Theo prefers to work in silence, no record player found in the safety of his quaint studio. Just the sounds of the birds and his awing apprentice, as well as the occasional cracks of the wooden floorboards. It emphasizes the swish of the brush's bristles against the rough canvas. Over time, the sound becomes smoother, melodic as the paint builds up. Wet pigments sloshing against the easel.
August is not allowed to peak at the canvas. Though, the movements of Theo's hands confuse him. It is as if he is painting something not there. After a bit, he begins to relax and lose his posture. Theo pays no comment, which informs the apprentice his job must be done. However, after what feels like a half hour, Theo tells him to resume the pose once more. In pain and stiffness, August corrects himself.
"Do you like having your portrait done?" Asks Theo, putting down the palette.
August shrugs, not wanting to further elaborate.
"I have never had mine done before, so I only hope I made this a bearable experience," says Theo.
"Then I hope I can paint you some day."
Suddenly, the painter notices the strong fragrance of roses wafting in from his pristine garden outside. He turns red, red like the blood in his veins, red like the bright roses dancing beyond the window. He shuffles around in his spot and then grabs onto the corner of the easel. Carefully, he turns it around for August to see.
"I'm done your portrait. Please, tell me what you think of it."
Theo moves behind the apprentice, allowing him to have a full, unobstructed view of his reflection. Ah, but is calling it a reflection truly fair?
It is a dark painting, unlike the room where they both stay. At the central top is August, much in a similar appearance as he modeled. Though, some features feel… more pronounced. For one, his eyes seem to have white beads of glitter. Second, his shoulders feel more curled in. Despite the overall cool tone of the painting, his skin still looks so warm, a tan glow radiating in the blurs of beige and grey.
"Let me walk you through my thought process so you can understand the decisions I made. Maybe they will inform your own artistic decisions, yes?"
"I was hoping you would do that, yes."
Theo smiles, "eager to learn. So, lets begin with your eyes."
To August's surprise, Theo covers his eyes with the palm of his hands, like a mask.
"I painted them a bit larger than they actually are, but playing with proportions should always be done in good faith. I like your big eyes… they look so innocent."
He uncovers August's gaze. His fingers move to twirling themselves in his hair.
"Another thing I wished to emphasize was your curls. I find them so unusual, it builds to your unfamiliarity. You have these wispy pieces that come into your face that I think you do not notice either, so I included those too. I have no deep reasoning, except that I think you do not appreciate these features, but I do."
His grasp moves around the other's neck.
"You have a long neck, too. I like that, it is rather feminine. I wanted to play with your femininity I think that is rather daring and reveals much about who you are…"
He gracefully touches his adam apple, then traces the skin from his lips down to his chest.
"And of course, I am fascinated by your delicacy, so I wanted to bandage you up. If I may say this, you seem rather distraught. A little disheaveled, a little sad. I think you need… to be fixed. Don't we all? With this bandages, I pull you together. It is a sad attempt at trying to protect you, maybe. But the bandages are not perfect. Your skin pokes through, perhaps proof that you are in fact okay. So the question remains: what is wrong with you, if anything at all?"
His hands leave his model for a moment, then return right to his waist, where August's body ends in the portrait. But the painting is not yet done.
"And now where I really made a controversial decision: you are riding a deer. Well, I think it is an elk- I am not too good with my animals."
August furrows his brows, "what does the elk have to do with me?"
"Nothing and everything. You need a kind shepherd, one much like yourself. I see you as a deer."
August nods, unsure if he should be offended. They are rather week animals. Living away from the city, he often sees them become prey to fox and local hunters. It is simply a part of life.
"Will I be hunted?" Asks August.
Theo laughs, "I think you have already been shot down."
The painting is nice. Still not completely done, but the vision is clear.
"I see myself in the painting… but not my whole."
Theo sits down on the floor, cross legged and with perfect posture. He looks up at August, eyes squinting from the setting sun behind him. It brings out the gold in his white locks.
"I like to hear that, really. It means you know how to complete your assignment."
August freezes- he's right! In his mind, he has a clear vision of what he must create, a painting so true to himself it may even be called sinister. All his life he has wanted to flee from the dead, but is it time to embrace this dance?
"I need to go home," concludes August, "I know exactly what I must do- I can finish the assignment tonight!"
Theo raises his brows, "do you live far?"
"Very. So I must leave soon," August gets up in a hurry.
"Ah, no! Stay the night, you can sleep here or take a room. I will have dinner made for you, okay?"
August swallows hard. Tonight, he is expected to measure the new caskets and refill two of the chemical bottles. In the morning, he is to shadow his father on providing a funeral service. The responsibilities are never ending. Missing them could make his parents upset, but is that really a matter of concern?
"Thank you," August replies, "I will stay the night."