ara-kadeu:
Ara allowed a small, embarrassed laugh at the King’s surprise of the former not having a portrait of herself. “Oh I have a small one, though it’s from when I was visibly younger. But nothing so grand that it can serve as a legacy piece.” She took a sip from the sparkling glass in her hand.
The actress knew this was the point she was at in her career. Not quite the peak, but the real beginning of the legacy that would, gods willing, outlive her. Periodic visual aids helped push the legend. All of the greats had at least one something visual that’s still talked about, even long after they’ve gone. Some chose sculptures or statues. Other’s chose to build a library or an arboretum or a new a wing to the academy in their own name. Those were all useful tools for securing some sort of lasting impression, but for later in life, Ara thought. But most legacies almost always start with paintings.
As the other woman took the smallest step away from her, Ara had to really work to suppress her laugh. Her tease had had the desired effect on the King before her. Between the lowered voice, the hesitation and her body language, Ara could tell that Aesin was.. mildly uncomfortable.
Finally letting out her own light laugh, she tipped her head slightly towards Aesin. “Forgive me, Lady Aesin. To spring a joke like that on you was a little rude of me, but I just couldn’t help myself.” She flashed the artist a wide grin. “I was actually thinking of something a little more on the classically dramatic side, at least to start with. Something… More classic, I suppose. But maybe a bit moodier.” She laughed again, feeling silly for not knowing the proper words. “I’ll leave the details up to you, I trust your artistic judgment completely. However, if, after this piece, you really want to expand your portfolio to include some boudoir styling, I’d be more than happy to be your subject.” The Queen flashed another easy smile and took a sip of her drink, glancing over the table of food again.
.
“i am sure you haven’t aged one bit.”, aesin pressed on, a small smile on her lips. well, sometimes people around her really did not age. her words might have been foolish, but still filled with the intention of being a compliment for the other. hiding her face behind her glass, she tried to hide her sheepishly pink cheeks with the liquid within. “but i do see why you’d like a new portrait. you’re in an important stage of your life right now, it would just make sense.”
with a slow exhale, aesin turned, the sleeve of her coat riding up her slender arm as she grabbed another sort of praline from one of the servers. it coated her fingers in a sheer golden glitter, wondering if her tongue would look stupid after eating it – but she had no hesitation in devouring the piece of sweetness. a request like this, aesin hadn’t had in a while. the ritualist had been working on this and that, but nothing major for past few days. having ara around her atelier for modelling sessions sure would be a good way to promote herself and her work even more. and she was powerhungry after all.
“you know, you are obviously welcome to just drop by the atelier one of these days and we can figure something out. i can show you around and we agree on the size of the painting and the lighting and what not. you are always welcome, just let me know a little beforehand so that i can clean it up.”, aesin let out a soft laugh at her own comment, hoping the other would see it more as a joke as the crude reality.
the glass in her hand was starting to feel a little light, eyes wandering over her surroundings. “or we might even start right now, i think this residence has more than enough paintings we could take a look at and compare?”











