#vandersung

Yoosung and Vanderwood sat together at the pottery wheel, both completely unsure what to do.  They had decided to take this class, but the teacher hadn’t been very good at explaining what to do, so now they were left to their own devices.

“Yoosung...I don’t think that’s how it works.” The brunet said with a flat voice, although he was slightly amused as he watched the blond as he tried to figure out how to turn it on.

“I know that!” Yoosung huffs defensively as he finally found the right button and turned on the machine.

The wheel began to spin, waiting for the clay to be put on it, and Vanderwood chuckled. 

“Don’t you think that maybe you should have put the clay on the wheel before turning it on, Yoosung?”

“You know, I don’t know.  It said to throw the clay onto the wheel so I’m going to throw the clay onto the wheel!” Yoosung said, determination in his voice as he picked up a handful of clay.

“Actually it just said to throw the clay, Yoosung. It’s just a term I think.”

But Vanderwoods words came too late as Yoosung was already in motion to slap the lump of wet clay onto the spinning wheel.  Predictably, the clay splattered onto the two men, getting on their face and hair as well as onto their smocks and pants.

After wiping a clump of wet clay from his cheek, Vanderwood chuckled and turned the machine off.  “And that’s probably why it should be off when you put the clay on.”

Yoosung looked down sheepishly, glancing up only when the older man put a lump of clay on the wheel.

Vanderwood made sure the clay was firmly in place, before glancing up and noticing how embarassed Yoosung was at his folly.   This got another little chuckle from the older man as he leaned over to wipe a chunk of clay from just under Yoosung’s eye.

“Hey now.” He said as gently as he could manage.  “You just misunderstood, it’s not that big of a deal.  Here, come here and we can work on this pot together.”

Yoosung blushed a bit more, this time from Vanderwoods words, but he obliged and moved to sit beside Vandy now, instead of across. 

Vanderwood placed a gentle hand on Yoosung’s knee now as he turned on the machine and it began to spin.  After a moment, and only a moment, he guided Yoosung’s hands to begin to shape the pot.

The first pot was too thin, and it ended up collapsing on itself.  The second attempt the teacher thought would explode in the kiln due to having air pockets.  And so on, each attempted being something someone was unhappy with.

By then, Yoosung was growing mildly frustrated, but Vanderwood somehow managed to keep his calm.  He squeezed the blond’s hand.

“Take a deep breath.” He says soothingly.  “We can keep trying and keep trying until we get it right.”

“But it’s so....irritating! I didn’t think it would be this hard!” Yoosung all but shouted. 

“I know, I know.” Vandy said, bemused with how cute his boyfriend was when he was angry. “Think of it this way, the more upset you grow, the harder it’ll become.  Take a deep breath.”

“You’re right....you’re right.” He sighs a bit, relaxing against Vanderwood.

“It’ll be okay, I promise.  Now lets try again.”

And try again the two men did.

After a few more failed attempts, finally they created a pot that was uneven, and lumpy.  It wasn’t a pretty pot, but both of them were happy with the result.  Vanderwood carved their names and anniversary into the side, before standing up and going to the other pots.  It seemed everyone else had finished their pots, and gone home for the evening.  Everyone except the two of them.

“I guess We’ll have to come back to paint it, Huh?” Vanderwood joked noting the emptiness, placing the pot down.

“Yeah, I guess so.” Yoosung agrees, before placing a small kiss to Vandy’s lips.  “Now lets go, It’s getting late.”