Fic and Art: Purity of Body

[pink_mint]

Title: Purity of Body
Characters: Draco
Rating: PG
Word count: 208
Created with: Painter X
Warnings: Eating disorder triggers
Summary: Ancestral tradition dictates purity of blood, purity of body and purity of mind, and only by eating the most flawless, untainted food is the boon bestowed: undiluted magic.
Notes: For hp_mhealthfest 2009, original entry here. The issue is orthorexia nervosa. Thank you, marguerite_26, for giving me such wonderful support and advice whilst working on this. Special thanks to cassie_black12, as well. Additional notes below.

Additional notes: The drabble was actually written as a last minute thing, and I'm ecstatic from the response it's received (imagine how chuffed I was when someone said the art wasn't needed!). I started with this idea and had a rather abstract vision for the artwork. After finishing it, I then knew I couldn't just explain my thoughts behind the art, as the impact simply wouldn't be there. I had to write it.

It was a challenge to take on an issue like this and present it just how I wanted to and how I felt I needed to, both in art and in writing. But of course, I like a challenge! :)

Purity of Body

The knife slices the flesh directly down in a straight line. Juice spills onto the plate, and the pungent aroma reaches Draco’s nose. His hand shakes. He shuts his eyes and breathes, trying to control the trembling.

The room pivots when he opens his eyes. He blinks rapidly and focuses on his task. One centimetre to the left, he cuts again. Ten more to go. On the third, he stops once more; he can’t hold the blade steady.

Draco has twelve slivers. Clockwise, he arranges them on the plate. A scant gap separates each so none are touching.

One slips; he begins again.

The plate is full and precisely centered on the table, and a goblet of water sits to its right. There is no silverware.

He lowers himself into the chair, spine rigid.

Grasping a piece, he brings it to his mouth, presses the cold surface flush against his lips. He inhales, and it’s sour yet saccharine. Saliva gathers on his tongue.

This sacred ritual is one he performs daily. Ancestral tradition dictates purity of blood, purity of body and purity of mind. Only by eating the most flawless, untainted food is the boon bestowed: undiluted magic.

Draco sinks his teeth into the apple. Strength consumed, power granted.

Comments

Purity of Body

[joan-waterhouse.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow. This is really powerful! The colours and Draco's posture. I adore it.

imagine how chuffed I was when someone said the art wasn't needed!
While I do think that each could stand on it's own as well, I can assure you they are the most impressive together! Not needed! *shakes-head*

Re: Purity of Body

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, sweetheart! *hugs*

I definitely agree they're best together, but the writer in me was very pleased to hear that. ;)

[anexiana.livejournal.com]

Wow...that's stunning and really powerful. The painting grips me and I love the detail you've put into it. And the text is haunting. All together, this is really special. Consider the challenge met and conquered!

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

I really appreciate that! I'm glad you enjoy the detail in the painting, and with the text, haunting is certainly a mood I was aiming for. I'm thrilled you think the whole piece is special. Thank you so much! :)

[cassie-black12.livejournal.com]

I know I've said it before, but it certainly bears repeating. This picture is beautiful, heart breaking, but beautiful nonetheless. YOu know, unobservant as I am, it took me weeks before I noticed that hint of Dark Mark on Draco's arm.

Your words compliment it perfectly, though I suspect either would stand alone as a wonderful piece of work.

Well done you!!!

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

And I'll not get tired of hearing it from you. Thanks for that! The Mark is one detail I'm especially pleased about. I'm excited you mentioned it; I didn't expect people to notice, as it does look similar to the branches and rather blends in.

Thank you very much, my dear! :)

[brissygirl.livejournal.com]

That is haunting, the amount of detail about the condition and how everything has to be precise is just amazing. I just googled it, I cannot even imagine trying to live like that.

The artwork of Draco picking the fruit, is incredibly powerful, especially with the ribs showing and the emaciated look about him. It really compliments the drabble too.

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! Yes, I think compulsive behavior would very easily develop along side this kind of illness. I can't imagine living like that, either.

I'm really glad you found the artwork powerful and think it compliments the drabble. Thanks so much again, hon. :)

[piratesmile331.livejournal.com]

*wibbles for poor Draco*
Despite his emaciated body, his face is still so very beautiful. You're so talented, dear. The fic is lovely as well. I can just see his hand trembling from the weakness he must be experiencing.

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you can look past the state of him and see beauty. I had to try to make Draco still attractive despite his condition, as I don't think he could ever not be! ;) I'm delighted you enjoyed the fic, too. Thank you, sweetheart!

[veritas03.livejournal.com]

I want to look away and I don't want to. It's beautifully done. The look in Draco's eyes as he gazes up at the apple in the thing I keep coming back to (maybe because of the rest of it's too painful). Again, beautifully done.

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Oh, I appreciate that. I'm very happy Draco's gaze has held your eye. That means a lot! His face would be the easiest thing to look at, besides the apples, and that's what I intended. ;) Thanks so much!

[tray-la-la.livejournal.com]

WOW. you need to start writing, now!!! the drabble is seriously so, so gorgeous! the art is, too, as always, though visual depictions of difficult subjects are always harder to face, imo. my heart breaks a bit looking at it.

i think that your focus on the ritual is so incredibly dead on, it's almost eerie. it's such a common eating disorder behavior/compulsion - another attempt at control - and that came across beautifully. i really love the sense of reverence in both the drabble and the picture as well, as in my experience that's also a big part of ritualization.

powerful work!!!

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow, thanks!! That definitely makes my desire to write even stronger, and I appreciate it so much. I do have a story (or four) in the works now. :) And I agree, difficult things can be much easier to stomach in written form than in picture.

The compulsion, the ritual - it almost has to be, doesn't it? He has to be consumed by this desire, this need, because it isn't just ideology anymore, it's real. His mind won't let him do anything without compulsive precision, and so he has to, otherwise he won't eat. And he's already weak, starving, because of it. So it's a vicious circle, made even more intense by the belief behind it, and yes, exactly, reverence.

I'm absolutely thrilled it came across to you well, and that you get it completely. Thank you so much, sweetheart!

[fireflavored.livejournal.com]

It's amazing to me that you managed to make this so beautiful and so horrible at the same time. My favorite thing is the slightly dehydrated look of the apples and the barren branches, mirroring the wasting body. Also, the background color is gorgeous ♥

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, sweetie. I really couldn't only do the horror, there had to be depth, something more tangible, so I'm so pleased to hear I managed it. Draco and the tree are a pair, aren't they? And I'm glad you like the background color as well; that was fun to do! ♥

[naadi.livejournal.com]

This is so beautifully done, dear - both the words and the art. You captured the essence of this disorder perfectly. I love Draco's face, and the stark lines of the branches - gorgeous! ♥

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Thank you, darling! That's just it, I really wanted to grasp the essence of the disorder, and only by telling it through physical actions. I'm so happy to hear that, and I'm also delighted you like Draco's face! ♥

[leo-draconis.livejournal.com]

Oh, my poor, beautiful Draco. Very powerful!

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, lovey! *cuddles you and darling Draco*

Also, adore your icon! I think I have the match. ;)

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

Beautiful! But poor Draco is so wee.

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

He is so very wee, the darling. Maybe he can be tempted by a bit of food play with Harry? ;) Thank you, sweetie!

[snarkyscorp.livejournal.com]

Oh wow..... That is frightening and beautiful. I don't think I can look at that picture for very long in one sitting (had a friend who suffered from anorexia very severely and it still haunts me how frail she was), but everything from the text to the picture is amazing.

The story itself, I agree, can stand on its own. It's flawless and exquisite.

Gah. How you be so talented??

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Thank you, my dear. I'm really sorry to hear about your friend. I knew someone who went through a bout of bulimia, and though she got out of it before it was too severe, it was very sad.

You sweet thing! I'm so glad you liked the story and also looked at the artwork despite the difficulty in that. Thank you, again! :)

[silentauror.livejournal.com]

Ohh, this is beautiful! Poignant and powerful all in so few words, and such vivid depiction - congratulations! ♥

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you, darling! I'm absolutely delighted you liked both story and art. ♥

[serendipity-008.livejournal.com]

wow. It makes you depressed looking at him. He looks so fragile and bruised. I can actually imagine Draco being reduced to this. Lessons of purity over a life time can certainly push someone to take it to the extreme. As everyone said this is extremely powerful. Even with it being so sad I can't help but love it :)

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful comment, thank you, sweetie! I can't tell you how thrilled I am you can imagine Draco like this. I'm happy the realism is present. I think the possibility of Draco to go to an obsessive extreme like this is there in canon; he's a determined thing, more so if he truly believes in it. I'm pleased you can enjoy this despite the sadness. Thank you, again! :)

[eyesemerald.livejournal.com]

OMG.
I don't know what haunts me more. The text or the pic.
Oh, stop.
After reading and watching once more, I know.
The pic of course. I don't need the text to be haunted. When I look at this pic, there are several texts popping up in my head, one more unpleasant than the other.

Draco's poor emaciated body speaks for itself. As does his pointed face. Reaching for the apple, thoughtful, deliberate, starving for food to restore strength he badly needs. But whilst he reaches for the apple, he already knows that the apple won't nourish his needs. OMG. If the apple could have helped him, it would have been a red one, juicy looking apple. But the the apple tree is starving just like Draco, and can only offer fruits with not much power.

I've never seen such a hopeful but hopeless expression at the same time.

Thank you for moving me like this.

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Wow, your comments are always so inspiring for me! I'm thrilled you can think of so many different stories to go with the artwork, that's a fantastic thing to hear. And oh, yes, it is a hopeful but hopeless expression, isn't it? Very conflicted.

Your interpretation is powerful and different and very lovely. I like the thought that if the apple could help him it would be a red one! The apple tree certainly reflects Draco's starvation, even though one would think it holds his salvation.

Thank you for all you've said, sweetheart. :) I'm amazed I could touch you in any way.

[mystressxoxo.livejournal.com]

You know what? He's beautiful... seriously. I knew a kid when I was younger who reminds me so much of this picture. His name was Alan, he was deaf, and he had cancer when I knew him. He had beaten it the last time I had saw him, which was years ago, but I remember him as blond, terribly skinny, and just beautiful. I didn't know sign language, but we had gotten on very well despite that. Kids just play, you know? This is beautiful, and I thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful piece! *wraps you in a bow and puts you under my Christmas tree* =^;^=

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Oh, sweetheart ... you've really moved me with that story of yours. Thank you for telling me about Alan. Kids do just play, and I can imagine it was satisfying to experience the other ways of communicating and to make a connection that way.

I'm beyond happy you honestly find Draco beautiful in this. Can't possibly tell you how much. Thank you for that and for enjoying this piece! :) *gladly sits under your Christmas tree*

[pegotha.livejournal.com]

Absolutely fantastic! Disturbing, but fantastic! The image and fic are perfect compliments to one another but I agree each would do as a stand-alone.
Just reading it made me reaally want an apple :)

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I appreciate that so much, and I'm glad you think they compliment each other nicely. Go get an apple!! Power granted and all that. ;)

[lotus-lizzy.livejournal.com]

This is hauntingly beautiful. I saw a bit of it as your header and I was excited to see the whole picture. His face is so innocent and his body is so ravaged. I love that the same effect is used on the tree with the beautiful plush and sweet fruit against the dead and thin tree branches. Wonderful job. This could hang in any art studio - regardless of fandom.

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Wow, such great feedback. I'm delighted you appreciate this piece, how I portrayed Draco and the way the tree reflects his state. I think it's so wonderful that you can see this as an art piece outside of fandom, too.

[starlollie.livejournal.com]

That face is wonderful.That is sooooo beautiful.

[pink-mint.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you really like Draco's face. Thank you!