Facing the Wicked Witch

[losthunter]

After the rain let up, and Hunter was able to get home -- he spent the remainder of the evening reflecting on his current mood. He wasn't even able to finish any of the portraits that still needed some work, his mind clouded with thoughts at the Witch. And his father.

The thought of his father in the hospital was the one that bothered him the most. Especially since he had no information on how his father was faring -- thanks to the fact that he was denied access to the hospital room.

Come morning, his mind was made up. Hunter was going to talk to Kendra one last time and try to appeal to her somehow.

But he couldn't trust himself to meet her alone. And pulling out a phone number from the man he met last night -- Hunter picked up the phone. Then he called one William Kent.

Comments

[losthunter]

"I usually draw." Hunter gestures over to some of the inked portraits that are hanging in the studio. People doing everyday things.

He rids himself off his shirt, leaving the under T-shirt on. "But for this -- I use it to truly express raw emotions."

[william_kent]

Wil finds somewhere to sit, not too close to Hunter, but where he can see the canvas Hunter's going to work on. "A part of me has never really understood why someone would be willing to show their heart to countless strangers like that..."

[losthunter]

"It is not for everyone." Hunter knows there was a time he would have kept his art a secret from others. But after breaking free of one secret -- the others became easier.

He starts to use the rose petals, applying them to the canvas where they stick nicely because of being soaked in paint. He layers rose petal after rose petal, starting with dark blues and stormy grays to create an angry storm.

[william_kent]

Wil watches with interest. His mother's never really done this style of painting. "What happens to the petals once they get old? Do they wilt?"

[losthunter]

"They do. I have a source from a florist. She lets me buy flowers that they can no longer use at a reduced price."

"I dry them out, just enough for the petals to retain some of the moisture of the paint."

[william_kent]

"That makes sense."

[losthunter]

Hunter starts to use dark greens and muddy browns to create a cracked ground. In the middle of the canvas, he starts to use more vibrant greens as a base for a flower.

"So... is it your writing that you keep in your heart?"

[william_kent]

Wil nods, although Hunter isn't exactly looking at him. "I've showed a few pieces to my family, but I don't really want to publish. It's not good enough."

[losthunter]

"Did your family tell you that?" This comes from the fact that Hunter's dad... did tell him that his art was not an appropriate investment.

[william_kent]

"No. They actually tell me my work's really good." Wil just doesn't believe them, trusting his own biased judgment.

[losthunter]

Ah. Self-doubt. Hunter recognizes that symptom too.

"You could read me a piece." Hey, here he is demonstrating his art. Why not?

[william_kent]

"Oh, I..." Wil looks down at his hands. "I don't have any on me right now."

[losthunter]

Hunter could easily point out that art can be created on the spot. As he finishes places petals of a flower in the middle of his piece. But he doesn't.

"Another time then."

[william_kent]

"Another time," Wil agrees, sounding relieved. He's not going to weasel out of it, but he'll have time to prepare himself to allow another person to see his work.

[losthunter]

After working further, Hunter wipes his paint-stained hands on his T-shirt. And turns to give Wil a reassuring smile.

He steps back from the piece

"What do you think?"

[william_kent]

"It's beautiful." Wil isn't an artist himself, but having been raised in an art household, he definitely appreciates the finer points of artwork.

[losthunter]

Hunter smiles, with a slight blush behind the tattoos. It is strange to feel such a connection to this other man. But a lot has happened on one day.

"Maybe next time, I can draw your portrait."

[william_kent]

"I haven't been drawn since I was a kid... Mom does a lot of landscapes and abstracts."

[losthunter]

"It would be different... than my old drawings of my former self." Hunter reaches out towards him, but stops short of actually touching Wil. "It would be you."

[william_kent]

Wil's smile wavers a little. "How would anyone know?"

[losthunter]

"I wouldn't show it to anyone but you." Hunter clarifies. He didn't mean to imply that.

"I just meant as an artist. There would be different emotions applied with the ink."

[william_kent]

"I meant... we'd still look the same. Sort of."

[losthunter]

"I... just see you." Hunter replies softly, and this time his uninjured hand gently clasps Wil's shoulder. Yes, the initial meeting was weird. But after getting to know Wil, he does see differences. He sees him as a different person.

[william_kent]

Wil isn't sure how he wants to take that. He knows how Hunter means it, it's just a weirdness he has to adjust to first. "...just don't draw me doing anything weird."

[losthunter]

Hunter laughs. Then he leans in to whisper a little conspiratorial. "I draw what I see. So I don't think you have to worry about that."