For gar_demokratia

[belpaese]

[She's been getting ready for longer than wants to admit--fidgeting, doing and re-doing her hair, changing her skirt over and over. The painting of Hellas is in the next room over, inches away from being done, but she can't. Of course, she's not going to say that. She goes back into the art room to make sure the little table is properly set, tugs

Comments

[gar_demokratia]

[she doesn't get the concept of knocking, so she walks in immediately]

Ita-- Ah. [walks over, smiling slightly. It's always relaxing to spend time with the young woman-- she's so enthusiastic and carefree it allows her to let go a little.]

[belpaese]

[She's a little more subdued than normal, but she rushes over to sweep Hellas up into her arms, more tightly than she should] I'm glad you came! How are you? Are you hungry? Do you need something to drink, bella?

[gar_demokratia]

[a little surprised at the sudden physical contact, but she hugs back eventually, patting Italy's back.]

I'm fine, you seem anxious, I would love a drink, have you any wine?

[belpaese]

I always have wine.

[spins her around and takes her off into the painting room. Deborah Exhorting the Soldiers is covered with a white sheet, and there are a few other paintings, mostly landscapes and portraits, scattered around to distract visitors. She opens up the bottle of wine and pours a full glass for herself, a half a glass for Hellas. There's a glass of water on the table, too. All they need is a candle, really.]

[gar_demokratia]

[pours the water with her wine, then walks around the room looking at the other paintings]

Is that the one I modelled for, Italia? [nods at the one covered with the sheet, then sips some wine]

[belpaese]

[takes a big gulp from her glass] Maybe!

[gar_demokratia]

...Ah. [walks over to it, but doesn't take the sheet off]

Do you need me to model again? [she knows how difficult it can be to finally finish something]

[belpaese]

No, it's not that! [has drained her wine already, and pours another glass for herself] It's that I'm really close but I can't pick up my brush and finish it.

[gar_demokratia]

[frowns instead]

Why not?

[belpaese]

Because I can't! [She drags the sheet off the painting. By anyone else's standards, it would be done, but not by hers--never by hers. She drinks more and wraps the sheet around her hand, staring down at her bare feet.]

[gar_demokratia]

[she purses her lips and puts her glass down on a nearby windowsill]

Show me the painting, Italia?

[belpaese]

[pulls it off the rest of the way] That's it.

[gar_demokratia]

[looks close, then takes a few staps back and looks again, then moves in again]

...I don't see the problem.

[belpaese]

It's not right yet. I can't get it. I can't get any of them. [sounds more disappointed than upset, and sweeps her hand across the room to show her all the unfinished paintings]

[gar_demokratia]

[looks at all of them, and notices the tiny imperfections, as far as she can tell there are any. She ends up back at Italy, just behind her, looking at the neck of a portrait]

Why can't you? [she never leaves things unfinished, as hard as it is to finish them at times]

[belpaese]

Because there's no point, I'm never going to get into textbooks or art museums, all I can do is sell my okay ones to the private collectors and even then it has to be under a different name every time so no one figures out what I am and even then it's risky and those people don't appreciate art, anyway! [A little whine crept into her voice about halfway through, and she stomps her foot at the end, like an angry child.]