HIGH MEAT

but it's not the sketchbook clutched in his hands that yiseok offers to power; this, too, is unusually brave. it's tucked back into his bag, and instead he pulls out another—clearly more expensive, bound in soft leather and curved slightly from being opened and used so many times. he's reverent as he hands carefully to power.

once he has yiseok he doubts he will ever be able to let them go.

for now, though, power just watches him. defeat heavies his heart when the other seems to hide his drawings, but quickly lifts when another treasure is offered. power handles the book with as much care as he'd handle any part of yiseok.

"quite the undertaking," the artist comments as his eyes flit back to yiseok's face. he can't help it. he takes his moment to admire them before resuming his task of going through the pages, skimming every word and petal and leaf and bulb and root. power envied that little book, graced with the brush of yiseok's wrists and attentive eye.

he's looking for something particular. he smiles when he finds it, stops himself from thumbing over the sketch in the event it may smudge.

"the oleander." he hums fondly. "such an eye you have, to recognize it. people tend to mistake it for a common bush or fern. the way you've rendered it, as well... just beautiful. the petals, in particular, can be so difficult for other artists to get right. yours reach towards me, as they should."

it was another sign that they were meant to be.

He was too busy tickling the little boy's palm with his index to notice his parent, only when he heard talking did he look up. And he had to double - uh - triple take. He was stunned to stillness for a moment.

"Oh." was this luck? He'd never been lucky before, either. Was this day the start of a brand new life for him? "Hello. It's nice to see you, too." oh gosh. Oh goodness. He didn't know how to behave! He felt incredibly nervous all of a sudden!

"yes, i'm his mother." a pause. "it's-- well, it's my weekend with him. so it's just the two of us." it's said barely above a whisper, because despite doe's belief that the situation with her son and his paternal grandparents in unjust, she's fully aware that others may see the situation as a reflection of her ability to parent. divulging always made her a little shameful, but she feels admittedly comfortable around the other. he's been nothing but kind and... and doe likes the softness that surrounds him. "which is why my shop was closed. i apologize if you wanted to pick up some flowers today." so maybe she'll be a little vulnerable.