Aʀᴛ﹐ Lɪғᴇ﹐ Dᴇᴀᴛʜ..

Shifting patterns of wavering gold slid over Robin's placid features as a harsh wind tore into the trees and left the ends of his coat shivering and an additional leaf in his clouded hair. A singular, tired jay followed this breeze and landed upon the fold of Robin's hat band, and though he did not so much as lift a finger in greeting, he did offer a polite, and rather welcoming "hello" ( not that Hwei would not be able to hear over the wind anyway). Under the melancholy there was a strange kindness ebbing his visitor's voice ... and it gave Robin pause. Perhaps the distance between them, he mused, had given Hwei the mercy of ignorance as to what he was. Nearly every Ionian he had met had named him something other than a human—a lost ghost, an Akana, a languishing form that a sane world would much rather forget existed: a demented, twisted thing, — revolting, and unworthy of the human form it wore.

"Mm, no. I have many who dwell with me, however they speak not in the tongues of you and I." He smiled, "Lest you understand the chittering of mice ~ " The mage warbled, perhaps even teased. Despite this nectary sweetness, however, Robin remained a steady distance away from Hwei, neither advancing, nor retreating. Instead he pivoted Westward, silently declaring his intent to continue his journey. With neck untwisting, Robin kept his stare fixed on Hwei as two moons reflecting in the still pond of his face: "You are more than welcome to join me, stranger. Perhaps you may find more than the inspiration you originally sought."

He seems unnerved, swallowing thickly as his melancholy eyes look over the mage with curiosity. Unsure of what to think of this newfound ally, at least - he assumed perhaps Robin was an ally. The man posed no threat to Hwei at the moment, showing no signs of aggression or hostile intent. It felt like he had come across a deer, given how quiet Robin was, the thousand-yard stare passing over his shoulders to the rest of the forest as if he were alert to something else within the dense foliage. As they both stood, Hwei could hear the whispers of the wind, carrying past his ears and tussling strands of his dark hair over his shoulder. His brush remained carefully grasped within lithe fingers, playing against the woodgrain as if he were trying to find a way to get over the anxiety and unease that welled within his chest at the sight of this ghostly figure.

"It is rather charming to hear that you enjoy the company of animals. Many men refuse to even dare spend a night within this place, let alone decide to live here." He takes a step, careful upon the moss and clover as he closes the distance between them, realizing that the more he does, the stranger the unfamiliar presence becomes. Eyes like the moon, which reflected back at him, although facing Hweis' form, glossed over like silver coins within their sockets. Polished to reflect like glass that was slotted in pale features. Framed by darkened, wide-brimmed hair and pale locks that hugged his head. Hwei pays no mind, doing his best to continue the conversation. Many creatures and humans were strange within the forest - this was no different.

"Mm. You are not wrong, mage." Robin's head angled down towards Hwei's staff with a gleam of curiosity that he offered absolutely no attempt to disguise away. Yes magic was quite commonplace in Ionia, yada yada, but Robin had always found himself drawn towards the unknown vastness of any uncharted depth (or at least what he himself had not experienced yet, be it science or magic). Robin knew himself to be insatiable, and maybe even a bit unwilling to resist its tug at times. This one seemed calm enough. He cooed, pleasant and soft:

"My quiet is a different sort, though, unlike those wandering, lost in their loneliness. You needn't sound so weary ~"

Wide, sightless eyes drank the artist in, but could not see much besides how the blurred figure had become dotted with the day’s first gold through the canopy (and while he could not see Hwei's face, he assumed that his visitor looked rather pathetic given how melancholic they sounded). Robin's petaled lips quirked at their edges, the only motion in a face that otherwise held itself eerily still; as though he were a painted doll rather than a human being. In fact, Robin remained entirely still for a long moment and just … watched Hwei.

"But you do not seem lost, or wandering at this moment either." Robin keened. His head slowly swiveled — left, right, (thankfully not disturbing the few butterflies that had taken rest upon the brim of his hat since the beginning of their conversation) before finally fixing his canted gaze upon Hwei once more,

"What brings you so deep into the wilderness?"

Robin was correct with his assumption - although Hwei wandered around aimlessly frequently, today was not one of those days. The painter had stepped foot into the forest with a mission, he sought what the people of the area had addressed as an Akana of sorts. Following the strands of suspicious magic that wove through the air and hung over his newfound companion. This wasn’t exactly what he was expecting, for someone to be called an Akana meant that there was a curse or perhaps misfortune that plagued their presence. But Robin himself was nothing more than an unfortunate blind man who seemed to take residence in the area.

@infinite-xerath liked for a starter

Fingers fiddle around his brush as energy makes the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. Golden hues looking upwards at what would be a mighty god to some, the magic it possessed arcing off its body as it loomed ahead. A living embodiment of endless power that could surge and strike any unlucky enemy down with a single beckon of a digit. It's striking to see him, acolytes warily watching the painter as he stands there awkwardly. Unsure what to do now that he was face-to-face with the one they called Xerath.

The painter seems uneasy, justifiably so, considering that it wasn’t often a mere human could be granted the privilege of speaking to what would be considered an earthly god. He can feel the sparks of energy running through his body, like static in his veins as he remained grounded in the sand. He swallows the lump within his throat as he shifts his weight between his spindly legs. Working up his internal courage to speak to the towering god.

“The energies of this land are almost akin to my homeland. I was curious when I felt the influx of magic nestled within such a barren waste.” In truth he wasn’t wandering aimlessly, he simply followed the magic. Arcs of energy which flowed like water, fluxing with the sparks of lightning that danced on every speck of sand which dusted the ground. Leading here to this massive floating being. The air was charged, mixed with the distant hum of electric. It wasn’t very distant now that he had found its source. But it still somehow was light, like a whisper that floating around his ears and danced upon the strands of hair that still stood on end.

❛  are you always so competitive?  ❜ ❛  are you okay? are you hurt?  ❜ ❛  are you sure you can do this on your own?  ❜ ❛  are you thinking what i'm thinking?  ❜ ❛  can you go take care of this, please?  ❜ ❛  can you show me how to fight?  ❜ ❛  can you tell me more about your adventures?  ❜ ❛  do you believe in ghosts?  ❜ ❛  do you ever think about anyone other than yourself?  ❜ ❛  does it really have to be like this?  ❜ ❛  don't you think you've already done enough damage for one day?  ❜ ❛  has no one ever given you a compliment before?  ❜ ❛  have i ever told you how beautiful you look in the glow of the moonlight?  ❜ ❛  have you noticed anything different about me lately?  ❜ ❛  haven't you ever wondered why i never talk about my childhood?  ❜ ❛  how can you just go to sleep like nothing happened?  ❜ ❛  how many more people have to suffer before you realize your madness?  ❜ ❛  is there anything else i can do for you?  ❜ ❛  is this really how you want this to end?  ❜ ❛  isn't it ironic?  ❜ ❛  what are your plans for today?  ❜ ❛  what else do you want me to say?  ❜ ❛  what else have you hidden from me?  ❜ ❛  what happened here? where is all that smoke coming from?  ❜ ❛  what has happened in your life that made you like this?  ❜ ❛  when were you going to tell me?  ❜ ❛  where are we supposed to go from here?  ❜ ❛  who will be able to stop them now?  ❜ ❛  why can't you just act like a normal person?  ❜ ❛  why can't you just leave me alone?  ❜ ❛  why can't you just stay focused?  ❜ ❛  why does everything always have to be so complicated?  ❜ ❛  why should i believe you now when you've told nothing but lies?  ❜ ❛  why won't you just tell me what i did wrong?  ❜ ❛  will it ever stop hurting so much?  ❜ ❛  will you go out on a date with me?  ❜ ❛  will you just shut up and kiss me already?  ❜ ❛  will you please text me when you get home safely?  ❜ ❛  you're completely out of your element here, aren't you?  ❜

“Wh—HUH!? NO!! I don’t LET him, he just DID it!!” A groan leaves the more animated of the two as he slumps back on his chair with another heavy sigh, head tilted backward in his clear defeat. Most wouldn’t see the two of them together and assume they were close—Hwei was much more quiet than Ezreal was, and Ezreal was loud enough for a whole group of people. Still, through all of Hwei’s help and tips about Ezreal’s secret little model building hobby, he was glad to have someone to talk to about it who wouldn’t look at him weird.

After a moment he leans forward; arms curled upon the table and chin resting on them as he huffs. “He asked to help!! I said ‘yeah sure, pass me that piece’ and get a muffled ‘I can’t’ and then next thing I know it’s because he ATE IT! Don’t blame it on me dude, I didn’t let him do SHIT!” His gaze falls back to his phone as it rested on the table, slowly flicking through it.

“I gotta pick another model to build…”

"It sounds like he eats plastic frequently with how you delivered that story, Ezreal." There's a swipe of Hweis fingers against his tablet before he locked the screen, pulling one of the gloves off his hands to fully turn to the other. Giving him his full attention. The tiredness of his eyes contrasting the lively scattered vibrancy of Ezreals as he flailed around helplessly telling his story. Their movements was like watching a typhoon crash against the calm of a cliffside that couldn't be bothered by it's disruption. Spare for a small breeze that disturbed the flowers that sprouted from the cliffs edge. 

Hwei tucks his hair behind his ear, leaning against the palm of his hand as he sighs to himself. Melting into the comfort of his hand as his body slumped slightly. Weight leaning into the limb that supported him as he settled more into the conversation. No longer occupied by his work.

"Where is he anyways? You two are usually around each other most of the time. Glued at the hip."