Courage, dear heart

Oh! Oh no no it’s alright. It was um…. Nothing really. Don’t uh don’t worry about it. *glances down to make sure her hands are still covering the drawing*

*laughs* I worry about everything. It’s kind of what I do. Ridiculous, I know and supremely narcissistic. But honestly you can tell me if you’d like to regain a little peace and quiet. 

No, I love that you joined me, try not to worry about that. It's just.... *blushes slightly and looks down as she speaks* I was drawing you.

I know exactly what you mean. It just seemed like a painting everywhere you looked. I’d love to go back someday.

And I interrupted your drawing. I’m so sorry. I have a bad habit of doing that. 

Oh! Oh no no it's alright. It was um.... Nothing really. Don't uh don't worry about it. *glances down to make sure her hands are still covering the drawing*

“Do you live alone there? Because if you do, I can see how that would be lonely and I will stop by… keep you company and such. I-if that’s okay, I mean.” Becca stumbles over her words slightly, hating it the moment she does. “I’d like that.” She bites her lip as he takes the book and watches his face closely as he looks it over. The tension eases from her shoulders as he finally speaks. “Thank you. Oh I will. I rarely leave sketches unfinished, unless they’re just doodles. I could um show you when it’s done,if you’d like.”

"Technically speaking, no. There’s the people who keep the place looking nice." he laughs a bit, "They’re almost like old friends I suppose, but familially speaking, yes, I live there alone." Clayton nods, "That’s fine with me, just call up in advance, or don’t, there’s always rooms open." He could probably run a hotel out of his house, but that’s not the point. He settles back down in his seat, nodding, "You are more than welcome. I’d like that too." He adds with another kind smile. "It’s a shame artistic pursutes often end up so tragically, you either fly or die, you’d be quite good at it. Have you ever thought about freelancing in your free time? I know it’s rare, but especially in the summer you could."

"Ah well at least they're around. But um... If you are serious about that offer, I think I'll take it up. I've wanted to visit England again. I've only ever been to London." She smiles at the thought of possibly visiting with Clayton during the summer; he was always someone she considered a friend, something she had very few of. "I've never really thought of that.... I guess I just never thought I was good enough to pull it off. It would be fun though, drawing what I experienced.." She leans back in her chair, considering the idea.

Becca’s eyes light up at the thought of travelling again and she grins. “Oh I hope so. I’ll have to go somewhere I’ve never been.” She keeps her eyes down as he cuts himself off and she seems to grow smaller in embarrassment. She waits for the weirdness but is instead taken aback by his kindness. “You know, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to your insane kindness, Clayton. Or your eyes.” She speaks softly, with a smile this time as she lifts her hands from the page. “It’s not finished but… Yeah.”

"Wherever your plans take you, if you ever find yourself in London, drop by for a visit. The mansion does get terribly lonely." he smiles at her before glancing down at the uncovered work. As usual, it seems nearly flawless to him, but he supposes if he was hard pressed to criticize it, there is something a tad off about his eyes. A bit harder than the ones that stare back at him from the mirror, but he’ll take it. "Then I’ll just have to keep surprising you with it." he says with a laugh, leaning over the table more to get a better look. "It is very good." he says sincerely. "I’m sure it will be stunning when it’s finished, if you finish it." He adds hastily, not wanting to presume anything.

"Do you live alone there? Because if you do, I can see how that would be lonely and I will stop by... keep you company and such. I-if that's okay, I mean." Becca stumbles over her words slightly, hating it the moment she does. "I'd like that." She bites her lip as he takes the book and watches his face closely as he looks it over. The tension eases from her shoulders as he finally speaks. "Thank you. Oh I will. I rarely leave sketches unfinished, unless they're just doodles. I could um show you when it's done,if you'd like."

Exactly. Ask me what my favourite dance is and I can answer that easily, but this is another story. Paris for a day trip? *raises her eyebrows* Well that’s pretty impressive. It is a beautiful city.

I took the chunnel train when I was living in England. It was a lot of fun. Yes a beautiful city. You feel the pulse of all the art and literature all around you, you know? 

I know exactly what you mean. It just seemed like a painting everywhere you looked. I'd love to go back someday.

“I think I’m going on a trip this summer. Not sure where to yet, but I’m still not used to being in one place so long.” Becca laughs softly and catches his glances at her papers, making her drop her own gaze. “If you promise not to be weirded out…. Would you like to see?” She says it quietly, keeping her eyes down, blush ever present.

"You’re a very free spirit, I’m sure wherever you go, you’ll find an adventure to be had and lessons to learn." He says with a kind smile which turns more towards slightly confused at her next words. "Why would I be weirded out by a drawing of someon- oh." He cuts himself off as he puts the pieces together, her hands stubbornly covering the sketch, her eyes refusing to meet his, and the pink colour splashed across her cheeks. "It’s alright, Rebecca." He says kindly, "You’ve drawn me before, can I see?"

Becca's eyes light up at the thought of travelling again and she grins. "Oh I hope so. I'll have to go somewhere I've never been." She keeps her eyes down as he cuts himself off and she seems to grow smaller in embarrassment. She waits for the weirdness but is instead taken aback by his kindness. "You know, I don't think I'll ever get used to your insane kindness, Clayton. Or your eyes." She speaks softly, with a smile this time as she lifts her hands from the page. "It's not finished but... Yeah."

Are you kidding? That’s like asking the Duggar parents which child is their favourite! I have been all over the world and it was all amazing. I loved Kenya, the Cook Islands, Brazil and… Australia the most I think.

*forehead creases* Or my what my favorite poem or book is. I get it. Wow, you really have been everywhere. The furthest I’ve been is Paris and that was just for a day trip. 

Exactly. Ask me what my favourite dance is and I can answer that easily, but this is another story. Paris for a day trip? *raises her eyebrows* Well that's pretty impressive. It is a beautiful city.

We’ll just have to wait and see what happens. *smiles* Really? Well you lean something new every day. I love travelling. It’s pretty much my life.

What is the favorite place you’ve been? *leans forward all excitement*

Are you kidding? That's like asking the Duggar parents which child is their favourite! I have been all over the world and it was all amazing. I loved Kenya, the Cook Islands, Brazil and... Australia the most I think.

You’ll find it one day, Atti. Until then, you’ll have the love from all your friends and family. That quote is beautiful… *smiles wider* Oh that’s a shame, it’s quite nice there. Very different from anywhere here in the States.

Or not. [shrugs] Love isn’t for everyone....

We'll just have to wait and see what happens. *smiles* Really? Well you lean something new every day. I love travelling. It's pretty much my life.

I’m sure hoping it will be. Plus, I love summer. *blushes as she looks down at her book, realizing she should probably stop drawing people she knows* Oh, I’m not that good… When a sketch comes out well I credit the model for having appealing features. *blushes even more*

He nods in agreement. “I’m looking forward to going home, it’ll be a nice change. But that is still a ways off yet. One day at a time.” He glances down at her book, the drawing still covered by her hands. “You are to my untrained eye.” He says kindly, smiling a bit at her blush. “You probably ought to credit yourself more.” he adds, looking down at the half covered paper again.

"I think I'm going on a trip this summer. Not sure where to yet, but I'm still not used to being in one place so long." Becca laughs softly and catches his glances at her papers, making her drop her own gaze. "If you promise not to be weirded out.... Would you like to see?" She says it quietly, keeping her eyes down, blush ever present.

That is very true. Though love has sadly never happened in my personal life. *shrugs slightly, still smiling* I will definitely take the time to visit then. Honestly? I have no ‘official’ home. If you mean where I’m born, that would be Israel.

Love is elusive. I...

You'll find it one day, Atti. Until then, you'll have the love from all your friends and family. That quote is beautiful... *smiles wider* Oh that's a shame, it's quite nice there. Very different from anywhere here in the States.

Oh that’s such a relief, isn’t it? I finished yesterday, this is the first time in a month I’ve been able to draw. *lifts her book a little then sets it down with a smile* I’m quite well. Looking forward to relaxing and catching up on sleep.

[nods with a smile] A short break until it’s merely the homestretch to the end of the year. It’ll be quite enjoyable I think. [glances down at her sketchbook] That’s great, you’re amazing at it, I would hate to see you drop it.

I'm sure hoping it will be. Plus, I love summer. *blushes as she looks down at her book, realizing she should probably stop drawing people she knows* Oh, I'm not that good... When a sketch comes out well I credit the model for having appealing features. *blushes even more*

Honestly, no. I was hoping to go visit my parents, but they’re in the middle of something at work and I think it’d be better if I stayed out of the way. Nothing’s worse than an extra body on site. *laughs softly* I think resting is the top of everyone’s list. But Maine sounds cool, I’ve never been.

*Atticus nods his head even though he sort of wants to tell her to go visit them anyway, because you never know when it will be your last opportunity.* Sweet, sweet sleep. It’s one of the five facts of human life - birth, food, sleep, love, and death. *smiles warmly* Oh if you ever get the chance you should definitely go. I’m biased of course since it’s home, but really it is beautiful. Where is home for you, if I may ask?

That is very true. Though love has sadly never happened in my personal life. *shrugs slightly, still smiling* I will definitely take the time to visit then. Honestly? I have no 'official' home. If you mean where I'm born, that would be Israel.