And I could paint you clear

[Alessio Bellanti]

There was a magic to Creare. A feeling, a touch, a sense, whatever you called it; everyone knew there was something special about the district that housed the artist of Noistar. Only those that could look with their eyes truly wide open, however, could really see what it had to offer. The real magic of Creare wasn’t in the multicolored buildings, the hanging lights, and streamers, the moss and algae climbing up the lower parts of the canals. It wasn’t in the winding cobblestones or the artist courts. Nor the galleries that held the people’s livelihoods. The beauty of Creare? That spark? Was the people.

The same people that we’re often judged for being different. For being themselves, and they were not unapologetic about it. They are open-minded and loud. They’re the people who are unafraid of titles and branded names. They are the people that truly, knew the meaning of living. And like their patron Linh, they fully believed that everyone was connected in some way in the web of life. It was merely where your strand crossed anothers.

Two silk strands had crossed paths already. Twisting and spinning themselves around each other. It was merely a matter of where they would go now. Which choices they would make that would web them together more, or cause them to break off and float in the wind until they found another strand.

What would fate decide for them?

That’s what the best thing about Creare was. The unknown, and the courage to run into the unknown unafraid. That was the magic. The spark.

Alessio didn’t hear the call for the session’s end. Too lost in his own mind as that piece of lead scratched itself across the parchment. His dark eyes flickering from the page to the model every few moments. A look of serious contemplation on his face. He was focused. The angles of her jaw, the curl of her hair, the way her clothes draped her body, that mask and its intrigue… He had to capture it. He would capture it, this he was certain.

If only he had more time.

His stare was intense, memorizing the planes of her face, and the slope of her shoulders. The way that afternoon light hit just right, causing that auburn hair to turn to liquid fire as the rays ignited those strands, casting them in an orange glow. Linh, was she beautiful. So beautiful, and Alessio had yet to see that true face. An Angel came from the heavens, to let the people of Creare bask in her beauty… Alessio’s eyes finally drifted back to the paper, His left hand moved quickly, putting a line here, a line there while his memory served him, before his eyes were looking right back up. Only-

“W-wai-” His hand was already reaching forward as if he could halt her movements as the session came to a close. He blinked, and reality and the noise of the rest of the studio finally erupted around him. He sighed dramatically, turning his body to the side as he did the gesture, and quickly winced. Reaching up to rub his shoulder as he realized how stiff he suddenly was from the position he’d stayed in. So focused on his task, he hadn’t realized his own aches and pains. But, that was Angeline for you. Before she came to the studio, he had only attended sessions once a month at the least, but after her first session happened to be on the day he was there, he had certainly made an effort to return.

He placed the pencil between his teeth, folding his arms before placing a hand on his chin. Scratching at the scruff of his short beard in thought as he studied the albeit simple sketch, but there was so much detail in it, it had become more than that. He’d almost brought her to life. If only he had more time…

Pulling that pencil out of his mouth quickly, he twirled it between his fingers before his eyes darted up in search of her. Wondering how far she’d gotten from him.

Angeline Donato

[Angeline Donato]

It was warm in that room, but she could feel the goosebumps gently rise up along her skin. Not a word was spoken as she listened to the soft, comforting sound of charcoal against parchment, and after a time, she temporarily forgot where she was. It was this calm that overtook her, a soft joy she could never understand. It wasn't because she was, quite literally, the center of attention in that moment- there wasn't a single conceited bone in the woman's body. Perhaps, it was just being among like-minded people, around those she understood better.

She understood the farm life of her childhood, but this was her here and now, a secret she kept. And maybe, it might just be her future.

That ray of sunlight had blinded her view of most of the artists gathered around, except for one. Angeline shifted those green hues to the left to find him there, concentrating intently on the task at hand. She caught herself, once, turning her head too much to try and catch a glimpse of his work, only to shift her head back when she caught his gaze and the teacher cleared his throat for her to remain still. It caused a ghost of a smirk to curl her lips, and she had to refrain from laughing at herself for the remainder of the session.

Then, it was over, and she blinked out of her daze as the room suddenly filled with gentle voices. Immediately, Angeline pulled the draped cloth around her more to step down from the small stage in the center, barely hearing Alessio who wasn't quite as eager to end this before she was rushing off to change.

She was quick, slipping into a simple dress she had kept from before she was married. Now, Felix made sure she was in the most expensive gowns, assured that she was always "dressed to impress" should she be needed as a jewel to dangle from his arm. The thought halted her in her movements as she braided that long, red hair, and she sighed to herself. She didn't want to go back, even knowing he likely wouldn't return until the evening. If he even would.

Geline placed that half-mask back over her face and watched in the small mirror of the back room as her mouth immediately turned down into a frown. She feared someone here might know that she was Felix Donato's wife, being that he was a wealthy merchant in Mercato...and the last place she should be was here, allowing others to see her in a different light, to allow them to sketch her. His possessive nature made her blood run cold.

As she emerged from the back, most of the artists had gone, leaving the studio in that near-quiet once again. Although her body turned towards the exit, her feet slowly taking steps forward, those eyes searched from beneath the mask, wondering if a particular eccentric man had already gone.

[Alessio Bellanti]

Those dark eyes fell on nothing but empty space. Not seeing immediately what they sought after, and the weight of disappointment was nearly crushing, that Alessio was already letting a soft sigh out as he felt that pressure weighs on him.

He shoved the pencil behind his ear, starting to pack up his belongings as he put the charcoal and spare pieces of led back where they belonged in the leather roll case. He stared at the drawing again, and his eyes flickered to the open sketchbook he had that held the other loose pages from today’s sketches. He unclipped the paper from the board and then added it to the pile, picking the stack up so he could make it neater before he stuck them into the sketchbook so they’d be protected and closed it.

He lifted the board then off the easel and put it where they kept the others and then started to pick up the easel to put it where it was stored along with the others. Once that was complete, he was walking back when he saw her.

That disappointment quickly evaporated, and Alessio’s previous thoughts quickly returned as he scrambled back for his things, shoving them quickly in the satchel as he tossed the strap over his shoulder, and his booted feet carried him quickly forward.

The eccentric man was not gone. In fact, he was at her side almost immediately. “Ah! Angeline, well done today,” He said with a quick grin. He quickly turned towards her, as most of Alessio’s movements were always rushed. “So well done, you should have seen the look of disappointment on my face when the session came to a close.” That grin merely widened as he met those green eyes behind that mask.

Once he was done showering her in flattery, he got straight to his point. Alessio always had a reason for doing something, and he needed to satisfy that itch. That compulsion to do something stupid, even if this was one of his more tamer ideas. “Are you doing anything of importance after this? Would you take mercy on a poor artist who wasn’t quite yet finished and let me draw you for another hour at the most?” He asked, eyes hopeful. “You will be compensated, but of course!” He threw in with another cheeky grin.

[Angeline Donato]

'Ah! Angeline, well done today.'

His voice halted her immediately before she could exit the studio- the door was open and waiting for her to walk through but she didn't seem to want to step across that threshold. Not just yet. It was strange, really, because she was also a little nervous to stand there.

Alessio was continuing to talk, grinning as she caught his gaze. She could feel the weight of that mask, and a part of her felt silly for wearing it. In truth, she really shouldn't be there, but this was the only way she could think to get out of the house, to learn new things and experience the life of these interesting artisans. It was the only other place she enjoyed being other than the family farm.

She wondered what Felix would think if he knew she came here so often.

Her lips pursed as he proclaimed his disappointment, and she wasn't entirely sure as to why before the artist was talking once again. Although she was a little confused, she couldn't help the gentle tug of her mouth into a grin.

"But I am sure there will be another coming in to model shortly..." she replied. That didn't seem to be a no, though, because she wasn't sure why she couldn't just deny him. She was being foolish just to remain there or even be there right now.

A gentle cant of her head, she regarded him silently for a moment before changing the subject slightly. "I do not do this for payment, though," she added quietly. For whatever reason, Angeline wanted him to know that and she wasn't sure why.

[Alessio Bellanti]

His heart sped up but a fraction as the grin appeared on her face. Forcing his own to widen even more, as those dark eyes looked hopeful. He wasn’t above begging if he had to… “But I don’t want to draw that model.” He responded simply. As if it was that simple. If he wanted to draw another, he wouldn’t have asked for more of her time, and anyone who knew Alessio knew he didn’t just give his time so willingly when there were ideas to test, and other things to work on. "I want to draw you." And he meant every word.

Though they didn’t quite say it, Alessio was a selfish man, who oftentimes only did things that benefitted him. His family was another thing altogether, however. Either cousin could walk through that door right then and demand he go do something for them and he’d do it without a second thought. But to everyone else? He was a selfish, arrogant, arse sometimes.

He studied her, as she canted his, his own mirrored her. Looking at her intently with those brown eyes of his. He considered her added statement. Saying she didn’t do it for payment, which made him all the more curious as to why the mask, and why would she model for free? “Then you can tell me why, while you let me finish my drawing.” He said with an impish grin. Clearly he was not going to let this go. “But payment or not, I’ll compensate you somehow for your time.” He promised her.