[Log] Gaara & Juri
Who: Gaara & Juri
Where: Gaara's Apartment
When: Thursday march 22nd, Evening
Sumamry: Juri shows up to pose for a painting and they talk some about their families and other things.
Warnings: None
Juri: Juri hurried upstairs. She wasn't sure what she should wear so she didn't change from what she had been wearing that day. Just a simple white knee length dress with a pink floral patterns which of course matched her pink nails. Her hair was up in pig tails as she knocked on the apartment Gaara shared with his brother. A small gift was in her hands as she waited for an answer.
Gaara: There was the sound of a puppy barking and scratching at the door, followed by a low voice. The barking retreated before there was the sound of a lock being undone and the door opened just a tad.
Gaara nodded to the girl before slowly backing up, keeping Hoshi behind the door so he wouldn't dash out into the hallway. "Hello, Juri-san."
Juri: She bowed before walking into the apartment, trying to move quickly so the puppy couldn't escape into the hall. "Hello Gaara-san, Hoshi-kun." She was smiling as she walked in, her eyes going from puppy to owner. She had made sure that someone knew exactly where she was, so her normal nervousness was less.
Gaara: The puppy instantly bounded up to the girl, jumping, whining and barking until she petted him. Gaara let the dog receive a little attention before he softly and gently shooed him away.
"I've had to set up in my room so Hoshi does not knock everything over." He had a feeling that being in a closed room with a non-relative male could potentially be an improper situation but he couldn't lock Hoshi in the bathroom again (they sort of needed their towels and rug) and all his painting supplies were in there. "Is that alright?"
Juri: With just a slight pause, Juri nodded. She was a little hesitant to walk into the room, but she had made sure people knew where she was. "Of course." She smiled to cover up any hesitation as she started to walk towards where he gestured. Suddenly remembering the box in her hands she handed it to him. "I found out I missed your birthday." The small box only contained a small pack of art quality sketching pencils, but Juri wasn't made of money.
Gaara: Gaara blinked and then took the box. This made a total of two she had given him. He was not sure how to react exactly, so he gave a very polite nod and turned, making sure to close the door before Hoshi got in.
The bed in the corner had been covered with a white sheet as had the desk chair. "You can sit on either one." Gaara stated. "Which ever is more comfortable at the moment."
This was just outlining. Lighting would be more important when he added color later. Gaara looked at the box and paused, wondering if he was supposed to open it now or not. He mentally shrugged and did so, before giving his almost smile. "Thank you very much, Juri-san."
Juri: She walked over to the chair, the bed got a glance, but she wasn't that confident of where she was. She seemed pleased at the thank you, having expected nothing else. She was just the type to get people presents for things - even if they weren't exciting presents. She tried being thoughtful. "The chair should be fine?" It was definitely a question, but before waiting for an answer she sat so the back of the chair was at her side and she could lean on it. Her eyes wandered the room taking in the details.
Gaara: Gaara nodded, standing at an easel that was set up across from her. He picked up a piece of charcoal and started to work.
The room was relatively bare. A bed, desk, and dresser occupied most of it. The desk was orderly save for the various art materials that had been placed on top. The dresser held a few bears - only three or four all of different sizes and colors - and there was a painting on the wall across from Juri.
It was a dark painting - stylized birch trees took up most of it, painted against a midnight blue background that had small white and yellow dots representing stars. The tree's knotholes were actual eyes upon closer inspection and their branches were void of leaves.
Juri: She stayed mostly still. Her limbs not moving, just her eyes and her mouth. "That painting is beautiful." She was looking at the painting of the trees as she said it. She had more than enough training from modeling to be able to stay posed. She wasn't sure if he was the type to talk while he worked or not, but she tended to talk almost non stop -- unless she was told to be quiet. Her purple eyes took in the details of the room though. Her eyes drifted back to him, watching as he worked -- painting such a different medium than a camera.
Gaara: Gaara glanced at her, before his pale eyes flickered to the painting and then back to her.
"Thank you." he said briefly again before going back to his work. She had interesting eyes - right now they seemed more...tired than when they had last met. Or perhaps he was wrong. At any rate, it was those violet orbs that had Gaara most interested and what he looked forward too the most for painting.
Juri: She was tired. The end of high school had meant an increase in her work hours and a lack of sleep due to studying for the final entrance exam for Tokyo U. She wasn't as perky as usual either. She looked at the painting, taking in the details of the picture. She didn't often see art, so she was looking at it, even if she didn't 'understand' it like some people. She didn't know anything about the different hues and balance and everything, she just knew what she liked. "Thank you for letting me see it."
Gaara: "...Art is meant to be seen." Gaara said quietly. It was his only real way of communicating his true thoughts and feelings. Making a picture was a very personal experience and at first it had been difficult to let others see what he made but now it was easier.
But perhaps that had not been the best response? "...Do you like art?" he asked, somewhat clumsily trying to talk.
Juri: Her eyes dropped for a second before she answered. "I don't really understand it." She didn't say she didn't like it though. Juri had the opposite issue, she said almost everything on he mind, except for certain thoughts she kept private. "I guess, I just don't get it. I've had a few people try to explain it to me. A few months ago my class went to one of the local art museums" She seemed rather apologetic about it.
Gaara: "There really isn't anything to get." Gaara stated softly, eyes on his canvas as his hand moved. "You look at it and then listen to what emotions it brings up into you. You only need to get technique and history if you're taking art as a major in a university, like me."
Juri: "Really?" She smiled at that. "That's good to know. I ... I thought it was just another thing I didn't understand, like Suzuki's play." her eyes glanced back at him. She was rather used to not understanding things. No one really expected her to be smart though. She was doing what she was good at. -- sitting there and looking pretty.
Gaara: "I didn't understand the play very well either." Gaara admitted quietly. Pictures and sculptures he could understand. Theater arts were interesting too look at but he preferred quieter contemplation. "...What do you think of the painting?"
Juri: She smiled at that. It wasn't that she wanted Gaara to not understand, but she felt better not being the only one. "I thought it was just me. Everyone else thought it was really great and everything, and I am sure the play was really good. I liked it, but I just didn't really get it." She looked back at the painting though to be able to answer his question. "It ... It's like a feeling of being alone even if you are surrounded by other people... that's probably wrong and dumb." Her eyes glanced back down.
Gaara: "Whoever made you think that you can't understand a painting is wrong." Gaara's voice was slightly lower than it usually was. "If that is what you feel looking at it, then that is your answer and it is not wrong or right." He paused, charcoal lightly scratching on the canvas before he looked up. "Others in my class had different answers - some were like yours. Some felt as if it was a scene from a folktale or a fantasy. Others felt slightly..." What was the word? "Creeped out." Slender shoulders shrugged before he looked back at the canvas. He felt a sudden need...to help her? To share something, to help someone learn to enjoy what took up so much of his world. He just wasn't sure how to do so.
Juri: She smiled at that. This smile was a softer one, and more rare than her normal happy and excited smiled. "Thank you." She did seem happier now that he had said that though. For once she was the one that didn't have anything to say. She couldn't really believe she understood something as complex as art, but maybe she hadn't been as wrong as she had thought. Either way, Gaara's words made her feel better about it. "Is this pose all right?"
Gaara: "Lean your head to the left just slightly." he answered. "...And keep smiling like that." It suited her. And that thought made him confused because he wasn't sure how to categorize the feeling that went with it. He tended to avoid girls because they did make things rather complicated in his head and he disliked it.
Juri: She moved exactly as instructed. She was very used to taking instruction on how to pose herself. She let her mind wander. She often had to stay still for work, so she was used to it. Juri wasn't the most complicated girl, but even so she probably was confusing to Gaara, even though she didn't intend to be. She held the same smile, the fact her mind was wandering helping to keep it natural.
Gaara: He fell silent, rather thankfully so. Gaara had not spoken so much to a person outside of Orochimaru and it surprised him slightly that she had managed to get so many words out of him. He eventually put down the charcoal stick, fingers stained black and stood. "Would you like something to drink?"
Juri: She nodded as she sat up straight, stretching the muscles in her back and smiling, "Yes please. That would be nice." She moved her legs as she worked out the kinks that staying still always caused. She didn't know that she had gotten him talking. "I'm sorry for being a little tired tonight. I've been studying a lot for my exams."
Gaara: "We'll have to go into the kitchen." he stated, rubbing off any extra charcoal that were on his fingertips before waiting for her to walk over so he could open the door enough for them to get out without Hoshi getting in. He motioned for her to sit at the dining table if she wished, before walking over to the sink to scrub his hands and then put on a tea kettle.
Juri: She followed Gaara, letting herself look around the place as they walked to the kitchen, She leaned down to pick up the puppy once they were out of the bedroom. Of course the little thing started to try and lick her face which only caused her to start to giggle and tell the puppy how adorable Hoshi was. She sat down as she placed the puppy back on the ground, still petting the little bundle of energy. After being exposed to some puppy energy, she did seem a bit less tired. "You and your brother have a really nice apartment. He seems very nice."
Gaara: "He is." Gaara said firmly. He nodded as he came and sat down across from her. "He is quiet, like I am, and he is smart as well." Hoshi, who was pawing at his pant leg, was given a pet. "Some people seem to assume otherwise."
Juri: She nodded, the smile still on he face. It wasn't a fake smile, she honestly was happy most of the time and did smile. "He seemed very nice. I've only talked to him on the journals though. It seems there are a lot of really smart people in this building, and really talented people too. It's nice living here." She didn't consider herself in the smart category or the talented category, but she did love living in such a nice place around people who were mostly nice to her.
Gaara: "Yes." Gaara agreed quietly. He cocked his head and inspected her. "You have very....nice eyes." his voice stumbled just a tad over giving the compliment. "Does your family have violet eyes?"
Juri: She glanced down at the table for a moment before looking back at him. "They're fake." She didn't say anything about her family though. "They're as fake as my hair color." There wasn't a lot about Juri that was of substance, the shiniest bits of her were all fake from her teal colored hair to her long fingernails. Her eye shape of course was hers and contacts didn't hide expression, but the actual color was just rather expensive contacts.
Gaara: Gaara scooted forward, so that his face was inches from hers, an intense gaze fixed on her eyes as he inspected this...development. He was still and quiet for a long time, ignoring Hoshi's attempts for attention.
Juri: The contacts were perfectly fitted to cover the brown of her own eyes so even looking closely it was hard to tell . "I'm really very plain." It wasn't exactly true, although with dark hair and dark eyes, she wouldn't stand out as much. She glanced down before laughing a little bit. "I wish they were real." She really loved the color and even if it got her in trouble at school for being differant, she still loved it.
Gaara: He didn't know what to say to that. The young man moved back a little, still searching her face. "I would not call you plain." he stated slowly after a moment. "It is just color. You have no changed your skin or the shape of your face and beauty can be found there as well." The kettle began to whistle and Gaara stood, walking to the kitchen.
Juri: It was a good thing that the kettle went off then, since Gaara missed her very confused look at that. She did keep her wits about her enough to say, "Thank you," But she was very much not used to actual compliments -- at least when the person giving them was being honest instead of trying to manipulate her. She crossed her ankles as she looked back at him. Her smile was back, now convinced that yes, he was nice.
Gaara: Gaara quickly and efficiently made tea before bringing it to the table. He sat again before pouring some of the pale greenish yellow liquid into a blue teabowl. "I am sorry it took so long for us to do this. Things...kept coming up."
Juri: "That's all right. I ended up having to leave town a few times. Work has been very busy." Yes, this was much more comfortable territory for Juri to talk about. "I got to go to Osaka and do a photo shoot the other weekend and some other things have happened, si I haven't been around as much anyways." She took a sip of her tea, still smiling. "You've been busy? Your brother mentioned you were gone?"
Gaara: "I was visiting my uncle. He raised me." Gaara explained, pouring himself some tea and then leaning back in his chair as he looked at her. "I do not see him so often now and he...dislikes it."
Juri: She nodded at that, "Is he nice?" She kind of assumed he had to be to have raised Gaara. She took another sip of her tea, her initial discomfort about being in the apartment of a boy fading as the time had passed.
Gaara: Gaara shrugged briefly. "I suppose." He looked at her. "I don't...have anything to compare it too. Next to my father, he was very nice but I'm not sure that's a good example to base it against."
Juri: Juri's voice was very soft when she asked him about his father. It never occurred to her that maybe she shouldn't ask about such things. "Your father was strict?" She was no stranger to strictness or disappointing one's parents. She looked over at him after the words left her mouth.
Gaara: He looked at the pale blue teapot, slender fingers holding the bowl. He was silent for a long time and then he slowly nodded. "Yes. You could say that." Pale eyes looked back at her.
Juri: She tilted her head as she looked back at him, not shying away from the topic, although it was hard to tell if it was because she just didn't realize some people might not want to talk about such things, "What would you say?" He ran one nail along the rim of the rub, the bright pink standing out against the blue.
Gaara: "That for all intents and purposes, he was harsh. More than strict." Gaara paused. "I don't know why though." His brows slightly pulled in, as if it confused him. "...He had...hate."
Juri: She nodded, the smile gone from her face, but somehow not seeming surprised. "A lot of people are like that, and nothing you can do really changes it." She smiled at him, "You were lucky to have an uncle to look after you though."
Gaara: Gaara nodded and then put down his tea bowl. How easily that had slipped out...it was vaguely surprising. "I was." He looked at her. "Who do you have?"
Juri: She looked down at the table before smiling. "Myself." She didn't seem sad or anything about it. It was just a simple statement. She was eighteen now, it was easier to say that now than it had been when it was true two years ago.
Gaara: "I see." Gaara fell silent, the only noise being Hoshi pushing around a noisy little ball with a bell inside. "I apologize if I said something inappropriate."
Juri: She shook her head, "No, it's fine. I've been on my own for a while. I mean, my parents are still alive, they just …" don't admit I exist, don't talk to me... "had to move away for work." Yes that was a better answer. "I stayed here for work and school."
Gaara: He stared at her for a long time. His gaze lowered. "That hurts you?" He guessed and then shook his head. "You don't have to tell me if you do not wish."
Juri: She thought for a moment before answering. "It would be nice to be liked for who I am, but I would rather be who I am than what they want me to be. So, this is better. If that makes any sense." Sometimes Juri wasn't the brightest bulb, but sometimes she had things figured out.
Gaara: He nodded. "I understand." Gaara picked up the tea pot again. "I was not becoming who my father wished me to be either." Only it hardly mattered now. Father was dead and he didn't care anymore about anything.
Juri: "I think you are nice how you are." She took another sip of tea before starting to giggle at the puppy's antics. The poor thing had been ignored for too long. She covered up a yawn that escaped mid giggle before taking another sip of tea. "I can't wait for exams to be over."
Gaara: Gaara nodded slowly. "Yes. Some of them are quite boring." He bent down and picked up Hoshi's ball before tossing it lightly. The dog yelped happily and dashed after it.
Juri: "I'm just hoping to get into Tokyo University. I did really good at the first entrance exams so i think I'll get in. If not I think I have enough money for a cram school." Juri had been working very hard since moving in. Just two months ago she barely had enough money for rent, now she had it pulled together enough to maybe be able to afford cram school. Tuition she still wasn't sure about.
Gaara: "Do you...need help studying?" he felt odd about asking it and wasn't sure why he was. His blue-green eyes studied her.
Juri: She blushed at the offer, "I think I have it, but thank you. The only part I am worried about is the math sections. It was very nice of you to offer though. You like it at the university?" She really wanted to go there, so many people she knew went to there now. She was just hoping that she was smart enough to make it in.
Gaara: "Yes." he said instantly. There was that almost smile again as his face lightened. "It is very interesting."
Juri: "That is good that you like it. You are really good at painting." Of course she had only seen one painting of his but she really liked it, so she was assuming about his ability.
Gaara: "Thank you." Gaara said. "What will you study?"
Juri: Her answer to that was probably very unexpected. She seemed like maybe a fashion or art type, but instead her answer was, "Business."
Gaara: He leaned his head to the side. "What sort of business? Management or financial...something like that?"
Juri: "Management, entertainment." She tilted her head, causing the pig tails to fall over to one side, "I've been under some form of contract since i was very young, so it is something I know. I'd like to eventually have my own management company that is a little ... less predatory."
Gaara: Gaara nodded although he wasn't sure what she meant by that. "Oh." He glanced at her. "...What do you mean by predatory?"
Juri: "Best case scenario a girl gets booked into a very unfavorable contract only seeing a small portion of the money she earns. I'm lucky, my manager I have now is great." She didn't cover what a worst case scenario was.
Gaara: "Oh." Gaara stated and nodded. "Yes, that does not seem very fair at all." Money was not and probably never would be, an issue for him or either of his siblings. However he knew it was for some of his friends.
Juri: She nodded, "I don't know how practical my idea is -- it is rather idealistic, but maybe it will work. My manager does OK and he's a nice guy. He's where Naruto-kun and I got most of our furniture."
Gaara: "Naruto-kun...is very loud." Gaara commented, his mouth twisting slightly. Not a bad face so to speak but Naruto often startled Gaara who was more used to quiet.
Juri: How could a person not giggle at an observation like that. "He is. He's like a dorky brother. He's a great roommate." Juri didn't mind loud, half the time she was rather loud, but she had her more quiet moments too -- unlike her roommate. "He almost killed himself skating around the apartment in my rollerskates."
Gaara: A stare, rather blank. Gaara blinked once and then straightened before he looked at her closely. "...Why would he do that?" It seemed a rather foolish thing to go about.
Juri: She blinked at him, at first not understanding the question, but then answering, "Because it's fun." She glanced at the ceiling for a second before looking back. "What do you do for fun?"
Gaara: "...Paint. Read." Gaara frowned. "....I don't put wheels on my feet. I don't see the purpose."
Juri: "It's ... it's like flying. I like Ice skates better than roller skates, but ice skating in Tokyo is so expensive." She closed her eyes as she thought about it. "My favorite thing to do is ice skate. It's like every law of physics holding you down to the ground is forgiven and you can fly." She slowly opened her eyes as she realized she had closed them.
Gaara: He watched her with interest. Her expression...he once again thought that it was odd she thought of herself as plain. Not when she could look like that. "I'd like to try it maybe. Once."
Juri: She perked up even more at that, as if it were possible. "I'm good at teaching people. I used to teach classes to help pay for ice time." She would take any excuse to go ice skating, it really was the thing she loved most. "I used to be OK at it."
Gaara: "Is it difficult?" he asked quietly, leaning forward. His chin rested on a fist, unintentionally smudging from residue charcoal onto his chin.
Juri: She thought about it for a second. "For some people it is, but other people are just naturally good at it. At least just to skate and have fun. I used to compete, so I practiced all the time when I was younger." She saw the smudge of charcoal but just smiled at it.
Gaara: "Like figure skating?" He'd seen some of that on the television once. "Were you any good?" Interest had warmed his voice and face slightly from its usual calmness.
Juri: She nodded, "Mostly singles, but I tried pairs for a while too. I was pretty all right at it, but then I landed a jump really wrong at the finals for nationals." She had actually been very good at it. "It was a lot of fun, going places and meeting people. My parents were pleased when I was competing." Of course that ended when she got injured but she didn't say that. "We could go skating sometime?"
Gaara: "I'll try." Gaara said and then nodded. "Yes, I would...very much like that." He looked at her and his lips curved upwards, ever so slightly.
Juri: She smiled wider at that. "That would be so much fun. Once you get your balance it really isn't that hard. I used to teach little three and four year olds to do it, so if they could do it, it should be easy for you, right?" Yes, she was waking up after having been still for posing and was in a much better mood now.
Gaara: "I suppose." He said, eyes a tad brighter now. "We should...do it. After exams perhaps." He brushed some red hair from his deeply underlined eyes, smearing a faint trace of charcoal on his forehead.
Juri: She nodded at that. "That would be fun." With a slight giggle, she leaned forward, "You have black stuff on your forehead and chin." She said it more like it was cute than anything bad.
Gaara: Gaara blinked. "Oh." he looked at his fingertips and sighed, shaking his head. "I tend to do this after using charcoal."
Juri: "So is the ... charcoal for sketching things out before you apply the actual paint?" She wasn't too sure how it worked, but he didn't seem like he'd mind a few questions, no matter how silly.
Gaara: "Yes. It works better than pencil when used with inks...and that's what I 'm going to use for this one." Gaara stated. "If I used pencil, I would have to erase before applying paint and that can be messy."
Juri: She nodded, not completely understanding but accepting the answer anyways. "I was never very good at art class." She smiled though as she said it, "Can I help you clean up the tea things?" And by help she did mean do it herself.
Gaara: Gaara stood. "You can bring in your tea bowl if you like." he said, picking up the tea pot. He was very much into rules of a situation and it would have been impolite to not clean up after himself and his guest
Juri: She nodded and picked up her tea bowl. She was used to cleaning up after people -- her roommate was Naruto after all. She did carry just her own dish to the kitchen though. "So you got all of the sketch done?"
Gaara: "Yes. I'll need you again though for filling it in - to get the color and lightening right." Gaara stated, rinsing everything out. "I hope you do not mind."
Juri: She shook he head. "Of course not. I just don't know how a painting is done at all. This was fun." Honestly she had had fun, and somehow had gotten Gaara to talk a lot.
Gaara: He finished and turned to her. "You usually get paid for this correct?" Gaara asked slowly.
Juri: She seemed surprised by the question. "I get paid for posing for pictures. I've never posed for a painting though."
Gaara: "I feel a little bad about taking up your time." Gaara said quietly. "When this is what you do for a living. Posing is posing."
Juri: "I had fun though." She honestly didn't mind. "Besides you're very nice."
Gaara: Another blink and then a slight nod. "Alright." Pause. "And thank you." He added quietly.
Juri: She smiled and covered up another yawn. "I probably should be getting back though before Naruto-kun starts to worry ... or gets hungry." There was a decent possibility the second would happen before the first.
Gaara: Gaara nodded. "Of course." He walked her to the door and held it open for her. "Thank you once again for coming, Juri-san."
Juri: She smiled and bowed, the motion causing the pig tails to flip forward. "Thank you for asking me over, Gaara-kun." The change from san to kun was unnoticed by her since she was tired. "I had a lot of fun."
Gaara: "I am glad." He gave an almost smile and then bowed slightly. "Have a good evening."
Juri: "You too," With that, she smiled and walked down the hall to get to the stairs so she could return to her own apartment and get some sleep.
Where: Gaara's Apartment
When: Thursday march 22nd, Evening
Sumamry: Juri shows up to pose for a painting and they talk some about their families and other things.
Warnings: None
Juri: Juri hurried upstairs. She wasn't sure what she should wear so she didn't change from what she had been wearing that day. Just a simple white knee length dress with a pink floral patterns which of course matched her pink nails. Her hair was up in pig tails as she knocked on the apartment Gaara shared with his brother. A small gift was in her hands as she waited for an answer.
Gaara: There was the sound of a puppy barking and scratching at the door, followed by a low voice. The barking retreated before there was the sound of a lock being undone and the door opened just a tad.
Gaara nodded to the girl before slowly backing up, keeping Hoshi behind the door so he wouldn't dash out into the hallway. "Hello, Juri-san."
Juri: She bowed before walking into the apartment, trying to move quickly so the puppy couldn't escape into the hall. "Hello Gaara-san, Hoshi-kun." She was smiling as she walked in, her eyes going from puppy to owner. She had made sure that someone knew exactly where she was, so her normal nervousness was less.
Gaara: The puppy instantly bounded up to the girl, jumping, whining and barking until she petted him. Gaara let the dog receive a little attention before he softly and gently shooed him away.
"I've had to set up in my room so Hoshi does not knock everything over." He had a feeling that being in a closed room with a non-relative male could potentially be an improper situation but he couldn't lock Hoshi in the bathroom again (they sort of needed their towels and rug) and all his painting supplies were in there. "Is that alright?"
Juri: With just a slight pause, Juri nodded. She was a little hesitant to walk into the room, but she had made sure people knew where she was. "Of course." She smiled to cover up any hesitation as she started to walk towards where he gestured. Suddenly remembering the box in her hands she handed it to him. "I found out I missed your birthday." The small box only contained a small pack of art quality sketching pencils, but Juri wasn't made of money.
Gaara: Gaara blinked and then took the box. This made a total of two she had given him. He was not sure how to react exactly, so he gave a very polite nod and turned, making sure to close the door before Hoshi got in.
The bed in the corner had been covered with a white sheet as had the desk chair. "You can sit on either one." Gaara stated. "Which ever is more comfortable at the moment."
This was just outlining. Lighting would be more important when he added color later. Gaara looked at the box and paused, wondering if he was supposed to open it now or not. He mentally shrugged and did so, before giving his almost smile. "Thank you very much, Juri-san."
Juri: She walked over to the chair, the bed got a glance, but she wasn't that confident of where she was. She seemed pleased at the thank you, having expected nothing else. She was just the type to get people presents for things - even if they weren't exciting presents. She tried being thoughtful. "The chair should be fine?" It was definitely a question, but before waiting for an answer she sat so the back of the chair was at her side and she could lean on it. Her eyes wandered the room taking in the details.
Gaara: Gaara nodded, standing at an easel that was set up across from her. He picked up a piece of charcoal and started to work.
The room was relatively bare. A bed, desk, and dresser occupied most of it. The desk was orderly save for the various art materials that had been placed on top. The dresser held a few bears - only three or four all of different sizes and colors - and there was a painting on the wall across from Juri.
It was a dark painting - stylized birch trees took up most of it, painted against a midnight blue background that had small white and yellow dots representing stars. The tree's knotholes were actual eyes upon closer inspection and their branches were void of leaves.
Juri: She stayed mostly still. Her limbs not moving, just her eyes and her mouth. "That painting is beautiful." She was looking at the painting of the trees as she said it. She had more than enough training from modeling to be able to stay posed. She wasn't sure if he was the type to talk while he worked or not, but she tended to talk almost non stop -- unless she was told to be quiet. Her purple eyes took in the details of the room though. Her eyes drifted back to him, watching as he worked -- painting such a different medium than a camera.
Gaara: Gaara glanced at her, before his pale eyes flickered to the painting and then back to her.
"Thank you." he said briefly again before going back to his work. She had interesting eyes - right now they seemed more...tired than when they had last met. Or perhaps he was wrong. At any rate, it was those violet orbs that had Gaara most interested and what he looked forward too the most for painting.
Juri: She was tired. The end of high school had meant an increase in her work hours and a lack of sleep due to studying for the final entrance exam for Tokyo U. She wasn't as perky as usual either. She looked at the painting, taking in the details of the picture. She didn't often see art, so she was looking at it, even if she didn't 'understand' it like some people. She didn't know anything about the different hues and balance and everything, she just knew what she liked. "Thank you for letting me see it."
Gaara: "...Art is meant to be seen." Gaara said quietly. It was his only real way of communicating his true thoughts and feelings. Making a picture was a very personal experience and at first it had been difficult to let others see what he made but now it was easier.
But perhaps that had not been the best response? "...Do you like art?" he asked, somewhat clumsily trying to talk.
Juri: Her eyes dropped for a second before she answered. "I don't really understand it." She didn't say she didn't like it though. Juri had the opposite issue, she said almost everything on he mind, except for certain thoughts she kept private. "I guess, I just don't get it. I've had a few people try to explain it to me. A few months ago my class went to one of the local art museums" She seemed rather apologetic about it.
Gaara: "There really isn't anything to get." Gaara stated softly, eyes on his canvas as his hand moved. "You look at it and then listen to what emotions it brings up into you. You only need to get technique and history if you're taking art as a major in a university, like me."
Juri: "Really?" She smiled at that. "That's good to know. I ... I thought it was just another thing I didn't understand, like Suzuki's play." her eyes glanced back at him. She was rather used to not understanding things. No one really expected her to be smart though. She was doing what she was good at. -- sitting there and looking pretty.
Gaara: "I didn't understand the play very well either." Gaara admitted quietly. Pictures and sculptures he could understand. Theater arts were interesting too look at but he preferred quieter contemplation. "...What do you think of the painting?"
Juri: She smiled at that. It wasn't that she wanted Gaara to not understand, but she felt better not being the only one. "I thought it was just me. Everyone else thought it was really great and everything, and I am sure the play was really good. I liked it, but I just didn't really get it." She looked back at the painting though to be able to answer his question. "It ... It's like a feeling of being alone even if you are surrounded by other people... that's probably wrong and dumb." Her eyes glanced back down.
Gaara: "Whoever made you think that you can't understand a painting is wrong." Gaara's voice was slightly lower than it usually was. "If that is what you feel looking at it, then that is your answer and it is not wrong or right." He paused, charcoal lightly scratching on the canvas before he looked up. "Others in my class had different answers - some were like yours. Some felt as if it was a scene from a folktale or a fantasy. Others felt slightly..." What was the word? "Creeped out." Slender shoulders shrugged before he looked back at the canvas. He felt a sudden need...to help her? To share something, to help someone learn to enjoy what took up so much of his world. He just wasn't sure how to do so.
Juri: She smiled at that. This smile was a softer one, and more rare than her normal happy and excited smiled. "Thank you." She did seem happier now that he had said that though. For once she was the one that didn't have anything to say. She couldn't really believe she understood something as complex as art, but maybe she hadn't been as wrong as she had thought. Either way, Gaara's words made her feel better about it. "Is this pose all right?"
Gaara: "Lean your head to the left just slightly." he answered. "...And keep smiling like that." It suited her. And that thought made him confused because he wasn't sure how to categorize the feeling that went with it. He tended to avoid girls because they did make things rather complicated in his head and he disliked it.
Juri: She moved exactly as instructed. She was very used to taking instruction on how to pose herself. She let her mind wander. She often had to stay still for work, so she was used to it. Juri wasn't the most complicated girl, but even so she probably was confusing to Gaara, even though she didn't intend to be. She held the same smile, the fact her mind was wandering helping to keep it natural.
Gaara: He fell silent, rather thankfully so. Gaara had not spoken so much to a person outside of Orochimaru and it surprised him slightly that she had managed to get so many words out of him. He eventually put down the charcoal stick, fingers stained black and stood. "Would you like something to drink?"
Juri: She nodded as she sat up straight, stretching the muscles in her back and smiling, "Yes please. That would be nice." She moved her legs as she worked out the kinks that staying still always caused. She didn't know that she had gotten him talking. "I'm sorry for being a little tired tonight. I've been studying a lot for my exams."
Gaara: "We'll have to go into the kitchen." he stated, rubbing off any extra charcoal that were on his fingertips before waiting for her to walk over so he could open the door enough for them to get out without Hoshi getting in. He motioned for her to sit at the dining table if she wished, before walking over to the sink to scrub his hands and then put on a tea kettle.
Juri: She followed Gaara, letting herself look around the place as they walked to the kitchen, She leaned down to pick up the puppy once they were out of the bedroom. Of course the little thing started to try and lick her face which only caused her to start to giggle and tell the puppy how adorable Hoshi was. She sat down as she placed the puppy back on the ground, still petting the little bundle of energy. After being exposed to some puppy energy, she did seem a bit less tired. "You and your brother have a really nice apartment. He seems very nice."
Gaara: "He is." Gaara said firmly. He nodded as he came and sat down across from her. "He is quiet, like I am, and he is smart as well." Hoshi, who was pawing at his pant leg, was given a pet. "Some people seem to assume otherwise."
Juri: She nodded, the smile still on he face. It wasn't a fake smile, she honestly was happy most of the time and did smile. "He seemed very nice. I've only talked to him on the journals though. It seems there are a lot of really smart people in this building, and really talented people too. It's nice living here." She didn't consider herself in the smart category or the talented category, but she did love living in such a nice place around people who were mostly nice to her.
Gaara: "Yes." Gaara agreed quietly. He cocked his head and inspected her. "You have very....nice eyes." his voice stumbled just a tad over giving the compliment. "Does your family have violet eyes?"
Juri: She glanced down at the table for a moment before looking back at him. "They're fake." She didn't say anything about her family though. "They're as fake as my hair color." There wasn't a lot about Juri that was of substance, the shiniest bits of her were all fake from her teal colored hair to her long fingernails. Her eye shape of course was hers and contacts didn't hide expression, but the actual color was just rather expensive contacts.
Gaara: Gaara scooted forward, so that his face was inches from hers, an intense gaze fixed on her eyes as he inspected this...development. He was still and quiet for a long time, ignoring Hoshi's attempts for attention.
Juri: The contacts were perfectly fitted to cover the brown of her own eyes so even looking closely it was hard to tell . "I'm really very plain." It wasn't exactly true, although with dark hair and dark eyes, she wouldn't stand out as much. She glanced down before laughing a little bit. "I wish they were real." She really loved the color and even if it got her in trouble at school for being differant, she still loved it.
Gaara: He didn't know what to say to that. The young man moved back a little, still searching her face. "I would not call you plain." he stated slowly after a moment. "It is just color. You have no changed your skin or the shape of your face and beauty can be found there as well." The kettle began to whistle and Gaara stood, walking to the kitchen.
Juri: It was a good thing that the kettle went off then, since Gaara missed her very confused look at that. She did keep her wits about her enough to say, "Thank you," But she was very much not used to actual compliments -- at least when the person giving them was being honest instead of trying to manipulate her. She crossed her ankles as she looked back at him. Her smile was back, now convinced that yes, he was nice.
Gaara: Gaara quickly and efficiently made tea before bringing it to the table. He sat again before pouring some of the pale greenish yellow liquid into a blue teabowl. "I am sorry it took so long for us to do this. Things...kept coming up."
Juri: "That's all right. I ended up having to leave town a few times. Work has been very busy." Yes, this was much more comfortable territory for Juri to talk about. "I got to go to Osaka and do a photo shoot the other weekend and some other things have happened, si I haven't been around as much anyways." She took a sip of her tea, still smiling. "You've been busy? Your brother mentioned you were gone?"
Gaara: "I was visiting my uncle. He raised me." Gaara explained, pouring himself some tea and then leaning back in his chair as he looked at her. "I do not see him so often now and he...dislikes it."
Juri: She nodded at that, "Is he nice?" She kind of assumed he had to be to have raised Gaara. She took another sip of her tea, her initial discomfort about being in the apartment of a boy fading as the time had passed.
Gaara: Gaara shrugged briefly. "I suppose." He looked at her. "I don't...have anything to compare it too. Next to my father, he was very nice but I'm not sure that's a good example to base it against."
Juri: Juri's voice was very soft when she asked him about his father. It never occurred to her that maybe she shouldn't ask about such things. "Your father was strict?" She was no stranger to strictness or disappointing one's parents. She looked over at him after the words left her mouth.
Gaara: He looked at the pale blue teapot, slender fingers holding the bowl. He was silent for a long time and then he slowly nodded. "Yes. You could say that." Pale eyes looked back at her.
Juri: She tilted her head as she looked back at him, not shying away from the topic, although it was hard to tell if it was because she just didn't realize some people might not want to talk about such things, "What would you say?" He ran one nail along the rim of the rub, the bright pink standing out against the blue.
Gaara: "That for all intents and purposes, he was harsh. More than strict." Gaara paused. "I don't know why though." His brows slightly pulled in, as if it confused him. "...He had...hate."
Juri: She nodded, the smile gone from her face, but somehow not seeming surprised. "A lot of people are like that, and nothing you can do really changes it." She smiled at him, "You were lucky to have an uncle to look after you though."
Gaara: Gaara nodded and then put down his tea bowl. How easily that had slipped out...it was vaguely surprising. "I was." He looked at her. "Who do you have?"
Juri: She looked down at the table before smiling. "Myself." She didn't seem sad or anything about it. It was just a simple statement. She was eighteen now, it was easier to say that now than it had been when it was true two years ago.
Gaara: "I see." Gaara fell silent, the only noise being Hoshi pushing around a noisy little ball with a bell inside. "I apologize if I said something inappropriate."
Juri: She shook her head, "No, it's fine. I've been on my own for a while. I mean, my parents are still alive, they just …" don't admit I exist, don't talk to me... "had to move away for work." Yes that was a better answer. "I stayed here for work and school."
Gaara: He stared at her for a long time. His gaze lowered. "That hurts you?" He guessed and then shook his head. "You don't have to tell me if you do not wish."
Juri: She thought for a moment before answering. "It would be nice to be liked for who I am, but I would rather be who I am than what they want me to be. So, this is better. If that makes any sense." Sometimes Juri wasn't the brightest bulb, but sometimes she had things figured out.
Gaara: He nodded. "I understand." Gaara picked up the tea pot again. "I was not becoming who my father wished me to be either." Only it hardly mattered now. Father was dead and he didn't care anymore about anything.
Juri: "I think you are nice how you are." She took another sip of tea before starting to giggle at the puppy's antics. The poor thing had been ignored for too long. She covered up a yawn that escaped mid giggle before taking another sip of tea. "I can't wait for exams to be over."
Gaara: Gaara nodded slowly. "Yes. Some of them are quite boring." He bent down and picked up Hoshi's ball before tossing it lightly. The dog yelped happily and dashed after it.
Juri: "I'm just hoping to get into Tokyo University. I did really good at the first entrance exams so i think I'll get in. If not I think I have enough money for a cram school." Juri had been working very hard since moving in. Just two months ago she barely had enough money for rent, now she had it pulled together enough to maybe be able to afford cram school. Tuition she still wasn't sure about.
Gaara: "Do you...need help studying?" he felt odd about asking it and wasn't sure why he was. His blue-green eyes studied her.
Juri: She blushed at the offer, "I think I have it, but thank you. The only part I am worried about is the math sections. It was very nice of you to offer though. You like it at the university?" She really wanted to go there, so many people she knew went to there now. She was just hoping that she was smart enough to make it in.
Gaara: "Yes." he said instantly. There was that almost smile again as his face lightened. "It is very interesting."
Juri: "That is good that you like it. You are really good at painting." Of course she had only seen one painting of his but she really liked it, so she was assuming about his ability.
Gaara: "Thank you." Gaara said. "What will you study?"
Juri: Her answer to that was probably very unexpected. She seemed like maybe a fashion or art type, but instead her answer was, "Business."
Gaara: He leaned his head to the side. "What sort of business? Management or financial...something like that?"
Juri: "Management, entertainment." She tilted her head, causing the pig tails to fall over to one side, "I've been under some form of contract since i was very young, so it is something I know. I'd like to eventually have my own management company that is a little ... less predatory."
Gaara: Gaara nodded although he wasn't sure what she meant by that. "Oh." He glanced at her. "...What do you mean by predatory?"
Juri: "Best case scenario a girl gets booked into a very unfavorable contract only seeing a small portion of the money she earns. I'm lucky, my manager I have now is great." She didn't cover what a worst case scenario was.
Gaara: "Oh." Gaara stated and nodded. "Yes, that does not seem very fair at all." Money was not and probably never would be, an issue for him or either of his siblings. However he knew it was for some of his friends.
Juri: She nodded, "I don't know how practical my idea is -- it is rather idealistic, but maybe it will work. My manager does OK and he's a nice guy. He's where Naruto-kun and I got most of our furniture."
Gaara: "Naruto-kun...is very loud." Gaara commented, his mouth twisting slightly. Not a bad face so to speak but Naruto often startled Gaara who was more used to quiet.
Juri: How could a person not giggle at an observation like that. "He is. He's like a dorky brother. He's a great roommate." Juri didn't mind loud, half the time she was rather loud, but she had her more quiet moments too -- unlike her roommate. "He almost killed himself skating around the apartment in my rollerskates."
Gaara: A stare, rather blank. Gaara blinked once and then straightened before he looked at her closely. "...Why would he do that?" It seemed a rather foolish thing to go about.
Juri: She blinked at him, at first not understanding the question, but then answering, "Because it's fun." She glanced at the ceiling for a second before looking back. "What do you do for fun?"
Gaara: "...Paint. Read." Gaara frowned. "....I don't put wheels on my feet. I don't see the purpose."
Juri: "It's ... it's like flying. I like Ice skates better than roller skates, but ice skating in Tokyo is so expensive." She closed her eyes as she thought about it. "My favorite thing to do is ice skate. It's like every law of physics holding you down to the ground is forgiven and you can fly." She slowly opened her eyes as she realized she had closed them.
Gaara: He watched her with interest. Her expression...he once again thought that it was odd she thought of herself as plain. Not when she could look like that. "I'd like to try it maybe. Once."
Juri: She perked up even more at that, as if it were possible. "I'm good at teaching people. I used to teach classes to help pay for ice time." She would take any excuse to go ice skating, it really was the thing she loved most. "I used to be OK at it."
Gaara: "Is it difficult?" he asked quietly, leaning forward. His chin rested on a fist, unintentionally smudging from residue charcoal onto his chin.
Juri: She thought about it for a second. "For some people it is, but other people are just naturally good at it. At least just to skate and have fun. I used to compete, so I practiced all the time when I was younger." She saw the smudge of charcoal but just smiled at it.
Gaara: "Like figure skating?" He'd seen some of that on the television once. "Were you any good?" Interest had warmed his voice and face slightly from its usual calmness.
Juri: She nodded, "Mostly singles, but I tried pairs for a while too. I was pretty all right at it, but then I landed a jump really wrong at the finals for nationals." She had actually been very good at it. "It was a lot of fun, going places and meeting people. My parents were pleased when I was competing." Of course that ended when she got injured but she didn't say that. "We could go skating sometime?"
Gaara: "I'll try." Gaara said and then nodded. "Yes, I would...very much like that." He looked at her and his lips curved upwards, ever so slightly.
Juri: She smiled wider at that. "That would be so much fun. Once you get your balance it really isn't that hard. I used to teach little three and four year olds to do it, so if they could do it, it should be easy for you, right?" Yes, she was waking up after having been still for posing and was in a much better mood now.
Gaara: "I suppose." He said, eyes a tad brighter now. "We should...do it. After exams perhaps." He brushed some red hair from his deeply underlined eyes, smearing a faint trace of charcoal on his forehead.
Juri: She nodded at that. "That would be fun." With a slight giggle, she leaned forward, "You have black stuff on your forehead and chin." She said it more like it was cute than anything bad.
Gaara: Gaara blinked. "Oh." he looked at his fingertips and sighed, shaking his head. "I tend to do this after using charcoal."
Juri: "So is the ... charcoal for sketching things out before you apply the actual paint?" She wasn't too sure how it worked, but he didn't seem like he'd mind a few questions, no matter how silly.
Gaara: "Yes. It works better than pencil when used with inks...and that's what I 'm going to use for this one." Gaara stated. "If I used pencil, I would have to erase before applying paint and that can be messy."
Juri: She nodded, not completely understanding but accepting the answer anyways. "I was never very good at art class." She smiled though as she said it, "Can I help you clean up the tea things?" And by help she did mean do it herself.
Gaara: Gaara stood. "You can bring in your tea bowl if you like." he said, picking up the tea pot. He was very much into rules of a situation and it would have been impolite to not clean up after himself and his guest
Juri: She nodded and picked up her tea bowl. She was used to cleaning up after people -- her roommate was Naruto after all. She did carry just her own dish to the kitchen though. "So you got all of the sketch done?"
Gaara: "Yes. I'll need you again though for filling it in - to get the color and lightening right." Gaara stated, rinsing everything out. "I hope you do not mind."
Juri: She shook he head. "Of course not. I just don't know how a painting is done at all. This was fun." Honestly she had had fun, and somehow had gotten Gaara to talk a lot.
Gaara: He finished and turned to her. "You usually get paid for this correct?" Gaara asked slowly.
Juri: She seemed surprised by the question. "I get paid for posing for pictures. I've never posed for a painting though."
Gaara: "I feel a little bad about taking up your time." Gaara said quietly. "When this is what you do for a living. Posing is posing."
Juri: "I had fun though." She honestly didn't mind. "Besides you're very nice."
Gaara: Another blink and then a slight nod. "Alright." Pause. "And thank you." He added quietly.
Juri: She smiled and covered up another yawn. "I probably should be getting back though before Naruto-kun starts to worry ... or gets hungry." There was a decent possibility the second would happen before the first.
Gaara: Gaara nodded. "Of course." He walked her to the door and held it open for her. "Thank you once again for coming, Juri-san."
Juri: She smiled and bowed, the motion causing the pig tails to flip forward. "Thank you for asking me over, Gaara-kun." The change from san to kun was unnoticed by her since she was tired. "I had a lot of fun."
Gaara: "I am glad." He gave an almost smile and then bowed slightly. "Have a good evening."
Juri: "You too," With that, she smiled and walked down the hall to get to the stairs so she could return to her own apartment and get some sleep.