Haru, Yusuke, and the art of ABDL (Persona 5 rp private with GreaterGood)

[theJozza]

Haru Okumura takes one last look at herself in the mirror of her apartment's bathroom, eventually deciding to add one last touch up to her lipstick.

In the three years since the final heist of the Phantom Thieves, Haru had come into her own quite nicely. Taking at least partial control of her late father's business and doing her best to restore their family's name and reputation. While she was not quite as wealthy as she had been before, she made more than enough to live comfortably in her own place. Moreover even though they were no longer the "Phantom Thieves" sh made sure to maintain contact with her friends as well. However, despite all that she'd been growing a tad lonely in other ways lately, hence her excitement over her upcoming..."appointment". After finishing the final touch up and kissing at her reflection, she hears her door buzz and grins. She walks out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a fluffy white robe. After a minute to compose herself, she strolls over to the door and slowly opens it.

"Welcome Kitagawa-kun," She says, with her typical cheerful smile, if at the same time allowing her robe to slip just a bit from her right shoulder.

[GreaterGood]

Yusuke Kitagawa didn't like the way the cab smelled on the way over. Normally he takes public transit and walks, but he didn't want to risk the integrity of his sketchbook when they were expecting rain at any moment. He took the time trying to ignore the smell of cigarettes, practicing his ability to capture the human form by drawing naked sculptures. He'd received an offer from a get-together of the former phantom thieves that would give him enough money to help him move into his old childhood home. The shack isn't exactly nostalgic for him, but it's a place he could settle down where there weren't other people disturbing him. It isn't that other people bothered him, far from it, more the noise. Every time he heard one of the four people who who lived above, next to, or below him, his instinct told him that someone was near. Someone he never wants to face again. Someone who always made him want to hide, even when they flaunted him in public. A stain of shame and pity that follows him around everywhere, a shadow of fame that no amount of talent seemed to allow him to escape. When he finally left the car and hurried to the lobby, he looked into his sketchbook, flipping through everything he'd done. That brings him to where he is now.


Stuck on the elevator, flipping through several pages of increasingly distorted Venus de Milos, each one becoming more and more abstract as he thought of Madarame. The man who stole his childhood. The man who stole his life. He allows himself a few deep breaths before the *DING* of the elevator startles him back into reality. He walks a few steps to Haru's penthouse, knocking on the door to get her attention.


"Thank you," Yusuke says, bowing a bit, causing his brushes to clink against eachother in his bag of supplies, "I must admit, it isn't often that I receive nude commissions out of the blue. I'm very glad you caught me while I was open during that night out with everyone else."

What Yusuke failed to realize, much like the Haru's slight wardrobe "malfunction", was that Haru wasn't being serious at first. Yusuke is famously bad at recognizing flirting, a fact that has a habit of leading him to very strange places. Most girls seemed not to actually be interested in commissioning him, and yet they keep asking for his number. Haru, it seems, is the only one of these women with the disposable income to follow through with her flirting.


"So," He asks, walking in, standing still as his things visibly strain his back, "Where would you like to pose?"

[theJozza]

"Oh it's no trouble," Haru says as she guides him inside. "After all what's the point of having extra income if I can't use it to support talented artists? Especially a dear friend of mine." Haru maintains her smile and composure, but inside she is a little bit frustrated. A part of her had still been hoping that maybe Yusuke had managed to read between the lines of her "commission" request, or at least that her method of greeting him would have at least helped him, but now it was clear that all of that had gone completely over the artist's head.

(Well I guess Anne was right, Yusuke really isn't good with innuendo) Haru thinks to herself as she closes the door. While mildly frustrating Haru can't say she's too upset though. After all Yusuke's "purity" was one of the things she'd found herself increasingly attracted to over the years, not like it was anything to be ashamed about. (Besides) Haru thinks with a playful grin as she closes and locks the door. (The night is young...)

"Hm?" Haru is snapped out of her thoughts by Yusuke's question. "Oh I have a couch all set up in the living room." She says walking up to him, before pausing as she notices the strain. "Oh Kitagawa-kun you look exhausted," She says, taking his hand to help him carrying. "Let's get all your things set up first. Also would you like something to eaat or drink before we begin?" She asks, her voice now full of concern. She also remembered that Yusuke had a tendency to focus on his work over his health and well being at times. An unfortunate lingering side effect of his "training" under Madarame.

[GreaterGood]

"But, of course," Yusuke says, walking inside with her, "The rich have always acted as patrons to the arts, our work couldn't be done without them."

Yusuke stands still and blinks as Haru takes some of his things off of him, setting them down in places where he doesn't want them. He decides to be polite, not saying anything as she does. After she's done putting his things down, he meticulously re-arranges them around his seat, into the exact configuration that he's comfortable with. That being done, he sits down.


"I ate at home," Yusuke says, "Besides, I don't want any distractions. I can do whatever you want me to after my work is done."

Yusuke picks up his pallet, some of his brushes,and several tube of paint before orienting himself to face the couch, the canvas right beside it in his field of view.


"Are you ready to begin?" He tilts his head.

[theJozza]

Haru blushes a bit as she watches Yusuke rearrange his things, mentally kicking herself for forgetting how particular he is when it comes to art.

"I'm sorry Yusuke," she says, bowing her head slightly. "I didn't mean to mess with your stuff. It just really looked like you were straining yourself. Honestly, you look very tired..." She says sincerely as she gets a better look at him. She knew how hard he worked when it came to just about everything, not just art, but being this close and in the light she was noticing some dark circles under his eyes as well. In response to his own answer she shrugs. "Well if you're sure you don't need anything that's fine, but I do insist you stay for dinner after we finish." Haru says a bit more sternly than she probably meant as it also seems to be dawning on her that he looks skinnier than she remembers too. She feels obligated to personally make sure she gives him a proper meal.

"Yes I'm ready," Haru says her smile perking back up. "She strolls over to the couch she set up for herself, dropping the robe to the floor and sitting down to take a pose. It probably isn't the most suggestive stance she could be taking, but it definitely gives Yusuke a clear view of every part of her. "How's this, Kitagawa-kun?" She asks, her tone a bit more playful now. "I can change position if you'd like..." She adds, scanning him for any sort of reaction.

[GreaterGood]

"If you insist," Yusuke shrugs, a bit confused at why she's looking him over so hard, "And I'm not tired right now, if that's your concern. I can assure you the quality of my work has never been higher."


Yusuke always had a problem telling when he needed things. When he grew up, he wasn't only expected to do things for himself, but to help the elderly mentor he lived with. Every chore, every assignment, every new work to be put on display, that was all he ever had time for. Those habits were hard to break. He never had any time to himself, and his troubles sleeping went unhelped. After all, he was the only one home, taught to do things without thinking about why, feeling aimless.


He snaps back to reality when Haru places herself on the couch, immediately getting to work.


"No-no," Yusuke says, blending and mixing on his pallet, "You've chosen a position that perfectly captures your beauty. I certainly hope you can hold it for an hour or two."

[theJozza]

"Of course if you say so, and don't worry I'll be fine," Haru replies, stifling a giggle at being called beautiful by the young man she was pursuing, but once again internally she finds herself frustrated that even her presentation wasn't enough to get his attention in other ways.

(Oh well, guess I'll have to try a different approach) Haru thinks while settling into her pose. As she does so, she hears thunder rumbling in the distance. (Oh maybe I can convince him to stay the night.) She thinks. That would give her more opportunities to try and woo him and help her ensure he gets some sleep...which she feels he wasn't being totally honest about. A part of her is starting to wonder why she feels so inclined to...fuss over Yusuke.

In any case, Haru holds the pose easily. After all, given her high status upbringing she'd been raised since childhood in maintaining her posture over long periods of time, so keeping still on a plush couch was simple for her.

[GreaterGood]

Yusuke finds her to be one of the best models for this kind of portrait work. She's disciplined in a way that none of his other commissioners seemed to be. He actually feels like he's able to hold a conversation.


"Did you know the Romans culturally codified the idea of the nobility being patrons of the arts?" Yusuke asks, inclined to pass the dead silence with one of his many art-related fascinations, "Poets, actors, artists, all subservient to the ruling class. It got to the point where Virgil's, a cliens of Augustus, passion project, the Aeneid, essentially became a work of state propaganda, glorifying the family of his patronus."


He begins to work on the background, finishing the base to begin work on the lighting and shadows.

[theJozza]

"I've read such things, yes," Haru says, further demonstrating her self control by holding the rest of her body still as she engages in the conversation. "Though such practices were hardly unique to the west. The rulers of China, not to mention our own country's shoguns and emperors were no strangers to employing artists as a means of projecting a favorable image of themselves. After all there are few ways to better win over the masses than with a good story, whether told through painting, statue, or writing."

Haru maintains her composure, but is pleased to see Yusuke lightening up, figuring that this might be the better approach to get him to open up to her. After all, his intelligence was another factor she found attractive.

[GreaterGood]

"Of course it isn't unique," Yusuke says, starting to layer the shadows in, introducing gradients to give the image better depth, "Frankly, concepts of 'the west' are very outdated. I don't see how so many people see the different beautiful variations on human development, and claim that one culture is objectively better than another. Preference I can understand, taste is a very important human quality, but objective quality? I don't think there's really anyone who can say."

Yusuke continues, starting to work on the details of her face and the background. The entire portrait turned out to be varying shades of pink, owing to the color of the room, and the way it makes the light around Haru reflect. It is almost certainly what she wants, something like that has to be deliberate. Everything here seems to be put into place to make her more appealing, something Yusuke reads as very good aesthetic taste. His eye for art blinds him to the true intent.