recolle | [open] [ that picture from the iron giant of the guy yelling ART ]

WHO: Yusuke Kitagawa + OPEN
WHERE: Around Recolle.
WHEN: From 5/3 to 5/12...!
WHAT: Oh just... normal things.
WARNINGS: Excessive use of PAINT.

[ Anyone who runs into Yusuke from the moment he gets his hands on his paintbrush and a paint pot is going to be aware of two distinct things: firstly, that he is an artist and definitely knows what he's doing with the utensils at his disposal. This ain't his first rodeo, that's for sure.

Secondly though, is that Yusuke is painting a lot like a man possessed - he's specifically focused on finding outlines and getting an idea of the layout, despite his well known attention to detail, and just... doesn't seem to be stopping. From the moment he finds his painting tools, he's back tracking to his home and wildly painting the street back into existence.

And this is how he is for the majority of the week. There's a method to his madness though, he's clearly looking for something, and seems to retracing old steps in an attempt to find it. The longer he's at it, the sloppier the paintwork becomes and, quite honestly, the worse for wear Yusuke seems. He only stops when it gets too dark to paint, and returns home, before leaving to begin again early in the morning. Watch him long enough, and you may even catch him swaying on the spot, or heavy lidded, like he's about to fall asleep on his feet.

... Help him? This is just sad. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Something like that, yes. I would paint alongside her, in my own way and she would guide me. If she were not too involved with her own work.

[ How do you calmly say that she's Kind Of A Biggish Deal back home - he's fairly sure some of her works are in art galleries, and there'd been on the odd fancier trip away sometimes after one of her works sold well. ]

[Admittedly, Sanji's thinking a small-time artist who made it big in her local community but not much else. That's the way of the world for most people.

It's still a cute image, the thought of a tiny Yusuke slathering paint onto a canvas and eagerly looking to his mother for guidance. Heh.]

I bet you were a cute kid.

[ He looks thoughtful at that. ]

Perhaps? I'm not sure it's possible to personally judge if I were cute or not. [ Canon confirms he was hecking adorable though. ]

But... I suppose all children who are trying their best at something that brings them joy have an element of sweetness.

[It's a harmless statement on Yusuke's end. The two of them are just discussing the hypothetical cuteness of children, nothing to get in arms over.

However, Sanji falls into an abrupt silence, paintbrush held tight in his fist but not moving. After a beat, he turns away from his boyfriend all together, face hidden over his shoulder and underneath a curtain of bangs]

[ Yusuke is fairly absorbed in his painting, but the sudden silence doesn't go amiss for long. When he looks around and just sees the difference in how Sanji's stood, and his body language in general, it's enough to make him stop for a moment.

And move a little closer, just enough that he can lean down and use his free hand to brush a little of Sanji's hair out of his face. ]

Is everything alright? Did you injure yourself...?

... No.

[He won't pull away, but his shoulders tighten as his face is revealed -- expression almost... sad.]

Forget it, just...

[...]

I saw the guy's mother.

?

[ He's not about to shrug and leave him to brood after that. He moves his hand, so he's pushing the hair out of Sanji's eyes and keeping it out of them; his thumb brushing gently against Sanji's temple. ]

From Retrospec memories?

... Aa.

[He won't fight the touch, but it's easier to stare into the distance rather than meet Yusuke's glance.]

It's the first time I've ever seen her.

[Though he frowns the moment the words are out, tasting bitter in his throat]

I mean, she probably doesn't look anything like my mom did. Who the hell knows?

[ ...

Oh.

... That feels like something more than just the tiny bit of information he'd managed to pry out of Sanji months back. That he had siblings. This feels a lot heavier, almost instantly, and especially under the belated realisation Yusuke hadn't really done anything to hook and drag that information from him. ]

She must share some similarities. [ He lifts his other hand up, and gently presses it to Sanji's other cheek, coaxing him to tilt his head slightly. His expression isn't curious, more like he's appraising something - like a sketch or a painting. ] Have you noticed your appearance drastically changing since you became aware of the app?

[... To be honest, Sanji doesn't know where Yusuke is going with this. His brows knit as he shakes his head, though lightly, so as not to dislodge Yusuke's fingers from his face]

Besides the eyebrows? [A pause, and then he shrugs, feeling the urge to turn his head again.]

No difference as far as I can see.

[ Hmm. ]

Then there was nothing to change, so why would she be any different if you aren't?

[ The other him never knew his mother, but there had been that painting - the Sayuri - and honestly his mother here looks very similar, stylistic aspects of the painting itself aside. And, Yusuke himself looks very similar to the other him in almost every way. So surely the logic is the same? ]

Whether that's a good thing or not is up to you, but that is what I think.

[He's quiet for a moment, his stare finding anywhere that Yusuke isn't, he can't quite meet his eyes right now --

But eventually he'll reach up, gently but firmly dislodging one of the hands from his face. Not to say he lets go, however; his fingers remain wrapped around Yusuke's narrow wrist, Sanji's thumb against the other's palm.]

... It doesn't matter.

[Spoken firmly... if with a hollow note in his voice]

That shit just caught me by surprise. It's weird seeing the face of a woman you don't know.

[ ... It doesn't seem like it doesn't matter, but... as with everything Sanji, he's not sure when it would be classed as prying too far. But, he brushes his own thumb over Sanji's. ]

I'll listen. If you ever wanted to speak about it.

[ That's... enough wiggle room for Sanji to refuse, he hopes. But he doesn't press. ]

She may show up in further memories, after all.

... Heh.

[Bringing Yusuke's hand up to his lips, Sanji presses a kiss against his knuckles.]

I know you would.

[It's not a promise to talk, as they've both seen how... arduous a process that winds up being, but that doesn't mean Sanji can't appreciate the sweet sentiment.]

Thanks.

[ Oh. Wow, that's smooth. That's not allowed?? Still, that was a better reaction that what he was expecting - sheer, blunt avoidance or being shut down very quickly, so this was a pleasant surprise.

Even if it wasn't an agreement. It'll do. ]

It's an open statement. For whatever you do, or don't want to speak about.

[ Mmmr. He's charmed now. Wow. He twists his hand just enough that he can tap Sanji on the tip of his nose. ]

But if you are fine, there is still a significant amount of painting for me to do.

[There's a little side smirk playing on his face, one that grows at the nose tap, just knowing how he took Yusuke off-guard. That alone is worth the previous awkwardness of the conversation.]

Yeah, let's get to work.

[Tone relaxed, and with that smile still in place, he'll give Yusuke a shoulder nudge as he walks past]

Let's make your mom happy.

[ Mrrgrrgrr.

But... yes. The sooner he paints the route back, the better. ]

Yes. She'll be glad that she didn't have to miss the anniversary.

[open] [ that picture from the iron giant of the guy yelling ART ]

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