[For Anthony] Grasping for certainty in an uncertain future

[poetic_apostle]

It had taken weeks of work. There'd been building the furniture, figuring out how to make colours, spending hours wandering about the jungle looking for the right plants to make stains. And then actually making them, mashing plants and berries, simmering them to the right concentration, adding fixatives. Finally, he'd come up with some basic

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[alittleofboth]

Entirely ignorant of the scene of supposed domestic tranquility that awaited him, Anthony sat on his bed, deeply entrenched in a book. While he had never stopped idly reading, the prospect of teaching had made him more intense, more systematic, in his search for new (and old) ways of looking at art. Currently he was reading something written decades after his own time, frowning in annoyance at the author's argument - if you could merit the jumble of words with that label - and periodically making a note in the margin. On one side of him sat a stack of books that had already been thus examined and sentenced, on the other lay a few still awaiting judgment.

He heard Julian as he came in, but did not immediately look up, finishing the page he was reading first. But then he closed the book, holding his place with his index finger, and greeted the poet with a small smile. "Afternoon."

[poetic_apostle]

Julian had waited patiently, for the situation was a common one. As Anthony looked up he smiled, drawing near. "Hullo. Are you busy? I--I can come back later." His heart was pounding now, and he prayed that Anthony wouldn't take him up on it, although at the same time he was nervous as hell now that the moment was upon him. Perhaps this was a bad idea...but he'd decided to do it and now it was done, and all that was left was to show Anthony. It would be silly to back out now, and what of his dreams for the future?

[alittleofboth]

But Anthony shook his head. "No, merely passing the time, nothing of interest." He set the book aside.

Julian was never good at hiding his emotions, and so it was clear that something was making him agitated, though Anthony hadn't the slightest idea what it could be. He slowly arched a brow. "Everything all right?"

[poetic_apostle]

"Of course." Julian smiled again, holding out a hand. "I just wondered if...you might take a walk with me." He licked his lips nervously, watching Anthony.