#monochrome-ish

[gallowsgiggle]

[miyaaaa]

they’re out to get you.

[artocello]

Adam Driver #140 (Cannes 2024)

Adam, resplendent in his gleaming white tux, artfully tousled silver shot waves of hair haloed by fine flyaways, forehead unfurrowed, brow faintly knit over eyes glancing to his left with keen attention, the firm press of his inward rolled lips rumpling his chin, the turn of his head carving deep folds into his neck.

Most of the photos from Cannes 2024 show an unusually jolly Adam, joking with his costars with a broad smile on his face and actually waving amiable greetings to the walls of photographers lining the sides of the red carpet. He was fairly beaming with bonhomie, a departure from our more typically reticent relentless hillock, and it was lovely to get to see him so relaxed and having such a good time while looking like an actual prince on his wedding day in that stunning white tux.

This was a quieter moment, a little eddy in the swirling spectacle of the cast's grand procession to the premiere, and Adam's expression is one of watchful waiting; his gaze is alert but unworried, focused on something or someone at a bit of a distance from him, and it feels almost like he's looking for a cue. His expression is mostly carefully blank, with the exception of his mouth, which has his lips rolled together in what the Driver Hive has collectively dubbed, "The Mouth Thing."

It's a distinctive tic of his, much like stroking the underside of his chin with the backs of his fingers when he's bearded, or the way he'll touch his lips with the tips of his fingers when searching for a word or phrase, and I'm always delighted when someone manages to get a good photo of him doing it.

Photo used for reference taken by an unknown to me photographer at the red carpet for the premiere of "Megalopolis" at the Cannes Film Festival on 16 May 2024. Pangaeastarseed asked if I'd like to play the "two cakes" game with it, where we both use the same reference to make our own versions, and of course I said YES! They finished their rendition MONTHS ago because they are awesome and you can see it here.

About 66 hours of painting time because I absolutely fell down the skin texture rabbit hole. Details that I especially enjoyed finding along the way include, but are not limited to, all those silver hairs shining on the crown of his head, that one incredibly long eyebrow hair curling down toward his eye, the reflection of the glass canopy above him in his eyes, the tracks of his quiescent crinkles by the corner of his eye, the way his rolled lips make the bristles of his stubble stand at attention just below his lower lip, the light catching on the impossibly tiny hairs along the bridge of his nose and in the stubble along the edge of his chin, and the stray white fibers on the back of his tux collar.

[anonarat]

Do I even write drabbles anymore?

A cool wind blew through the garden where the pair sat, a pleasant respite from the oppressive heat.

Blake brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, regarding the princess before her. She wasn’t entirely sure what to make of her.

Princess Weiss was angular; sharp, like a naked blade forged of ice. Even the scar across her eye spoke to a warrior that would cut. She looked every inch the pure Atlesian, even with the looser clothes to account for the climate. Yet she had been the one that had brokered probably the most important treaty in history.

A treaty that neither Menagerie nor Atlas were happy with, but one that they could both tolerate. A treaty that had betrothed the pair together. A purely political move that allowed Weiss’ just about stealing Emperorship of Atlas from her father palatable to the nobility of both nations.

“Are you just going to sit there watching me?” Weiss sliced through the empty air, a challenge demanding a riposte.

“What would you have me do? The only time we have spoken before now was in the Tent of Parley. There is a significant difference between the daughter of a chieftain and the future Empress of Atlas. We hardly have common ground.”

“Is that so?” Weiss raised an eyebrow, “I thought the desire to free all the faunus slaves was mutual. And learning more about each other, isn’t that the purpose of these meetings?”

“I thought that was just making concessions to ease the treaty through.”

“Hardly. No matter what my father or other nobility may say, I have good reason to believe that Faunus are equal in every respect to humans. The treaty I signed advanced many of my own goals.”

“And was I one of those goals? A prize to be won?” Blake shot back, her eyes narrowing.

“I wouldn’t put it like that exactly,” Weiss hesitated, her shoulders slumping slightly, “In the interest of at least mutually beneficial conversation between us, I’ll be honest. I was always going to have a political marriage. Unfortunately, I have absolutely no interest in men, or having children.”

“So by marrying a female faunus as part of a peace treaty, you sidestep the problem,” replied Blake unable to keep a touch of poison from her lips.

All at once, the frosty exterior that had shown tiny cracks received a new wash of ice. “I make no apologies for my decision. I know your father consulted with you in depth before agreeing to this. You may not have had the same pressures as I did, but nevertheless, you made this decision Blake Belladonna. I would like to make this marriage at least tolerable and mutually beneficial.”

“And if I don’t want that?”

“A wing of the palace will be set up for you and your retainers. You will still need to attend official occasions, and I have no doubt you’ll want to be there while I hold court. You’ll not need to see me at any other time.”

“And we each take our own lovers as we see fit?”

“I would not stop you, but I wouldn’t,” replied Weiss firmly, her eyes meeting Blake’s challenging a response.

“Why not?”

“Because it would dishonour both of us.”

“You care about my honour?”

“Of course.”

Blake regarded Weiss once more. Like an iceberg, it seemed as though there was a much greater depth than one could see on the surface.

Standing up, Blake favoured her with a soft smile and offered her an arm.

“Shall we stroll the gardens? I think I may like to get to know you a little more.”

[rosuuri]

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