[ And still, Grantaire has trouble separating the man from the face. It breaks his heart to see such sadness, though at the same time, it puzzles him. This is the type of reaction he would expect from Jehan, but what has he said to cause this rather than a sneer?

Wires are crossed somewhere in his head, and he’s having a difficult time untangling them. It grows even more difficult when the other man takes his hand. ]

Le Baron Gros would disagree with you, unless it’s apples and wilting flowers that dwell in the hearts of all artists.

[ Schooling had always frustrated him so much. Day after day, nothing but still lifes. He lost motivation quickly after that, and heart not long after. He’s picked sketching back up in recent days, but he only finds the flaws in his work. ]

You believe I’ve gone beyond putting brush to canvas? A few strokes at best. I’ve not even finished a painting. If I could wake my teacher, I would ask his forgiveness, for I wasted his time.