The Artisan

Alexandre Durant || 30 || Bastard Son of Vincent Durant. Traveller, Scholar, Crafter.

[theladyavalina]

Are you- you’re going?

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Well I was debating it. Considering I only really own old leather jackets and worn shirts... I'm fairly certain I'll stick out like a sore thumb.

[madelenegiles]

Oh? Do you need a bit of help, Alex?

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Honestly I could use a whole lot of help if I'm honest. I've never been allowed to attend a ball so... I'm not the owner of anything worthwhile of wearing. Do you have any suggestions?

[alexandre-durant-blog]

I never realised quite how difficult it is to find suitable attire for a ball.

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Sculptures: Alex & Ava

[theladyavalina]

"I’m not sure I’m as confident as you seem to be. I think that if I manage to teach you anything then it’ll be nothing short of a miracle." The relief Ava felt over laughing with someone again was massive. There were days when she felt like she was going to explode from everything that was going on in her brain. Since she was so stuck on the idea of bearing the burden of it herself, she had no way of getting any of it out. She was just in a constant state of turmoil, and even though quick few seconds of laughter felt like a release. Some of that rather extensive anxiety left her. It didn’t matter how little it was. Any kind of alleviation provided a respite from everything that she’d been dealing with. That alone was worth the risk of visiting Alex, and that alone would be worth the risk of growing closer to him. Ava needed it. She wasn’t sure how much longer her sanity would last without that bit of relief.

"Oh, the mystery will haunt me forever. I can assure you of that." She laughed once more. Considering for a moment, Ava shook her head. "No, it’s alright. I’m sure you’re correct. There’s more than likely a lot more for me to do than I realize, and I should let you get back to work." It was time for her to go back to reality, and she knew it. This wasn’t how her life was supposed to go. If she didn’t leave now then she would probably just keep finding excuses to stay. Things couldn’t be like this forever. Ava was only putting off the inevitable by staying with Alex longer. She turned to face him. "Will you be prepared to travel with me the day after tomorrow, or will you need an extra day or two?" She may have wanted to stay in the workshop for as long as possible, but she also wanted to get out of the city and back to her rather isolated home. It wasn’t like cities back home. There was something uneasy about being there. Ava never liked it.

[alexandre-durant-blog]

"We won't know until we try I suppose." Alex ended up shrugging with the comment the prospect of learning something something that he'd never really considered to be a required skill was enticing to him. He looked forward to seeing what it was that Ava could apparently teach him nd whether he would - in fact be successful in learning something and further his friendship with her. He was also hoping that by furthering this friendship he might end up gaining a more frequent visitor to his workshop.

"Yes it shall obviously." He flashed a small grin at her regarding Ava closely wondering whether he had scared her off but he seemed to relax when she didn't seem too spooked. "If you're sure... Well if you ever wish to stop by again... I'm always here." Alex said with a gesture of his hands around him to the small workshop that he called his home. The suggestion of when they'd be travelling he nodded. "I shall be ready to depart whenever you're ready... Simply inform me and I shall be present to leave as instructed." And he would be, whenever he was required he would be ready and willing to depart.

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Sculptures: Alex & Ava

[theladyavalina]

She was glad to see that he didn’t argue with her compliments this time. Although she now understood why he had in the first place. That wasn’t something that he could just get over right away. Ava knew that. Still, she would keep her promise and be around to help encourage Alex until he saw himself and his work the way that she did. She’d broken a lot of promises by leaving her home in Corstorphine- promises to friends at court and the family that she loved so dearly. It hadn’t been her intention to make a promise the way that she had, but it wasn’t fair for her not to keep this one. Keeping a promise would give her back something that she’d lost. The idea of keeping a promise made her feel a little bit more human. It was nice to feel that way after so long. “Well, if I do happen to teach you then I won’t expect much of your dancing abilities as long as you don’t expect much of my teaching abilities. I’ve never actually taught anyone anything before, so I’m not sure I’ll be very good at it. I hope you can be patient with me.” She replied, laughing along with him.

Ava cocked an eyebrow at his comment about living women being less frequent before grinning a little. “I’m certain that you didn’t mean to make that sound as suspicious as it did.” Her grin fell when Alex then began saying things that clearly signified the end of their visit. There wasn’t a lot that she had to do today. It could all be done quickly, and she didn’t have to leave to be able to get it all done right away. She didn’t want to leave his workshop just yet, but it seemed that it was time for her to do just that. Ava nodded a few times and did everything at all possible to let her disappointment show. Concealing her feelings was one thing that she’d become something of an expert at ever since she became a widow by her own hand. “Of course. Forgive me, I didn’t mean to take up so much of your time. You must have a lot of work to do.” She tucked a loose curl behind her ear and began to make her way from the room. If Alex didn’t want her there anymore then she wasn’t going to impose.

[alexandre-durant-blog]

"Well it sounds like we should manage well enough... You don't expect much of my dancing and I don't expect much of your teaching... We should just about manage to find a way to get through this." He cracked a slight grin hearing her laugh making him glad that he had met and perservered with her friendship - he was hoping that one day he could call her a proper friend. Which was something he'd never really had before now.

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. You'll never know." He teased a small chuckle leaving him as he straightened not entirely sure what else he had to show her. He merely thought that she would probably have other errands to run as well but the moment he saw even the hint of sadness on her face his eyes widened and he shook his head. "No no... You're not imposing. I merely... Thought you would probably have other jobs to get done after seeing me that was all." He explained hastily. "If you don't wish to leave... I don't mind the company." Alex was just hoping he hadn't messed this up too badly hoping that she would still want to be his friend and would indeed talk to him again.

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Sculptures: Alex & Ava

[theladyavalina]

It had been a long time since Ava had been around someone who was actually happy. That was mostly due to the fact that she had withdrawn herself completely and sentenced herself to live only within her own company, and she hadn’t been truly happy for months now. Happiness almost seemed nonexistent in her world anymore. She could almost forget that at the moment though. Being in Alex’s workshop was like finding a little sanctuary, and the visit had gone much better than she’d ever imagined it would. Ava had been incredibly worried about going there. Then again, she was always worried, always nervous about something and a little jumpy and uneasy. That was what she’d become in the recent few months of her life. But now, to be around someone who was speaking with someone who was enthusiastic and actually appeared to be happy, Ava was reminded about how infectious and wonderful that was. She couldn’t help but smile. Her smiles were coming more and more frequent the longer she stayed there, and she’d smiled more since stepping through Alex’s door than she had in the better part of a year. It was surprising to her, but it certainly wasn’t a surprise that she’d call unpleasant.

"Scholar or artist first, it’s still impressive. I wish I had your way of expressing my views on the world." Although if Ava made any attempt at any kind of art in the state of mind she was currently in then it would be nothing but a dark mess. It would hardly be enjoyable to look out. People would most likely be put off by it. She herself probably wouldn’t even be able to look at it. She’d more than likely be the one to dislike it the most. "Oh, well you can easily learn to dance. Even I could teach you something like that." Dancing was something that she’d always found came rather naturally to her. She’d had an easy grace about her from the time she could walk, and when it had come time for her to learn to dance she’d picked it all up quickly. To her shock, Alex agreed to travel back home with her. She’d been expecting him to say that it was too soon or something of the sort, but she’d been given the opposite answer. What was even more shocking was that she was relieved by that answer- relieved to have some kind of companion on the journey home and someone to spend time with that wouldn’t make her feel like the passing hours were so miserably empty. She nodded as well, silently agreeing to have that message sent to him to tell him when they’d be leaving. His next comment caused a slight blush to paint her cheeks. Being called beautiful wasn’t new to her. She’d been hearing it for years, but Ava was a humble person. Hearing compliments like that still made her feel a bit flustered. "I’m sure that there are plenty of beautiful women in here already." She said with a shy smile, gesturing to the paintings on the walls. Surely there were a few portraits up there of women that could be considered nothing short of beautiful.

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Alex inclined his head in thanks to her praise seeming to just accept it even if he still found it extremely difficult to believe. "All it takes is a bit of time and creativity." He explained his hands moving to fold behind his back out of the way neatly. "Perhaps you could.... Thought I wouldn't suggest you expect much of my abilities." Alex warned with a small laugh. He was always ready to go quickly mainly because he had very little he had to bring with him meaning less to honestly pack up. A trip would be nice either way.

Seeing her blush and then the gesture to the walls he regarded them thoughtfully. "I suppose that is true. But living. Hm. Those are less frequent." He admitted with a small nod. "Anyway, I'm sure you have other tasks that you need to get completed today... I wouldn't want to impose on your time. I will await your message for when we depart for our trip. Who knows... It might become quite the adventure." He jested light heartedly.

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Sculptures: Alex & Ava

[theladyavalina]

Ava hesitated to respond to his comment about the cost of her dress. On one hand, she wanted to tell him not to fuss over it, but on the other, she didn’t want to come off as privileged by telling him that money was no object. Not to mention the fact that the particular dress she was wearing did mean a lot to her. She glanced around the room. With the ability she had, she could easily send a quick wind through the workshop to pick up the dust and send it out a window, but she refrained from doing so out of worry for the different works of art that existed throughout it. She’d be able to catch the ones she saw from falling, but if there were others in other rooms then she couldn’t guarantee their safety. Being a craft-user with a talent for air manipulation was convenient at times, but she wasn’t confident enough in her ability to do something like that. “I have nothing but time as of late. I’d be happy to come back.”

Her eyebrows lifted a bit in surprise when Alex explained what it was that he wanted to do. “So, not only do you have all of this talent, you’re something of a scholar as well? You know, you really are quite something. You’re rather impressive. Tell me truly, is there anything you’re not able to do?” Ava looked down at the floor and took a deep breath before nodding. To be perfectly honest, it would be nice to have someone visit her home. It was large, and its constant emptiness always made it feel so cold and cavernous. Maybe having someone visit would actually make it feel more like a home. “I’ll be leaving the city in several days. Perhaps you could travel back with me? It is rather out of the way, and I’m afraid I don’t have the talent for creating maps that you do.” Ava had specifically chosen a place that was out away from everyone else and couldn’t be found unless someone knew where to look for it. It was far from any cities or towns and away from any well-traveled roads. She was relieved to hear that she didn’t truly offend Alex, and the invitation to visit his workshop whenever she chose to lifted her spirits. “Thank you. It’s nice to know that there’s a place here where I’m welcome. Although you might get tired of my visits with how frequent they may become.”

[alexandre-durant-blog]

He could easily shift the dust with his own craft, though he didn't often openly utilise his abilities for concern that they may simply gain him more notoriety amongst the local residents. Instead he chose to simply use those abilities when he was by himself and able to keep full control and reign on them. Seeming happy with her response he clapped his hands together brightly. "Well then I look forward to seeing you once more." He declared happily.

At her observation he shrugged his shoulders rolling them back a little. "I'm a scholar before I am an artist... These are simply my methods of expressing how I view the world and the things within it." Though her question about what he couldn't do was met with a purse of his lips and a cock of his head. "I'm not a grand singer... Dancing isn't a forté of my own either if I'm honest with you..." He admitted with a slight humorous smile. At the offer of travelling back with her he nodded. "Several days... Yes I would be able to make that... Simply inform me with a message when we leave and I shall be prepared." He cast a look to the painting and back to her. "I doubt that. A beautiful woman brings a certain radiance with her to a dull place like this. It would be nice to have a frequent visitor."

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Sculptures: Alex & Ava

[theladyavalina]

Ava chewed on her bottom lip for a moment as she contemplated his question. It took a few seconds before she could finally answer. “I…I don’t know. I think you need to figure that out on your own. I don’t think that I’m the right person to answer that for you.” Not only did she not understand what it was like to deal with something like that for her entire life, but she wasn’t completely certain that she hadn’t been defeated by what she had to deal with now. It had turned her into someone completely different, chased her from the home that she loved so much, and taken all of the joy out of her life. For all intents and purposes, it had defeated her. Ava could give all of the good advice that she wanted, but she never seemed to be able to follow it herself. The mood lightened a bit when Alex smiled. It appeared to be as rare for him to give out genuine smiles as it was for her these days, and she was glad to have been on the receiving end of one. “Well, it certainly won’t be a chore to admire your work. I have a feeling that you’ll make it quite easy for me.”

She laughed once and shook her head. “I only wish that were true. I think that would make my life a lot easier.” If she could just convince people that there was nothing off about her or that there was nothing special about her and no reason to talk to her then that would make the way she lived a lot easier to get through. “You’ve been persistent. That’s hardly a bad thing. You’ve wanted to be an artist for your entire life then?” Her brow furrowed slightly as a bit of a nervous reaction when Alex mentioned coming to her home, but she quickly recovered and hoped he hadn’t seen it. Ava wasn’t sure she was ready for that. “Are you sure that you’d like to do that? It’s several days’ ride to my home. I’d hate to inconvenience you like that. I can take it with me when I return if that would be easier.” Her smile returned at his next comment, her previous nerves fading away. “You know, I wasn’t certain I’d even be welcome here after the way I made such a mess of things when we first met. I was afraid that you wouldn’t want me here.”

[alexandre-durant-blog]

"Well if you're coming back I'll be sure to tidy up first rather than get your clothes all dusty... Who knows how much such a fine dress cost." He said as he eyed it and then looked back to her. "But I'd like for you to return if you'd like to... And if you have the time." Alex seemed happy to have someone who would just admire his work for what it was and not first judging it by who painted it and their status. To Alex it felt like someone had finally seen him after years of being invisible to nearly everyone.

"I'm a persistent person... Determined to get what I want... Not really an artist. I've wanted to be a learner my whole life. I draw and I do art to learn about my environment and the people and creatures which inhabit it." He explained with a small motion of his hand to the various scenes of people and places. Seeing her nervous reaction to his suggestion he rocked back onto his heels drawing himself up. "Oh of course... I should probably get out of the city for a little while anyways... Need to get out of the guard's range." He explained tucking his hands into his pocket. "It'd be nice to visit if you'd allow me to." Her smile and response earned a slight smile and shake of his head. "You hardly caused me any offence to what I hear most days. Consider yourself a guest to visit my workshop whenever you need." Alex stated with an easy smile.

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Sculptures: Alex & Ava

[theladyavalina]

"And I will never rid myself of mine either. You were born with the burden you bear, and I cannot imagine having to bear something that would cause those around you to look down upon you, but you cannot let the narrow minds of others diminish what you are capable of. Do not let them defeat you like that. You are greater than they are prejudiced. Someday you’ll come to realize that, and until you do, I’ll just have to come back and continue reminding you of it." Ava didn’t even realize that she’d then made a committment that went beyond her one visit to his workshop. She’d said that she’d come back. If she’d realized it then she would have gotten spooked and pulled away. Maybe she would have even left right then and there. Her attention was too focused on Alex though. It didn’t register. "That’s all the more reason to be sure of your talents. Show them that you are more than your illegitmacy. Prove them wrong. The ignorance of small minds does not lessen the possibilities of your talents. Don’t let the world tell you otherwise."

"Only sometimes," she said with a small smile in response to Alex telling her that she had a way with words. "I wish I had the kind of talent that you do though. Words can only do so much." It seemed that she only had that way with words when she stopped thinking about what she was saying. When she tried to say the right thing, it didn’t always come out as such. That was one of the reasons that she had so much trouble conversing with people now. Ava was constantly trying to say the right thing that wouldn’t make anyone suspect a thing. Paired with her paranoia and her nerves, she found herself taking long pauses and stuttering as she tried to figure out what the right thing to say would be. She smiled again when Alex told her to take the painting. “I won’t need anything to remind me of your work. I can promise you that it will stay in my mind regardless…but thank you.” Ava looked down for a moment before smiling over at the man next to her once more. “You know, you’re the first person in this kingdom who’s shown me true kindness since I arrived. Thank you for that as well.”

[alexandre-durant-blog]

"But how do you not let the people you see every day not influence your life? It's impossible to simply block it out. So how can you stop it defeating you when it's all you've ever truly known?" But as she said about coming back he looked both surprised, shocked and happy. Had he really managed to make a friend out of the woman who had not been sure if she'd even come to see him again? The thought made a genuinely small smile to appear. "I'd like that... I need someone to admire my work." Alex listened intently to what she had to say eventually nodding his head. "Alright... I'll do my best to remember that when I work."

He shrugged a little. "It worked for me... Pretty sure you could convince anyone of anything..." When she pointed out about wishing she had his skill he looked around at the artwork rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. "I've spent my whole life practising and bothering people until I managed to get to do what I wanted..." When she said about taking the painting he seemed pleased. "Well I insist that you have it... No one else will. If you give me directions to your house I shall bring it down so that you might be able to have it hung in one of your rooms." Alex seemed to be surprised by that and it showed on his face. "Well I think people should be treated fairly if they're kind and you haven't done anything but be that to me... So I'll return the favour in kind."

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Sculptures: Alex & Ava

[theladyavalina]

Ava quickly withdrew her hand when she saw the was Alex reacted to her touch. She held it there for a moment, unsure of what to do with it, before letting it fall to her side. She wanted to comfort him, but she just didn’t know how. His response just upset her even further. Why would she lie about something like that? Why couldn’t he accept that she was telling the truth and that he had every right to be proud of what was clearly a very unique talent? She was a little confused. It didn’t make sense. What made it do hard for him? A part of her wanted to argue and tell Alex that she wouldn’t lie about something like that. Ava’s lies were reserved for other things. Her lies were about herself and her own situation. She did her best not to lie often. It wasn’t right, but she would lie if she had to. Sometimes it was necessary to do just to keep people from getting too close to the truth. Art and talent were things that she’d always stay true and honest about though. They were some of the only things that could bring joy into the world, especially into her own personal world.

Then Alex began his explanation, and it began to make sense to her. “We all have things that will hang over our heads, Alexandre. We all have our own burden to bear.” The desire to tell him about her own burdens was eating away at Ava in that moment. After all, why would he listen to her when she looked like the kind of person who’d had everything in life handed to her on a silver platter? Truth be told, everything had been handed to her on a silver platter. Her life had been perfect up until recently, but now she was dealing with the aftermath of all of it, and she was well aware of what it meant to carry around a weight on your shoulders that you just couldn’t rid yourself of. She knew what it felt like for something to be held over your head and to know that it could crush you at any given moment. “But anyone looking at these paintings or at that carving in the other room would be too preoccupied by their beauty to be concerned with whether their creator was legitimate or not. Your parentage does not diminish your talent. When I look at these- at that,” Ava paused and pointed to the painting of the beach that was now behind them. “I don’t care whether you are a bastard or a king. I see my home. I see my home that’s even more beautiful than I remember. You don’t just make beautiful things, Alexandre. You make real things. You make things that are lost to people- things that give people back a piece of themselves.” At least, that was what he’d done for her. Ava had felt more comfortable looking at that painting than she had in all of her time spent in Omnium. Alex had given her that, and she wished that he could see how much it meant.

[alexandre-durant-blog]

"But mine is something that I will never remove." He said rubbing a hand over his face a slight sigh escaping him after he finally finished speaking. As he talked his eyes drifted distantly around the walls of the workshop not sure how anyone could believe something about his work when no one else had ever said the same. "Anyone who walks through that door knows they're walking into a shop where no matter how much I charge they can undermine me on what prices I set. People aren't preoccupied they know what and who I am." He started to say but once again fell silent as he eyed the painting that she had been eyeing earlier.

He had to admit that he'd enjoyed doing that particular painting and the memory of how he'd felt once he'd done it filled him with a sudden happiness that outweighed the heaviness of a few moments prior. "My work is my soul... My soul is my work... I haven't heard praise of it in a long time." Alex said quietly before falling silent listening to her words and they only seemed to ease that sinking feeling he had started to feel prior. "You have a beautiful way with words." He eventually said as she finished her speech looking between her and his painting. "Then... Take it. Take a reminder of your home and my work home with you." He ended up saying eventually adding tentatively. "Perhaps you have the right of it..."

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Sculptures: Alex & Ava

[theladyavalina]

Ava listened intently to Alex explain the places he’d been. Sometimes she wished that she’d travelled more. Her husband would have made the perfect traveling companion. He was always dreaming and thinking big. His hopes didn’t end at the borders of Corstorphine. They went to the west or far across the sea. Now it felt like it would be wrong of her to travel without him. It would be unfair for her to live out one of his dreams while he rotted in the ground. That wasn’t right. She couldn’t bring herself to do it despite the fact that now was the perfect time to. With nothing to tie her down anymore and plenty of money, she was in the right position to travel. Ava wouldn’t do it though. She’d stopped him from ever seeing the world in its entirety, so it was only fair that she’d stop herself from doing the exact same. It made sense that way.

Alex’s reaction to the words she spoke to him made her face fall into a frown, and it only deepened with what he said next. Could he really not see that he had plenty to be proud of? Was he blind to his own talent? Ava noted the sorrow in his movements as he turned away and turned with him before laying a delicate hand on his arm. Seeing someone else in pain always touched something in her heart. She’d always been a selfless person, ready to offer a hand to anyone who needed it. Sometimes that help came in the form of material goods or a place to stay. Sometimes it just meant a few kind words to get someone through a tough time in their life. She didn’t like seeing sadness in anyone. There was too much sadness in the world. If she could take away just a little bit of it then her life wouldn’t seem as worthless for a moment or two. “Do you think I would lie to you about that?”

[alexandre-durant-blog]

He couldn't help his immediate reaction to her touch his muscles taut and bunched obviously uncomfortable with the praise that she had to give to him. He didn't seem to find any comfort in the touch of her hand and his head hung slightly his eyes fixed on a low point on the opposing wall. "You wouldn't be the first person." He answered softly his eyes narrowing at the wall before he gradually relaxed some of the tenseness seeping out of him as he sunk shaking his head

"I'm never going to be anything I or anyone can be proud of... I'm a bastard. I can't ever have anything to be proud of." He eventually turned back around to face her a sad look in his eyes. "I won't ever be able to shake that label... It will hang over my head and the things that I create." Alex explained with a wave of his hands towards the walls around him.

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Sculptures: Alex & Ava

[theladyavalina]

Her eyebrows pulled up slightly when she heard him speak beside her. She’d hadn’t even heard him approach. All of her attention had been focused on the painting before her. The more she looked at it, the more beautiful it became to Ava. Alex truly had captured the feeling of Corstorphine and the beaches there. She hadn’t seen the Omnian beaches yet, but she knew that they wouldn’t be able to compare to those of her beloved homeland. It just wasn’t possible. The beaches of Corstorphine were the most beautiful places in the world in Ava’s eyes. Those beaches were where she grew up and learned some of the most important lessons of her life. Nothing could ever rival how wonderful they were. Being away from that feeling of comfort and belonging was tough for her. It was all she’d ever known, and now it was only a distant memory that slipped further from her grasp with each passing day. There were times when Ava worried that she’d lose the memory completely.

"It is very sandy. I used to love the sand.” She said in a gentle, dreamy voice. Her eyes had that distant quality once again, but it didn’t seem like it was such a bad thing this time. Now it was like she was recalling a fond memory, and the ghost of a smile was pulling at the corners of her lips. “I used to run barefoot through it as a child all the time. My mother would call for me and tell me that I was going to ruin my gown. I could never bring myself to care though. It was just so much fun.” Ava blinked a few times and shook her head. “Forgive me. Sometimes I find it rather impossible to keep my mind from wandering.” She turned slightly to Alex and gave him an apologetic smile, but that guarded and vacant look had returned to her expression. “You are a rare talent, Alexandre. You should be very proud.”

[alexandre-durant-blog]

The difference between Omnium and Corstorphine was the hatred and love of the sea and sand in either Kingdom. Where Corstorphine loved the sea Omnium despised it and everything that went with it. Though Alex having spend years travelling around the deserts and sandy lands of the south away from the verdure of the North was rather desensitised to it by now. Sand meant little to him whereas the landscapes it formed were of great importance to him. That was also a key reason why no one had bought most of his work especially the beach scenes; no one in this Kingdom liked them.

"You'll find no sand here unfortunately. Omnium seems to have a hatred of all things related to the coast... But sand well, frankly I've seen too much sand really... Vast planes of just sand that burns your feet to the touch and hurt your eyes after too long... Deserts and inhospitable lands barren save the sand." He explained as he looked towards another set of work that depicted some of that which he spoke of towards Assaria. "It sounds... nice." He listened to her tangent curiously but when she apologised he shook his head. "No it's fine... I understand. The mind often wanders... Mine does too. But I don't have so many nice things to recall." He pulled a slight face that was part way to a grimace at her compliment obviously finding it hard to accept. "I'm sorry to say I find that hard to believe. Inspired... Eccentric but proud no." He turned away sadly, he couldn't accept something that he believed to be so far from the truth about himself. How could he accept that when his whole life he'd been told his work was shoddy and mediocre. The only people who had believed he was capable of anything now being dead.

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Sculptures: Alex & Ava

[theladyavalina]

Ava turned and followed Alex’s gesture towards the other room. She was a little hesitant to leave the marble carving on the table. It seemed as though there was so much more of it that could be seen. There had to have been little details in there, and she probably could have spent hours looking for and analyzing those little details. An entire world was there in that stone. It was a world that could be explored and marveled at just as the world outside of Alex’s workshop could be, but that shining and smooth world was more pristine than the real one. That world would be easier to explore. It wasn’t as dangerous. Nobody in that world would discover her past and persecute her for it or scorn her from where she came from. So she didn’t want to leave that place. Alex was already moving though, and she couldn’t do anything but follow. With one last look at the marble, Ava turned away from it and moved with him into the other room.

She didn’t necessarily know where to look when she entered the room. All of the paintings hanging up on the walls drew her eye and fought for her attention. Ava walked around the room for a few moments before saying anything, looking here and there and never really lingering or focusing on anything. There was almost too much to look at in that room, no area of focus. Then one thing she saw stood out- a rather simple, but still beautifully done, depiction of an ocean scene. The painting wasn’t something that she usually would have been drawn to. Usually her interest was on people and not places, but this one tugged on her heart strings. The coast was her home. She’d grown up by the ocean and loved it. This was the first time she’d seen it in months. Ava was gazing at that painting like it was a masterpiece, like it was the loveliest thing she’d ever seen. To her, it was. It was home. It was everything she’d lost. “They’re more than satisfactory. They’re beautiful.”

[alexandre-durant-blog]

He was a fast mover; constantly in motion from one thing to the next be it a project or even his own body moving around. He was always busy doing one movement or another productive or not it was as if his mind seemed to be on overdrive leading to his body being the same. Once they were in the other room he moved to situate himself against the desk where he kept his paints and other items for painting and sketching watching her survey and study the room with the paintings all on or balanced against the walls.

It was during this time studying her he saw how her gaze over everything faltered on one particular painting; something he'd done whilst in Corstorphine that no one had ended up wanting and so had remained with him over the years to keep until he sold it or simply reused the canvas for something else. He pushed away from the desk walking over and stopping beside her. "I did that when I visited Corstorphine... Interesting place... Very sandy... But no one's ever wanted it." He said by way of explanation as he looked at the painting. "They're the things I enjoy... Some of the few and only things I'm good at."

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Sculptures: Alex & Ava

[theladyavalina]

She let out another small laugh when she heard Alex’s response to what she said about the map, being well aware that he didn’t take it too seriously with the way he was still smiling. Ava hadn’t had such a relaxed interaction with someone in so long. In the rare event that she actually spoke to someone, the widow was polite and amicable, but she was still clearly distant. Her mind was too far gone to some other place in order to be considered truly friendly. She was pleasant enough, but it wasn’t like she was that social butterfly that she had been before. Interactions with other people always meant that she was trying to find ways to evade questions and give vague answers. She was always trying to keep the most distance as possible between the rest of the population and herself, both literally and figuratively. Ava hadn’t ever been uncomfortable around people, but now she felt so uneasy around them. It always felt like they were all staring at her and judging her and seeing exactly what she was thinking about. She was so terrified that someone would see what was going on in her head. Sometimes the fear made her physically sick to her stomach.

But now she wasn’t thinking about all of that. She was just enjoying her time this rather interesting artist who clearly had the talent to make things that were more beautiful than the things everyday artists could. Ava wasn’t afraid. Her stomach wasn’t turning. She just felt like herself again. His mention of commissioning a piece caught her attention. “I might just take you up on that offer.” Because her home was so dull and dark and dreary. It was a large place that could be quite beautiful and inviting had she furnished it the way her home back in Corstorphine had been furnished. Ava wished that she had brought some of the things from that house, but she’d barely taken anything with her. Then again, she didn’t necessarily think she deserved to live in a beautiful home. It was part of her punishment. Ava didn’t believe that she was worthy of a comfortable and happy life anymore. A monotonous and unwelcoming home was where she belonged. It was a prison. She didn’t want to think about that right now though, so she didn’t. She straightened up and turned her body to face Alex. “Of course, you’ll have to show me more of your work so I can be more familiar with your capabilities before doing that.”

[alexandre-durant-blog]

"Well I'm not that busy besides doing the odd task here and there and commissions always please me to do. Mainly because they give me something to do in my free time besides the run ins with the guards." He explained as he leaned upon the table looking at her with a slight grin his hands still resting on the table as he looked across at her eventually pushing away from the table he straightened himself back up brushing off some of the dust and with a sweep of his arm pointed along to the opposite room. "Then might I direct you in this particular direction." He suggested starting across into the room that housed his paintings.

The paintings on the walls were all of various scenes and people most work looking true to life be it a place, person or object. There were a few paintings covered in one corner tucked away mostly out of sight the only sign of their even existence being the corner of one peaking out from under its drape. Though Alex seemed to pay them no attention he glanced around at the walls. "Feel free to look... Hopefully they're satisfactory."

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Sculptures: Alex & Ava

[theladyavalina]

"I can tell." Ava said in response to Alex commenting on how he’d been working on it for a while. She couldn’t think of any of the artists back home who could have managed something like this. They could paint their kingdom with perfect accuracy, but this made some of their work look like that of children. Her line of sight moved briefly to the artist before falling back to his work. Ava felt…grateful. She was suddenly so thankful to him for sharing this with her. He hadn’t disappointed. He’d shown her something new and beautiful that she could honestly say she’d never seen before. The weight that she’d put on this meeting and this piece of art now felt justified. It could have gone so horribly wrong and left her feeling even more empty than she already had before walking through the door, but now a small part of that void was filled with something wonderful that she could think about and remember fondly. This was the first good time that she’d be able to make a good memory in what had felt like a thousand years to her.

The more she examined the marble and moved around the table, the more she saw, and the more she became in awe of what was in front of her. Omnium had never been particularly beautiful to her. Corstorphine held a kind of natural and exotic beauty that its neighbor couldn’t hope to match, but the rival kingdom finally looked beautiful there on the table before her. Ava hadn’t thought it possible. Somehow Alex had done something that she’d believed couldn’t be done by anyone. Her eyes landed on a lake outside of the city, and she was gripped with the desire to run her fingers over it, but she refrained. Instead she just looked closer at it, dark curls falling down over her shoulders and almost brushing against the stone as she leaned in. The surface of it looked so realistic that Ava could have sworn that if she were to touch it that her fingers would dip down beneath the water. “Frankly I’m now a bit disappointed in the little map you gave me knowing that you’re capable of a marvel like this.” She joked, smirking over at Alex and laughing softly. It was actual laughter, not forced or a pale reflection of a laugh. Sure, it wasn’t the strongest or longest laughter in her life, but still. She was laughing at her small joke without even realizing it. Ava hadn’t laughed in ages.

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Alex seemed to be able to find a natural beauty in most things that most people would simply consider mundane even the simplest of items or actions. Even with Omnium and its layout he had seemed to capture an aspect of it in his work that few could ever hope to replicate whereas Corstophine was a country of exotic and variety Ominum was very grounded in its traditions and way of life. Though they were sometimes a little too grounded for Alex's liking he tried to add his own flare to his work.

Whilst Ava moved around the table surveying his work he leaned on the edge of it leaning over so his chin brushed the table peering down the main street to the lump that was eventually going to end up being the castle and its residences. When he eventually rose his chin was covered in fine white powder which he brushed off absent-mindedly. Ava's comment about his map was met with a slight huff but his smile was still present suggesting it was in good nature. "Well you were acting as though you were going to simply drop it and forget about it... What was the point in making you a masterpiece when it could have just been dropped and forgotten." He countered peering over at her. "But if you wish to commission a piece I'd be glad to do it. I haven't any at the moment." 

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Sculptures: Alex & Ava

[theladyavalina]

She couldn’t help but hold her breath as she waited for him to reveal what was there on the table to her. Ava was suddenly realizing that this meant a lot more to her than she’d thought it had before. This was her taking a small step towards moving on and letting herself find some kind of joy in life once again. It was her letting go of a bit of the torture that she’d been forcing upon herself for the past few months. This was important of her. She hadn’t even been aware of the kind of impact it was having on her. Now that it was obvious, Ava was just even more invested in whatever was under that sheet. It represented a tiny bit of freedom from her seemingly infinite misery. Had she been thinking as she normally did then she would have told herself that she didn’t deserve that freedom. She’d tell herself that she deserved a dull world with no beauty and no light. Ava truly did believe those things, but she was just so tempted by the idea of something new and beautiful that she couldn’t seem to remember those beliefs. They’d disappeared from her mind momentarily. Her gaze moved from Alex and focused down to the table, her bottom lip slipping between her teeth once again as she waited eagerly.

It took a few moments for the sight to register after it was revealed to her. Her eyes widened slightly, blinking several times as she took everything in. Ava closed the distance between herself and the table and leaned down over it so that she could examine the carving further. It was unlike anything she’d ever seen. Most of the artists back home created works modeled after people. Sometimes animals were used as subjects, too. This was on a completely different level. She looked over the replica of the landscape. Each detail in the marble was more impressive than the last. The curves of the streets were smoother than anything chiseled from stone should have been. “This is… Oh, Alexandre, this is magnificent.” Ava breathed out with an expression of wonder on her face. She stood up to look at everything all together and moved around the table. “I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s exquisite even now without the castle.” Her voice remained soft and full of amazement. It was almost possible to convince herself that people could actually be living in the little city. She truly was blown away. “How did you even do all of this? It’s incredible.”

[alexandre-durant-blog]

He ended up moving to drop the covering away from the table so that it could be circled around and viewed from each side but once he had turned back his attention was on Ava and how she was responding to his work. A part of him was unsure considering it was unfinished but the other was proud of what he had managed to do so far the buildings as true to life as he could manage with the stone having spent hours labouring over the masterpiece. Of course he did the simple work aswell - statues and other designs but this had been a personal project that only he had undertaken and it had all been from memory.

He had even carved some of the outer portions of the city - including the lakes, rivers and forests. Of course his abilities had helped him to know when each piece of the marble had been close to the point of breaking and when he had to move on - though even then if he made a mistake he could simply recollect the fallen chips and dust and reattach them with his craft. His ability to manipulate the earth and stone also made the job of getting down the finer details easier always being able to smooth down the stone once he finished a particular section. Her words caused him to look pleased and a little awkward his eyes falling from her to his work. "Thank you... I've been working on it for a while." Her questioning was met with a small smile as he rested his hands on the edge of the table. "Patience... And a lot of retries if something went wrong."

[alexandre-durant-blog]

Sculptures: Alex & Ava

[theladyavalina]

Ava’s eyes followed Alex’s hand as he gestured back towards a covered table. It certainly piqued her curiosity, and she found herself moving absentmindedly towards the table. One delicate eyebrow cocked up, arching just slightly as she moved. It seemed almost like she was coming to life more and more the longer she was in the workshop. Being in a place like this again was bringing out little glimpses of her former self. Each expression was less forced than the last. Her words weren’t as obviously hollow as they usually were. It was like she wasn’t just a shell of who she had been. There was a bit of her substance within her now. There was a certain familiarity that came along with being around an artist. It reminded her of the artists she’d visit by the sea. She and her husband had happily become patrons of the arts back in Corstorphine, and she’d loved visiting them to see their work as it grew.

"Nowhere near done hardly bothers me." She said with an eager gleam in her eyes. This was almost comforting to her. It was a small taste of her life befoe it had fallen apart. There had been a distinct lack of beauty in this new world of hers. Even on the days she hadn’t gone to see the artists, she’d always been surrounded by lovely things. Ava had woken up every morning to stunning ocean views and had dressed in exquisite gowns and been adorned in shining jewels given to her by the man she loved. There was beauty inside and out in her life. The idea of having a little bit of that returned to her made her forget that only a few moments ago she’d been terrified of being here and had thought of leaving almost the second she’d entered. Her eyes lingered for a moment on the sheet covering the table before they flicked up to focus on Alex. "Show me."

[alexandre-durant-blog]

His movements were precise and to the point as though he knew exactly where and what he wanted to show her to start off with. Of course everything after that might lose its shine but if she wanted to see this first then he wouldn't disappoint. His eyes had a flicker of brightness about them they had lacked when he was out on the street, it was evident that here amongst the collection of pieces he was at home and content. He waited until she was by the table he had pointed out before he spoke simply wanting her to not be disappointed for the fact that it was still a work of his in progress.

"Merely a prior warning that as all." He inclined his head for a moment before he sharply tugged on the cloth pulling it away to reveal a partially carved marble representation of the Kingdom. Most of the walls and village had been carved along with the buildings that made up the interior up towards the castle though that was still uncarved as of yet. The streets wove and intertwined just as they did in real life and each house was characteristic to how it appeared in true life. Dropping the sheet aside he looked from it to her expectantly unsure what kind of reaction he would get. "It's a huge task... But I'm slowly working down the streets to the castle." He explained.