[flynnxxcarver]

Name: Flynn Carver Faceclaim: Colin Morgan Age: 38 Sexual Orientation: Pansexual Species: Witch. Air. Coven: Lindon Occupation: Aspiring Artist Relationship Status: Single Personality Traits: Introverted, Caring, Shy, Self-Critical, Determined, Compliant, Observant, Kind.

BIOGRAPHY

TRIGGER WARNINGS: HEAVY BULLYING, MURDER

From a young age, Flynn knew that he could be the one to possess a rare gift. It wasn't something he necessarily wanted, but being his parents only child, they tried to plan his life for him. It didn't matter that by the age of ten, he still hadn't managed a lick of magic. No, he would be special -- something divine that could place his family name high up among the coven. That was what he was destined for. Although, life had a funny way of proving his parents wrong.

Growing up, Flynn was academically gifted. He was in advanced classes, taking college courses as young as fourteen. Most subject came easy to him, which put a target on his back. He'd been picked on in his the younger grades, but when he entered High School early, only then did it become more brutal.

Coming home with bruises and roughly cut hair wasn't enough for his parents to take him out of school. He was better than everyone, so why would they worry about those that thought otherwise? At the age of fifteen, Flynn had one goal: graduate early. It wasn't hard, really. Extra classes and studying and spending summers consumed with school had earned him his diploma by the age of sixteen.

On his graduation night, Flynn decided to leave his celebratory dinner early with his parents and take a walk. Even with all of the excitement, he didn't really feel anything other than overwhelmed. A walk usually helped. Except, that night, he encountered one of his school bullies. They cornered him in an alley, spewing names at him, shoving him into a brick wall. After so long of taking it and not fighting back, Flynn could no longer hold in his anger and fear.

He had magic, after all.

A shield, made completely out of the air around him, encompassed him and then broke apart towards his bully. A grunt, a crack of bone, and the boy sank to the ground without another sound.

His parents were ecstatic when they heard the news. They cared less about the life that he'd taken and more for the fact that their son was, in fact, gifted with the ability of air. And while Flynn was completely disgusted with himself for what happened, he paused his academic life to master his new abilities. Flynn didn't want something like that to happen again. No, he'd perfect every part of his magic to ensure he never harmed anyone again.

Flynn never returned to school, instead, focusing on another passion of his -- art. There were no expectations, no rules, and no one to answer to when it came to his projects. He did it for himself and no one else.

HEADCANONS

Flynn hasn't harmed anyone, any animal, or any thing, since the accidental death of his high school bully. He refuses to take any chances, keeping his magic under control at all times.

He's never been in a relationship. At one point, his crush in high school confessed that she had liked him. However, he'd learned that it had only been a dare. After that, Flynn chose to not get close to anyone. And if he did, he never revealed his feelings.

Art started as a child, for Flynn. He started with creating his own comics and slowly learned more realistic art style. He occasionally creates comics, and has a plethora of journals filled with them, but he does not share them with anyone.

He has incredible observational skills. Not only that, but Flynn knows how to replicate or pretend to have certain feelings or emotions even if he doesn't truly feel them.

Flynn became Cam's protege only recently. He is nervous about it but after observing people for so long, Flynn is fairly good at pretending to be something or someone he's not.

He becomes overwhelmed fairly easily. He is an introvert at heart and often has a low social battery.

Flynn has not had many friends, if any, throughout his life. Therefore, he doesn't really know what goes into a friendship, nor does he know what to expect out of it.

CONNECTIONS

YOU LOOK FAMILIAR ; Someone that was a classmate of Flynn's when he was younger. They could have either known, or not known, about the bullying he endured. Maybe they've checked in on one another throughout the years. Maybe they've avoided each other until recently. Who knows!

YOU'RE THE ONE I TRUST MOST ; Someone that is genuine with Flynn and has actually become his friend. He is horrible with friendships due to not having many in the past. This person is patient with him and non-judgemental.

YOU'RE DIVINE ; This person is in the Lindon coven and they view Flynn as if he is perfect or could not do anything wrong. They are highly encouraging towards him when it comes to using his magic.

tbd

[coldasxwinter]

Winter couldn't help but wonder what Flynn had experienced, and how many new things could he help him experience, if given the opportunity. It wasn't such an odd thought; Flynn was nice, and Winter liked that about him. He was cute, that was obvious. But he didn't have the confidence Winter thought he should. That wasn't so odd, though, because Winter knew outside of work he often didn't radiate confidence, either.

"I do that with my friends, sometimes." He didn't want to explain much more than that, but if he were to get into details then he'd tell Flynn how much better the sex was when both parties cared about each other. And Winter cared very deeply for his friends, the few that he had now especially. "When we both want to."

The last thing he'd meant to do was upset Flynn further by discussing things that had happened to him in the past, working as a scantily clad dancer. Winter reached over and placed a cold hand on Flynn's arm, smiling reassuringly. "Yes, but you do not have to worry about me. Anyone that hurts me here gets hurt, too," he didn't want to say more, but when he turned his head, one of his fangs was just visible in his smile.

His gaze moved back to Flynn after a moment, and he smiled again. "No, it's okay! I want to show you. I watched them with my grandmother last. She liked watching them. It would be a nice way to remember her, too," he explained.

[flynnxxcarver]

"You do?" Flynn blurted out, without thinking. Then, he closed his mouth and glanced away from the other. He wasn't judging him -- not really. It just hadn't been something the two of them had discussed before. And since they were friends... did that mean that Winter expected that from Flynn? "Doesn't that... ruin friendships?" He questioned before taking another sip of his drink, finishing it off. He needed another. Something stronger, perhaps.

Flynn licked his lips and nodded, allowing his magic to simmer down until it dissipated all together. "Good." He stated. "Or, well... not good but... you know what I mean." Flynn let out a breath, turned to the nearest bartender, and ordered whatever the special was. "Do you want anything else?"

"Okay. As long as you're comfortable with it, we can figure out a day for me to come over."

[coldasxwinter]

"You wouldn't know what to imagine?" Winter gave Flynn a puzzled expression, and couldn't help himself from trying to assist the imaginings. "Well, you know what your bed looks like, right? Imagine that. But imagine me in it. Stretched out, looking up at you, waiting. Naked." He waited a moment for that to sink in, and then grinned again. Winter didn't claim to be joking this time, though he did nudge Flynn with his elbow. He had no intention of losing one of the closest friends he had because of a few sexual jokes, and so he figured that needed to be the last one, unless Flynn seemed into it.

Winter shrugged. "Ice can't be too nice, or people take advantage here. Most people keep their hands to themselves, but if they think you're going to keep quiet about it then there's no guarantee. I might be nice, but I don't think most people are," he explained, looking at the bar for a second or two. It wasn't something he liked to dwell on, his early days dancing here. All the people who worked there were awesome and supportive and helpful, so he'd been taken care of, but he'd had a few scares with handsy clientele.

Before he could force himself to smile again, Flynn asked about the dance videos, and Winter felt his stomach flip. He made eye contact with the other again, forced the smile, and nodded. "Yes, maybe. I have not watched them in a long, long time." It was one of the few things he'd ended up going back home for eventually.

[flynnxxcarver]

Butterfly wings knocked against the walls of Flynn's stomach as Winter -- Ice -- painted a fairly vivid picture of him in his bed. Flynn's whole body froze, his mind threatening to spiral into that exact imagined experience. Was he joking? Fucking with him, like most people had in the past? Or did Winter actually want that to happen? Flynn couldn't even remember the last time he'd had anyone in his bed, let alone someone naked.

The nudge pulled him out of his own head and Flynn cleared his throat. "I don't think friends... do that with one another." Not that Flynn would particularly know all that well. He was new to the whole "friendship" thing. "Or maybe they do and I just haven't experienced it." He shrugged his shoulders, trying to play it off and not show just how flustered the conversation was making him.

The butterflies died and instead, his stomach twisted. "Has that happened before?" Flynn's voice was lower and more firm as he leaned in towards Winter. "Someone taking advantage of you?" His eyes then left the other's to flicker around at the crowd. He was searching for inappropriate behaviors. People who seemed to push their luck or their own power over the performers there. Was someone there, tonight, who had harmed Winter in the past?

Even though Flynn had full control over his magic, he could feel it pressing against his skin -- the air tightening around him.

"It's okay. You don't have to show me." Flynn muttered, now no longer worried about the videos. He wouldn't push the idea, especially if it made his friend uncomfortable. "Forget I said anything."

[coldasxwinter]

Winter smiled, he couldn't help himself. "Are you thinking of me naked, now?" He asked without hesitation, grinning and leaning down to try and make eye contact with the other. But then he was pulling away, shaking his head. "I am only joking, I promise!"

It took a moment's thought for Winter to really grasp the question and how he wanted to answer it. He didn't think it was as simple as Winter vs. Ice and who was the real him. "They are the same person, but different. Winter is me, how I want the world to see me and think of me. Ice is also how I want to be seen, but different. Ice is-" he trailed off, frowning, not sure what word he was looking for. "Desirable. Confident. What a place like this needs, so I can be successful," Winter explained, smiling again. "Winter can just be nice."

It was a simplistic way of putting it, but Winter figured it was a start.

"Oh, I wish I did more of that type of dancing, but I do not do it often anymore. Sometimes in my own home! Or when I am alone. I save some of my old videos, too!"

[flynnxxcarver]

Flynn's cheeks, which had already grown warm moments prior, were practically scalding hot at the other's comment. "I--" He let out an awkward laugh. "Not... vividly. I mean, I wouldn't even know what to imagine. Or... I mean I could guess, but--" Fuck, he was digging himself an even deeper hole. "Ah... right. Yeah. Me too."

He lifted the glass to his lips and took a long swig. He needed more, if he was going to keep embarrassing himself in front of one of the only friends he even had. "Winter can be nice and Ice can't?" Flynn asked. "And I could argue that you are all three, regardless of the name you choose for the day or night." Ice. Winter. It didn't really matter. Flynn saw him as the same.

"You should do more of that type. Even if it's just for one or two people." A pause. "Or for yourself. You don't have to show anyone." Even if Flynn really wanted to witness it. "Maybe..." Flynn licked his lips as his eyes lifted to meet Winter's -- Ice's. "Maybe you could show them to me, sometime? The old videos."

[huntercam]

Cam finds that he thinks he will enjoy molding this man into someone more self-assured, at least in the way he approaches art. It may take more time than either of them believe, but he is a patient man when it comes to this. So he will take his time, allow Flynn to step into the shoes himself rather than force it.

He offers an odd smile - a genuine one."Another one, yes. On your own time. That way you may start over as you please, and choose which subject you like. We'll shoot for a month's time from now. Once that's completed, we'll move onto other subjects - live paints, sketches."

Sliding away from him and setting down the charcoal, he brushes his hands against one another to rid them of grime. "This is me simply getting a feel for your process and how you learn. If you finish earlier, by all means. This one you'll finish now. Don't think. Just do. You have ten minutes."

[flynnxxcarver]

Relief flooded his veins as Cam told him that the next project would be on his own time. He wouldn't be watched from nearby, like he was now. Not that it was a bad thing that Cam was there. Flynn had chose this. He wanted this. But that it still made him nervous. "I could probably get it done within a week, if you'd rather have it sooner." Often, Flynn threw himself into his art in between working.

Flynn opened his mouth, so close to protesting. Ten minutes? That was... that was insane. He couldn't. He was too much of a perfectionist. What if it didn't come out correct? He let out a breath instead and picked up the charcoal, turning towards the canvas. Flynn interchanged between sticking out his tongue and biting down on his lower lip as his strokes grew not only intentional, but more rapid. At times, he felt as if he could focus on what wasn't there -- guiding the instrument into creating objects in empty spaces. Other times, he found himself starting to detail the sketch even further. He'd pause. Reset. Try again.

At the ten minute mark, he forced himself to set the medium down -- his hand covered in dark soot from the charcoal. "I... ah--" Flynn tilted his head at the canvas. "Definitely need more practice."

[coldasxwinter]

As guilty as Winter felt for inviting Flynn somewhere that the other could feel uncomfortable, he couldn't help but smile proudly when he was told he was attractive. "Wearing anything, or wearing nothing, right?" He joked, nudging his friend with his elbow. He saw the blush, but said nothing about it, instead feeling a teensy little bit more pride in knowing he'd caused that. Winter had always liked having that effect on people, it was one of the things he liked most about his job here.

Winter merely shrugged, still smiling at Flynn. "I do not know where it came from, I just know that it's good!" He argued, shaking his head. "And here, I am Ice, not Winter. It is good to keep the two people separate, I think." It kept him safe from any creeps...or kept the creeps safe from him, maybe. Should anyone stupidly choose to follow him after work, he was likely to be able to protect himself very well.

"I just wanted you to see me dance, and you have now! Though, I am a much better dancer than this, too. It is not always so sexy, sometimes it tells a story. That is hard to do here," he explained, laughing.

[flynnxxcarver]

"Ah-- I mean it's not like I've-- I mean I wouldn't--" Flynn's cheeks flared with heat as his friend nudged him. He smiled, awkwardly, but couldn't meet the other's eyes. "You can say that. Yes." I wouldn't. I can't. Flynn cleared his throat as he ran a hand through his dark hair, trying to compose himself again. Although, it was much harder to do so in the atmosphere they were now in.

"Ice." Flynn tilted his head to the side as his eyes finally flickered to meet his friend's again. "Are they not the same person?" A pause. "What's the difference between the two?" He was curious, now, wondering which side of Winter was the true one. The real one. Did he know this person, that he'd called friend, at all? Or was "Winter" just a facade he put on?

Flynn knew what that was like.

"Is there anywhere I could witness that type of dancing?" He asked. "The story telling one. I think... I think I'd like that one more than..." His attention shifted towards the other dancers. "Not that this is bad. It's not. You weren't." He stated, quickly. "This kind of dancing just isn't always... to my taste."

[coldasxwinter]

The pride Winter had felt at the possibility that he was flustering his friend disappeared when he saw the tight smile. Immediately, his smile fell, and he dropped his arms to his sides. It fits you well was not the same as being hot, and Winter knew it. He'd been making a joke, though he'd also sort of been hoping for validation, as he often did. Winter never wanted to say it aloud, but he loved that validation. Now he was concerned that his friend was genuinely uncomfortable, and he felt ashamed for even asking about his appearance.

He also was feeling guilty for making his friend come to the club at all, if it was something that would make Flynn feel discomfort like this.

Trying to decide what to do next, if he should get Flynn out of there or if he should try and make the other more comfortable somehow, Winter hesitated at the bar for a moment before responding. "Oh, um, no, I don't think it's actually got any green tea in it. Or maybe it can? But I don't think most bars make it that way. It's good, though! And it sort of tastes like a fruity green tea," he explained.

Then he turned fully to face the other, looking concerned. "Do you want to leave? We can go, if you want. I'll just say I need to leave early tonight, I don't ever do that so I don't think it will be a problem."

[flynnxxcarver]

Flynn noticed the other's smile fall and immediately felt as if it was his fault. Had he said something wrong? Was he... was he supposed to tell his friend that he looked... hot? Flynn had never really understood that choice of word when describing someone. Unless they were actually sweating, how could they be hot, truly?

"You do look good. The clothes... I mean, the clothes aren't want gives you the talent you have. Obviously. You could be wearing anything up on that stage and look--" Flynn pressed his lips together for a moment. "Attractive." Flynn's cheeks warmed at the admission and he turned his face away from his friend in an effort to hide it.

"It has green tea in the name but there's no green tea in it?" That caused Flynn to smirk and shake his head. "Make that make sense, Winter." Even though it was something small, Flynn could feel himself relaxing ever so slightly. "No, no. I came here to see you at work, working. Just because I'm not used to this... atmosphere doesn't mean I want to leave."

[coldasxwinter]

He hadn't missed the way Flynn looked down, as if to not see Winter. And a part of him thought to be offended, though another, larger part of him wondered if maybe he was catching the other by surprise in a good way. Most of the patrons here came looking for scantily clad dancers; nobody batted an eye at the small articles of clothing adorning his body. If anything, a lot of them probably thought of him in even less. So he couldn't help but wonder, what did Flynn really think?

Still smiling, more than anything happy that his friend had wanted to come and see him, he took Flynn by the hand and led him to the bar. The lights were a bit dimmer over here, less people paid attention to him. And Winter doubted anyone cared if he took a little time to chat up a patron at the bar.

"So, what do you think?" He asked, spreading his arms to show off the club, and then taking a step back and doing a spin. "I look hot, right?" He added, laughing. When the bartender approached, he stepped back up to the bar, ready to order. "Can we get a green tea cocktail?" He asked, and the bartender nodded before going to fix it up. Winter looked at Flynn and shrugged, "Those used to be my favorite, you'll have to tell me what you think!"

[flynnxxcarver]

Flynn didn't protest when his friend grabbed his hand, pulled him from the chair and led him to the bar. He kept his gaze away from the other and his clothes, eyes focusing on the people working behind the counter, making drinks.

"It's... something." The club, he meant. Not exactly his cup of tea but Flynn didn't need to say that, outright. He was sure Winter understood that without him voicing it. "You-- ah..." Flynn cleared his throat, his eyes sweeping extremely quickly over Winter's clothes and then he offered him a tight smile. "It fits you well, yes." Because what else was Flynn supposed to say? Hot felt... rude to him. Winter was attractive but that didn't mean that he had to say that, either. They were just friends.

Did friends tell each other they were hot?

"A green tea cocktail?" Flynn asked. "Is there actually green tea in it or does it just look like tea?" He'd had green tea many times -- even preferred it over coffee some days. But mixing it with alcohol had never crossed his mind. "Hopefully it doesn't ruin regular green tea for me."

[lovesicklobotomy]

[coldasxwinter]

Having been dancing at the club for a few years now, Winter had gotten good at behaving a specific way. The individual people saw on the stage and walking around at Satin Cabaret was not the same Winter one would see almost anywhere else. This one was sleek, and suave, with fluttering eyelids and parted lips that never smiled, only smirked. He was cheeky, he could tease, and flirting came naturally. Unlike Winter, who blushed and laughed and looked down when it came to talking to strangers. But this wasn't Winter, not at work.

This was Ice.

His costume was blue tonight, looking every bit as cold as his stage name. With eyes on him, he let his hips move with the music, let his hands wander his own body. He touched a few shoulders, a few chests, whoever made eyes at him got his attention for a moment or two. Enough to get his tips, and to take note of what sort of patrons were there tonight. Anyone who wouldn't be missed...?

Winter caught a glimpse of a familiar person from the corner of his eye as he danced, and before he could stop himself he smiled for real, just for the briefest of milliseconds. Then his straight face was back, finishing up the song and collecting his cash before hopping off the stage and making his way cheerfully over to Flynn. Technically he was still working the floor, but he found himself too excited to keep up the act for the time being.

"You did come!" Winter replied, hugging his friend briefly and breaking away before anyone could see the act. "Would you like a drink?" He asked, not having seen the other refuse a drink prior.

[flynnxxcarver]

Seeing Winter in this atmosphere -- with an attire he'd never seen on him before, caused Flynn to shift in his chair. It was... different. Not in a bad way, necessarily, but one that he definitely wasn't used to. Flynn knew what it was like to put on a facade; to act confident when he actually wasn't. But what if this was the real Winter? What if he didn't know his friend at all?

His stomach dipped as he watched the other walk towards him, eyes shifting away from his friend as to not look at him in a disrespectful way. Then, Winter's arms were around him and Flynn didn't even respond back with a hug. He just sat there, unsure of what to do.

"Um..." He'd already turned down a drink from a woman. But this was his friend asking him. If Flynn said no, what would that do to their friendship? "Yeah. Sure." Flynn nodded, plastering on a smile as he forced his eyes to lift to meet the other's. "Do you have any recommendations?"

[flynnxxcarver]

closed starter for @coldasxwinter

Flynn had never been inside a strip club before. He'd never even thought to step foot through the doors of one, either. And yet, there he was, sitting in a plush, velvet chair, in front of several dancers. One, in particular, being his friend Winter. He had been the one to invite Flynn to the club tonight. It had been an invite of excitement -- one that Flynn couldn't turn down in fear that he'd crush his friend's heart.

His fingers clenched into fists inside of his pockets as he sat there, stiffly. He was careful not to keep his eyes on anyone for too long -- only focusing on their faces instead of anything else. Not below the neck, not what they were wearing, not the way their hands occasionally trailed over their own bodies. Nope. He wasn't there for that. He was there to support his friend.

A girl with a tray containing beverages on them moved through the tables and chairs, holding it out towards Flynn. "No thank you." He responded, quickly. The last thing he needed was to ingest alcohol and cloud his judgement.

Then, his attention turned to his friend, who was walking towards him. "Hey." Flynn greeted Winter with a smile. "I came."

[huntercam]

If it is a good thing, Cameron will enjoy seeing how that comes to fruition. The last thing he needs is trouble in his gallery or with the club underneath. Flynn will grow on his own terms with the guiding hand of his mentor, Cam is sure of it. They will just need to work diligently to do so.

Arms crossed over his chest, he listens as Flynn speaks, and he thinks he may be able to pinpoint the issue here, then. The man is not thinking in details, but rather filling out space. He steps closer, mostly to pick up his own charcoal pencil. "Excuse me." He does not make marks on the art piece, but uses it instead to point.

"You need to shift your thinking, I believe. Easier said than done, I realize. Follow me for a second." He points to the bottom, and traces the outline lightly without touching the pencil to canvas. "You are thinking of negative space as empty, rather than it's own form of detail. Yes, it is an outline, but here -"

Here, he moves to where the space would slip between petals of the flowers, where the stems would lead the eyes to the focal point. "You must use it as a tool to guide the eyes of the viewer. When you focus on the space, you must make sure to slip between the cracks and see what is not there."

He turns, and gestures to another painting on the wall - not one of his own, but one that is mostly a dark black and brown space, and the subject is a woman looking up with a hand covering her own neck. It's one of the tamer paintings here. "Your eye first goes to the woman, no? To the shape of her hands, but take a moment and look again, how the darkness envelops her, and forms the shape she makes. If you need details to focus on, focus on the shape that the space makes. You, as an artist, are guiding the layman to the what you want them to see."

He definitely believes Flynn has it in him. He would not be here if Cameron didn't think so. "Once you finish this vase with the charcoal, I'll want you to bring in a portrait that focuses on space and shadow."

[flynnxxcarver]

Flynn shifted slightly in his chair, just enough for Cam to move past him and towards the canvas. His lips pressed into a line as the other spoke, trying to grasp onto what he was saying. It, of course, made sense when his mentor was doing it -- the way he guided the charcoal on the page as if it was simple. See what is not there, he'd said. It caused the corner of Flynn's lips to dip downward as he watched.

He didn't understand why he couldn't just draw the damn vase and petals. Sketch them out like normal, detail them until they became something real. Or maybe he did understand. Cameron was trying to teach him a different approach. One that he was clearly failing at.

"Right." He muttered as he stared at the painting on the wall. He let out a breath, running his hand over his face before he turned his attention back to the canvas. "You mean do another sketch." He stated, his mentor clearly thinking he was going to get the one he'd just started done in a timely manner. "Is there a due date, of sorts?"

[huntercam]

"No." He doesn't care to know Flynn's backstory for now. He cares, simply, if a coven will come knocking and cause issues for their apprenticeship. His laugh is light, a simple huff of sound from someone who barely needs air to function. "If you are what I believe - then I need to know that you are solely focused on this work that we do here together. Just the both of us, the paint, the charcoal, the subject matter. I don't care about what you are, or how you came to be it. I just don't like distraction."

He's.. particular. Flynn will come to learn this.

Cameron's eyes flicker to the charcoal that's broken. This is a good test on its own, he realizes. But Flynn continues, and for that, he's happy that he's chosen him to work with. Crossing his arms over his chest, he steps behind Flynn and watches him continue to make the strokes. The art itself is not bad, but he can see where his apprentice is not confident in it. They can assess afterwards.

He watches the strokes, looks down to the subject and tilts his head. What is it that Flynn is struggling with? And how will he pick him apart to find the right string to pluck to make him into a great? All things to come in time. "What about this particular piece do you find challenging? Don't stop, just stream of consciousness."

[flynnxxcarver]

Flynn paused, listening to his mentor explain his line of questioning. Is that all it is? He wondered as he stared at the canvas that continued to turn into something he no longer wanted to look at. "What I am has nothing to do with this. With us. It's not a distraction. It's-- I can forget about it, while I'm doing this. Which is a good thing."

Art had always been one of the only things that took Flynn's mind off of his past, as well as his present. It dragged his thoughts away from his magic, his coven, and the expectations of his parents. It allowed him a space to feel free -- like a version of himself he actually liked. But focusing on negative space, instead of a real topic, caused his mind to wander more. For doubtful and negative thoughts to seep in through the cracks.

Frustration showed in his strokes -- harsher lines with pieces of charcoal sticking to the canvas in its wake. "The negative space. It's-- it doesn't make sense to me. There's no real focal point. I mean, there's some form of an outline but there's no real details." Nothing that Flynn could lose his mind into. Nothing to become meticulous over.

Maybe I'm just stupid. Obviously, there was a reason that Cam wanted Flynn to practice more of this art style. But he didn't understand it. Maybe Cam picked the wrong apprentice. Maybe Flynn wouldn't amount to anything. Maybe all he would be was a witch with a horrific past.

[flynnxxcarver]

closed starter for @estrideats

It wasn't normal for him, in the slightest, to approach someone at random. Self preservation had been his default, ever since he was in middle school. Keep to yourself, and nothing bad will happen. Although, that had proven untrue on many occasions in his life. Bad things happened to him, regardless of if he put himself out there. And when he saw a familiar woman in the same restaurant as him -- one that he only knew of through a screen -- Flynn decided to take a chance.

"Are you--" Flynn paused and cleared his throat as he stood at the edge of her table. "Are you the blogger? The one who blogs about food? Because you look awfully a lot like her and I--" Another pause. A deep breath. "I just wanted to say that it's awesome, what you do."

[huntercam]

In the way Flynn moves, Cam senses hesitation. It's one of the many times that he wishes he could see inside other's minds, figure out what thoughts plague them. That wish had stuck with him since being a teen, and it strikes him now as amusing that he's come to that thought once more. He brings his hand to his chin, scratching at some of his stubble with a thumbnail as he watches intently.

The reaction he gets from his pupil isn't what he'd expected exactly - but there is something of a reaction. He'd expected jumping or faltering or something, but it's a pleasant surprise. "It has something to do with your apprenticeship, but not much. More so our working relationship."

He waits a moment more, watching the sketch continue. Flynn seems to be struggling, but an artist never improves by simply giving up. After a few more minutes, "I can smell it in your blood. This light, floral scent. I'll need to know if it will provide distraction for you in our lessons on your end." Another moment, watching the strokes along the canvas. When Flynn finishes, he will make sure to point out where he could improve and then make him shift this piece into something he's proud of - even if it doesn't meet the requirements of the lesson.

He gestures towards the canvas, stepping back to view it more from afar, tilting his head in scrutiny. "Please. Continue. Confident strokes and lines, not tiny scratches."

[flynnxxcarver]

He paused at the edge of the canvas, his hand falling down into his lap. Flynn didn't turn to Cam when he spoke, simply kept his eyes trained on his sketch. "So you expect me to, what? Reveal more about myself?" Flynn shook his head slightly as he closed his eyes for a brief moment. This wasn't what he thought would be part of the apprenticeship. Artwork and learning new techniques was all he thought it would be. That, and growing more confident in what he put on the canvas.

His fingers curled around the charcoal as the other spoke -- jaw clenching as the medium snapped in half between his fingers. "You can smell it." A disbelieving laugh escaped his lips. It wasn't as though Flynn was trying to hide the fact that he was a witch, but he didn't want it to be part of this. He just wanted to be himself and to learn, without magic even being involved.

"That's not how my magic works." He stated as he busied himself with picking which part of the charcoal would sit better between his fingertips. He let out a breath -- slightly annoyed that the lesson had trailed off course -- and began sketching again. This time, he leaned more into it, placing more pressure onto the medium as his strokes became longer and more defined. He didn't particularly like how the piece was turning out, but he couldn't just stop. Not in front of Cam.

[huntercam]

"Correct." It'd been a few months since he'd had an apprentice, and while he doesn't think Flynn is suited to the other lifestyle he carries, there is potential within him. Magic users seem to have some sort of ferocity whether they like to admit it or not. As a hunter, he'd have to contend with them for inks and sometimes eradicate them if they'd go too far.

Now, as a vampire, he's called to their blood in a way he doesn't particularly care for. Cameron intends to not make mistakes here or repeat past ones. He watches the sketch without a word, and once he's about a quarter through, he throws a wrench into this - to make him falter on purpose, to see if Flynn can keep composure.

"Were you born with magic in your veins or did you pick it up later?" He waits a simple heartbeat and continues with the lesson as if the previous question were simply about his plans for the evening. "This is coming along nicely. I see your struggle, though. Loosen your shoulder, if you will."

[flynnxxcarver]

The way he's sketching and how the canvas is turning out is already a disappointment to Flynn. If he was alone, and not anywhere near Cam, he'd have already tossed it. But unfortunately, he didn't have that luxury, currently.

As he dragged the charcoal down the page, his focus shifted towards what his mentor had asked. Flynn's hands, which were already sweating, began to perspire even more. He gripped the charcoal in an effort to regain some form of control. "I don't see why that has anything to do with what you're teaching me." Flynn muttered, eyes trained on the canvas.

Being a witch -- having magic -- wasn't something Flynn voiced to many people. Hell, he never even talked about it unless it was with the people in his Coven. And even then, it was at a minimum. It was part of his life, sure, but he did not want to be defined by it.

Flynn let out a breath as he rolled his shoulder. He sat the charcoal down and wiped his hands on his jeans, not caring that some spots were now darkened from his medium. After he ensured his hands were no longer wet, he picked it up again and continued the sketch.

[huntercam]

He could sense the apprehension here, in the way Flynn's heartbeat shifts, the way his breathing picks up or lessens. In their time together, Cameron has become uniquely tuned to pick up on the changes in his body chemistry -- the ones he could hear anyways. Hands in his pockets, Cam stares at the canvas for a moment and thinks, letting the silence wash over them.

A topic would make it easier. He makes a gesture for his student to wait, and leaves the area to head towards his office, pulling one of the decorative plants to set it under the light. He takes a moment to adjust the leaves and petals, allowing for more viewing of the space. "If you'd like a subject, use this. If it's easier to use your imagination, do so. But only outlines, no details. You're going to be using shading to create shapes, play with light and shadow. Draw attention to what is not there."

He keeps his voice gentle when he speaks, so as to not seem harsh. In this instance, at least.

[flynnxxcarver]

Flynn waited patiently as Cam left the room and came back with a plant. His lips pressed into a thin line as he stared at the leaves, the stems, and the pot that it was sitting in. His eyes flickered towards the direction of the light. "So no... positive space?" Flynn felt as if he shouldn't have asked the question. He knew that if he did it correctly, the positive space would practically create itself.

He rubbed his jaw, fingers brushing over the small amount of stubble that he had along his chin, picked up some charcoal and began working. Flynn darkened the edges of the page, focusing on the background before he did the subject. He was mindful of where the light shone, keeping some areas blank as he sketched.