inbox ( salt )

[benedicked]

WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK

USERNAME:
b.bridgerton

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Comments

🎁

[sonatinas]

[Ben will have a neatly wrapped, light blue package with a matching bow delivered to his room. Inside of it, he'll find a new set of oil paints and a bottle of whiskey, since that isn't banned here. The note inside reads:]

Dearest brother,
I hope this finds you well. Perhaps we can get together for the holiday.
All my love,
Your sister

Re: 🎁

[benedicked]

[ Oh, he is very pleased with that whiskey.

She'll get a gift back, silk gloves, a nice bottle of wine.

Sister,

I would very much enjoy getting together for the upcoming holiday. Perhaps Anthony would like to join us, as well.

Your brother, Benedict

@frannie

[sonatinas]

Oh, I am sure he would if he knew we would like to be together. It would feel strange to not be.

text; un: persephone

[semicharmed]

[ Matt has sent selfies like this before. It's one of his favorite thirst traps, in fact--not least because the angle lets him cast a levitation spell on his phone.

So here he is: sheets around his waist, gently obscuring the serpentine scar across his belly; hair mussed; emerald lotus tattoo inked over his heart. A scatter of white feathers on the white comforter.

Normally he double-checks to make sure the selfie has, in fact, gone to the right person, but it's been a few months now since any messages went haywire. He just assumes it went to Heinrix and sets his phone down. ]

[benedicked]

[ it’s certainly one of the most beautiful images he’s seen in some time. And, well - how can he not acknowledge that? ]

Is this a self portrait? Through the magic of, ah.. these devices, I suppose. It’s lovely.

[semicharmed]

[ Matt actually gets all the way through the message and is halfway through composing a reply when he realizes--

Oh.

Fuck!

Not again???

Okay, okay (he thinks, hyperventilating). Benedict is not being weird about it, so the best thing to do is probably pretend it was on purpose, even though Matt only sexts people he hasn't been intimate with on extremely rare occasions. ]

Thank you.

Yeah, it's half technological magic and half my magic. To get the phone in the right spot.

[benedicked]

[ give it time, it will inevitably happen to Ben as well. ]

It's very well done. The lighting is excellent.

[ Benedict would want to paint this man were he still engaged in artistic endeavors. ]

[semicharmed]

Oh

thank you

[ Matt is genuinely flattered by this feedback. He likes the lighting in the picture too, but it's sort of not supposed to be the point with things like this. ]

That artistic eye at work, huh?

[benedicked]

I suppose so, yes. I've done quite a few nude portraits, the lighting can be rather difficult to get just right.

your timing is perfect i just started tagging again

[semicharmed]

I imagine it's harder when you have to recreate the illumination yourself, instead of just pointing and clicking. A pleasant problem to contemplate, though.

Are you more into strict realism, or do you like to infuse your portraits with how you feel about the subject?

dont mind me being behind as fuck

[benedicked]

Pointing and clicking? I assume you mean the image you sent.

In my opinion, a painting or portrait must have feeling from the artists. I want my work to evoke emotion. I don't enjoy paintings that are too cold, that lack spirit.

there's no such thiiiiing

[semicharmed]

Ah--the image I sent, yeah.

As an art looker, rather than an art maker, I definitely come down on your side of things. I'd love to see you work sometime.

[benedicked]

I’m a little out of practice, so if you’re interested in watching me be terribly bad, by all means.

Or you could sit for me.

[semicharmed]

Oh

I mean, I'd love to

[ A slight pause between messages, then: ]

I'm good at being still. If that helps.

[benedicked]

It does. You’d be surprised how difficult it is to sit still for so long.

Or I was, anyway. I think I lasted five minutes.

1/3

[semicharmed]

lol!

2/3

[semicharmed]

(that means laughing)

3/3

[semicharmed]

Well, maybe I can teach you a thing or two about meditation while we're at it.

Let me know when's good. My schedule is pretty open.

[benedicked]

I understand. An acronym.

I am very free, it seems. I am at your disposal.

🎬

[semicharmed]

[ Time is an illusion, so let's call it January when they get it together to have an artistic meetup. Matt would prefer a little more privacy than the booze and painting room supplies, but you know, it's where they keep all the painting stuff. He settles on top of a table, rather than at it, and waves pleasantly when he spots Benedict. ]

Hey. Nice to see you.

[ Matt's clothes are soft and nondescript, which is the most aesthetic he can manage to be of his own accord. Dove-gray cashmere sweater rolled past the elbows, navy wool trousers. Two bracelets, one metal with intricate designs and one jade bead. A bit sheepishly, he says: ]

I forgot to ask you if there was a color palette you wanted to work with.

[benedicked]

[ Time is a human construct, January it is. There's plenty of supplies for him to peruse, and he's doodling in his sketchbook, sulking that Anthony's gone, when Matt walks in. He looks up and flashes a smile, closing the book with a snap before getting up. ]

Any, I welcome a challenge. This is perfect.

[ He's easy, in so many ways. ]

[semicharmed]

[ Matt chuckles, offering a grin that goes slightly lopsided for perfect. Halfway between flustered and preening. ]

Terrific. And next question ...

[ Matt pauses, not sure how to put it. ]

Uhhh. Should I "do" anything? [ Another crooked smile. ] Sit, stand, lie down ... hold up a metaphorically significant object?

[ Shit, why did he leave all his metaphorically significant objects back in his room. ]