OS   ♡ No, no, you’re drawing them all WRONG!

OS   ♡ Here. I’ve done this with eyeliner pen, so it shouldn’t be too -

He silently moves the pencil out of your reach.

CE   I was under the impression that I was the artist here.

OS   ♡ Artists LOVE criticism! Especially with big-name clients!

CE   When were you ever my client?

OS   ♡ Since… uh…

OS   ♡ I’m a big-name person in general!

CE   Stop being so entitled.

CE   If you have notes, then you can just speak them.

As much as you weave around him, he doesn’t budge. So you huff and sit back down.

OS   ♡ Fine.

OS   ♡ You want proof? Here!

You pull out your smartphone and show him the proper reference images from the original show. Saved and secured in your photo gallery, of course.

OS   ♡ Their eyes are wrong.

OS   ♡ See? They have the big lines right here, and big eyelashes, too.

OS   ♡ Not only THIS character. It's the show's style.

OS   ♡ So I'm just saying...

OS   ♡ It's more accurate this way.

He studies the phone, then wearily gazes off into the distance.

CE   Much too flowery.

OS   ♡ Hey! A good tribute piece understands the strength of its inspiration!

CE   (sniff) 'Strength' is subjective.

CE   It's an attribute, certainly. A creative choice.

CE   But that doesn’t mean I have to mimic them.

Ciel puts down his pencil and angles the sketchbook towards you with both hands.

CE   The point of the piece isn’t to draw attention to the eyes.

CE   People naturally look that way, anyway.

CE   It’s about their bodies. How they’re interacting with each other.

CE   If I put too much detail in the eyes, it’s as if...

CE   I'm distributing the focus improperly.

CE   The eyes are just a small piece of the whole picture.

CE   So, by making them relatively plain, the line of action follows the body instead.

CE   Doesn’t it flow more realistically this way?

You squint. You can admit that his grasp on the human form is much, much better than anything you can hope to achieve. And the way the characters embrace almost looks as if they’re melting into one form. It keeps your gaze captivated and moving around the page.

But still.

OS   ♡ …can you at least add a little eyeliner?

CE   ...

Ciel goes over the characters’ upper eyelid exactly once, thickening it with a hair of graphite.

OS   ♡ See? I can give good advice.

CE   Oswald.

OS   ♡ Yeah?

CE   You’re pretty shallow.

OS   ♡ What?! I’m not!

CE   You are.

CE   It's almost impressive how ridiculous your standards are.

OS   ♡ I have very REASONABLE wants!!

CE   You can justify it to yourself all you want.

CE   You say you care about romance, relationships, and interpersonal feelings,

CE   But you can't enjoy it unless it's between idealized beauties.

CE   People presented with looks above all else.

CE   That’s the most shallow you can get.

OS   ♡ Wow.

OS   ♡ That is SO untrue.

OS   ♡ First off - I think ugly people deserve love, too.

You give him a meaningful pat on the shoulder. His frown doesn’t budge.

OS   ♡ Second! So what if I care that they look good?

OS   ♡ Don't act like you don't draw with the same goal in mind.

CE   My definition of 'beauty' is much more broad.

OS   ♡ But you're still drawing based off of your type!

OS   ♡ Like those weird statue girls you make.

CE   They're not weird.

CE   I'm just trying to grasp the anatomy.

OS   ♡ Oh yeah. I know you'd LOVE to get your hands on them.

CE   D-don't be weird.

CE   And... at least I care about the person as a whole.

CE   Do you even have another argument after this?

OS   ♡ 'Course I do.

OS   ♡ Fourth - wait, was it four? How many have I said?

CE   Half a meaningful point, so far.

OS   ♡ Fourth! It’s part of what makes them a match. It’s the aesthetic chemistry!

OS   ♡ Making sure a couple looks good together...

OS   ♡ This is an art, too.

CE   Right.

CE   Where is your gallery, then?

OS   ♡ Look around! Who’s the cutest couple here?

He takes in his surroundings.

CE   By process of elimination… us?

OS   ♡ Of course, it’s… wait, you - what? Huh?

He gestures at the empty classroom. You take an end of your cape and hit him on the head with it.

OS   ♡ Not literally look right now, Snow-for-brains.

OS   ♡ I meant, think about an awesome couple in our grade. You can do that, right?

OS   ♡ You have some idea on the romantic goings-on in our grade, right?

CE   …

CE   I’m not… certain I do.

OS   ♡ Seriously? Not at all?

CE   You're the only person I know who cares about that stuff.

OS   ♡ Ugh. You’re impossible!!

You clutch your chest and dramatically splay out onto the desk. Luckily, your outfit makes the landing a soft one. Ciel watches you, then flips over a page and starts doodling. You wiggle around for a bit in faux-distress before sighing.

OS   ♡ You’re lucky, you know.

OS   ♡ Not everyone gets to know my deep, dark, twisted secret.

CE   That you’re shallow?

OS   ♡ No.

CE   That you can't count?

OS   ♡ No!!

OS   ♡ That I’m really, REALLY into this show!

OS   ♡ Especially those two… I LIVE for those two.

CE   Really? I don't see how this is different from what you openly enjoy.

OS   ♡ You wouldn't. You have the social acumen of a mothball.

OS   ♡ So, you should be, like, grateful and stuff.

OS   ♡ Since I’m willing to hang out with you.

OS   ♡ Or whatever.

Ciel doesn’t speak. He just picks up his sketchbook and tilts it towards you again.

He's never seen your eyes. Few people have, and your opaque sunglasses make sure of that. What he's drawn isn't close to what they look like. They don't have their wonderfully long eyelashes or their delightful shine. They're honestly quite plain.

For some reason, that doesn't bother you.