Chapter Text
Giacomo's brow furrowed as he listened to Penny, the sound of the city's bustling life echoing around them. They were both sitting at a small, simple cafe table, Giacomo's eyes darting between his friend and the sketchbook in front of him. The man's light skin contrasted with his dark hair, which he wore slightly down, brushing his forehead. His black eyes were focused on the blank page before him.
"I just can't seem to find the inspiration." he said, running a hand through his hair. "I've been trying to capture the essence of Mesagoza, but it's just not coming together."
He directs his attention towards Mesagoza, taking in the sights of the city, the tall buildings, and the people rushing by. "I need to find a new perspective, something that'll make my art stand out."
"Maybe you should try something different, Instead of focusing on the city itself, what about the people who live here? Their stories, their struggles, their triumphs. That's what makes Mesagoza unique, after all." Penny suggested, her black eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
Giacomo nodded, considering her words. "Maybe you're right. I've been so focused on the physical aspect, I've forgotten about the heart." He smiled, a spark of inspiration igniting in his mind.
"How about trying something different, something other than a landscape?"
“You mean like a portrait?" His gaze wandered to the bustling crowd, his eyes scanning for a subject. Penny's eyes lit up. "Yes, exactly. Focus on the emotions and personality of the person, and let that be the focus of your art. It'll give your work a new depth."
Giacomo's interest piqued, and he turned to Penny, the corners of his lips curling into a smile. "You know, you might be onto something. It's just a matter of finding the right subject." His eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Do you think you could be my model? I'd love to try out this new approach with you." he asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Penny's unique hair color and quirky fashion sense would make for an interesting piece, and Giacomo couldn't wait to capture her essence on paper.
Penny sighed, "Although I would love to help you, I don't have much time to be a model, and I'm not good at staying still for that long. How about taking a portrait of someone else?" Giacomo's gaze returned to the city, scanning the faces of the passers-by. He knew he needed to find someone who would not only make a visually appealing subject but also someone whose story would resonate with his art.
Giacomo's smile faltered slightly at Penny's response. "Fine uhh..." he said, nodding in agreement. "If you could think of someone else, that would be great. I'm sure I'll do them justice." Giacomo closed his sketchbook, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.
“Oh wait! I think I know someone who is free and could be your model... I just have to send him a message.”
Giacomo's eyes lit up, and he looked up from his sketchbook. "Really? That would be fantastic. Who do you have in mind?" He was eager to hear Penny's suggestion and couldn't wait to get started on his new project.
As Penny pulled out her phone to send a message, Giacomo's mind raced, imagining the possibilities of who could be the perfect subject for his new piece. His excitement grew, and he knew that with Penny's help, he was well on his way to breaking through his art block.
"Him!" showing a photo of the candidate on her Smartrotom, showing a blonde haired boy with a cute smile. Giacomo leaned closer to see the photo Penny displayed on her phone. His eyes met those of a boy with long, flowing blonde hair, a wide smile adorning his face. Giacomo couldn't help but smile back at the image, his mind already conjuring up ideas for how he could capture the essence of this cheerful individual.
"Arven, right?" he asked, remembering Penny mentioning her friend before. "He seems like a perfect fit. I'm sure his personality will shine through in my art."
Penny nodded, smiling at Giacomo's enthusiasm. "He's always up for new experiences, and he's got a great look. I'm sure he'll be perfect for this."
Penny's Smartrotom vibrated on the table, a notification of her chat with Arven appeared on her phone. "He's in." Penny said, her eyes glued to her phone.
Giacomo's smile broadened, and he felt a surge of gratitude towards Penny. "Thank you. I can't wait to meet him and get started on this new piece."
“You look very excited, let me give you his number first.” Smiles.
Giacomo's heart pounding with anticipation. "That would be great, thank you. I can't wait to meet him and start this new project."
As Penny provided him with Arven's number, Giacomo stored it in his phone, ready to reach out to his new model. He felt a surge of energy, ready to tackle his artistic endeavor head-on, armed with a renewed perspective and the support of his friends.
Giacomo was now in the old journalism classroom, he had a copy of the keys to the place that usually remained closed to the rest of the students, advantages of having been part of the student council.
The place now served as a small private studio in the academy it was partially used as a warehouse, despite the little space available Giacomo managed to make room for his art materials. He placed the canvas on the easel, took out the oil paints and a large number of brushes. Giacomo was always an organized man, except when he painted, he liked to get his hands dirty and messy, concentrating on the painting is his priority at times like that.
The young man sat on a small individual stool, looking at the empty canvas as if it were hypnotizing him. Not long after Arven entered through the sliding door, the creaking resulting from the passage of time brought Giacomo out of his trance, directing his gaze towards the source of the noise.
Arven looked out timidly, entered cautiously, Giacomo for his part stayed in that position for a few seconds, both looking at each other. He is more attractive in person, there was something about his beauty that caught Giacomo, he knew he could make a good painting based on him.
Sadly, that was not reciprocated, Giacomo had a curved back as if he were a shrimp, visible circles under his eyes, his hair was slightly disheveled and a strong smell of coffee came from him, it didn't help the fact that (in everyone's words) he had an expression Default not very nice.
Giacomo's eyes widened slightly as Arven entered the room, the sudden intrusion snapping him from his contemplative state. A small, self-conscious smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he realized how he must have appeared to the other man. He quickly stood up, attempting to straighten his back and smooth his hair, but ultimately conceding to the fact that it was a lost cause.
"Ah, Arven. I didn't expect you to arrive so soon. Please, come in," Giacomo invited, gesturing towards a small wooden chair that sat in the corner of the room, away from the mess of brushes and paint. "Can I offer you something to drink? I have some water and... well, more coffee. I'm afraid that's all I have at the moment." The young artist took a seat on his stool once more, crossing one leg over the other as he sipped his coffee.
His gaze flicked briefly back to the canvas, a wistful look in his eyes. He knew he should get back to work, but the desire to make a good impression on Arven trumped his artistic focus.
"I'm not a big fan of coffee, thank you."
"water?"
"I'll be fine."
Giacomo took another sip of his coffee, his eyes lingering on Arven's figure for a moment before returning to his face. "So, how did Penny convince you to be my model? I'm sure she must have said something funny to get you to agree."
"She just asked me if I would like to help you. And well I have never done anything like this."
"Well, you won't regret it. It's a unique experience, being a model for an artist. And I promise to make it worth your time." He took out his sketchbook.
Arven felt nervous, a normal feeling to the idea that someone unknown at that moment was paying so much attention to every part of him. Giacomo, focused on the sketchbook, He was a perfectionist, and he wanted to capture the essence of the young man. He observed Arven's every move, taking mental notes and adjusting his drawing accordingly.
That looked "cool" in Giacomo's eyes... not so cool to Arven.
Giacomo was staring at him without making a sound. Was there something wrong? Arven was already regretting it, and Giacomo's expression was making this even more strange.
Arven didn't want to judge him too much, BUT, what hairdresser had done that hairstyle? Who thought it was a good idea? Why does his forehead shine???
Giacomo eglanced up from his sketchbook and met Arven's green eyes, a small smile playing on his lips. "You're doing great, Arven," he reassured him, his voice soft and gentle. "Just hold this pose for a little longer." The artist made a few more strokes, trying to perfect the curve of Arven's lips.
Arven was still rigid in that position, perhaps he needed to break the ice to calm down a bit but Giacomo seemed to be used to working in silence.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Giacomo put down his pencil, satisfied with the progress he'd made. "Thank you, Arven," he said, his voice warm and genuine. "That was a great session. We can take a break now."
Arven looked away, it was uncomfortable for him not to talk for so long, especially with someone he didn't know very well.
"Are you alright, Arven?" Giacomo asked, setting his sketchbook aside and moving to help Arven sit up. "You seem a bit tense." Giacomo noticed the tension in Arven's body, the way his muscles were still rigid. He stood up from his chair, moving over to where Arven stood. "You've been holding that pose for quite a while," he said, "Did I make you feel uncomfortable?"
"It's okay, I'm not used to staying silent."
"If it's too much, we don't have to continue," he assured him. "I can always work from the sketches I've made. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable," he apologized, his voice sincere. "I promise, next time we can chat or play some music. It's just that when I'm working, I like to focus, and I didn't realize how much it affected you. "He offered a small smile, hoping to ease the tension between them. "Would you like...? We can grab something to eat."
"No need, I think I'm fine!" But his stomach didn't agree and the silence in the room didn't help. That made Giacomo laugh.
"Your stomach seems to have a different opinion." he said, smiling.
"Okay- Maybe it's a good idea to have something to eat." Giggles.
Giacomo's eyes lit up, a smile spreading across his face. "Of course. Let's grab something to eat. I'm sure it will help you feel better."
Don't you mind if we talk a little? I barely remember your name to be honest and if this is going to be a recurring thing I think we should get to know each other a little."
He led Arven out of the classroom and into the hallway, the sound of footsteps echoing softly. They headed to the cafeteria, the bustle and chatter contrasted markedly with the tranquility of the journalism room.
Once they found a table, Giacomo retrieved the sketchbook, flipping to the page he'd been working on. "Here, take a look," he said, sliding it across the table. "What do you think?"
The sketchbook had a couple of Arven's drawings, they seemed more like exercises to loosen the hand but they had been done with care and attention to detail. Would it be too egocentric of him to say that the drawings are cute?
"They look great, you make me look cuter than I am" he smiled.
"I'm glad you like it. "Giacomo got up to order something to eat, "Well... Do you want me to bring you the menu?"
"Please."
He didn't seem like someone unpleasant in Arven's eyes, just a little strange but that's not necessarily a bad thing. He knew there was a reason why Penny is his friend.
The artist went looking for the menu and Arven took a photo of those drawings. He was curious to review the previous pages but it was probably better to ask permission. Giacomo returned with the menu, "Here you go."
"Thank you."
Arven took the menu, not that there were that many food options in the cafeteria but he still couldn't decide, Giacomo directed his hand to the sketchbook returning his attention to it.
The silence between them became evident although the rest of the students in the cafeteria made it less awkward, Arven stood up ready to order.
"Do you want me to order for you?"
"I've already ordered, don't worry about me."
A few minutes passed, both of them waiting for their food in silence until it was ready and hot on their table.
"So... How long ago did you start making art?" Arven asked trying to recover the previous conversation.
"I've been drawing for as long as I can remember. It was something that came naturally to me, and I've never been able to shake it off."
He took a bite of his food, chewing thoughtfully before continuing. "My father was an art enthusiast. When I was younger, he used to take me to art museums and let me explore my creativity. I guess you could say it's in my blood."
"Oh your father..." To be honest, Arven didn't enjoy delving so much into family issues, not because they bothered him, he just knew that it triggered questions about his own.
"I've been drawing ever since I can remember," he said, taking a bite of his food. "My mother was an artist too, and she used to encourage me to explore my creativity. Even after she passed away, drawing became my way of coping with the loss. It's something that brings me peace and happiness."
. . .
"HE JUST SAID HWAT?!" echoed in Arven's head, how was he able to mention something like that while eating a hamburger so calmly? Arven remained silent, not knowing what to say.
Giacomo paused for a moment, taking a sip of water before continuing. "I moved to Paldea when I was six, and I've been here ever since." Giacomo's eyes met Arven's, a genuine smile on his face. "What about you Arven?"
"Uh, mhm... There's not much I can say about myself. I was born here. I like to cook, sometimes."
Giacomo listened intently as Arven spoke, his curiosity piqued. "Cooking, huh?" he said, a spark of interest in his eyes. "What kind of food do you like to cook?"
"Paella."
"Paella?" Giacomo repeated, his eyes widening in surprise and delight. "That's a beautiful dish. I've always wanted to learn how to make it. Maybe you can teach me sometime?"
"Sure!"
As they made their way back to Giacomo's art room, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. "Arven," he said, his voice soft and sincere, "do you still want to continue being my model?"
Arven paused, his expression thoughtful for a moment as he seemed to forget the original purpose of their meeting. Giacomo waited patiently, giving Arven the space he needed.
Arven sighs, he was beginning to understand why Penny was friends with this art enthusiast. "As long as you don't look at me that way again," he smiled. Giacomo was grateful but confused at the same time,he was puzzled by Arven's comment.
"As long as you don't look at me that way again?" he asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
"Well... when I was modeling you had an expression like you didn't like me or something like that."
A blush crept up Giacomo's cheeks as he realized what Arven was referring to. He'd been so focused on capturing the essence of Arven's pose that he'd forgotten to consider his facial expressions. "Oh, I'm sorry," he said, his voice sincere. "I didn't mean to give you that impression. I was just concentrating on my work." He chuckled softly, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips. "Perhaps I do need glasses," he joked, his smile warm and genuine.
Arven chuckled. "Okay, let's get back to what we were doing."
Giacomo laughed, the tension dissipating as they shared a light-hearted moment. "Yes, let's get back to work," he agreed, his enthusiasm renewed. "And maybe I'll consider getting glasses in the future."
He led Arven back into the classroom, eager to continue their session. Arven took his position once more, and Giacomo returned to his chair, his pencil poised above the sketchbook. This time, he was more aware of his facial expressions, his focus on capturing the beauty of Arven's form with a gentle, appreciative gaze. Arven noticed the change in the environment, now he felt much more comfortable, Giacomo could notice it in the way his model was sitting and in his smile.
As Giacomo began to sketch, he noticed the subtle changes in Arven's posture. The young man seemed more relaxed, more at ease, and it reflected in the ease with which he held his pose. A small smile tugged at the corners of Giacomo's lips as he continued to work, grateful for the improved atmosphere. The session progressed smoothly, the tension that had plagued their first encounter now a distant memory.
Throughout the session, Giacomo sipped on his coffee, the warmth of the beverage a comforting presence as he worked. The caffeine helped to keep him alert, allowing him to focus on the task at hand.
He glanced up occasionally to check Arven's pose, making sure everything was as it should be. The sound of his pencil scratching against the paper filled the room.