Six Months.

[Julian]

Julian could only scoff at Saikeria's statement. "I tell you that I love you all the time!" He exclaims and pulls a face before breaking into laughter. Teeth bear down upon his lower lip for the moment to keep his smile tame [if at all] for the moment. "I do love you, Saikeria. I'm pretty sure that's the reason why I married you too. You know, because it'll be kind of awkward otherwise," he explains and gives a quick shake of his head.

Of course he did love Saikeria. It was an unconditional love that he was ever eager to reciprocate with ease. She had done too much for him to ever feel otherwise coming from Julian and he knew that. The both had sacrificed far too much over time and had trudged through it all. A true love could only be earned through hardship and that was something Julian had realized some time ago. They had experienced the trials and not such things have paid off in the end. While these things settle upon the forefront of Julian's mind, a pleasant smile crosses his features and soon his head was giving a slow shake.

"I saw you ogling the paintings," he sudden says and leans into the table as fingers pluck at one of the two menus left for their benefit. He draws it open as eyes fall to the selections of dishes to choose from. He speaks while doing so. "What they do is, is they hang up local art. Well, depending if the artist wants their work set up here anyway. It doesn't just help them decorate the place but they also act like a go between for the artists and any buyers." Julian explains and lifts a hand to gesture to some of the tags underneath each painting with information. "There were a few cafes and restaurants that did this in New York City," he makes sure to add and then eyes her. "You know, maybe you could see if you can hang up one of your pieces in a place like this one day. I mean, if you want to sell it that is," he murmurs and wrinkles his nose before smiling somewhat. His eyes fall back to the menu for the moment as a freehand lifts to nudge over the arch of his neck.

"It's been too long since we've been out, eh?" He asks of her although he was sure that he had already done that earlier in the night. Well, he or she did it anyway, not that it mattered much. He gives a faint wrinkle of his nose before suddenly the two of them were both sidled up to by their waiter. The woman was middle age and her ebony tresses drawn back. She spoke with an enthusiasm most waiters had or well, should have. "How can we start you off this evening?" She asks and Julian stares down at the menu. Maybe he should have been more intent on learning of the appetizers first. "Or I can give you another minute and come back with your drinks?" She offers and smiles at both Julian and Saikeria.

Julian wrinkles his nose and looks to Saikeria curiously.

[Saikeria Moore]

“Psh,” Saikeria scoffed in reply to her husband’s own retort. She was well aware that he uttered “Those three words” almost as constantly as she did. Though that didn’t make Saikeria any less likely to tease Julian of such. It never grew old. And she was fully aware of how much she used this ploy in attempts to gain Julian’s confession of adoration. Though neither of them seemed to tire of such.

Saikeria had, indeed been ogling the paintings, though she was pretty sure that anyone who came here did such. Whether their mouths fell agape or not, she was pretty sure that the works gained plenty of stares. And she was also certain a number of them received one or two offers, be it for a specific piece or a commission. Julian’s offer of Saikeria selling her own paintings drug her from her own thought cloud, and derailed her in such a manner so she may be on the same tangent as him. Though initially such gained a series of rapid blinks, “I… Do you think it’d sell, Julian?” Saikeria asks of her husband, brows furrowing a slight. That’s not to say that Saikeria wasn’t simply willing to hand over one of her paintings to display in public. Heaven knew that she had more than enough tucked away at the back of their closets, or tucked beneath their bed. No matter where they may be resting, they were fitfully out of the way.

And with that, once more her attention was drawn from the matter at hand with a deep furrowing of her brow. The small woman hadn’t so much as glanced at the menu before her form. Let alone come to the verdict of whether or not she desired an appetizer. Let alone the offer of a drink. Despite this lack of any decisions she glanced towards Julian, just to see if (as the man of the family) he’d come to any sort of management choice. Much to her dismay she was receiving a similar look from across the table. All Saikeria could do was offer an almost silly grin in return.

“I’ll have water,” Saikeria finally came to reply. Glancing upwards to the waitress for the shortest of moments before drawing her gaze back downwards to look upon Julian. The tiny woman offered a faint shrug before finally turning her attention downwards to the list of entrees scrolled across the pages in an orderly manner. Saikeria’s brows furrowed if only for the briefest of moments. Never one for making near on the spot decisions she came to wiggle her nose in addition.

Upon the waitress’s inadvertent dismissal Saikeria looked back upwards, “I wouldn’t say too long, Julian,” Saikeria defended with an almost coy smile. They did go out! Sometimes! Except more often than not they were going out to buy groceries, or ice cream, or pet supplies. But still, they left the home. That counted, didn’t it?

[Julian]

"A coke, please," Julian's own drink order was submitted. He wasn't entirely in the liquor drinking mood nor was he in the mood simply for water. He decided soda of some sort would go down well their food and it wasn't long until they were left in relative privacy within the [not so] crowded restaurant. It wasn't long until Julian's mind was falling back onto Saikeria's query of her paintings earlier.

“I… Do you think it’d sell, Julian?”

Would they? Julian thought that they would but the thing was: Why wouldn't they? Truth be told, that was the better question to ask. Why? Simply due to the fact that Julian had thought Saikeria was rather gifted and she had a genuine talent for such things [unlike himself]. That and alongside the fact that there were so few people in this day and age with such a genuine passion for such. It was a rarity in itself and part of the reason why Julian had been attracted to Saikeria, even moreso had even wanted to learn of such things from her and even take part of it. Afterall, who wouldn't? Because he certainly enjoyed it entirely!

"I don't know, Saikeria...It really is your choice in the end. I mean, it is your work. But it's something to keep in mind, you know? It's not like you'd lose much. I personally think it'll be nice to see your work hanging somewhere for all to see," he confesses with a slight wrinkling of his nose. Who wouldn't like to share their work with the world? He certainly would. In fact, he had shared his own talent with the world [if High School and misceallenous events could be considered worldly]. But there was a difference in being able to play piano and create a world of one's own choosing, passions and emotions upon the surface of canvas. Art was a window into the innermost workings of said artist. Such things made him reflect on their own collabrated pieces and a smile spreads across his features at such a thought.

"Like I said though, it's your choice...Hey, what do you want for appetizers?" He questions soon after, deciding that maybe it was a good idea to decide on such before the waiter returned with their drinks. It wasn't long until he was returning to talk about art. Her art. Her art and the possibilities that may come with such. "I really like your paintings. I looked through them the other day," he confesses, it was something he hadn't exactly told her of, "and they were very lovely. It's just a shame that they're hidden away when they could be out in the open and Hell! Maybe someone will see your work and commission you for a personal piece!" He suddenly exclaims and smiles. He looks rather silly then before shaking his head. Why was he pushing it so much?

Julian had been concerned over Saikeria a tad over the past few days, weeks and even months. She had once been such an outgoing person before having met Julian and he wasn't sure if he was proud of the fact of "settling her down" after getting together and eventually binding. He wanted her to stretch her legs and strut about. He wanted her to be free and do as she pleased and not be afraid to throw herself out there as she had been before. Part of him suddenly realize that painting, although it was an obvious outlet of her creativity, was something she had set behind herself when they had settled with one another. Julian sighs softly and he looks through the menu quietly for a moment.

"I just think it's something you should consider."

[Saikeria Moore]

Saikeria’s brows furrowed and her thumb came to worry upon the lip of the tale. A constant plucking of that singular digit in the same spot repeatedly. The rounded corner wearing an ache within the pad of her thumb, the thin sheet of a table cloth kept it from doing any real damage. (Not to assume that the bare table was lined with razor blades, or anything of the sort.)

She listened to Julian speak. Her brows furrowed and lips pursed. She considered all the man had to say.

It wasn’t that she didn’t have time to paint. She didn’t lack the desire to, either. She, well, she wasn’t quite sure why she didn’t paint anymore, or even sketch for that matter. The occasional doodle could be found scribbled on a half-finished shopping list, but little more could be seen of what she could accomplish. She’d never really questioned the matter, she’d simply come to accept it. Albeit hesitantly. Saikeria figured that’s how married life had gone. (She had very little to draw off to prove or disprove this hypothesis.) The small girl figured that once you get married it becomes less about the individual, and more about the couple. And as such se simply had let it go.

It’s not like the small girl wanted any more out of her life, she’d never really wanted to become famous off her paintings, or famous by any other means for that matter. Saikeria had just slipped into her role as the loving wife. Spent her days nestled up against Julian, and indulging within whatever activity either of them had chosen for the day. Which occasionally was painting. Saikeria enjoyed the occasional indulgence in such an activity, tough she’d never ask for Julian to spend time watching her paint by herself. And truth be told she’d forgotten what it was like to not have Julian around.

Aside that Saikeria had picked up a few other activities. She’d taken to practicing the piano, occasionally. And aside that Sai had taken to pushing furniture around, arranging, and then rearranging rooms at random. Nothing was sacred, aside their bedroom, and her husband’s Den.

Her attention was drawn back to the menu at the proposition of an appetizer. The young lady crinkled her nose in reply as she mulled over such. She’d spent very little time actually gazing upon the menu, and now was the time she was paying for it, “Whatever you want, Julian,” she replied quickly.

“Okay, Julian,” she murmured quickly, then. She’d consider it, if not for herself, then for him. Though over all Saikeria was a tad bit hesitant to do such. She was nervous, and it had been some time since she’d shown anything off in public.

Once more her gaze dropped to the menu before her form to scan once more with very little success.