He sets the food and drink on the coffee table, freeing his hands to take David by the shoulders and press a kiss to his brow. “Plenty. But if it gets too chill tell me. Now, my love, your job is to disrobe and let me know if I can get you anything else before I limit you to that couch.”
It’s a good room for this, really. Lovely couch, good lighting, good clean background. He will depart briefly to go get a pitcher of water and refill the snacks.
He arranges the refreshments where David will be able to reach them then goes to select another notebook. It’s bigger, and more importantly, “I’ll keep these separate and not in the notebook I carry with me.” Because he does respect David’s privacy.
And then he’ll enjoy watching David strip the rest of the way, something he’s seen a thousand times now, but with the context changed and Balthier not joining him it’s suddenly tantalizing.
“Oh, did you catch on to that?” He teases right back.
“Alright I’m going to arrange you, and while I do, let me address a few common misconceptions. You’re welcome to eat and drink and shift naturally. The beauty of drawing is capturing an essence not a perfect likeness. If you stray too far I’ll correct you. If you’re uncomfortable, shift as needed.”
He’ll guide David to lie on his side, one arm propping up his head, elbow cushioned by a pillow, and then bending one leg to be up with the other outstretched. His hands linger more than they strictly need to, to tease and admire.
Oh wow, that's definitely interesting to hear Balthier talk about.
"Thank you, dear. I didn't like the idea of getting too stiff in one position."
It's easy to let himself be posed, but he's very intrigued by it all, if he's honest. The whole process feels nice, because he knows it will mean he's being appreciated.
Balthier grins, sliding a hand up David’s side and stealing a kiss. “The point is to spoil you not to torture you.” And he can see that glow already spreading, the one David gets when he feels doted on. The one that always makes Balthier feel weak.
“It is when I know you like the anticipation and attention,” he grins. “Besides, the outcomes will be worth it.” Because Balthier will be watching and waiting too.
He kisses David once more with a. Quiet “thank you.” He’s been wanting to do this for awhile. And then he goes to settle in, already warmed up. He starts blocking in. “Talk to me while i work,” he orders. Because he knows David likes that too.
"Oh dear, that's a whole thing... So, Jean-Paul is an orphan, twice over, with a twin sister. He can fly and can probably move faster than life itself. And he is dramatic."
David smiles to himself, shaking his head.
"He's fought for freedom of our people, he argues with our own establishment, he's got a flair for the arts, but is at his core, a lot kinder than he seems on the outside. Even with the damage done to him in the past."
“Set you up to like me did he? I owe him then,” Balthier grins. His own expression is intense, moving between his paper and David. It’s an intimate thing, and he loves the way it makes lines and shapes he hasn’t noticed before stand out. He really is mapping his love.
"I like you for you, Balthier. My affection is not derivative."
Still, he's happy to think about it.
"He's kind though, even if he tries to hide it. One of those grouchy old men that truly does care about others. He hid that both Trevor and I had... more power than we seemed to."
Balthier is half listening, to be honest. He’s a bit caught up in actually getting to examine the way David fits together, and yeah, that love is making it into the page, even in a rougher sketch. Maybe more because has has to make fast impulsive decisions. That’s the beauty of a drawing though. It has bias.
And he’s definitely working on getting that look David makes captured down.
“You cared a lot for him,” Balthier comments. He also preens a bit at not being comparable. Look he’s easy to butter up if it’s David.
"Yeah. He's... he took care of us. Protected us. Trevor and I, our powers aren't done growing, aren't done changing. And he won't tell the council what we can do. For our own safety."
So they aren't used. And he loves that about Jean-Paul. Giving them a chance to make their own lives.
It makes Balthier glad, that David had people like that. And that warmth is making its way onto the paper, though really, how could it not? He's glad he's drawn David so many times before; it's making it easier to capture what he wants quickly.
His eyes are intense as he keeps looking back to David. He forgets to respond for a minute, and when he catches himself, he grins.
"My apologies, love. I'm so enthralled with the twist of your chest and the gorgeous way your hips transition to your thighs I've no room for other thoughts." He feels a pang of heat in his gut as he teases. Well, he said David wouldn't be the only one waiting and anticipating. He's certainly never drawn anyone before where he already knows what all that flesh and muscle feels like. Certainly helps to get it to look right.
"My only regret is I'm not working in color. Your skin is so radiant in this light."
"Yes, but isn't it the duty of the artist to focus more upon the completed project than upon the earthly distractions of the model?"
David felt it was appropriate at least. Not that he'd mind some distractions.
"Oh let's not talk about lighting and my skin. I have an hour long rant about the industry failing to account for proper lighting of the skin of darker toned individuals."
"Whoever gave you that idea is an amateur," he says. "Indulgence properly belongs in the arts." There are entire debates about schools of thought and the benefits and weaknesses of a more...emotional approach to art, and some other time he's sure he and David would enjoy getting into it. But he doesn't quite have the brain to spare right now. Already multitasking.
He doesn't understand the aversion to the latter, as art history has gone a different way here, but he understands a wound. "Fortunate I'm working in grayscale then."
There's an intimacy he loves to drawing, anyway. It's the most private art form, in a lot of ways. A record of one's thoughts and times, not a production.
"I am a professional scoundrel and you wouldn't have it any other way," he says. Nevermind the years of lessons, or that he's probably been around more artists than most of Ivalice.
He smiles to himself as David's eyes close, at the admission. "Good. I'd be terribly jealous if you were posing nude for some other dashing sky pirate."
Balthier very much knows that, but he still likes hearing it, and he grins at David over his pad.
He keeps at this pose a little longer, but satisfied he has enough down to come back to it later, he goes to a new sheet. "Alright. I want you to just arrange yourself comfortably. I can get you a blanket if you like."
He waits for David to do so; posed images are lovely, but he really wants to get a sense of the way David holds himself, the intimacy of the two of them just being together. Plus he can do a much slower drawing this way.
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It’s a good room for this, really. Lovely couch, good lighting, good clean background. He will depart briefly to go get a pitcher of water and refill the snacks.
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"This is where back home I'd joke 'paint me like one of your french girls'."
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He arranges the refreshments where David will be able to reach them then goes to select another notebook. It’s bigger, and more importantly, “I’ll keep these separate and not in the notebook I carry with me.” Because he does respect David’s privacy.
And then he’ll enjoy watching David strip the rest of the way, something he’s seen a thousand times now, but with the context changed and Balthier not joining him it’s suddenly tantalizing.
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"French is, well, it's like calling someone Arcadian. It's just a place people are from."
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“Alright I’m going to arrange you, and while I do, let me address a few common misconceptions. You’re welcome to eat and drink and shift naturally. The beauty of drawing is capturing an essence not a perfect likeness. If you stray too far I’ll correct you. If you’re uncomfortable, shift as needed.”
He’ll guide David to lie on his side, one arm propping up his head, elbow cushioned by a pillow, and then bending one leg to be up with the other outstretched. His hands linger more than they strictly need to, to tease and admire.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmurs.
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"Thank you, dear. I didn't like the idea of getting too stiff in one position."
It's easy to let himself be posed, but he's very intrigued by it all, if he's honest. The whole process feels nice, because he knows it will mean he's being appreciated.
"I love that you feel that."
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Still he smiles and settles into position.
"You make me feel beautiful, dear."
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He kisses David once more with a. Quiet “thank you.” He’s been wanting to do this for awhile. And then he goes to settle in, already warmed up. He starts blocking in. “Talk to me while i work,” he orders. Because he knows David likes that too.
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"You're welcome," he says with a whisper. "I love it. And what do you want me to say? Or talk about?"
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He wants David relaxed and he wants that beaming expression the other gets.
“Tell me a good memory,” he says. And he won’t keep him in this pose too long because that arm will go to sleep.
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It's very interesting to consider just what he has or hasn't spoken of before.
"You'd love him, actually."
Feel free to time skip telling; I’ll skip him through the drawing at some point
Also the look David gets is exactly what he wants.
“Tell me that one,” he says. “Why would he love me?”
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David smiles to himself, shaking his head.
"He's fought for freedom of our people, he argues with our own establishment, he's got a flair for the arts, but is at his core, a lot kinder than he seems on the outside. Even with the damage done to him in the past."
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Still, he's happy to think about it.
"He's kind though, even if he tries to hide it. One of those grouchy old men that truly does care about others. He hid that both Trevor and I had... more power than we seemed to."
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And he’s definitely working on getting that look David makes captured down.
“You cared a lot for him,” Balthier comments. He also preens a bit at not being comparable. Look he’s easy to butter up if it’s David.
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So they aren't used. And he loves that about Jean-Paul. Giving them a chance to make their own lives.
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His eyes are intense as he keeps looking back to David. He forgets to respond for a minute, and when he catches himself, he grins.
"My apologies, love. I'm so enthralled with the twist of your chest and the gorgeous way your hips transition to your thighs I've no room for other thoughts." He feels a pang of heat in his gut as he teases. Well, he said David wouldn't be the only one waiting and anticipating. He's certainly never drawn anyone before where he already knows what all that flesh and muscle feels like. Certainly helps to get it to look right.
"My only regret is I'm not working in color. Your skin is so radiant in this light."
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David felt it was appropriate at least. Not that he'd mind some distractions.
"Oh let's not talk about lighting and my skin. I have an hour long rant about the industry failing to account for proper lighting of the skin of darker toned individuals."
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He doesn't understand the aversion to the latter, as art history has gone a different way here, but he understands a wound. "Fortunate I'm working in grayscale then."
There's an intimacy he loves to drawing, anyway. It's the most private art form, in a lot of ways. A record of one's thoughts and times, not a production.
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Still, he's pleased that Balthier is enjoying himself, and lets his own eyes drift closed for a moment.
"I don't think I'd ever let anyone else draw me like this."
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He smiles to himself as David's eyes close, at the admission. "Good. I'd be terribly jealous if you were posing nude for some other dashing sky pirate."
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Though he laughs at the very idea of them being dashing sky pirates being after him.
"There's only you for me."
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He keeps at this pose a little longer, but satisfied he has enough down to come back to it later, he goes to a new sheet. "Alright. I want you to just arrange yourself comfortably. I can get you a blanket if you like."
He waits for David to do so; posed images are lovely, but he really wants to get a sense of the way David holds himself, the intimacy of the two of them just being together. Plus he can do a much slower drawing this way.
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Gonna wrap this one
roger, ftb here I think.