Chapter Text
MK was banned from using the Noodle Cart from now on.
He had crushed it again, and Pigsy got so mad that he yelled at him and told him that he’s never allowed to use it again. A little bit of an overreaction in MK’s opinion, he had broken it so many times and it's been fixed every time so MK didn’t really see the big deal. But Pigsy did.
So now MK is stuck cleaning tables long after closing time. If he didn’t leave soon, he would miss it.
“Hey Pigsyyyyyy.” MK grinned as he dragged out his words.
“What is it kid, I’m busy.” Pigsy sighed.
“It’s like, almost 8:30 now, and i really wanna get better sleep, do you think-”
“Kid, there's no use in lying.” Pigsy cut him off. “I know what you’re doing, just go.”
MK smiled. He knew he couldn’t keep a secret from Pigsy for that long. “Awesome! Thanks Dadsy!!”
MK throws his towel in the hamper, and runs upstairs to get his supplies. One he has them he goes back downstairs, and back outside to his bike.
This is his new replacement for the Noodle Cart, but MK overheard Pogsy telling Mr. Tang that he doesn’t want MK doing deliveries anymore, and that he would let Mr. Tang do it. After MK heard that bit he scoffed and stopped listening.
MK puts his supplies in the small cart attached to his bike and rides away as fast as he can.
There are a lot of parks in Megalopolis, but there were also a few little patches of grass with maybe a tree or two, and a few benches. MK’s favorite spot only had one bench, and the best view. That view was the whole reason MK needed to get there.
MK stops and sets his bike next to the bench and grabs his supplies. He sets the easel up in front of the spot he’s sitting at, and his bag of brushes, pens, and pencils next to him, and he gets started.
The view he’s painting is right in front of him and it’s almost identical to when MK first started this passion project. MK has loved art ever since he was a little kid, and he really hopes to be able to make a career off of it someday. Mei says that he totally has the potential to make money from his art, but Mei is his best friend, so she kinda has to say that. He really wishes he could get a more, unbiased opinion.
MK finishes up some details on the moon in his painting and goes to his unfinished tree in the foreground.
He works on the tree for a little while then leans back to admire what he’s done so far.
He then looks to the side to see another person on the bench and he stands up quickly and screams.
MK’s canvas and easel fall to the floor, along with his bag of supplies, but he focuses on the person across from him. Who looks like they’re holding fire.
The stranger has a frantic expression as they look around, but then their eyes lock with MK’s, and they seem to relax.
They shake their hand and the fire goes away. “I–”
They clear their throat and look back at MK, who has calmed down a bit.
“I apologize for scaring you.” They say, their voice slightly raspy, but clear. Then they look at MK’s canvas on the ground. MK remembers that it fell to the floor and goes to pick it up.
The stranger crouches down next to MK, looking at him. Their hands are above MK’s pencils and markers. MK nods at them, and they start picking them up. MK sets the canvas back on the easel. Thankfully it wasn't damaged.
The stranger holds out MK’s bag to him and he takes it.
“Thanks.” MK says shyly.
“I didn’t want to seem creepy.” The stranger says. MK raises a brow at them. “I just saw your painting, and it was, well for lack of a better word, gorgeous.”
MK’s face flushes. He isn’t really used to compliments, especially about his art.
“And when you continued painting, I was so intrigued that I just kept watching.” The stranger picks at their nails, but keeps eye contact. “How long have you been painting?”
The stranger sits back down on the bench, their hand on the spot next to them. MK decides that that’s a bit too close for someone he just met, but he still sits close to them.
“Well, technically I’ve been painting since I was little,” MK says, smiling. “But I really got into it, and art in general, in middle school. Since then I’ve put all that I have into my art. I’ve been learning all that I can, practicing everything, and I even went to college and studied animation for about a year, but uh, I ended up dropping out. It was really hard, and I preferred traditional art anyways–” MK realizes that he just rambled to someone that he just met, but when he looks over at the stranger, they seem genuinely invested in MK’s story.
“How often do you draw?” They ask. They still seem genuine.
MK smiles wider. “Almost every day! Somedays I just do some doodles, sometimes I really devote myself to a single work, it really depends on how I feel.” MK kicks his legs and looks at his canvas. “I’ve been working on that one for a few days in total, but I started it a week ago when I was at this little park and I saw the most beautiful view.” MK looks at the moon. “I took a picture and used that as a reference. The picture didn’t compare to the real thing, but it was good enough.”
There’s a moment of silence, and MK wonders if they really bored the stranger.
“Sorry, if I was talking a lot,” MK apologizes, “People just don’t usually ask about my art, so it’s really nice to talk a lot about something I'm so passionate about.”
MK looks at the stranger for a response. “Please don’t apologize. That was…” They trail off. “Very informative.” They stand up suddenly.
“Do you have more works that you are comfortable sharing?” They ask.
MK is shocked. No one had ever asked him this much about his art since, ever! Sure Mei would listen to his rambling about a certain piece, and there were a few of his paintings on the walls of Pigsy’s Noodles, but all that was initiated by MK himself, not someone else.
“Uh yes!” MK stands up, excited. “Yes, I have a lot more! I’ve filled up so many sketchbooks, and I have watercolor, oil pastels, acrylic, what do you want to see!?” MK is grinning ear to ear.
MK sees a slight smile, the first smile this whole night, on the strangers face. “Whatever you’re most proud of. Meet me back here tomorrow at 2:30.”
MK’s smile fades. “Oh, I have work tomorrow.”
“Alright, what days do you have off of work?” They ask, unfazed.
“I get off at 1:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.” MK answers, smiling again.
Their face shifts into a confused expression. “Today is Friday? So tomorrow is a Saturday.”
MK’s face flushes in embarrassment. “Oh, right. Tomorrow is perfect then!”
“Good, I’ll see you then.” The stranger walks away.
While MK rides his bike home he realizes something. He didn’t even ask what their name was.