#whisperingbrushes

"I'm afraid I can't help you there." Xi Yueyao speaks as politely as always, her smile barely even strained as she looks over the man who's requested her assistance. At times like this, she's glad that her training as a psychiatrist has helped perfect her "customer service" appearance - even if on the inside she wants to complain or doesn't care about what's being asked of her at all.

But today's request is... a little strange. It makes her feel strange, too, discomfort stirring in her gut in a way that makes her inclined to judge the perpetrator causing it just a little. What is he talking about, anyway? Yes, Yueyao has always been able to see things... things that others can't. But that's nothing more than a symptom of her schizophrenia, isn't it?

"I'm sorry to say it, but I'm not the expert you think I am. If there was something else you needed, maybe then I could lend a hand...?"

"It's not quite traditional art, but..."

Amanda seems like she's quite used to explaining the details of her craft to others. She talks as if she's done it a hundred times before, not sounding disinterested, exactly - but each word is clearly practiced; rehearsed, making it difficult to spot any passion underneath it all.

Difficult, but not impossible. Something has clearly drawn her to the creation of these displays, this interplay of light and shadow that's almost magical in the dreary atmosphere it creates. And somehow, when she talks to Edgar again, this time - her words suddenly seem to lose that practiced edge, becoming less routine and more genuine. Something about him intrigues her more than the others.

"Well, I think it can bring something that a simple drawing cannot. You're a creator yourself, aren't you? Do you have any thoughts?"

It's possible that Xiao Chi has long since been locked into a path of damnation. Ever since the moment he made his choice, he's known that to be the case.

Deciding to stay in a realm beyond the reach of humans where there might never come a chance to escape again... a place filled with danger and malice, trapping not only the body but the soul itself... only a madman would make a choice like that. Or an idiot, perhaps - he very well may be both. But that's fine. To Xiao, even the slimmest chance of achieving his goal was worth it, even if it might come to nothing in the end.

All to end Xi's curse. She wasn't happy about it, mind you. But a fate like this might suit someone like Xiao, because he's never exactly been a good person. He wants to save her even if that's not what she wants, and he's sure that there must be a way to do it - so who was he to turn down the best chance he was ever going to have?

Of course, he doesn't know how long he's been wandering this realm now. It feels like an eternity... but he's pretty sure it hasn't actually been that long at all. Every step matters, even if it feels like he's just been going in circles. But he hadn't expected this. To end up stumbling upon another human being after all this time...

"Well, I guess miracles do happen after all. Hey - so you ended up somewhere you shouldn't be too, did you?"

Frederick doesn't know what to think of Edgar Valden. Sometimes, looking at the man feels like staring across a mirror at himself. ...Despite what people think, Frederick isn't entirely oblivious to the way he can come across - and the arrogant detachment people see in him can be seen just as vividly in Edgar, at least upon the surface.

Of course, where Frederick has music, Edgar has his art. And very much unlike Frederick, Edgar actually possesses a modicum of talent when it comes to creation, something Frederick finds himself envious of despite his best efforts. But... all he can see in the end is what's presented on the surface. He knows that, but that doesn't make it any less difficult to avoid letting his own perceptions influence him...

Right now, though, something about Edgar seems slightly different than usual. It's enough to catch Frederick's attention - or perhaps paranoia would be a better word - and Frederick finds himself speaking even though he might regret it later.

"You look... troubled, Mr. Valden. Is something not to your liking?"