¤ Crystals
Of Monsters and Men ↲

I know I'll wither so peel away the bark
'Cause nothing grows when it is dark
In spite of all my fears, I can see it all so clear
I see it all so clear

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The naked man on the dais was not shy with his poses.

His current positioning left nothing to the imagination, especially since Kim Taehyung had the unfortunate luck of facing the man head on.

Taehyung liked to consider this art class - Illustration of the Human Form - a game of chance. Or a game of roulette, perhaps. Around the elevated dais was a circle of workstations, where each artist would find an easel and a relatively uncomfortable chair. There were no assigned seats, so each student would choose a workstation at random. The whole luck part had nothing to do with the seats, however.

It all came down to the model and where he or she chose to position their bodies.

"This pose will last for thirty minutes," Professor Yang announced loftily to the class, settling down into a worn desk in the corner. "Use this time to draw each and every detail - the curves and definition, the shadows from the light."

Taehyung internally groaned. Thirty minutes of drawing a guy who had his legs spread open before him.

Great.

In his opinion, the front of a person was the worst angle to draw. It was awkward, knowing the model was watching as his or her body was recreated in charcoal on canvas. And then there was the whole staring at someone's gentials thing, but Taehyung didn't focus on that aspect. The front of a person, in general, just didn't artistically interest him.

The side was the best angle to Taehyung, who was fascinated in capturing the twist of bodies when they struck involved poses. The back of the model wasn't so bad either; the spine was a unique challenge to properly depict and asses were quite fun to draw. But today, Taehyung was particularly unlucky as the model decided to face him directly and bare all for him to see.

Taehyung picked up his drawing materials and got to work, easily pushing his distaste for the man's pose out of his mind. Peering above his easel, he took a moment to study the way the man's body created shadows on the ground. Elongated and dark, the shadows created a much more fascinating subject than the man himself. However, this class entailed drawing bodies and not abstract images.

"Can you bend one of your legs?" A student to his right asked, having the advantageous and enviable side angle.

The model adjusted and this new pose thankfully gave Taehyung a little bit more to work with. He started sketching an outline, looking up every few seconds to get the lines right.

One thing that was completely unprofessional but very amusing to Taehyung was to create stories for the models who came to the class. He never understood the desire to strip down and have thirty students draw your every imperfection, but to each their own. So to make the silent room - which was only occasionally punctuated by music - a little more fun, Taehyung built intricate lives for the models in his head.

He liked to think he was quite good at it. Inventing elaborate tales was something he relied on since childhood.

Today's model was a middle-aged man with a beer belly and some of the most unwieldy eyebrows ever seen. His skin was relatively unmarked outside of the sprinkling of hair in all the usual places. The expression he wore was peaceful, almost like laying naked in front of strangers was his escape.

As Taehyung continued to outline the model, he pretended he was currently drawing a stressed husband who wanted to rekindle the romance with his wife. His ego had brought him here, to be drawn in the nude by students who could make him look better than he actually did. He'd then gift the drawings to his wife and hope the fire sparked again.

Taehyung chuckled at his story while detailing the man's nether regions, consistently looking up to get the general look correct. The man apparently had heard his laugh and threw him a glare, most likely assuming Taehyung was not so secretively judging his smaller than average dick.

"Whoops," Taehyung murmured under his breath, not remorseful at all.

By the time thirty minutes went by, an image of the man presented itself on Taehyung's canvas. He used a new blending technique to soften the model's rotund features, creating an effect he found pleasing. Taehyung sat back on his chair, scanning the concentration on the faces of his peers. Not one of them looked intriguing in the least, so he critiqued his drawing until time was up.

"Alright, class," the professor commented from his desk. "One more thirty minute pose today and then you're dismissed. Make sure to copy down the homework that's on the board before leaving."

Once another half an hour passed, Taehyung had a second spread eagle picture of the model drawn. The naked man found his clothes after time was called and was currently looking at some of the completed images of himself. He appeared pleased with the finished products, smiling and puffing out his chest.

Outside of creating his stories about the models, Taehyung often forgot he drew living, breathing people. He never took the time to really look at them, to search for the soul beneath. They were just bodies to be drawn; they weren't art themselves. He created the art.

He didn't take the time to look at anyone, in fact. His upbringing could be blamed for that fact.

Taehyung tucked his canvases under his arm, making a beeline for the professor's desk before the model could ask to see his drawings.

"Taehyung, how'd you find today's class?" Professor Yang questioned once the younger reached him. The man adjusted his round glasses before extending his hand. "Let me see what you came up with."

"More masterpieces to add to my collection," Taehyung dryly joked, handing over the pieces. "I shall call this series of images Head On."

Professor Yang assessed the drawings, ignoring Taehyung's attempt at a pun. "These are very good. I like how you added some depth with the shadows, too. It's a nice contrast."

Taehyung bowed his head respectfully, appreciating the professor's feedback but not quite surprised. Drawing came easily to him. He was skilled at it.

"All these bodies with smooth edges have become quite predictable, Professor," Taehyung said idly, picking up his canvases from the desk. "Don't get me wrong, all body types are good to draw, but a challenge would be nice."

Professor Yang looked at him directly. "I get you might not find this difficult, Taehyung, but the other students do. They didn't grow up with the privilege of having access to the best teachers out there."

Taehyung somehow managed to not lash out at the older man's words. His professor didn't know what Taehyung's so-called privilege had cost him growing up.

"But," Professor Yang added, "I do agree we could have a bit more diversity in our models. I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you, sir," the younger said through tight lips, rushing from the room before he did something he'd regret.

Anytime someone assumed anything about his privilege or childhood, Taehyung saw red. His blood boiled in his veins and throbbed in his neck, causing all rational thoughts to slip away. They didn't know.

They didn't know.

Taehyung made his way back to his apartment on campus, the private space a godsend right now. Silence and solitude greeted him at the door, two of his most welcome companions. They were always at his side, giving him the comfort he needed.

He tossed the canvases into his art supply room, not caring if they were neatly stacked or knocked over. Ever since Illustration of the Human Form started two weeks ago, the room was crowded with pictures of naked people. If any of his few friends ever came into this room, Taehyung was sure they'd think he was some sort of creep.

But drawing people in the nude wasn't something he found inappropriate or even taboo. It wasn't like he took the class because he wanted to see naked chicks and dicks . . . it wasn't a sexually exciting course by any means. The class was necessary to better his craft, essential in order to get to where he wanted to go in the future.

It was simply art.

And art was his life, the only thing he truly had to his name.

This thought saddened him, as it typically did, so with a shake of his head he started on his homework. His grades this year were excellent and he was determined to keep them that way. Contrary to his parents' beliefs, who thought he only worked hard in order to please them, Taehyung was studious so he could one day escape the cage he was born into.

If he could make it as an artist and financially support himself, he'd never have to accept anything from his family again.

That was his dream and he'd do anything to achieve it. So if that meant taking the most difficult courses and commissioning models so he could practice outside of his classes, Taehyung would do it without hesitation. Of course, the irony of this all wasn't lost on him. He was using his parent's means to fund his schooling and side projects, but after everything he'd been through, he deserved this.

He deserved to use their money so he could one day be free of both them and their wealth. Because Taehyung learned early on that being wealthy didn't make him true friends or give genuine happiness . . . it only served to crush any joy and self-worth he once had.

But he wouldn't let this lingering bitterness deter him now. He lived with these feelings long enough to know how to push them aside, so that was exactly what he did once more.

He got to work, drawing until his hands were dirtied by charcoal and cramped into uselessness. In the morning, he'd start all of this again.

Taehyung didn't need anything but this. Only art could fill the void inside of him.

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》 V A L E N W R I T I N G 《

And so it begins . . .

So excited for this story guys, you have no idea!