aterat | [Open] That One Where There Is A Guard And A Bird

Entry tags:

[Open] That One Where There Is A Guard And A Bird

Who; Nida, Open
What; Stopping Crimes, Experiencing The Harbor, Trying Some Art
Where; Markets, Docks, Central Fountain
When;
Warnings;

I. Foiling the Crimes | The Markets
Really, he had to wonder at how foolish people could be to make trouble in the markets on any given day. This was one of the more carefully patrolled parts of the city. Not just that, there were merchants that weren't beyond hiring their own people to protect their things. But this? This was hilariously stupid.

Seriously, someone trying to extort a merchant in the markets for money? Well, it's extra hilarious because Nida wasn't even in uniform today. He was off, his uniform at home, because he was doing errands today. Even Hibiscus wasn't in her uniform saddle, just in the training one that Nida had, lightened up so he could put his purchases on her back. Still, Nida saw it going down, and like he could stand by. He whistled a careful command to Hibiscus, and her training was coming on well. The bird pulled her lead from his hand and strode off a bit down the road, slowing down traffic a bit. Meanwhile Nida slid up behind another person in the market and whispered in their ear.

"Hey, I'm with the guard and I'd like to borrow you for a brief little thing. Wanna help me catch some people trying to set up a protection racket?"

II. Missing The Shores Of Home | The Harbor
Summer was the time he missed Balamb the most, and it wasn't something Nida shared very much. Home was a place that he had no intention of returning to, after all. Balamb wasn't where he belonged anymore. He belonged with Ignis, wherever that was. But there were moments, faint and rare, where his heart ached for the shores of Balamb, or the forests near there. The mountains had been where he'd learned his climbing skills first, the forests where he had refined them. He'd grown up in the nature that had characterized Balamb Island, and he wanted it in this moment.

It would of course not be a feeling that lingered even come another day, but here Nida was anyway, embracing it. He sat on a dock, boots on the dock beside him, his legs and bare feet dangling over the water. Not that he'd jump in, but damn, the smell of it, while not quite right, is almost home.

"Fuck, I just... wish i could see it one last time."

III. Practicing The Softer Skills | Central Fountain
There aren't a lot of times that Nida takes a lot of time for himself. He's a guy that is always driven to doing more, some echo of an absolute need to be busy. A SeeD should always be doing things, and maybe he wasn't a SeeD anymore, but damn that drive was still there.

So Nida took the time when he could, and today the time was taken by the fountain. Hibiscus, the almost adult red chcoobo, lay on the ground in front of him, curled up, and Nida's feet were up on her saddle. He was sitting with his back against the fountain, a sketch book in his lap as he was busy drawing. His mind was very distracted though, because he was having issues with picking something to draw. He'd already sketched a bit of Hibiscus's head, his boots, a distant building, even someone passing by.

And damn, he just can't get something to coalesce in his mind enough for him to focus on any one thing well. Frustrated he flipped to the next page, earning a concerned warbling from the bird.

"Yeah, I know. Guess I'm just a bit stressed. Sorry."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nida wasn’t the only one out and about looking for inspiration that day, as Yusuke’s favoured pastime in recent months had been people watching from a nice vantage point in busy, crowded places. He was simply looking for a good place to set his bag down and pull out his own sketchbook to draft a new idea for a painting when he noticed the man sitting against the fountain, feet propped up on one of those odd, large birds…

Well, the bird didn’t look particularly full grown as yet, not as impressively sized as the ones he’d seen hauling carts or being ridden upon…

But they still were an interesting sight, and Yusuke tilted his head thoughtfully for a moment. Just observing rather than saying anything, at least until Nida’s expression took on a rather frustrated light as he flipped a page in his sketchbook. Ah… The teen knew that look well. He had worn it himself once or twice. A few sketches in his book currently had angry x’s drawn through them once he’d given up on a piece.

So, finally, the teen approached and came to a stop near enough to speak. “Being unable to get what you feel down on paper is a truly vexing thing, indeed. Are you lacking proper inspiration, or is something perhaps distracting you?” He asked after Nida spoke to Hibiscus. Yeah, maybe it was a little nosy and improper to comment when he hadn’t been addressed or ask, but the teen wasn’t exactly good at remembering that.

He knew the kid was watching, of course. Or knew at least that he was approaching. Siren had picked up the footsteps, and he didn't look up and flinch because he's calmed down a little.

But he does look up and sighs.

"Well, the problem with it is that inspiration is something of artists. I'm not an artist. It's just to relax a little, and it's not really working."

He thought he wasn’t an artist since he did it only to relax? What an odd notion… The teen sat on the edge of the fountain and considered Nida thoughtfully. “I believe that anyone with an intent to do art, even for a hobby, could be considered as such…? If you are struck with a desire to create at all, I would think that is inspiration in a sense.” There was something more admirable as well, to the idea of creating for something other than work or monetary gain…

That it wasn’t working to help the man relax was rather clear, considering his earlier reaction, which seemed rather unfortunate. “Perhaps you need to change your vantage point or subject.” Or maybe he was experiencing a kind of block, which Yusuke understood all too well at the moment. “What specifically were you attempting to sketch just now?” He set his leather satchel down on the edge of the fountain next to him and opened it to pull out his own sketchbook.

"Anything at all," Nida answered with a shrug. "I don't much care. I've already done a lot of building sketches. They're practical to do."

And what he was definitely trained in. Specifically.

"I copy what is there. That's not art."

“Perhaps you should try drawing something you care about, more than out of practicality. You may find your pencil flows more smoothly across the paper than it did before.” He commented absentmindedly. Somehow he had a feeling that this man was going to disagree regardless of what he said… It seemed rather bleak of an outlook to have on one’s hobby.

Copying was an odd way to put it, really. Yusuke rather thought of copying more as something one did when they were making copies of someone else’s art. Not a good thing. Drawing buildings in detail, as exact as one’s observations skills may be or not, didn’t exactly seem exactly like copying to him. Lots of people drew inspiration from architecture and drew buildings as well as scenery.

“May I?” He asked, gesturing to the other’s sketch pad, withholding his opinion on that until after he actually saw what Nida was denying to be an artistic talent. Maybe it came off as a bit pushy, but even if Yusuke could be more well mannered than some of his friends? The teen didn’t always think of that when his mind was set on something.

Especially something art related.

Drawing something he cares about? Well, those images of Ignis would definitely convey his feelings then. But the kid is asking and Nida, well, what does he have to lose? He hands over the sketch pad, leaving the man free to flip through it.

There's nothing inappropriate in it after all. There are many filled pages, some with detailed maps, some with amazingly accurate architectural and real life sketches of locations, and more than a few studies of the chocobo, a creature that seemed part cat and part peacock, and, well, people. All of it is done in pencil and all of it with a clearly experienced hand. Someone with leagues of practice did these, not that Nida considers any of it art.

Yusuke was quiet as he took the book, opening it and leafing through the pages thoughtfully as he studied the sketches that caught his attention. He was taking this seriously, considering Nida’s words up until this point. Thoughtless comments would neither help nor be fair.

Really, for someone who said what they did was not art had a very skilled hand. The attention to detail was quite impressive, and it was clear he’d been doing this for a long enough time that he had both ample practice and experience under his belt…

The teen finally broke his silence as he tilted his head at the picture of what seemed to be a hybrid between a cat and a peacock. “You have a very keen eye for detail, and your perspective on some of these locations is quite interesting.” He added as he flipped to another sketch of a building. “Our opinions of what can be defined as art are rather different, I think. I’ve seen things that are mere copies…” He added with an obvious, and slightly severe frown, before he returned his attention to the sketches. “So I would certainly describe these as art, more a representation of your detailed observation of your subjects than a simple copy.”

How interesting. Nida raises an eyebrow at that statement. It would be art in his eyes, huh? Strange.

"People go in for that sorta stuff? Looking at other people drawing cities that are already there? Or pictures of people that aren't painted?"

He doesn't know that he believes it.

“To my knowledge, they do. I’ve seen many portrait artists working wonders with pencils alone? Even if painting is my usual medium, there are many others in the art world than that. All should be considered valid and an interesting experience to try.” And his dormitory room at Kosei had many sketches adorning his wall, complete pieces to his mind and not set to become paintings. Many of candid moments he’d witnessed of his friends or some aquatic creatures that had caught his interest.

He flipped back to the page of Nida’s peacock-cat hybrid. “Art is quite often more about the feelings it can convey than what was used to create it. What it makes one feel, or the feelings of the artist. One can almost feel a particularly regal demeanor you conveyed of this magnificent creature.” He added with a small smile, before offering the sketch book back properly and reaching into his own bag to pull out his own.

Interesting. Nida looks quite shocked by this. Though the regal demeanor comment earns a burst of laughter from Nida.

"If you'd ever met Julia, you'd understand. She's a prissy little queen she is, and spoiled to boot. Her species is very regal, and very judgmental, so if you don't treat them beyond spoiled, they might leave."

The laughter earns a raised brow. It was a change from Nida’s mood before. But the teen offered a grin at the explanation. “Then you’ve truly captured her personality well on paper.” Which goes to show, the piece had gotten its point across and was fitting of being called art. Though he had to admit, “I’ve seen a lot of different creatures, and I can’t say I’ve seen any quite like her before. I presume by your words she finds herself appropriately spoiled to remain in your care?”

Setting his own sketchbook in his lap, he pulled out a tin of pencils as well to set on the edge of the fountain to pick from. Clearly he was getting comfortable. It wasn’t often he ran into someone else who did art these days. Even if sometimes he had considered reaching out to a few of his prior peers that had lived in the shack before they left, now that he was on his own. So this was an interesting meeting, and he found himself wanting to know more about the stranger.

"There isn't anything like Julia here," Nida promised. "She's one of a kind, and I think that makes her feel even more beautiful. And super spoiled."

Normally she wore a rhinestone collar, but he'd taken it off for the sketch. And now... well, he was glancing over at Yusuke's pad a little too.

"You sound like you've got a lot of experience."

“So she isn’t something of this world, either? How interesting. It seems already as though there are a great many unique creatures in this place that I had not considered that as a possibility.” And by Nida’s tone he was quite fond of the feline. No wonder there seemed to be so much feeling in the piece that he had sketched of her.

“I suppose I have.” He responded as he selected a pencil from the tin and began flipping through pages to find the next blank spot. There were a variety of subjects, and even styles, if Nida were paying attention. Oddly, there were a few that had rather angry lines drawn through them, as though they hadn’t made the cut. “One could say I’ve devoted much of my life to art, though there is still much to learn and further experience to be gained.” He added with a small frown, he believed he’d been suffering from a bit of a slump of late and come to several realizations.

Thus, the teen was endeavoring to do better. To learn what he felt, he lacked knowledge and understanding of.

"No. She came with me, twice actually. Once here, and once to a world before here, and she was from a world before that."

Nida's so used to being around in the worlds. He is just glad to be still now. Still, he's watching the man.

"I'm not used to art back home. I sorta... didn't grow up in a place to be exposed to it much. My drawing was because I had tasks I needed the skill for."

“Sounds as though you have a fair amount of experience with traversing other worlds.” He responded with a surprised tilt of his head. Could one end up from one to the next so easily? How long had it been since this man had been back in his own world? Yusuke had long pondered how many worlds, how many realities there may be that they did not know of after he joined the phantoms… And it seemed he was right about there being more than one could imagine.

He doesn’t mind being watched. His eyes were more on the people around them now than on Nida. He liked watching, and hoping to glean something about them that might help him understand more about the human heart and the world around him. “Is that so…? Well, clearly the tasks you needed the skill for gave you experience and assisted you with honing your ability.”

He titled his head, watching a couple of people pass close by. “I have recently come to the realization that experience and understanding more beyond art alone is integral to the pursuit. Otherwise, I suppose your work is left stagnant and without much feeling.” Life experiences were as important as the technique for capturing more complex emotions or themes, perhaps. It was something he was struggling with, but working on bettering after having had it pointed out and noticing it as time passed since he started on his own. Well, not on his own entirely. There was someone who indulged his requests for company and assistance, but they weren’t here.

"Far too much," Nida admitted, his voice soft. "But it doesn't matter. I'm here now and I'm happy."

He has his husband and he's not going to lose Ignis if he can help it.

"I don't know much about feeling involved in all of this. I'm sorry. You're the artist, not me."

Still doesn't buy that it's art, sorry.

That the man admitted he was happy here was interesting, that at least… Well, it meant it wasn’t an altogether terrible place. If Yusuke hadn’t arrived on his own, he might not have minded it as much… But he had, and it was so very different. Once the novelty of the world’s aesthetic wore off, it was hard to not think about the people he’d rather be with in a world away. So he focused on learning more, if he could. “So you like being here, then? Even if it’s not where you’re from?”

Yusuke raised a brow, his pencil stilling where he’d just put it to the paper. “You keep saying that, but I believe you may be mistaken, based on what I see.” He responded with a shrug, before he began an outline that was taking shape Hibiscus where she was curled up. This man seemed terribly stubborn about what he could consider art or not, and it was sad… And a tiny bit frustrating. “After all, as you say, I am an artist.” Shouldn’t he have an eye for art?

Well… He should, but he also knew he’d been mistaken about situations and subjects before… But looking at Nida’s sketches made it hard to doubt that much. There was talent there, regardless of what the man thought.

"I don't want to go home," Nida admitted with a shrug. "I love my husband, I adore my students, and the work is good too. Why would I go home?"

His home was a mess, and he was more of one there. Still, he is interested in the kid's argument, and decides to test the waters...

"Pretty sure mercenaries aren't artists. My skills were for intel gathering. Not for being nice looking."

“So you’ve built a life and people you care for in this place, then.” That made wanting to stay in this place make more sense to Yusuke. Having those you felt connected to, that you belonged with… That was a terribly important thing for anyone. “In that case? I understand why you would rather stay.”

Yusuke kept his eyes on his subject now, continuing his work while he pondered this rather strange man and his insistence on his own artistic abilities being something less than what they clearly were. “Can you not be both, to some extent?” He mused thoughtfully as he began filling in feathery details. He was an artist, raised to be one… But he had also since become a phantom thief. The experience he’d gained as one, and from those around him, was hard to deny. “And yet there is beauty and feeling in the sketches on those pages?” And he hardly thought Nida was documenting intel by drawing his peacock cat, so much as the enjoyment and desire to capture her beauty on paper.

Exactly that. Nida nods along with the conclusion the young man has come to.

"My life back home isn't one I want. Here? Here I'm happy."

Still, he's left intrigued by the young man and his words. What a thing to consider.

"I don't think I'd have the time for more than dabbling."

“Are you not already? What with the pieces already in your sketchbook?” He asked absentmindedly with a small hum, pausing to squint a bit a hibiscus, before resuming his work. “It would seem to me that you are, if you make time to sketch at all outside the ‘practical’ work.” At least that was how it seemed to the teen from what he’d seen. Even if he didn’t know how often or rarely Nida might take the time to sketch as he had been moments before, it was hard to not wonder having seen the skill on the pages of the other’s sketchbook.

"That's years of work," Nida points out. Clearly it's only dabbling. "And one must keep their practice up, even for practical work. Surely you know that much."

This kid definitely... saw something more and Nida doesn't know what to do with that. Maybe he should ask Ignis about it. The man was way more cultured than he was.

(ooc: Sorry, I misread your last tag and thought Nida said he didn’t have time to dabble, not that he was only dabbling. My bad :c )

Yusuke did know, of course. Practice was necessary. Even as he struggled with his ‘slump,’ he worked daily on trying to create something that was satisfying. “And your years of work and practice have certainly shown in your abilities.”

He tilted his head up from his page again, glancing at Nida curiously. “You do seem quite certain of yourself, though. I find myself rather curious as to why that is.” A pity if someone had discouraged the man. His opinion seemingly countered each time, perhaps unwanted in the first place. Yusuke could take a hint after a while, and he was starting to get the vague notion of that. His approach did tend to be a bit forward and pushy at times... It had been said on more than one occasion.

"Because... Because that's a thing of beauty and I was trained as a mercenary. We aren't people for beauty, save for that found in a weapon or a fight," Nida said. And time it wasn't argumentative, it was... it was frustration and pain. He wished he could be more. He was trying to be more. But that didn't mean he could make beautiful things.

Now that… That gets a noticeable pause from the teen. Setting the pencil down and seemingly contemplating what Nida had said with a particular degree of seriousness. A small frown crossing his face as he tried to think of how to respond, given he was often struggling with the concept of late. Feeling as though his own art was tainted with the darkness of the world and unseemly desires for praise and recognition.

“I confess, I understand what you're saying, but…” He had to hope that beauty in art could still be pursued, even with a clouded heart. “I have begun to realize in recent months that as ugly and inelegant as the world and the hearts of the people in it can be… There is often beauty and hope that coincides.” He said in a more careful tone, still trying to convince himself of it. “Should one really allow themselves to remain trapped in the boxes that experience or society has placed one in?”

Should one give up based on the ugliness that has gripped them, instead of trying to push past it or find a balance? Yusuke wasn’t sure at this point, but he hoped so. He was continuing to try… Yes, it was at times like this he missed his group. Ren always knew what to say in these situations to bolster his confidence or shake him out of it.

III. Practicing The Softer Skills | Central Fountain

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