[he's surprised she beat him there, but with his deciding not to teleport, it made sense. still clinging to his black and white color scheme, she remains the brightness in their dynamic duo. and of course, he's quick to give a wave.]
Well enough. I think I made a new friend. Or something like it.
[is he talking about Adolf, or the masked alien? who's to say?]
Still, it was good to come back to the apartment and sleep in my own bed. Better than a drafty building by far. And...you didn't run into any monsters or anything? I know there were some fierce ones hanging around.
[but beyond that he wants to be tightlipped, keeping any details a mystery. she didn't need to know everything, the same way that he didn't - the different was that he simply took it anyway.]
[ Naturally, though, Rapunzel isn't one to let such things go. Especially now. Especially with the memory from before raging like a twister in her mind.
Why had he wanted to blindfold her and Pascal? She had given no word of protest at the time, but now... ]
Of course.
[ She smiles, matching his words with her teeth. ]
Perhaps I did. But magic or not, they reformed quick enough that sticking around wasn't the wisest of options.
[time or blood, unfortunately, were the only things that would persuade him to speak more freely. and she might learn the truth of it, but she might not. it was all up to how things unfolded, even though he's thinking so far ahead he could get lost.]
Yeah. [ A sigh through pursed lips, this one aimed at blowing hair out of her face. ] They... were kind of a - pain to deal with. [ She nearly died as an indirect result of fighting too many, which she can't stop thinking about (and it'll show in the storm on her face), but which is neither here nor there. ]
I guess wisdom isn't something you learn in a t...errible place like this.
[ WOAH THAT WAS CLOSE!! She almost spilled the beans! ]
--Uh.
So, what kind of paintings do you like!? I-I've been told I'm a pretty fast learner since I've been doing caricatures for work. And I can imitate easily enough! Pick a style and I'll do my best!
[don't think he missed that, or will forget it. but no pushing. not right now, he thinks, she needs to be more willing to be honest with him before that.]
...I'm going to say something, and it might frustrate you, but it's my honest opinion. The style I pick is the one that you're the happiest to paint. Because this should be something that makes us both happy, right? And I'm curious as to what style that might be - whether that be your favorite or really just the one that feels the best to do.
[ Frankly she's too busy smiling at how right he is about it frustrating her to actually be very frustrated, though she'll run a hand through her hair and sigh dramatically just to satisfy the status quo. ]
Right. I forgot my mother was 100% wrong about other people being nice and polite rather than just 95% wrong. But - okay, Chrollo! [ a laugh ] Whatever you say.
How do you feel about a simple charcoal sketch? That would match you perfectly. [ Whatever that means. ]
That I think we can do. Should I be standing or sitting?
[why she's so insistent on drawing him, he doesn't quite get, but he'll trust in that choice for it. it wasn't like it was going to be in anyone's hands but hers, after all.]
sdjladh oh no he's so cute when he smiles though..............
[that gets him to laugh, one honest chuckle before he nods. look, he's not really done this before, so he didn't know what to expect other than what he thought might occur.
what he ends up choosing is leaning with his back to a wall, fighting the urge to be poised and rigid - that wasn't the point of being here - and after a thought of a second, reaches up to untie and take off the bandanna around his forehead. something about it being gone made him feel more like himself, with the tattoo exposed and hair as it was instead of being combed back. easier to relax like that.
if she's going to draw him, he thinks she should draw something a little closer to how he is.
even if it will always be a risk to let a great swath of people know. Rapunzel...she's more his investment. someone he thinks won't let him pry into the secrets if he doesn't give up some of his own. whether they'll be real or manufactured will be up to chance and circumstance.]
[ It's about four seconds of trying before the laughter Rapunzel's trying to cover slips it's way out, though she raises an arm to her mouth as soon as it does.
No, better to capture this. Making herself comfortable on what is surely filthy ground, she crosses her legs, takes the supplies from her backpack, and begins with another giggle.
There's something about seeing him put in effort (that's what he's doing right? trying to choose a great position for her sake? how nice!) that makes her laugh because no one's ever really done it before. Sketching tourists and aliens from other planets because she has to isn't quite the same, fun as it is. ]
Why do you wear that anyway? The... headband thing. You look just fine without it.
You're not any less, uh... professional. [ Glancing up, squinting, and returning to her outline. She's already impressed that he knew enough not to move. This is going to be a breeze! ] If that's what you're asking.
Maybe I should try it, then. Go into work without it on and see if anyone actually comments or if I'm just overthinking things again.
[which given Cerealia's large alien population, he probably is, but it had been a "better safe than sorry" impulse. as well as just another way to remove a very obvious indicator of himself.]
I didn't know you could overthink things. [ She wipes at her cheek, inevitably tracing an accidental line of black dust there. Is this sarcasm here or does she mean it?? ]
I didn't know you could be self-conscious at all, Chrollo. [ A grin. Definitely not sarcasm. ] You're always so... cool and polished. Know what I mean?
[then again, she doesn't see him in private, and he knows he deliberately tries to make himself poised in public. good to know it's working.]
If I don't seem self-conscious, I'm just doing good at not letting it show. Like how if you pretend to be confident, everyone will think you are, and you end up making the pretending reality when you forget about it. Same principle, really.
[ Whatever he's tried to make of himself, his doubt is interesting and it gives her pause. Why would saying he's polished be flattery? Is he not usually like this?
And if not... what is he really like?
These are all things Rapunzel considers in silence as she draws, looking back and forth between the paper in her arms and the man before her, letting her subject talk. Portraits are a great to encourage the latter, she's learned. ]
Oh, not you specifically! It was just meant as an example.
[though with that said...]
Are you pretending to be confident?
[he says it casually enough that she can shrug it off if she wants to, even as he already has an inkling about the true levels of her with things she said in the past. it's a coincidence he intends on taking advantage of.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Just get out of class?
no subject
Not to her! Never to her. ]
Not, uh... Not - exactly. It's kind of a long story.
[ beat ]
How did you fair out there in the end?
no subject
[is he talking about Adolf, or the masked alien? who's to say?]
Still, it was good to come back to the apartment and sleep in my own bed. Better than a drafty building by far. And...you didn't run into any monsters or anything? I know there were some fierce ones hanging around.
no subject
All I've been doing since I've arrived is fighting monsters, it seems. Did you not know that about me, Chrollo?
[ It's here that she recalls their own encounter, which inspires her own line of inquiry in the form of: ]
...did you?
no subject
[but beyond that he wants to be tightlipped, keeping any details a mystery. she didn't need to know everything, the same way that he didn't - the different was that he simply took it anyway.]
But we both survived, didn't we?
no subject
Why had he wanted to blindfold her and Pascal? She had given no word of protest at the time, but now... ]
Of course.
[ She smiles, matching his words with her teeth. ]
Did you use that magic from before?
no subject
[time or blood, unfortunately, were the only things that would persuade him to speak more freely. and she might learn the truth of it, but she might not. it was all up to how things unfolded, even though he's thinking so far ahead he could get lost.]
1/2
I guess wisdom isn't something you learn in a t...errible place like this.
no subject
--Uh.
So, what kind of paintings do you like!? I-I've been told I'm a pretty fast learner since I've been doing caricatures for work. And I can imitate easily enough! Pick a style and I'll do my best!
[ SALUTE ]
no subject
...I'm going to say something, and it might frustrate you, but it's my honest opinion. The style I pick is the one that you're the happiest to paint. Because this should be something that makes us both happy, right? And I'm curious as to what style that might be - whether that be your favorite or really just the one that feels the best to do.
no subject
Right. I forgot my mother was 100% wrong about other people being nice and polite rather than just 95% wrong. But - okay, Chrollo! [ a laugh ] Whatever you say.
How do you feel about a simple charcoal sketch? That would match you perfectly. [ Whatever that means. ]
look i even use the smiling icons for you
[why she's so insistent on drawing him, he doesn't quite get, but he'll trust in that choice for it. it wasn't like it was going to be in anyone's hands but hers, after all.]
sdjladh oh no he's so cute when he smiles though..............
Can't I leave some of the choice up to you?
too bad half of it is just fake as fuq
what he ends up choosing is leaning with his back to a wall, fighting the urge to be poised and rigid - that wasn't the point of being here - and after a thought of a second, reaches up to untie and take off the bandanna around his forehead. something about it being gone made him feel more like himself, with the tattoo exposed and hair as it was instead of being combed back. easier to relax like that.
if she's going to draw him, he thinks she should draw something a little closer to how he is.
even if it will always be a risk to let a great swath of people know. Rapunzel...she's more his investment. someone he thinks won't let him pry into the secrets if he doesn't give up some of his own. whether they'll be real or manufactured will be up to chance and circumstance.]
fake bitches are always cuter than real bitches
No, better to capture this. Making herself comfortable on what is surely filthy ground, she crosses her legs, takes the supplies from her backpack, and begins with another giggle.
There's something about seeing him put in effort (that's what he's doing right? trying to choose a great position for her sake? how nice!) that makes her laugh because no one's ever really done it before. Sketching tourists and aliens from other planets because she has to isn't quite the same, fun as it is. ]
Why do you wear that anyway? The... headband thing. You look just fine without it.
no subject
[he gives a half shrug so he won't break the pose.]
You really think I'm fine without it?
no subject
no subject
[which given Cerealia's large alien population, he probably is, but it had been a "better safe than sorry" impulse. as well as just another way to remove a very obvious indicator of himself.]
no subject
I didn't know you could be self-conscious at all, Chrollo. [ A grin. Definitely not sarcasm. ] You're always so... cool and polished. Know what I mean?
no subject
[then again, she doesn't see him in private, and he knows he deliberately tries to make himself poised in public. good to know it's working.]
If I don't seem self-conscious, I'm just doing good at not letting it show. Like how if you pretend to be confident, everyone will think you are, and you end up making the pretending reality when you forget about it. Same principle, really.
no subject
And if not... what is he really like?
These are all things Rapunzel considers in silence as she draws, looking back and forth between the paper in her arms and the man before her, letting her subject talk. Portraits are a great to encourage the latter, she's learned. ]
What makes you think I'm not really confident?
no subject
[though with that said...]
Are you pretending to be confident?
[he says it casually enough that she can shrug it off if she wants to, even as he already has an inkling about the true levels of her with things she said in the past. it's a coincidence he intends on taking advantage of.]