"Please sit still," Jan-Paul said. His pencil scratched over the surface of his sketchbook and the Easterling's eyes occasionally flicked towards Aeliana. He has never seen something like her before. So cute… So majestic. She was like a cat….But better! He had to paint her.
"I promised you to give you a pear after we are done, right?" he asked. Jan-Paul slightly wiggled in his chair while his gaze was fixated on the strange 'cat-bunny' (as he had labeled her) on an old table in front of him. Jan-Paul leaned forward. His brow wrinkled. Then he stared at his sketch again. There was something bugging him, but Jan-Paul couldn't figure out what it was. Something was missing. "I can feed you pears, kiwis.. Oh, even some coconuts. Do you like coconuts?" He didn't wait for Aeliana's reply as he continued: "of course you do. Who doesn't like coconuts?"
Jan-Paul paused his hand. The tip of his pencil still rested on the paper. "Who doesn't like coconuts," he repeated to himself. Jan-Paul's mind was racing. Thinking, creating! He eyed his sketch and knew what it was lacking. What he was missing!
"Coconuts," he breathed. "That's it! Aeliana! That's it!" Jan-Paul finally lifted his pencil from his sketchbook.
"What if I drew you with some coconuts," he asked her. "Yes!" Jan-Paul's ears piqued as he held up his hands. He framed Aeliana between his ringed fingers. "Coconuts. That's what this picture is missing," he said.
"J-just stay right there," Jan-Paul ordered as he got up from his seat. He placed his sketchbook on his chair and turned away from her. The perfect opportunity to push some of the props - (Jan-Paul had placed some empty glasses, some yarn and a vase next to her. He thought it would make for an interesting composition. It surely was a unique one.) - off the table.
"Coconuts are hard to get by," he mused to himself. The merchant rubbed his chin. "But not impossible. Not for me! I am the richest man after all. They are rare, you do like rare things right?" He asked before turning back towards Aeliana. His expression froze. "Right?"
--
AH I love them too 😭😭😭 omg look at these dorks!? JP is dying I am so sorry
Jan-Paul rearranged his fork and knife for the 3th time that evening. His softly shaking fingers made them rattle. He had never been here. Void! What if the food was disgusting? What if Cealestis got ill? What if!? What if… Jan-Paul finally put his cutlery to rest and dared to look up at the other. He smiled. Though the edges of his lips quivered.
“I,” he said. Just a few seconds before, Caelestis started to speak. He quickly swallowed his next line of words (‘hope we don’t get food poisoned’) and nodded quickly. “I think it's a.. Curious place, a” think, “wonderful one,” he said. “I’ve never been here. I’m not sure if the food is any good,” he added in a quick breath.
“It sure is! I mean.. It sure probably feels super small, minature, to you. After all the worlds you have seen, all the lives you have walked,” Jan-Paul said. He couldn’t hide his fascination. Caelestis stories were something to get captivated by. To wonder over. Just like the man himself. Jan-Paul’s cheeks flushed with red.
“H-he was my teacher, yes,” he managed to stumble. “A very kind man,” Jan-Paul added quickly. “I wasn’t his best pupil though.. No, far from I..” The Easterling started to scratch the back of his head thoughtfully. “I’m not as good with music as I’m with charcoal or paint,” he admitted. Then smiled. There was something about the other that made him, at ease. That allowed him to talk about his paintings without shame, or judgement. It felt…Nice. Yes, nice.
“I wish to be as respected like him someday,” he said. Then frowned. “I think its, pleasant, to be remembered as a kind person, you know,” Jan-Paul so desperately tried. “I mean I think you’re very pleasant,” he said. As he gestured at the other with his ringed hand. The merchant then paused. His frown deepened. “I really do! I know that sounded silly but… I just wanted you to know that.”
He then sputtered. Date. DATE. “Y-Yes, you’re right. I really appreciated him as a mentor but I do appreciate your company more,” another long pause, “n-not as a mentor ofcourse! But your company. This,” Jan-Paul’s lips curled nervously, “this date. I think it is very nice. Pleasant even.”
Jan-Paul’s fingers finally let go of his fork, he eyed Caelestis with wide eyes. “You think so? Handsome?” His tone had slíghtly shifted. Jan-Paul stared back. He could hear his heart race, the blood in his ears. Was he really handsome?
“You too,” he whispered in the silence that followed the staring. “OH- yes. I finished with my paper work, uh,” his gaze shifted back towards his trusty fork and he rubbed the edges with his thumb. “A lot of boring business things, I don’t want to bore you with. Ah, please tell me if my conversations are boring, I don’t want to sound,” boring? Void how many times have I said boring already, what if he gets the wrong idea!? “You know..”
Thank the Void for the food. “I hope the food tastes as good as your voice sounds,” he said. Then sheepishly laughed while he quickly spooned whatever he got served (Jan-Paul was too nervous to even look at his dish), “I’m sure it's very sweet! Like you!”