Beauty in the Broads of the World [Izumi, Elyss]

Eh?! Izumi isn’t wasting time. When the woman gets inspired, she jumps on that feeling immediately, even at the expense of others. Poor Elyss. She didn’t quite understand what was going on at first, assuming that Izumi was trying to pull something more than just painting her. However, she didn’t put up a fight because she didn’t want to jump to conclusions like that. The sudden advance did startle her and make her feel an intense fear and anger at nothing in particular. But, that sensation was quickly snuffed as she noticed that she was just put into another pose, this one having a pillow in her arms. Well, what a woman, yeah? Elyss wishes she had that “go get it” personality. Alas, she is but a socially awkward brute.

“It was a sunny day, spring, I think. Pure white clouds were in the sky, barely interrupting the sun’s glow. Mmm… The field around the river was full of flowers ranging in all kinds of flowers…”

She’d go silent as she got lost thinking about the day herself, her face stoic, but her eyes distant from the present. The pillow in her arms is subconsciously held tighter as she imagines the dog in its place, her breath slowing but growing deeper as if she had fallen asleep as she recalled the puppy’s struggles in her grip. She can practically see the splashing water as she kicks her legs and arm desperately.

Lost in thought, the redhead didn’t have any idea of how much time had passed since Izumi had picked her paintbrush up again. However, lost in her thoughts, she didn’t immediately come to terms that the other woman had finished. Her response was more automated than anything, and she didn’t even bat an eye at the image before her. It’s just her back at the bank of the river like in her memories. She did not feel the same enthusiasm as Izumi over it. After all, what is exciting to another is just an ancient memory to another. She’s not going to parade it around town or anything.

“That’s nice.” At least, she’ll give it recognition. It may be her older self in a provocative manner, but it feels nostalgic. Sitting up, she’d rub at her own head and give it a slight shake to clear it. Night and day. That’s how she and Izumi are right now, but Elyss doesn't mind. She’ll let the woman bubble over as much as she wants.

“What’s next?”

Expecting Elyss to understand the miraculousness of herself being captured is already expecting too much from the redhead. In fact, expecting her to understand art in general would be a mistake. She is not, per se, ignorant to Izumi’s passion. It is solely the fact that Elyss finds pride in other aspects of life besides art. Maybe she just doesn’t understand Izumi’s favored artstyle. Elyss is a woman that admires more than just the moment. She exists to create a possible future and to keep herself from standing still. Having a moment of her life captured forever is just like her being forced to relive a memory everyday. It may be nice at the moment. It may cause her distress. But, at the end of the day, it is but a moment that passes. Even if ingrained inside of her forever, she won’t allow herself to simply hang onto it without change.

She even sees love in a similar fashion. Moments of passion, of selfless excitement, selfish indulgent? It’s all just a moment. True love, to Elyss, has to be something more than just a moment. It doesn’t just fester in your heart for a short while and then dwindle away into nothingness. No. It has to be something that is forever lit, no matter how one feels. It’s not something she wants to think too hard on, for she has yet to really experience it herself, but she knows that Izumi is a woman who probably sees her as a moment of entertainment. It’s something similar to how Ulv views these random acts of passion.

“I am cute, huh?” That came out a bit dry, but the obvious flirt left Elyss a bit exasperated. She had expected that Izumi was a woman who’d dive headfirst into someone like the redhead. The earlier sense of fear and anger came from the unexpectedness of it. She had imagined Izumi trying to force the situation, but, with her being so open about it right now, the redhead felt like doing nothing but accepting that this is just another moment between the two.

“I’ll take a drink. I don’t really have anything else to talk about if you’re not planning on painting it. Ya never did tell me anything ‘bout yaself.”

Eh? She didn’t just say the boy could have a turn, did she? The fucking artist doesn’t even know if she’s getting a damn turn. Now, that did kind of irk Elyss just a tad. She’s not something to be passed around at another’s leisure. And, that thought just caused her to mentally flinch. She’s been living her life like a tool for other’s to make use of though, huh… Ah! She doesn’t want to let those heavy thoughts distract her. She’s taking the drink without a second thought and downing a large amount of it. She’s not a slow drinker. If not for Izumi, the whole body would have been empty in one swig.

Elyss isn’t one for cups either. She prefers taking the bottle and doing as she pleases with it. That’s kind of similar to how Izumi views life in general. Elyss couldn’t help but smirk while listening. What a silly question from Izumi. What other reason does Elyss have to learn more about the woman besides just wanting to know. The woman is all about the moment, but wants to leave a lasting impression on the world.

“Don’tcha think you’d capture more out of people if ya quit with all the wishy washy bullshit? You’re bold, but there’s no substance. What is beauty if not fleeting? Ya planning to fill the world with your masterpieces, but they’re built on everything but your own identity. When I looked at your art, I saw myself. That was it.”

Now, that was direct and rather brash, but if Izumi wanted to play that sort of game, the redhead’ll play too. Izumi’s not going to get anything more than words if she’s not going to take it.

“Oh? Are you now? Well, that changes everything, doesn’t it?”

Her eyes would move here and there, attempting to spot a piece that made her think of Izumi. She could but only wonder if she would be able to tell Izumi’s work from others if they were placed side by side. Maybe she could appreciate this more. Maybe not. Trying to understand a scene without the full context doesn’t seem like something she’d want to do. She likes reading a book from start to end. She doesn’t enjoy stopping at a certain point and guessing the rest.

But, that finger would stop her senseless thoughts and drag her back to reality, their moment together. Her head tilts slightly to Izumi, her eyes expressing nothing. A noiseless sigh slips from between her lips, her chest rising and falling. Izumi is being more bold now. Is it the alcohol? Elyss would have preferred this sort of attention from someone sober. Alcohol only enforces the whole, in the moment, mood.

“You’re right. I did just do it. It was automatic, as if my life wasn’t worth more than that puppy’s. Life is simple sometimes. Sometimes it’s too damn hard. You’re the center of some of your works, but I’m still not swayed to believe that that adds the sustenance I’m talking about.”

Yeah. Substance. Izumi isn’t looking to remember Elyss as a person, but as a captured moment. It’s annoying, but it’s how the redhead has always lived her life, helping each and every person without care for repayment or the sort. She doesn’t even care if Izumi remembers her particularly after today. There’s just a certain pull to indulge the woman and all her in the moment bullshit. Maybe that’s why Elyss grabbed her wrist, her fingers tight around Izumi’s lithe appendage. The next moment, the redhead is leaning in, pulling Izumi’s hand down to the side as her free hand slipped behind the woman’s head, rough fingers gripping the base of the artist’s skull.

Her expression still taunt, but slowly, it melted away, leaving a grim little smirk. Her eyes seemed more lively, yet, still far from the scene. “I guess there’s nothing wrong with indulging every now and then, huh?” What would Ulv say right now? Who cares? Elyss doesn’t want to think anymore and that leaves actions as the only way to express herself. So, much to Izumi’s wants, the redhead gave in, pulling the other woman closer just so their faces barely touched. Yet, she did not move the scene further. Wouldn’t this make a beautiful art piece?