Luc's eyes went wide for a second before he burst into laughter. He pulled his checkbook out when he removed his hands from his pockets to stifle his amusement somewhat.
“Of course I'm kidding - Jesus H.” He had to roll his eyes despite his bright grin, shooting Joaquin a sideways look of disapproval. He mocked offense at the suggestion that he would have seriously asked the other man to start all over again – for free. “Are you serious? Do you really think I'm that much of an asshole?” He snorted a laugh and looked back at the paintings, the admiration clear on his expression this time. “I would at least offer you more money if I were gonna do that.” Joaquin should know that much about Luc by now – he was overly generous with funding.
Well, Joaquin could probably protest that yes, Luc was an asshole for making out with him and calling him someone else's name, and then again for avoiding him – even if most of the 'avoiding' was merely the convenience of being busy for the first time in awhile. And Luc couldn't really argue the fact that, yeah, he kind of was. Sure, he felt shitty about it (really shitty, in fact – but it was really better this way, wasn't it?), but he told himself (over and over and over again) that it would salvage what little friendship they had if he just feigned ignorance. And then it wasn't really a lie, right? If he just said he didn't remember? Like pleading the fifth, kind of..
Except that it was a lie.
He filled out the check, neat and quick like he'd practiced a million times before (and he had). $2,500 paid to the order of: Joaquin Barton. Luc scripted Joaquin's name (he'd never admit how he kind of liked writing it out) and printed the rest, save his signature. He noted “commission: paid in full” on the memo line before handing it over to Joaquin.
He eyed the paintings again, and it felt like money well spent. And, hell, it was the least he could do. He almost wanted to throw in a bonus, but felt that would be way too obvious a gesture.. or something.
“I think the lighting in here's better than in my room right now – do you think I could take some pictures of them here to send to a couple friends of mine?” He pulled his BlackBerry out of his pocket then, selecting the camera option on it. “You never know, I may be able to get you some referrals.” He offered the other man a slight smile and a helpless shrug, like it was the best apology he could muster for how bad he felt about all that had happened between them.