Chapter Text
There was nothing that made Eliot stand out. He was perfectly ok with this arrangement as well. As a digital design major, he was able to blend in flawlessly with the other students at Zhejiang University. Dressed in an white button down shirt and tie that was situated underneath an oversized buttoned sweater that made is slender frame look even smaller. The grey jeans that he paired with the tops almost looked one size too big. A black canvas messenger bag was slung across his shoulder as he was making his way towards the glass doors of the art building. The wide rimmed glasses slipping down his nose as he ascends the steps.
Pushing the doors open, the smells of paint and lacquer welcome him. He takes a deep breath, feeling the stress of the day starting to release, feeling his shoulders relax just slightly. While he enjoys the digital aspect of art, he loves to experiment with different mediums to become more of a versatile designer in the future.
Entering the hall where his class is getting ready to begin, he walks towards his station situated towards the back of the room. He sets his bag at the base of the easel, he sits on the swivel stool. Opening the flap he pulls out a tin that carries his pencils, a box of charcoals, a plastic bag that looks like it is ready to fall apart that carries his variety of erasers, a pencil sharpener, and his ear buds.
Looking at the large blank canvas in front of him, he starts to worry. He has never created a project quite this large before. He takes out one of the ear bud from the case and inserts it in his ear, grabbing his phone, he gets ready to start listening to something that will help him focus.
The teacher, Professor Pei En, clears his through; grabbing the attention of the class.
“The concept for this following assignment is ‘Hope Within Tragedy’. You must include one landscape element in this creation. I would also like to see different mediums as well if you are able. This piece, once done, will be shown to the rest of the school at the Spring Exhibition. This is the largest part of your final grade for this glass as well, so put in your best effort” the professor explains as he walks around the classroom.
The other student look around at each other feeling nervous and start whispering how they are going to get the concept across. Some pull out their phones to look up references, other pull out a notebook to write ideas down for them to research at a later time.
Eliot opens up the pencil case, opens it and reaches for the 4H pencil that is starting to get so short the that sharpener is going to swallow it whole and never return it. Bringing his finger up, he taps the play button and the soft sounds of rain start to drown out the murmur of the students around him. Grabbing the pencil, Eliots vision narrows as the sounds of graphite scratching over the taut linen canvas…
Across the city, the rhythmic tempo of a bass drum, the sharp snap of snare drums, followed by the low whine of an electric guitar and the sound of the bass guitar fill the soundproof walls of a studio. In a neighboring room, Kipuka dressed in black jeans that seem to the molded to his muscular thigh, a ripped black t shirt that hung loosely on his torso. Stepping a bit closer to the mic, he opens his mouth letting the song flow out in a low gravelly voice. His emotions can be heard as the song flows from his lips. His voice rises as he get closer to the bridge, screaming loudly as the song hits the climax. Ending the song on a breathy hum, the final chords of the song disappear.
He opens his eyes to see the producer in the next room looking back to him in awe. The rawness of the song was something you would think he has heard countless times since he began producing song, but nothing compared to this.
“That was….” Jiang Heng croaked out.
“I know, I’m amazing” Kipuka responds cockily.
He pulls of the headphones, hangs them off the mic and heads towards the door. Heading into the rooms, he throws himself on the couch, legs spreading wide, back slouched low.
“After this album, I want a break. I think I’m starting to run on the smell of smoke and caffeine” Kipuka whines while grabbing a bottle of water to take away the roughness that appears after singing.
His manager, Xin Yue Li, just raises his head from the tablet in front of him with a look of contempt.
“You know that isn’t how this works Kipuka, you have tours, festivals, and advertisements if everything preforms well. You know you have to get ready for the concert next week at Zhejiang University. The festival that they have every year helps boost moral for the student” Yue Li deadpans as he is looking at the schedule.
Kipuka just loudly groans. It is actually where he should be. In university enjoying being not responsible for a couple years, but instead he shot to fame when he entered a music contest a few years ago. Yue Li saw him and scouted him right off the street. Rubbing his face, he leans forward, look his manager right in the eye and opens his mouth.
“After the festival next week, I am disappearing for two weeks. I am not taking no for an answer, I will not be looking at my phone. I want to live life as a normal not famous 24-year-old.”
The managers’ eyes go wide with the seriousness that he has just heard. He knows that he has no choice but to listen or he knows that Kipuka will terminate his contract and walk away. He was the stubborn that Yue Li would get frustrated when trying to reach a common ground, which meant it went Kipukas way normally.
“Fine, after the concert, you will have your break” Yue Li sighs.
“Great, now let’s make this festival the day that nobody will ever forget” Kipuka says while leaning back against the sofa.