2026-04-14: A Painting Named Desire
- Log: 2026-04-14 A Painting Named Desire
- Cast: Yusuke Kitagawa, Ren Amamiya
- Where: Ueno Art Museum, Ueno, Tokyo
- OOC Date: April 14, 2026
- IC Date: October 25, 2012
- Summary: Yusuke takes Ren to see his latest painting displayed in a local museum. Both of them admire it--but it doesn't seem to be a hit with other museum-goers, including a respectable critic. Yusuke despairs, but Ren's support helps him recover the determination he needs to try again.
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
The Ueno Art Museum has been advertising a public exhibition, accepting submissions from many aspiring artists from across the city.
Yusuke mentioned a few weeks ago that he had submitted a piece to the exhibition - something he's been working on, on-and-off, since joining the Phantom Thieves and beginning to explore the Metaverse with them. He had called it 'a quest to understand the human heart' at the time.
Now, it seems, the day of the exhibition has come, and Yusuke, with a ticket for himself and one other to attend, deliberated fiercely on who would receive that invitation...
... He's dressed up pretty smartly in a navy-blue button-down shirt and black slacks. It's not too different from one of his casual outfits, but there is a subtle difference in the tailoring and stitchwork that makes it clear enough that these are perhaps an unusual expense for the notoriously frugal young man.
"Ah, Ren." That tiny smile graces his face as they meet, just outside the exhibit. "I am pleased that you could make it. I trust it wasn't too much of an inconvenience?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
There's a lot on Ren's mind, both in general and specifically recently. Chief among them is The Phantoms' recent excursion into Futaba Sakura's Palace, and what her Shadow told them there... She couldn't literally mean she killed her mother, could she? And if that is true, what does that mean for them?
That's still on their mind now, but it's allowed to take back seat to the event to which Yusuke's invited them. Really, Ren's honored to be the one chosen for that single other ticket. This is something that's extremely important to their friend, being an exhibition of a painting he created--and as they walk up to join him outside the exhibit at the appointed hour and get close enough to notice the differences, they do take in that this is not the exact same outfit he usually wears. An even greater highlight of what this means to him.
"Not at all," they reassure him. "I've been looking forward to seeing what you painted."
It's not just a painting, after all; it's his first painting to be displayed under his own name, to Ren's knowledge. The expression of who Yusuke is when he isn't being crushed under Madarame's lies. They've been generally supportive of Yusuke's pursuits, and they really are excited to witness its fruits, even if they seem calm on the surface.
For their part, they're dressed in a black jacket draped over a white V-necked shirt, blue jeans, and lace-up boots. Naturally, their cosmetic glasses and wristwatch are there, too. They don't have much of a wardrobe either, but they wear them well.
"After you, then," Ren prompts, nodding towards the doorway.
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
"Well, then," Yusuke replies - a little stiffly - when Ren says they're excited. "Let's proceed, shall we?"
There are a number of other student-age patrons at this exhibit - presumably other artists and their own guests - as the two of them step inside. Yusuke makes no effort to point his piece out - he probably assumes his work speaks for itself, and, to be entirely fair to this assumption, his piece is something that only someone familiar with the Metaverse could have painted.
It sits between two sunset-hued works - a landscape of fields of flowers against a mountain range on its left, and a bird's-eye rendition of three koi circling under the shadow of a cherry tree, ripples scattering around them. Both these works are very technically impressive, and so too is the work between them, but that is where the similarities end.
Whorls upon whorls of swirling black ink, highlighted in red and white and decorated with bloodlike splatters and wisps of white smoke, spiral in towards the centre of the piece, jagged shapes reminiscent of teeth hanging down from the top of the loops, while the central swirl is topped by a misshapen crown.
"In addition to the exhibition," Yusuke explains, "There is also an evaluation portion." He sounds certain his work will win acclaim, as he looks from this central piece to the two it's next to. "It certainly stands out compared to the others here, does it not?"
Perhaps as stark as his piece's difference from its peers, though, is the presence those pieces have drawn - people leaning close, gathering around it, that the central piece has not yet.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren enjoys looking around at the various other pieces as the two of them enter the exhibit anyway. It wouldn't be true appreciation of art if they only paid attention to a piece their friend made, right? ...That's what Ren figures Yusuke doesn't immediately point his piece out, though when they actually see it, they do realize he probably did figure it spoke for itself.
It very much is a piece painted by someone familiar with the Metaverse and its distortions. Ren comes to a stop in front of it. The brushstrokes are bold and masterful, creating a vortex that draws the eye in to the center as if they might get sucked in through the canvas. The "blood" splatters also resemble flower petals, at least to Ren's eye, making it a fascinating dichotomy of beauty and ugliness that represents a lot of Palaces well. It's like a whirlpool, with those wisps of smoke--or maybe, with those 'teeth,' a gullet as one gets swallowed up.
"It's dramatic," Ren remarks with a nod. "Dynamic, too. You can really feel it pulling you in. It reminds me of that quote by Nietsche: 'When you look long into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you.'"
...It does stand out to them that the works next to Yusuke's are getting a lot more attention, though. Then again, they're also not just beautifully painted but also simply beautiful. It probably just feels better to the average person to look at them.
They glance at Yusuke. It might not feel to great to him, though.
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
Yusuke nods. "And yet it seems like others are not being drawn in. Perhaps they are so afraid of the truth held with in that they dare not take a closer look."
This remark, while certainly arrogant even for Yusuke, is quickly dashed by the approach of a patron couple towards the swirling darkness, accompanied by a bemused query from the middle-aged woman of the pair: "What is this supposed to be?"
The couple stops to look at the painting, and the woman continues "There's a dark, almost sinister aura emanating from it."
Her companion folds his arms and looks down to the placard next to the painting. "The title is... 'Desire'? I see no desire here." He reads further, and comprehension dawns. "Ah, this section of the exhibition is for students. The artist likely decided to paint this on a whim." At that, the woman nods in agreement. "Quite. There is neither elegance nor emotion in this piece." Her gaze travels disinterestedly over 'Desire', to rest on the landscape to its left. "Come, dear, there are much more detailed paintings over here."
Yusuke's expression does not move.
It very specifically does not change.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Ren pauses at that remark, then tactfully chooses to say nothing. Considering Yusuke lives in pursuit of the depiction of true beauty, it would be hurtful at best to point out that maybe it's because it's actually pretty ugly compared to the paintings around it... Sure, that's the point, but normal people aren't going to understand that this is a depiction of the Metaverse.
But then a middle-aged pair walks up to the painting. Ren looks over at them, glad for a second that Yusuke's art has drawn attention--since a second's all it takes for them to make it clear they're goggling out of confusion, not appreciation.
They listen a moment longer. The conversation can be summarized as: ouch.
"...Don't let it get you down. They just can't relate," they tell their friend. They look back at the painting. "Something like this... Technically I can't relate either, but I think this might be an honest reflection of Alibaba's desire."
...in other words, the desire for death.
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
Yusuke is often slow to speak up, or withdrawn, if he has nothing to contribute to a discussion. In this case, his silence is clearly of a different kind, before he seems to regather himself at Ren's encouragement. "Of course not. There's nothing to worry about. I am not bothered in the slightest."
He fiddles with the cuff of his shirt, absent-mindedly.
"That was merely the drivel of unrefined commoners. I needn't pay any mind to them." He looks towards Ren, at this point. "As long as those in the know - like yourself and our friends - understand my work, and how it relates to what we've seen, I will be happy."
It's not clear if he believes his own words.
Either way, before this conversation can continue, an older man approaches 'Desire', arms held behind his back as he studies the painting with a quizzical eye. Yusuke nods, satisfied. "Look, a knowledgable patron has arrived!"
At this perhaps improper remark, the man turns towards the two teenagers, the question mark practically visible over his head. Yusuke, blind to his own rudeness, plows ahead: "I would like your opinion, sir... What are your thoughts on this piece?"
The man returns his gaze to 'Desire' without complaint, taking a moment to contemplate it, during which Yusuke's intent stare is fixed on him.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
Very clearly. Ren can understand the blow to his pride that must have been. Still, it's just two people; for all either of them know, maybe there was a crowd earlier that appreciated Yusuke's art. A single moment doesn't represent public sentiment--not necessarily.
...That might also be excuses, for all that only Yusuke says them out loud. Ren nods slowly once, deciding to leave the bit about 'unrefined commoners' alone. "It's too bad there isn't a museum for the Awakened. Sometimes art just needs the right audience, right? And it made it into this exhibit in the first place, so clearly someone liked it," they point out.
Before they can suggest he send a picture of it to Futaba and get her opinion, though, an older man arrives. Yusuke remarks on him, and Ren shoots him their own quizzical look. How can you tell he's knowledgeable? they want to ask, but then the man turns towards them, and Ren opts not to make the situation worse.
Yusuke clearly is capable of doing that all on his own.
...At the same time, the gentleman doesn't seem to mind the request. Ren breathes a little easier where they remain standing, now taking in not just Desire but Yusuke and this supposedly knowledgeable patron too. Is it something about his bearing or his clothing that tipped Yusuke off? Is that an outfit art critics usually wear or something?
Either way, he's clearly contemplating his response, so Ren keeps their mouth shut. This is Yusuke's moment.
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
Hand on his chin, the man speaks up. "Well, I can certainly see why it was selected for the exhibit - the technique is excellent, but the composition as a whole is... mediocre at best."
At this, Yusuke steps forward, eyes flashing as he hisses. "How dare you...!" The older man, however, seems completely unruffled by the outburst, simply responding to it with "Ah, are you the artist?" Perhaps that kind of reaction to critique is something he's used to, because he continues: "The title is listed as 'Desire'... but that idea is quite overused. Some may even call it stale. If you want to paint an abstract work with such an old theme, you must inject some individuality into it."
Yusuke blinks, taken aback, but leans forwards, intrigued and curious. Taking this as an invitation to continue, the older man looks back at the painting. "Take another look. Try to remove yourself from the artist's bias."
By this point it's pretty clear that Yusuke's assessment of this man as an experienced patron of the arts was not without merit, as he continues: "These brush strokes are splendid given your age... but does this painting really tell you anything?" Before Yusuke can answer: "It is empty, devoid of meaning."
It is not, strictly speaking, to the Phantom Thieves, but that knowledge requires context that, as Ren said, most people simply don't have. Yusuke, meanwhile, remains silent, still intently watching the man as though drinking in every word.
As he turns to leave, the man says to Yusuke: "I suggest taking a more critical eye to your work in the future if you truly want to progress as an artist."
With that, he moves on to another part of the exhibit, leaving the lanky teenager to ponder over his words. Stunned, Yusuke murmurs, "Empty...?"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
That unhurried critique and unruffled reaction do much to convince Ren that Yusuke was right and this man is a knowledgeable critic. Considering he just called the painting's composition mediocre, that doesn't bode well. Ren twitches a hand to reach out to Yusuke when he gets offended, but the man has it handled, and Ren listens as Yusuke does.
'Desire' as an overused idea... That makes sense. Everyone has desire. Surely the concept goes back thousands if not tens of thousands of years. Making it more personal--individual--to give the audience a view of Yusuke's desire, not just his depiction of what he saw in the Metaverse... Ren slips their hand back in their pocket. Yes, that does seem like solid critique.
Calling it 'empty' and 'devoid of meaning,' though--Ren frowns. Even if this guy generally knows what he's talking about, he does lack that context, and it irritates them that he'd make such a decisive statement out of a lack of understanding.
Still, they let him leave without remark. They watch him go for a moment, then approach Yusuke. "Harsh," they murmur. "Are you okay?"
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
Yusuke turns towards Ren, still turning this interaction over in his head. "... Surprised, I think. I poured my heart and soul into this piece, captured the very essence of desire... It was supposed to lay bare the reality of this world!"
He walks closer to his own work, leaning in to peer at it. The moment draws on, before: "Perhaps..."
The world seems to hold its breath.
"Perhaps he was right. It may be empty after all..."
Realization dawns, visible in the way Yusuke leans in further to examine his work: "These colours, these brush strokes... they do not convey the true meaning of desire, only my conception of it...!"
He breathes, horrified: "I haven't captured desire... desire has captured me...! How could I have fooled myself into believing otherwise!?"
So saying, he slumps to the floor, an unusually animated spectacle of despair. It is a miracle nobody seems to react to him, as he laments: "It is as though I have been forsaken by the muses! This grave mistake shall be the end for me! What is going to happen to me now...? Without art, what will remain of my being...!?"
So he remains, crumpled before the piece he mistakenly assumed was his magnum opus, its blackened swirls looming over him in silent mockery.
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
The essence of desire, the reality of the world... Ren mulls on this, then looks up at Yusuke and 'Desire' as he steps closer towards it. Maybe that's the issue that that critic meant. Certainly it's a riveting depiction of the other world, but does it really thread the needle between the Metaverse and the real world? Maybe it's that disconnect that turns the audience away...
So when Yusuke realizes that this is not true desire, merely his own conception of it, Ren thinks he's on to something. Of course, Yusuke then takes it several steps further and collapses in dramatic fashion, declaring this is the end of him.
"This is just the beginning," they try to reassure him, rubbing a lock of their bangs in thought. "Even if it's not hitting with the audience, it still got into the exhibit, remember? Even that critic said you should take a closer look at your work, not quit outright. You can keep going--you just need to learn from this and try again."
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
Yusuke remains collapsed on the floor even as Ren attempts to comfort him, and at the words 'you can keep going' he looks up, blinking, at 'Desire', before turning his head towards Ren.
"... You are correct." He picks himself up, dusting off his legs. "Surrendering myself to fate after only one failure would be very much unlike me, wouldn't it?"
He turns towards Ren - turning his back on 'Desire' symbolically as well as literally. "Being criticised by someone with such a keen eye is truly painful, but that is all the more reason I must break out of my slump. I must prove my ability to him!"
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
"It would," Ren agrees. When he goes a step further, they smile slightly. "That's the Yusuke I know. If you could endure living with Madarame and his abuse all those years, you can endure that guy and his criticism. Overcoming them will make you even stronger--and you might set a good example for Alibaba at the same time, too."
Complicated and confusing feelings aside, having someone to prove themself to has been one hell of a motivator to Ren. They can already see it lighting a fire in Yusuke's eyes too. His next piece will be far better--they're sure of it. That fire can only help him as they all continue to explore Futaba's Palace.
"Let's get going," they suggest, tilting their head to one side. "We can take a look around at the rest of the museum while we're here--get a firsthand look at what more seasoned artists have done. If you need to express more of your own individuality, seeing how others have done their works and thinking about how you'd do something like it instead should help give you a frame of reference, right?"
They pause.
"...no pun intended."
<Pose Tracker> Yusuke Kitagawa has posed.
"... Yes. There will doubtless be more to learn as we explore the tomb," Yusuke says, thoughtfully. "Her words about her mother... I cannot even begin to comprehend them."
Ren volunteers that they explore the exhibit some more, and the light of resolve shines in Yusuke's eyes. "Yes... and then I shall paint, and paint, and paint some more. Only that way will I learn to depict true emotion. Logic can only take us so far, after all."
Newly animated, he leads the way towards the works of older artists... completely missing the older gentleman returning to 'Desire' to give it another look, words about a 'slump' on his mind...