forum The Artist’s Muse O/O- closed (stalkers will get some nice art)

Started August 28, 2021 by @Tired-but-passionate

tune

“Ah, well…” Jayme hesitated. Explaining his typical work day is honestly a little difficult. “I’ll answer that last question first. Often my commissions involve both a subject and prop, so you’d have to hold or touch objects without dropping or breaking them. That’s, uh, that’s actually why there’s so many things in here.” He gestured vaguely around the room. “The living room also acts as a prop room of sorts. Also, I may ask for your critiques on thumbnails, sketches, things I’m deciding on, things like that. Just so that I have an outside opinion, you see.”
After a few moments of thinking, he continued, “I suppose my work day is… deceptively simple. You’d think I just draw and paint all day. But sometimes I have to spend time just planning and thumb-nailing. Seeing what works, what looks good, and what doesn’t. I have to send those sketches to the art departments of the magazines and newspapers that commission me, and see what they think and if it works within their budget and creative vision. Sometimes someone will come over to check on the progress and give feedback. Then when I’m finished, I have to send the piece back to the art department so they they can send it to the printing and publishing department. I… I would say about half of it is the typical drawing and painting, and the other half is answering phone calls, meetings, and sending things to places.”
Then he laughed a little. “Hours vary, if I’m being honest. I get tunnel vision whenever I’m working on something, so I forget…” he trailed off. Maybe this wasn’t the best time to mention that he’d been forgetting to eat and sleep because he was so focused on work. “I forget when to stop,” he amended, dropping his hand from his chin and letting his arm rest on his leg. He lowered his voice. “So I have to be reminded.”

Neci's eyes took a glimpse around the room as Mister Ashton talked about the usage of props. Oddly enough, he didn't really take much of a look around until now. His wandering gaze would not last for long though since he turned his head to look back at the man speaking.

On his right knee, he used his index finger, writing down things he wanted to remember. Props, critiques, and outside opinions. While he was unsure of his capabilities, he wanted to remember everything that he could.

The change in volume of Mister Ashton's voice set of an alarm in his mind. He could sense a bit of fear or possibly embarrassment hanging in the air. Though he was able to sense something, it took him a moment to respond. Moving towards the edge of his seat, he looked at Ashton, giving him a nod as his eyes lit up.

"No worries, sir, it is alright. Work is thrilling and does need to be done, but taking breaks is very necessary for that to happen," He assured, giving a wide grin. "If I am hired then I will do my best to remind you. I can also cook too if you would like to eat something and it's very late in the day. I can stay up for hours on end, but rest is still very important, so I will make sure to remind you when the time is right."

He paused for a second to take a deep breath. The nerves of worry still lingered within, but he kept on smiling. After licking his lips, he chuckled softly. "I used to do the same, but of course I never picked up a brush and all of that, but I understand," He said. "Ah….I do not believe I have any other questions, though I do appreciate you answering mine."

Now it was his heart being squeezed, instead of his stomach. Bathory’s movement caused him to blink in surprise, and that smile, the way his eyes lit up like a hopeful candle. Would it be dramatic to say that it was almost to much for Jayme?
“O— oh no, no, I can’t… I can’t ask you to do that,” he stuttered. What about you? “That’s— that’s very kind and thoughtful of you, but… but, ah. I should be able to remind myself, right?”
The other man was still smiling. He was beautiful, so beautiful. Jayme realized that he had said something to him. “Ah… I see… O— of course.”
For another moment he stared at Mr. Bathory, quite taken with that smile of his. His fingers tingled again. With a huff of nervous, flustered laughter, he took his sketchbook and pencil from the table. “A— actually,” he said, opening up to a blank page, “if you don’t mind, I would to do a little sketch of you before we end this. You’re— in all honesty, you’re very handsome and I want to capture it.”
Then he stopped, realized what he said. “I mean—“ he said quickly, “um, I— nevermind that, just— can I draw you?”

Resting his finger on his lip, he looked up at the ceiling while thinking. After a couple seconds passed by, he gave a shrug then looked back at Mister Ashton with the same assuring grin. "I suppose so, but sometimes people need the help of others to remind them," He added. "You would not be a burden to me on that part so there is no need to worry. The only thing that we need to worry about is ourselves and our wellbeing."

You're very handsome…. Neci was not sure how to respond to that statement. Sure, he has heard people call him handsome before, but this time felt different. His heart skipped a beat. Whether or not it was those words or the way Mister Ashton was looking at him and his little timid laugh, he felt his breath hitched.

It took him a couple of seconds to gather himself back together. He was not sure what it was that he was feeling. Maybe it was just nerves, but he was starting to feel bashful at the same time. Words struggled to form on his tongue. Relaxing back into the sofa, he inhaled deeply then slowly exhaled. Sooner or later, he nodded while beaming. "Of course! I do not see why not, it is your job after all," He chuckled. His eyes were wide, but they hesitated for a second before flickering over to the sketchbook. "How would you like me to pose, Mister Ashton?"

He ran his fingers through his hair again; they were itching more than ever. “You… you make an excellent point, Mr. Bathory. Ah, but I worry anyway.”
The moments of silence, few though they were, were agonizing to endure. Did Jayme make the other man uncomfortable? Did he say something wrong? Perhaps he just didn’t seem very professional. Maybe he just didn’t want to be drawn today. Jayme opened his mouth to apologize.
And then, another beaming grin. Be still, my heart. His mouth slowly closed, a strange feeling burning inside him. He forced a chuckle.
“It’s… not really my job if I’m not getting paid, is it?” He lowered his eyes to his sketchbook, then back at Bathory. “You’re fine where you are, sir.”
He touched the end of the pencil to his lip, trying to shake off the strange mix of feelings in his stomach. He took a deep breath, then studied the other man across from him, but trying not to get distracted. His eyes were so bright, his smile so soft and relaxed. But then Jayme chastised himself, remembering he should start with the entire body first, not the tiny details. He took in Bathory as a whole, noting his now relaxed posture. He looked down and began to lay down the rough strokes, looking up every once in a while to study him again. Soon his anxiety and pumping heart were somewhat forgotten.

Neci could not help but laugh a little at Mister Ashton's question. Giving a shrug, he took a deep breath. He supposed that it is not a job if he isn't being paid, but it has to be something that Ashton enjoys a lot. Otherwise, he would not be spending hours upon hours sketching and painting. His lips parted a little, waiting for him to say something, but any words that were building up suddenly dissolved as he looked across at the other man.

As Ashton began to sketch him, he decided to take advantage of this time to observe him more intently. Throughout the interview, his eyes kept wandering but he knew that he couldn't do it. He needed all his attention in order to do well. At least now, he has the given opportunity to do so.

How breathtaking. It was interesting to see how the worry in Ashton gradually melted away as he became more focused on the sketch. The focus in the other man's eyes was burning. So many small things came to light as he stared at him. Even though Ashton was busy on the drawing and everything was silent, Neci still felt a warm lively aura in the room. It might have been so because his chest felt like it was on fire, but that is besides the point. Sitting still, he did his best to take a deep breath while in pose.

Jayme allowed a smile to grace his lips at Bathory’s laugh. It was contagious, even when it was small and brief.
Once he got the man’s basic figure down, he looked up again and studied him for a moment. His eyes roved over his pleasing figure, then looked down so he could add his curves, musculature, and define his jawline and facial features. He began to mutter to himself as he did so, thinking aloud. “Sharp jaw… and then the sharp nose too… ah, let’s adjust the… the leg…” He flipped his pencil over and erased a little, then went back to drawing. “Then those gorgeous eyes… mn…” More erasing. He wanted to get it right.
There was only the sound of breathing and pencil scratches, and occasionally Jayme’s soft voice. He outlined Mr. Bathory’s hairline and hairstyle and quickly added a bit of detail, then moved onto the clothes. His eyes flicked up every so often, and now they traveled up and down his chest, his arms, his legs. The way his vest hugged his torso, how his slacks formed wrinkles on the underside of his knees and around his crotch. He looked back down, his pencil dancing across the page. “Dress shirt is close fitting, so…. Mn, can’t forget the seams.”
At this point he was adding detail and shading, occasionally looking up to gauge how the lighting from outside interacted with Bathory’s form. He lapsed into silence again. He scribbled in some darkness to his hair and clothes, leaving room for where the light was hitting them.
He looked up one last time. “Ah, the little nick,” he said to himself, and added the scar underneath Bathory’s eye. “Done.” Jayme passed the sketchbook to the other man so he could have a look. “I hope you like it.”

Holding a position was not as hard as he thought it would be or at least, a sitting one. In order to stay, he simply did his best to stay relaxed. Then there was also listening to what Mister Ashton was whispering to himself while going between looking at him then back at the sketchbook. Neci was a bit amused by it, yet he was more amazed at Ashton and how he worked. It was very fascinating to him. And the sounds of his whispers and the pencil against the paper filled the room combating the silence that was hanging in the air.

His eyes stared forward at the wall across from him. Maintaining some focus, he let the rest of his mind wander off. The sound of his heart beating filled his ears, but he attempted to ignore it by listening to the pencil lightly scratching the paper. Blinking, he breathed then watched as Ashton drew the scar under his eye. A soft chuckle managed to escape from his throat.

Cautiously, he took ahold of the sketchbook. He kept his fingertips at the sides of the book, hoping he will not drop it or anything. After glancing over at Mister Ashton, he looked down at the drawing. His eyes widened as his jaw dropped a bit. It was not simply just a drawing. Neci felt like he was staring at his own reflection. The detailing in it was something he had never seen on such a piece of paper. Really the only time he has ever seen anything with such detail was a painting in a museum.

A beam swept across his face the moment he looked back at Ashton. "Like it? I love it!" He burst, laughing a little afterwards. Standing up, he took a step or two towards Ashton before handing him the sketchbook. "It is wonderful. I felt like I was looking into the mirror or at one of those photos. You are amazing, Mister Ashton. Really, you are." As he went to sit back down, he took a slow exhale.

Jayme has heard many compliments to his work before, but hearing it from Bathory somehow made his heart pump and a small grin to spread on his face. Just the way his expression lit up like that when he first saw it made Jayme excited.
He stood and took back the sketchbook, but stayed standing, unlike Mr. Bathory. “Thank you very much sir,” he said. “You were an amazing model.” Here he gave a subtle wink, then realized what he did and quickly looked away. “U— um, I think I will let that conclude our time today. I’ll walk you out.”
What was he doing? Why was this man affecting him so? He needed to get himself together. He drew him, and he’s still as beautiful as ever. Who cares?

Neci froze as he saw Mister Ashton wink at him. His eyes widened a little as he kept his head at a tilt. They lit up with a mixture of what he could only guess as confusion and whatever else he is feeling. The red blush on his face deepened, so he tried to pretend like nothing was going on.

What does it mean? It sent his nerves into some sort of panic. Does it pertain to him possibly getting the job or for another reason? What even would the other reason be? He was not able to think of any other possibilities. Of course his mind was running around making it difficult for him to think.

It took him a couple of moments till he finally stood up. Walking over to Mister Ashton, he ran his fingers through his hair. "Thank for having me, Mister Ashton. I appreciate it," He beamed.

Jayme now avoided all eye contact, all looking upon the man. His body stiffened as utter shame and horror began to slowly fill him now. God, he was so unprofessional. Not only that, he was being extremely inappropriate! The way he said that Bathory was handsome, the way he winked at him, oh how deeply he regretted his actions. If looking upon his beauty made Jayme act this way, then he should never look at him ever again.
He stared just to his left, near to where the door was. “Of… of course, Mr. Bathory. It was my pleasure to meet and speak with you today.” His voice shook a little. “Um, I will call you tomorrow.”
Bending down to set the sketchbook book on the table, he then moved toward the door. As he reached for the doorknob, he felt something soft skirt around his ankles. He looked down, only to find Artemisia mewing at him. He had never been so glad that she had interrupted him before.
“Oh, hello Arty. Say goodbye to the stranger before he leaves,” he said. He watched as the cat twitched her ear at him, looked in Bathory’s direction, and uttered a single, ”Mrow.” Jayme chuckled, then opened the door for the other man.

The sudden change in Mister Ashton confused him. Neci knew he really wanted to say something about it, but he knew that it definitely was not his place. Is it funny to think that he does not mind Ashton's actions at all? Now he is not used to these kind of interactions, and yet, he does not care at the same time. They make him feel something, just the same as Ashton is making him feel. Oh but how it is funny though; he does not know what is going on. His curiosity flourished.

Call tomorrow… He wondered what that means. Maybe Ashton had interviews with other applicants and will make a decision. Whatever it means, he knows that he probably will be up all night thanks to anticipation. The thought of not getting the job too worries him. Suppose he will not be able to sleep because of that as well. There must several things that are on his mind now that will also be in the evening.

"Sounds very good. I'll look forward to it," He said. When he looked over at Ashton, he noticed that the cat had returned. Hearing the cat meow left him in laughter for a couple of seconds. "Thank you, Artemisia. It was a pleasure meeting you," He laughed. Neci had to take a deep breath as he stepped outside. After putting on his hat, he turned around, "And goodbye to you, Mister Ashton. I hope to see you again soon."

He had decided to call tomorrow for a few reasons. Firstly, so he would have time to finish painting Willerman & Co. ad and be free to then send it over to their advertising department. Secondly, to wait and see if anyone else would respond to his own ad calling for a model. Although Bathory had certainly set a very high bar, having more than one model would be beneficial. In particular, a female model. His mother didn’t bicker like his brother did, but she had trouble staying still, and besides, she was getting on in years. Jayme couldn’t really use her any longer when depicting female subjects. Thirdly… Jayme was starting to feel drained from the interview. Funny, it was like he was the one who had been interviewed, not Bathory. All the planning and talking and trying to seem professional had taken a toll on him, and it would take some time before he felt ready to have another social situation like that again.
He had to pick up the cat so she wouldn’t follow Bathory out of the door. His laughter was nice to listen to. At least he didn’t sound uncomfortable from what happened a few moments prior. At least, he hoped…
He finally looked at him again as he turned around. Those bright eyes immediately stood out to him, and he couldn’t pull his gaze away. Still so beautiful. Jayme sighed to himself.
“Goodbye, Mr. Bathory. Thank you again, and I hope to see you again too.” He gave the man a small grin, then shut the door.

With a tip of his hat, he took one more glance at Mister Ashton before the door closed. His breath hitched till he was able to take a deep sigh. Neci went down the stairs and around the corner. A weight was lifted off his chest. Despite his heart still beating at a fast pace, he felt less anxious. Come to think of it, he did not really feel as anxious as he thought he would be the whole time. Sure there was that feeling whenever he looked at Ashton, but it was not jitters or anything.

He decided to not take a taxi back to his apartment. After the interview, he needed some time to reconvene. The walk back to his place was only twenty minutes or so. It is not that bad compared to the walks he had to take when he was a child from downtown Budapest to his old home was much longer. The sun was still high in the sky. People were still bustling around, trying to get from place to place. It is like a moving painting that he could experience in front of his eyes. If there was one thing that the war had taught him, it would be to appreciate the settings around him.

On the way home, he kept thinking back to the interview. His mind fixated on all the moments where Mister Ashton complimented his looks, gazed at him for too long, and even when the man winked at him. Then there was also the moments where he let his eyes linger for more than a moment. A shiver ran down his spine as his heart almost leaped out of his chest. All this reminiscing caused him to miss a turn.

Even when he got home, his cheeks were still relatively warm. Once he took of his shoes, coat, and hat, he went over to the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed. Although Neci did not want to think about anything, his mind was still going on about the interview and getting a call from Mister Ashton tomorrow. Well, he will definitely be at Zente and Estelle's again. On another note, he would have to tell Ashton about his own telephone if he were to get the job. Will he get it? Maybe…Maybe not… Looks like he will have to wait and see.

He set Artemisia down, then let out a deep exhale. Perhaps he should lie down, but he didn’t want to when there was work to be done. He moved in the direction of the studio room when he caught his mother descending the stairs.
“Is he gone?” She asked, leaning her head to peer into the living room. “God certainly blessed him with his looks, eh?”
“Yes,” Jayme vaguely agreed.
She turned back to look at him. “Is there something wrong? Was he not what you were hoping for?”
This snapped him back into focus. “What? No, no, he was wonderful.” He remembered the actions he regretted and decided not to mention that. “Um, the only thing was that he didn’t have previous experience.”
Her eyebrows disappeared into her frizzy red hair. “Really? You’d think he would have.”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “Especially since he did so well while I sketched him.”
Nathalie smiled. “So will you hire him?”
Ah, the inevitable question. Jayme smiled back. “It would be a waste of an opportunity if I didn’t, right?”

Neci was on the verge of falling asleep. Despite it being almost five or so, he felt his eyelids getting heavy. All of his worry about the interview and Mister Ashton left him exhausted. His heart finally decided to go at a regular pace for once, but it still felt warm and fuzzy.

At the moment he began to unbutton his vest, the telephone rang. A groan rose from his throat as he reluctantly got up. Trudging over to the small living room, he picked up the mouthpiece and receiver. "Hello, Bathory speaking," He said with a sigh.

"Mama says it's bad to be sleepy at this time of day. Her and Nagyi want to know if you want any kakaos csiga tomorrow," A little voice on the other line stated before yawning. "Marie said she wants to know too."

He smiled while humming. "Liliana, I know you and your sister are going to try to eat them all. But, I guess I do if there's any left.

"No we won't," the little girl protested. There was a moment of silence. She probably had to think for a moment since her mind had instantly switched from Hungarian to English. He also heard his mother speaking in the background. "Nagyi said there's no need to worry. She will have some for you for good luck cause of your interview. Did you get the job?"

The mention of the interview made him feel jittery again, but he managed to stifle a laugh. "Ah not yet. I was told I'll get a call in the morning. Let's hope and see, okay, my dear?"

Neci waited a couple of seconds till he heard her hum a yes. "But I will be in school then," She whined. "Can it not wait till after school?"

Despite them being on the telephone, he shook his head. "My dear, I will tell you as soon as I can. You will still be one of the firsts to know. I believe I will get it."

After painting for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening, Jayme was able to finish the Willerman & Co. ad. After storing it and a bit of his process work in one of his portfolios, he helped Nathalie make a small dinner. They ate and talked, in which he shared a few more things he learned about Bathory and explained why he would like to him. Nathalie found the fact that English wasn’t his first language more frustrating than her son did, but it wasn’t like that would dissuade him from hiring Bathory. He then took time to play with the cat and sketch. After a while, he found himself sketching Bathory again, going off the first one he made but trying different poses and formats. It was that easy, relaxing feeling that made him fall in love with making art in the first place, and drawing pretty men such as Bathory was as easy as breathing to him. Sometimes Artemisia demanded his attention though, and he would be forced to get out of the zone.
The next morning, his mother left to visit his aunt, and he took the ad he painted and took it to his father and brother’s company. Members of the advertising department met up with him and reviewed his work, said it was perfect, and carried it on from there. Jayme received payment for his services, and after that he went back to the studio. There was still a magazine commission that he needed to plan for, so he planned to do that for the rest of the day. But of course, he couldn’t forget the phone call he needed to make.
He fed the cat, but she kept following him as he reached for the telephone. He had to wave whiskers out of his face as he plugged in Bathory’s number and held the receiver to one ear.

An hour after he hung up the phone, Neci went downtown to meet up with some friends for dinner. All of them worked downtown. Some worked for fancy restaurants while others were ballroom dancers or bartenders. They met up at a diner across from a movie theater then went to a speakeasy they frequented at for a while now.

The whole time he listened to all the gossip they were sharing or complaints about costumers and their bosses. His mind wandered off. Even when the conversation moved on to other things, he was still stuck on that sofa looking back at Mister Ashton. What a funny feeling he gets everytime he thinks back to those moments.

Neci went home about a quarter to ten then fell asleep. He only managed to wake up the next morning out of habit. Typically he would go over to Zente and Giselle's, have breakfast with them, and then take Liliana to school before going to work or back to the house.

He had told his brother all about the interview, but he left out the strange feelings and energy in the air. Zente had gone through a good number of interviews himself since he works in the electricity industry. While his brother does not know much about art, Zente was happy for his younger brother, wishing nothing but the best for him.

Going back home, the phone rang as he shut the door. Not even bothering to take his hat or shoes off, he darted over to answer it. His heart was beating quickly as he picked it up. "Hello? Bathory speaking."

Luckily, Jayme did not have to wait long. “Hello, Mr. Bathory, this is Ashton speaking. Congratulations, you’re hired.” He hadn’t really planned out to say anything else, but felt awkward and rude to just end the conversation here. Random things came his mind, and he began to ramble slightly.
“Um, well, really there was no one else who responded to the ad other than you,” he said, raising a hand to push Artemisia away from his face. She kept head-butting him afterwards, so Jayme held one hand up to placate her. “I plan to keep the ad up so I may eventually get a lady model. So, just so you’re aware, you may likely have a coworker in the future.”
Artemisia began nuzzling his hand and purring. Jayme smiled a little. “Ah, let’s see… I’m designing a cover for Collier’s magazine at the moment, so could you come to the studio at around… ten in the morning tomorrow? That would be excellent.”

Hired? The telephone suddenly felt warm. His grip on the reciever tightened. Him, Neci Bathory, had just gotten hired. He is a model now. It took him awhile to believe since it all feels so surreal. Not to mention so sudden too. The dread that had piled up within him instantly melted away. A shaky feeling had overcome him, but he knew that everything was alright. What was he being so worried for?

Mister Ashton's voice sort of startled him. When he jumped, his hand rested over his quickly besting heart. Ah that's right, he is still on call. Pursing his lips together, he did everything he could in order to make sure that his giggles wouldn't escape. In a way, he feels very thankful that he was the only one who responded to the ad. Maybe it was fate. Maybe it was something out of his own pure will.

"Oh I see. Very well then, I will keep that noted," He nodded despite them being on the telephone. The small journal and pen were too far from the telephone for him to reach, but it was a small mote for him to remember.

Although, the next one was not. "Excuse me," He said all of the sudden. Neci dashed over to pick up the journal and pen then ran back to pick up the telephone. Getting the pen ready, he wrote everything he needed down. "That sounds good to me, Sir. I will be there at ten o'clock sharp. Is there anything else?"

Bathory’s initial silence worried him. Did he have a reaction to getting the job that he simply couldn’t see? To Jayme, there seemed to be no reaction at all. Maybe it was just that Bathory was still listening to him talk. Or maybe he didn’t want to be a model anymore, but now that he’s been hired he can’t back out.
No, that doesn’t make any sense! Stop thinking such things. Jayme put a hand over his eyes, making the cat mew in protest. He rubbed at his eyes for a moment before opening them and petting Artemisia again. At least he could detect no disappointment in Mr. Bathory’s voice. On the contrary, he sounded quite eager. Right?
He paused at the question. “Ah, um… I don’t believe so. I’ll get you acquainted with the studio and such when you arrive. I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.”
He hung up, mostly to save himself from anything that might follow after. Artemisia mewed at him again, and he picked her up to hug her close, warm fur brushing against his cheek.
“I need to work,” he muttered to himself.

Acquainted with the studio… Those words sent adrenaline rushing through his veins. His pupils widened. He was dumbfounded for words, and could only smile. The air surrounding him felt warm beyond belief. Oh if only he had someone with him right now to tell about the news and how he feels.

"Very well. See you tomorrow, Mister Ashton." The words managed to slip out before he heard the phone on the other end hung up. A wave of relief overcame him as he clicked the receiver. Collpasing onto a chair, Neci laid back and exhaled deeply.

It seemed as if the world around him was spinning. He wasn't sure what to do next. For once, he actually was looking forward to work. He was looking forward to what the job would hold in store for him. Perhaps he should make something for Mister Ashton tomorrow, but what should he make?

His mind wandered in thought, though it deviated away from food. While the excitement in him finally began to cool down, he felt himself becoming heated up again. All the awkward moments that he had shared with Ashton already; he wondered if there would be more. He wondered where they would lead the two of them.

Abruptly, he got out of his seat. Neci shook his head while ambling over towards the window. Pushing the curtain, he looked out, watching as people were passing by and going on about their day. "I should do something today….." He whispered. "I should…"

Jayme didn’t begin working immediately. He made another phone call, this time to Collier’s to ask about what they wanted for the magazine. Usually they wanted something that had vaguely to do with the topic the issue was talking about, but nothing too explicit that might spark controversy. Usually an illustration of the journalist who wrote about the topic or something like that. This time they wanted something to do with cats, which Jayme was all too happy to do since he had access to a cat 24/7 and had a lot of experience drawing her.
After the phone call ended he began doing practice sketches of cats, some done with Artemisia’s assistance and some without. These sketches were quite rough and mainly captured the gesture of the cat’s pose. Some he put more effort into than others. Then he started including a human character interacting with a cat. A lot of these sketches he used his own experiences with Artemisia as inspiration. Hopefully Artemisia could get used to Bathory holding her or things like that when he comes. The thought made him remember the previous day, when the man bid her farewell. He smiled to himself, shaking his head.
Jayme sketched for a long time, and ended up forgetting to eat lunch. Thankfully when the cat began whining at him to feed her did he remember he needed to eat too. This in turn led him to remember other chores around the house that he should probably tend to, and he didn’t draw again until some two hours later. By this point he had a specific concept sketch that he liked: a young man sitting on a park bench with his cat, slowly becoming surrounded by strays. He played with idea a bit more until evening fell.

Surprisingly enough, Neci did not leave his apartment till a quarter after noon. The excitement about work left him walking around the entire apartment for thirty minutes until he decided that he should clean the place to help himself calm down. He did not eat lunch, but planned to go eat somewhere after picking his niece up from school. And according to his made up schedule, that left him with a few hours to do whatever he liked.

Eventually, after taking care of his clothes and other chores, he did leave the apartment. The streets were still busy as ever while the sun was still hanging high in the sky. He put on his cap then started to amble down the street. At least once a week he visited the library in order to keep up with his English and learn something new whether it be a subject or words. Thankfully the library was not too far off from his place, just five minutes.

The moment he opened one of the doors, he took off his cap then tucked it under his arm. A wave of cool air brushed through him as he stepped inside. The man spent about another hour inside there. He read books about art and artists. Some of them had pictures in which he tried recreating a few poses while in his seat.

He put the books away then left to walk over to Zente and Estelle's to pick up Marie. The walk there was longer but it still gave them enough time to get to Liliana's school in time. Once Liliana had rushed over to the two, he had told them about the job. Liliana was happy, but it took a moment to explain to Marie what that meant. Nevertheless, he almost lost his balance when they attacked him with hugs.

It was about a quarter to five or so when Neci had took them home. The sun was starting to set. They stopped by a diner then spent some time in the park before going home. Luckily Estelle was done with chores and such by the time they did. She insisted that Neci stayed for supper the moment he told her the news, but then forced him to sit in the living room after he tried to help with supper.

The next morning, Jayme awoke to the cat climbing onto his face. She mewed at him, as if she was his personal alarm clock.
“Arty,” he moaned, his voice nasally because she was stepping on his nose. “What’re you doing?”
She merely meowed at him again. Pushing her off of him, he yawned, a soft inhaling sound. “Alright, alright, I’m up. G’morning to you too.”
”Maow,” she trilled insistently. Her green eyes were narrowed with expectancy.
“Yes, yes, I know you’re hungry.” Sliding out of the bed, he petted her head. “Give me a minute to dress, at least.”
Once they were both fed, Jayme decided to take a walk for the first time in quite a while. It was nice out, and he felt the need to walk off the adrenaline that came from being hit with the reality that his new model would be coming in today. The walk was uneventful, and so his mind was plagued by the things he should do later, or things he should do in the future, and random illustration ideas. At one point he found a very friendly pigeon who let him do a quick sketch before flying off. Jayme returned to the studio a half hour until ten, and used that half hour to sketch more pigeons and play with the cat.

Neci found himself waking up at seven o'clock. Usually he stayed in bed for a few more minutes, but he found himself jumping out of bed and walking over to the closet. After he got home last night, he picked out some clothes he thought would look nice for his first day as a model.

His first day as a model….It feels so odd to think of such a thing. Nevertheless, he couldn't be more than happy about it. His shirt and vest snuggly fitted him, but his trousers were a little tight. Thankfully there wasn't any noticeable wrinkles in his clothes.

Breakfast was just some leftovers he had from yesterday. Time was running out until he had to go to work, and he did not want to be a second late. Thankfully Estelle helped him make something special for Mister Ashton and put it in a nice container. Once Neci was able to get things together, he took the container of food then walked out the door.

The walk over was pleasant enough. As he walked, a smile appeared on him. There was no way of containing it. All the jitters he had from the last few days came back and are running through him. Hopefully they calm down soon or do not affect him really. Despite getting the job, he worried of losing it. He worried of letting down Mister Ashton already.

At exactly fifteen minutes before ten, Neci strolled onto the steps of the building. Though he kept assuring himself that he would be on time, he checked his watch then rang the doorbell. The smile still remained on him while he took a few steps back with his eyes glued to the door.

Jayme did not prepare himself for the doorbell. I should’ve prepared myself for the doorbell.
Well, not really the doorbell itself, but the fact that it meant that someone was at the door, waiting for him to answer. He could feel the anxiety building up in him again. Looking down at his watch, he ran his hands through his hair. The man was early. Jayme took a few calming breaths, then rose from his seat and went to the door, Artemisia at his toes. He turned the knob and pulled.
That smile. It was dazzling, and only added to the man’s beauty, but he could detect the nervousness in it. It sort of made Jayme feel better. He was nervous too.
“Mr. Bathory,” he greeted, forcing a smile of his own. “You’re early. How are you today?”
He offered his hand, but then realized Bathory was holding something. Then the smell hit his nose. “Oh my, what is that? It smells wonderful.”
He moved to the side to let him in, his gaze switching from the container to Bathory’s smile.

Anticipation slowly built up inside him. An eternity must have passed by the moment after he rang the doorbell. No, it had only been a minute or so since he did. Thankfully it was not long till the door opened, revealing Mister Ashton as he stepped out.

It hadn't been so long since he had last seen Mister Ashton, but he was happy to see the man. No, his boss. Quite strange to think of how he is happy to see his new boss, nevertheless, he was beaming. Neci blinked and shook his head.

"Ah, good morning Mister Ashton." He glanced down at Artemisia, laughing a little. "And good morning to you, Artemisia." After taking a deep breath, he adjusted the container that was underneath his arm. "I am well. I tend to show up to work or any occasion early. Is that alright, Sir?"

"Hm?" Mister Ashton's question brought him out of his worry. For a second, he looked down at the container before holding it out. "Oh…well…it's lángos with some sausage and a bit of garlic sauce," He responded. Neci noticed how his boss made way for him, so he nodded his head then walked inside. "I know how to cook lots of things, but…I was not sure what to make, so I hope you enjoy it."

The cat responded to Bathory’s greeting with a small mew, taking Jayme’s attention away from the way he shook his head for half a second. He smiled faintly, but it then turned into a purse of the lips as he considered the other man’s words.
“Ah, it’s admirable, but unexpected. I can get used to it,” he decided.
Shutting the door behind Bathory, he stared at the container again. He was not familiar with the word used for the food inside, but it definitely looked as good as it smelled. “I think I will. You’re very thoughtful,” he said. He picked up Artemisia before she could run away and hide. She would be important for today’s piece. Before he could react, though, she moved to climb onto his shoulder.
“That’s not very professional, Arty,” he sighed. She was a bit heavy, but Jayme was used to it. Jayme led his new hire deeper into the studio, the cat enjoying the free ride.
Tapping his fingers against his leg, he muttered to himself before saying, “There’s a kitchen upstairs, but you can set it in the living room for now.” He gestured to the room they had been in yesterday, full of furniture of all styles. “Let me, ah, let me show you where we’ll be working.”

An exhale was forced out of his throat as he gleamed at the cat. In his corner of his eyes, he noticed Mister Ashton's faint smile; it was gone before he could even look up to appreciate such an expression. Sure Neci is the model here, and yet, he believed there is something flattering in Mister Ashton and his grin, faint or not.

"Oh, thank you. You do not have to force yourself to if you do not want to, Sir," He assured. "I can come in right on time if that is exactly what you want." It did not really matter to him; he still will arrive exactly on time or whenever Mister Ashton says. His only concern is what his boss feels and that's it. Lowering his chin to the floor, he smiled at the compliment. He felt his cheeks warm up a little, but he laughed it off then whispered a thank you.

As swift as he possibly could, he walked into the living room area. The air felt different than it did last time. This time he took a couple of seconds to look around at all the furniture since he rarely did at the interview. Walking over to the coffee table, he sat down the container then gently patted it. He'll have to remember to warm it up a little for lunch. Hopefully Mister Ashton will like it.

Neci rushed back, fixing his jacket and taking off his hat. Some strands of hair fell in front of his face, but he was too focused on what Mister Ashton was saying to even give a thought about it. Holding his hat with both of his hands, he followed from behind. His eyes gazing around as he lifted and turned his chin in different directions. Glancing back down at Ashton, he nodded, "Of course. Please do show me the way, Sir."