for earth too dear

If there was ever anyone that could give that question a satisfying answer, it was Julian Antoinette.

Beauty was something the young vampire centered around his entire being. It was in how he looked, how he talked, how he carried himself. The things around him, the things that he created. There was a harmonious juxtaposition of time and space that lent itself to the creation of beauty, he believed. He saw beauty in the most grand and most mundane of things. It was the small events that created the big ones in his life, created him, overwhelming, capricious, ethereal, and beautiful.

It was around early afternoon when Julian woke up to a cluttered bedroom and a portrait half-finished. He had frowned at it, unsatisfied by how it looked in the daylight. Certain areas had started elevating because of the layers of collection and a sudden change of heart. It was uninspired. Ugly.

Most things he made these days were that. His heart wasn't into it. He had lost his inspiration after he sealed the last stitch on his former lover, and it was simply downhill from there. He felt like a dying star, gray and burned out. He hoped he could at least go out in a fantastic supernova.

The scene indoors was starting to become depressing, and wallowing wasn't one of his favorite emotions. Julian showered, got dressed, and drove to his own gallery. If he were ever going to get any peace of mind, it'll be here.

It was a week day and there was hardly anyone inside. Julian checked the receptionist if any mail came in, and other than updates on current packages en route to the gallery and invitations to even more high society parties, there was nothing of interest. He bit his cheek. He was at a loss here. He went deeper into the building, and perhaps there, he would find a spark. Or, at the very least, a distraction to keep him from going mad.

That was when Julian found the white-haired boy. They had similar features. He looked at the artwork mechanically. Most of all, he was beautiful.

Julian approached him.

"Are you enjoying your stay at the gallery?" He looked at the piece nearest to the boy. Ah, yes, of course. It was new, from a Fine Arts student in Starlight Academy. It was a medium-sized painting of The Strip, and a heavily romanticized one at that. The buildings were a little bigger, the shadows a little darker, and the bright lights, tempting as ever. "Lovely isn't it? It's from a young artist at the Academy. The story was, she was out partying with her classmates one night, but she'd taken a little too much ecstasy. She stepped outside to get some fresh air and was met by the most wondrous sight. I quote, in that moment, I understood why moths would be drawn to the flame."

He smiled and offered a handshake. "Julian Antoinette. I'm the proprietor of this establishment."

Hm. There was something off about this man. Antoinette had been around people long enough that his presence could earn even a small reaction from the most stoic of folks, but there was something at the back of his mind that couldn't help but think this wasn't the same case. He shook his hand firmly, fingers lingering a bit before he placed them back to his side.

He wanted to unravel this puzzle. Small desires could lead to big things, and Julian always was one to follow those feelings.

A bright smile.

"The way you say pretty and nice suggests I should be offended! My gallery is my pride, you know," he said playfully, not a bit of offended in his tone. "Now, I apologize for the assumption, but it seems like you're... looking to study something. Is that correct? I doubt your search is going rather fruitful. Perhaps I can help?"

"A pretty human?" Julian repeated, a soft chuckle coming from his lips. "Not even humans know the exact answer to that question, my dear, but I will try to explain. Follow me."

Julian gestured for the man to follow him as he walked and talked. "Beauty varies from culture to culture. What one human may consider beautiful may be considered repulsive to others. For example..."

Julian stopped in front of a modern painting. This one was done by a modern artist. It depicted a picture of a blonde woman with wavy curls and red lipstick, and a curvaceous figure, laying down on a recliner and smoking. "This one, Day Off by David Hamilton, depicts the modern Western female beauty standard. Big breasts, tiny waist, big buttocks. Tan skin, red lips, and blue eyes. Now, for most Westerners, they adore this woman, but not all would think similarly. East Asians put importance in light skin so they dislike tans. There's a lot of contradictions in this subject alone."

Julian returned his attention to Yesterday with a smile. "Typically, human beauty depicts an ideal. Westerners like blonde hair because it's rare. East Asians prefer light skin because, back in the day, only nobles who can afford to stay indoors all day could have white skin. They're molded after what most people can't have, a certain exclusivity." His lips curled into a frown. "That's the usual interpretation of it, but personally, I dislike this sort of thing because it's all politics, and, being an artist, I'm inclined to dislike politics. Beauty for me is anything that could dazzle me. For example, I found you very beautiful."

That was a very blunt and innocent way of speaking, like a child stating facts they knew. He was entertained, and more than a little charmed. "Why thank you. I'm honored to be almost as beautiful as you are." Perhaps this was rather anthropocentric of him, but people were often intimidated by his features. Maybe Yesterday's people would think differently? He should inquire about that sometime. He always wondered what other species saw as beautiful.

Julian smiled and shook his head at his question. "Not evolution, no. But it is related to copulation. Darwin stated that evolution operates on survival of the fittest, and yet scientists today still wonder why so many animals possess ornamental features that solve no utilitarian purpose other than to attract mates."

He stepped forward and asked to hold Yesterday's hand. "If you ask me, human beauty is ornamental. It's not something to ponder about, it's something to feel, to experience. It's connected to love and passion. The secret ingredient that make those things shine even brighter. Do you know what those are?"

Julian held Yesterday's hand into his own, running his thumb carefully over his fingers. His skin was cold and almost synthetic to the touch. He was something else, wasn't he? Julian so adored novelties. A small smile crept on his face.

"Did you know human beings function on desire? People work to receive their wages, and when the bills are taken care of, they burn the their cash in pursuit of desires, whether that's a bottle of vodka, an expensive car, or even a kiss from a stranger with a pretty set of lips. It all depends on what makes your heart race."

Julian knew desire all too well. He was obsessed with it, consumed with it. Whoever claimed that lust was for the vapid was gravely mistaken.

He wanted Yesterday, that he knew all too well. There weren't any instant fireworks upon meeting him, he was a blank slate in fact, but with the way he was, he could turn him into an object of his desires. He seemed all too willing to learn. Julian wasn't above manipulating his education to suit him.

A thoughtful pause. "You don't know what you desire, do you? Perhaps that's why human actions confuse you. I can help with that, if you'd let me." He raised Yesterday's hand and pressed a small kiss to his knuckles, soft but deliberate.