Red, Blood Red [Elyss, Izumi]

As Elyss retreated the artist smirked. It wasn't a huge shit-eating grin but faint enough to be noticeable and get the message across. Now that was a little too easy to get the captain off her and spare her from being under the shadow of a tiger who's desire to fuck felt more like killing intent. Perhaps it was just the image of a predator she evoked in Izumi's mind that made her self-preservation kick into play.

"Why didn't you just ask me then rather than assume?"

Tch. Whatever Izumi liked Elyss enough to explain it she guessed, she'll just call it payment for her modelling services and the sex afterwards.

"Close your eyes and give me your hand then."

It wasn't like she hadn't already expressed it recently already. Had she not already explained to Katori what she wanted to accomplish?

Once those garnet eyes were closed Izumi reached out to place her hand against Elyss' own, doing nothing but just holding her hand there for a moment. She let the redhead grow accustomed to the feel of her palm and fingers against her own, then she moved Elyss' fingers over her forearm and the soft smooth skin.

"Deprived of sight your other senses are enhanced. I'm not interested in painting something that appeals to the eyes which are blind, I want to paint something that resonates with the soul. I want the brush strokes I do of a woman to capture the feeling of her skin..."

She tried to pull Elyss just a bit closer, now it was her turn to keep her face nice and close, enough that the scent of orchid perfume could fill Elyss' nose.

"I want the fragrance of her perfume and the sound of her voice to echo in your mind. That's why I pursue art Elyss."

Once Elyss said she did Izumi rolled back, going limp on the table while she relaxed on it and looked up the ceiling. Maybe she did understand, maybe she didn't, Izumi didn't or she thought she did but the artist couldn't really care either way. Most people just viewed her as an eccentric, herself included.

"Yeah."

The reaching hand went back to her collection of art and she opened it to flip through a few of the pieces with critical eyes. Sometimes wondering to herself if she could see them in different light like how people looked at them. Indifference or wonder, people were fickle and until she reached their souls and not their eyes it would continue to be incomplete to her.

...

Did she hear that right? She did. Spar? Between them? There were a few things that shot through her head which a lot of that boiled down to why? Not only did the idea of fighting not appeal to her at all but she really didn't wanna fight a captain. That sounded so hard and would probably end up her in getting her butt kicked and tossed around like a ragdoll. People that liked fighting really made no sense to her but they made good pieces she supposed.

"Do we have to? I suck at fighting. Plus your sword is actually you know... a thing. Mine's just kinda here."

She whined at the very thought. Every bone in her body looking for an excuse not to get dragged into it.

"Aiie!"

She let out a yelp while she was dragged off the desk and unable to really fight Elyss as she was pulled onto her feet and made to face the redhead. Ugh, no way was she actually going to do this.
'
"C'mon, why do we have to spar? Can't we just lay around more?"

Izumi whined in protest while standing there. Elyss did seem kinda excited about this, why? It wasn't like the artist would be much of a challenge or a fun fight. Did she just want an excuse to drop her or hurt her? Damn.