A new World

B a s t i e n

I can fit two people under my skin
Yea I can fit two people under my skin

Darkeye didn't know it, but the question of if there were any paintings of Rexanna was quite funny, given the room above them was half-full of nothing but oil interpretations of her face. With a quiet huff of laughter, Bastien nodded and headed just out of the studio door, up a couple of steps to where one of the portraits hung. Walking back to the opening, he turned it so Darkeye could see: She was beautiful, brown hair just past her shoulders that had a subtle sheen almost like dark oil; eyes with flecks of sapphire in a warm smile - red lips turned up at the edges. Gold earrings and what looked like the beginnings of a complex gold and white dress covered her shoulders, the painting ending at her collarbones. "This is Rexanna. My love...I am fortunate that I thought to paint her many times before she left."

As for what had been taking his time...he opened his mouth then closed it again, unsure just how much he could say. "Things the Voice asks us to do. I'm afraid I cannot say more - I hope you understand, but there are some secrets that cannot reach the wrong people." After all, Darkeye was Accepted. While he was kind to Bastien on this first meeting, there was no guarantee he'd stay friendly to the Ascended once a member of the Order had gotten their claws in.

Happy for something else to speak of, something he could help with, Bastien nodded and went to fetch paper and charcoal, pencils and all other variety of drawing tools. These were found easily, a large box containing enough for ten people to draw all day placed on the table. "Feel free to take what you wish. Anyone is welcome in here, even when I am not here, if you want to work on it. I would love to see your tablets." He'd never been scared of other's cultures and beliefs; were Caido a different place he would have happily been making portraits of all the Gods together.

As for Az...a fond smile came over his face as he ran a hand along the edge of the box. "Thank you. They are out exploring, living life...you see, Rexanna and I only had Azrael a couple of years ago, just before she died, but - they grew within only a couple of years to an adult. That is the way here with children the Gods have assisted with." It had been fascinating, but heartbreaking, to see the years zoom by in months. "So while it hardly feels like it, Azrael is an adult. They are out doing what all young adults do. Making friends, having adventures...I just ask them to come and speak to their worrying father every so often."

And I will prove it if you will listen
You crawl up in there and join me within