Paint Me Like... (Accalia)

[Accalia Phillips]

She was doing perfect. Okay. Good. She gave a small nod in response but didn't open her mouth again until he said it was done. She bit her lip, stepping up off the stool and moving forward as he turned the easel around.

And then she was making eye contact with herself.

Okay, a painted version of herself but those eyes were so realistic it was insane. The way the paint blended together and the brush strokes almost dissipated into her skin... wow.

After a moment of staring at it, she finally looked up at him. Suddenly, he seemed different to her. He was kind, cute and gentle from the moment they had met but now there was another layer. He had talent, and not only that but it was as if it was given to him by the gods. Looking at that painting, she almost felt like she could see into his soul, and there was goodness there.

She smiled at him, finally. "It's beautiful, Charlie," she said her voice almost a whisper as if she was worried speaking too loud would ruin the art.

[Charlie Webster]

Charlie sat there quietly as Accalia looked over his work. He watched her look over his painting of her quite well. He wasn't quite sure how to gauge her reaction, but he could feel his pulse quicken by a lot. He was waiting for the rejection. He did a terrible job and that he managed to ruin her look. He braced himself, especially when she looked over at him. He could feel every second ticking by very slowly as she looked at him before she said something.

And he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding as he looked up at Accalia. "Really?" he asked as he looked at the painting. He reached up to ruffle the back of his hair as he looked up at Accalia and gave her a slightly goofy grin. "Are you sure you don't want to keep it?" he asked her as there was a new twinkle in his eyes.

[Accalia Phillips]

"Oh, keep it?" she blushed at the idea. "I... wouldn't it seem a bit vain if I had a painting of myself hanging in my cabi-Wait!" suddenly, an idea struck her. She smiled, biting her bottom lip for a moment, "I know the perfect place! When will it be ready to move?" she was sure the paint was still wet now... granted, it could be magical paint.

She hadn't shown anyone her hideout since... well since Jacob and maybe one another person. She blushed, knowing that she was getting overly excited about something that he had no idea what she was talking about. "I mean, unless you want to keep it for you... collection... or something," awe, back to the awkward stutters.

Charlie Webster

[Charlie Webster]

Charlie blushed at the idea as he shrugged a bit. Was it vain that she had a painting of herself? Well, the way he saw it, all sorts of people commissioned painting throughout history to hang in their homes, so it wasn't all that vain. But he knew if he hung it up in his own cabin, he would start getting the questions from his siblings and the teasing might start. But his head perked up as she managed to think of a place. Was it read to move. Charlie never had an issue of his painting smudging, but he had to make sure.

He reached out to run his finger over a corner of the canvas that was very fixable if he happened to smudge it. It was dry to the touch and he looked at Accalia and smiled. "It's all good to go wherever you want to take it. I really don't have a place that's suitable for a portrait. Plus it wouldn't... it would feel right if you didn't have it."

[Accalia Phillips]

"Now?" she smiled, reaching her hand out as if she was going to catch his at the corner of the painting, but she stopped. Her hand hovered next to his for a moment and she blinked, "erh-" she blinked again and took in a sharp breath, pulling her hand back. "I- huh- I should-" brain malfunctioning due to emotional contact. Must pull it together, she took a step back and closed her eyes for a short moment before opening them and smiling at him.

"It's really beautiful, Charlie. Do you want to see where I'm going to put it?" You can do this.

(she be a bit crazy)

[Charlie Webster]

"It can be now if you want to," Charlie said with a bit of a shrug. "Or it can stay here in the arts building a little bit longer. It's really your call." But he saw her hand reach out for his and he froze for a moment. Did she really wan to hold his hand? He didn't know how he would react to that. He sat there and blushed as he watched her hand only for her to pull it away.

He looked up at her wide eyed, completely confused on what was happening at that moment. But she asked if he wanted to see where she'd put it and he eagerly nodded his head. "Yeah, Accalia. I would love to," he said as he smiled a bit.

[Accalia Phillips]

"Okay. Then let's go now before I change my mind," she said this a little too quickly and a little firmly, knowing that she needed to get her act together or he was really going to think she was crazy. She took a deep breath and smiled. "Shall we cover it in a cloth or something?" she asked before looking around for whatever he'd want to transport it in.

Soon, they were on their way heading toward the forest. "It's not too far in, over by the lake," she explained, gesturing ahead as she ducked through the trees in order to guide him forward.

[Charlie Webster]

Before she changed her mind? Oh boy. That sounded like a lot of pressure to Charlie and he wanted to make sure that Accalia stayed impressed with his artwork, especially since she was the first one outside of his siblings to really see his art, especially his art process. He quickly looked around the cabin and grabbed a specially-made dufflebag that he used to transport paintings to his cabin. But they weren't going to this cabin. They were going somewhere... secretive? Charlie didn't know, but he packed up the painting carefully and nodded his head to Accalia, letting her know that him and the painting were ready to go.

And soon they were off. They weren't heading towards the cabins, instead towards the lake. Charlie wondered what was by there, but Accalia quickly explained to him that her little place was near there. He nodded his head as he followed her, wondering where by the lake she wanted to put this painting of herself.

[Accalia Phillips]

Soon they had arrived. They were next to the lake and it seemed as though there was nothing different or fancy around them. She bit her lip, glancing over at him, "I'm sorry I'm being so weird about this. I haven't shown anyone this place in... a long time," she muttered before taking a deep breath and turning toward what seemed to be just a large rock covered in moss and vines. She lifted her hands, only slightly, and the vines and moss started to part to make room for a person to duck into the space beneath it.

"Come on, then," she muttered, stepping into her little hide out and preparing to close the entrance when he followed. If he followed?

The hideout was circular, green and cozy. There was a bed made out of different leaves and shrubbery, along with a desk made from tree roots twisting and bending into a beautiful shape. She had rearranged her hide out about six time in all her years at camp, but this was one of her favorites.

[Charlie Webster]

Charlie glanced around the lake trying to see where Accalia was going to take him, but he completely missed the big rock covered in moss. His face heated up once she said he was the first person to see this in a long time. He nodded his head slightly as he followed her into the moss and vines. He had no idea what he was going to find in this little place of hers. But once he stepped into her little area, he paused at the entrance as he looked around the space in complete awe. It was beautifully constructed, something he could only contribute to her Demeter powers. After a couple of moments in silence, he looked over at Accalia and smiled at her. "So where do you want to put it?"

[Accalia Phillips]

She felt her heart beating loudly in her ears as he came into her hideout. It was like showing a part of her soul. But he had done that with letting her see his painting skill, right? So there they were, soul bearing to one another and acting... well, a little whimsical and foolish. It was kind of a nice feeling. At his question, she lifting her hand to her chin in thought. "Hmmm.. perhaps over the desk? " she suggested, pointing at the spot. She took a step forward, toward him, "it makes more sense than over the bed," she chuckled.

[Charlie Webster]

Charlie looked over to where she pointed over the desk. He nodded his head in approval before it heated up over the mention of a bed. He glanced out of the corner of his eyes to see where it was in the room without making it look like he was actually looking for it. He gave up after a few moments as he turned his gaze right back to the desk. He nodded his head again. "I think the desk is a good choice," he said as he took a couple of steps towards it. He was measuring the wall with his eyes as he tried to figure out the best position for it. Once he got close enough, he pulled the canvas out of his bag as he held it up towards the wall. "Would hanging it up like this work with you?"

[Accalia Phillips]

It was silly, the way the danced around each other while simply hanging a picture. The conversation seemed so innocent and calm, whereas her stomach was twisting and her heart was going a million miles a minute. She crossed over to him when he asked if that was a good spot. "That's perfect, just... hold it close to the side there," she said, reaching up to gently push one of his hands so the painting was flesh against the grassy, rooty wall. Then she willed the roots to wrap around the edges of the painting, creating a makeshift frame that would also hold it to the wall. "Now move your hands..." she muttered, pulling back gently on his hand that she was already touching.

[Charlie Webster]

Charlie held the painting as he tried to position it on the wall. He was doing just fine until he felt the soft skin of Accalia’s hand against his own. His face heated up immensely as he focused on making sure that the painting was level before the roots took over and created a makeshift frame for. He pulled his hand back when she said to, but noticed that they were still touching hands. He looked over his shoulder at her just to see that her face was dangerously close to his. He abruptly faced forward again as he took deep breaths to try to calm the blush on his face. “It, uh…” he tried to say calmly, but he was so flustered that his words just came out in stutters. “It looks… it looks good.” He nodded to himself on that statement.

[Accalia Phillips]

Their faces were incredible close and their hands were still in contact as they looked over at each other. She caught her breath as he stuttered, then she caught her breath after a moment and nodded. "I- it does. Thanks," she muttered, unsure of how to proceed. She was frozen. If this had been six months ago, she would have probably been brave enough to kiss him. But now... things were different. Still, her eyes flickered to his lips and she decided it was best to start with a question.

"Have you ever kissed someone, Charlie?" she asked, hoping her face wasn't as bright red as she felt it could be right now.