#⭒ ˙ ˖ ✧ — ˗ˏˋ ❝ ɪ’ʟʟ ʀᴇᴘʀᴏɢʀᴀᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ɪᴛꜱᴇʟꜰ ❞ ¦ 「 Ryota IC 」

[not-bcring]

✩ 「 @heartheaded​ 」 ✩ - Continued from ★

「 ☆ 」 Ryota doesn't spare Ai a glance after their initial command that he stop moving, not even a verbal hum to show that the other's words made it through to the artist. But they must have, since Ryota's posture relaxes as they sink back into their work. However, stylus abruptly stops in the midst of striking a few lines when Ai's expression changes. As if Ryota sensed the movement. Shoulders tensing once more, it's a subtle shift in their reserved demeanor, the tip of their pen hitting the tablet's screen with a light tap.

❝ I can feel you judging me. ❞ They dryly complain, quiet voice sounding more annoyed than offended. As if this was yet another inconvenience they'd have to contend with instead of a mark against them as a person. It's understandable they'd be viewed poorly for how they live. Besides, they've been accustomed to judgment even before their habits became so abysmal. Perhaps, were they more inclined to take better care of themself, they could avoid being viewed QUITE as harshly. Soft, daresay attractive features veiled by layers of neglect ( both from the world and themself ) and utter disregard... But there's no point to it.

Beneath a clean appearance lies a personality and interests and social skills that provide more than enough reason for ridicule... The only thing worthwhile is their art. So, that's where Ryota must put all their effort.

Eyes narrowing slightly, lips tighten in a frustrated frown as Ryota finally looks back at their subject. Golden hues glinting as they study Ai, even their expression doesn't betray any PERSONAL stake in the matter. More reminiscent of an artist examining their tools, trying to figure out the best way to work with what they have.

Flitting down from Ai's face to his form, Ryota's own features scrunch in disgust as they huff to themself, ❝ No, that won't work. I can't even focus on your body when your face is like that... You're too tense. It's clear that everything is off. ❞ Whether others would agree, it's hard to say. But Ryota's keen eye can't get past the discomfort crawling on Ai's skin, tainting what is supposed to be a pure study of their subject. Feeling a similar itch within themself, stemmed from the task at hand instead of the unsanitary conditions they are meant to perform it in, Ryota rests their tablet on their lap and complains, ❝ Look, I know it's not exactly pleasant in here, but I can't do my job if you can't shove down your disgust for a bit longer. ❞

Technically a ❛ BIT ❜ is a stretch. With the pace things have been going, it'd be a miracle if they managed to keep it under an hour or two at best. But admitting that hardly feels like any way to get Ai to calm down... Although, Ryota doubts the other isn't aware. Still, they consider it common courtesy not to vocalize the unfortunate truth when it's not necessary. 「 ☆ 」

[not-bcring]

Starter For - ✩   「   @heartheaded​​  」  ✩

「 ☆ 」   Ryota isn’t used to drawing live subjects... He never felt much of a need to, confident in characters created by memory as the focus of his projects. Either amalgamations of those he’s observed through his day-to-day, be it those times when he’s forced to go out amongst actual people or witnessed through secondhand media, or simply pure projections of his imagination. With fantastical elements taking part in most of his works, he doesn’t need to be too grounded in reality. His focus being on how the world makes people FEEL rather than how it actually looks. True, it’s important to have a keen eye when working on details such as environment or how things interact with one another... but there’s a distinct difference between knowing how fabric folds on a body and needing to study it in real-time.

He can still recall how frustrated his art teachers used to be at his lack of desire to ‘go out into the world’ and actually examine it for his work... and how that frustration only seemed to grow when their relentless chastising and warnings about how his art would suffer was proven wrong by his results. Vibrant works that touched upon the spirit of what he was capturing, even if Ryota’s spirit was firmly rooted within his sanctuaries. Be it the art room or his own. Much like how the athletes of Hope’s Peak don’t seem to need traditional training— Ryota’s heard tale of a baseball player who never needed to go to practice —Ryota’s eye for expression extends beyond natural sight. He doesn’t need to observe the world. He just needs a clear idea of what he wants to BRING to it.... armed with references from the internet, his hands can simply do what he means for them to.

Still, he must admit... there is something- different, about being tasked with bringing a SPECIFIC individual to life. With being entrusted to capture the soul of someone who exists in front of him. Who matters to the person asking it of him... So, while a picture would have sufficed, Ryota hadn’t felt comfortable taking his usual route when another option was available. It had felt like it might cheapen the animation he’s creating. Personal comfort can be set aside to ensure that the gets the features just right. The aura that Kisume Ai exudes. The way the slightest shift rustles his hair, Ryota raising his gaze to study him for a few minutes… taking in the way his lips part slightly while he breathes, the flit of his eyes when his focus changes, the natural slope of his body where he sits. Ryota might need to make him walk around a bit, just to see how his movements compliment this.

But for now, he simply needs him to sit there.

❝ Don’t move. ❞ Ryota commands, tone calm but offering no room for complaint. As if by saying it, his subject will be forced to comply. Like Ai isn’t an actual person, but a breathing prop in need of reminding of what he’s meant to be doing. Not that Ryota would purposely think of him in such a demeaning way… Honestly, Ryota doesn’t give his peer a second thought at all. Too enraptured in capturing WHO Ai is, he completely forgets about what he is. That he is a person. And people are capable of becoming impatient, or may not see the same importance in things that Ryota does— most of the time they don’t —and they might not understand how Ryota could study for five minutes only to scratch a few lines down, erase them, and begin studying again.

But each line, every single frame, is important.

Ryota can’t settle for giving anything less than his best. 「 ☆ 」

[not-bcring]

(( Tag Dump - Ryota Mitarai ))