ]

I like the texture of the painting. See how the paint layers thickly and builds off itself? It's not flat like a print, and the way it's smooth in some places, you can tell the paint was spread with a knife instead of a brush.

Your turn. What do you like about it?

[esperimental]

Hmm... First off, that's scarily close to breaking the rules. [ Yep. ]

Okay, well. [ This is a bit on the spot. Let's see how this goes? ] There is a definite purpose in its movements. I mean... some art goes like "splat", and becomes art, but this is a different style. So it kind of built up, it's supposed to lead your eyes in a certain direction from this dark depth, it's like a mountain, flowing is its smooth river... then in the background, because it's thin and soft in comparison, the sky, either a dawn or sunset, as the cliche goes.

It feels like a journey? How you're told to follow the river when lost in stories, and the sun's direction tells you where you're headed. Rather than the sun being the first thing you acknowledge, here it's the last. It's leading you forward. --Or it could just be a setting piece. [ He scratches his cheek. ] It's... all a guess, given it's not in color, but that's the impression I got.

[appraiser]

[ pulls his hand back real fast, ok ]

That's pretty deep!

[ He wants to say it's surprising, but Ryoji isn't particularly surprised. He beams over at the other boy with as much pride as he would if he were the professor hearing exactly what he wants to hear on an art analysis. ]

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, don't they? I think you're right, seeing art as a journey and moving despite being motionless. Just going off impressions, you're understanding. I knew you had it in you.

[esperimental]

[ Okay, it's not like he wasn't used to heavy praises, but the genuine smile on this stranger was flustering him a little. As a result Ritsu actually breaks composure with an uncharacteristically sheepish tone instead of his formal one. ]

T-thank you. [ He never did catch this guy's name. Given his track record, he'd easily forget it too though if not for Retrospec. ] I mean, a lot of them do take you someplace... sometime. It depends on if you let them.

[appraiser]

[ To be fair, Ryoji often forgets he should introduce himself, stepping right into assuming he and others are friends and well past that stage from the start. Thank goodness for social media, for friend groups and being able to find anybody sharing the same site with as little information as mutuals or the fact that Ritsu is a high school student. ]

I would let them, but I think I'd find it much more enjoyable if you were to lead me through them. You mentioned being an honors student, but I'm curious: what do you want to study?

[ Especially somebody who can "guess" his way through art, that's already very impressive. ]

apologies for the wait!

[esperimental]

[ RIGHT IN THE TINY TEEN IDENTITY CRISIS it's okay ryoji you couldn't have known

The question takes Ritsu by surprise, since that's usually... a teacher thing, but an older stranger asking shouldn't have been out of the question after he let the topic of grades slip. He looks back at the artwork ahead of him, then his eyes wander to the floor. ]

Something most people won't do, maybe...? [ It sounds conceited, but Ritsu's not worried about that at this point. ] I have... too many options.

[appraiser]

[ It's usually a teacher thing because while Ryoji has the interest in Ritsu's future, he doesn't have the resources or experience to help him. It's hard to imagine what Ritsu means by "something most people won't do," coupled with the many options that Ryoji would suggest narrowing down by by Ritsu likes most... ]

Uncommon jobs are usually of two camps: jobs people don't like, and jobs too difficult to get into. I don't think you'll have any problem with the latter. Too many options is better than too little— you can try them all and see what you like best.

[esperimental]

... That'd take a lot of time. [ Time Ritsu would actually very easily have, given his skills, and that he hasn't been forced into any advanced classes. The willingness is more lacking. He crosses his arms with a thoughtful huff. You don't look cool Ritsu, you're just a nerd. ]

It's true though. I have to fill in for where society is lacking. And I won't be happy if I don't have to work for it.