My Name Still Ties

Isidore Feng • 27 • Closed RP blog for Chasing Horizons RP

[sunlitartistry]

(dylan wang/27/transgender male+he/they) ISIDORE FENG has been in Eden Ros for UNDER A YEAR, and is from INVERNESS, SCOTLAND. They are 27 and work at THE KINRIGG BUILDING as a FREELANCE ARTIST. Rumor has it, they’re a DAY FAE associated with UNAFILLIATED They are CREATIVE and OUTGOING, but also SNOBBISH and EMOTIONAL. (cal/29/cst)

Name: Isidore Age: 27 Pronouns: He/They Species: Day Fae Faction: Unafilliated Occupation: Freelance Artist Hometown: Inverness, Scotland Sexuality: Gay Relationship Status: It’s complicated

stats • bio • wanted connections • headcanons • playlist • pinterest

Bio

Isidore lived in a world of pragmatism and rigidity. His mother, Wen, was a mathematics professor, and his father, Kai, was a medical doctor. His sister, Celeste, showed great promise in the sciences as they grew up, and Isidore only wanted to create. Where his sister was drawn to astronomy and nighttime activities, Isidore wanted to spend time in the sun out in nature. As much as he loved his family, it became more and more clear that he was nothing like the rest of them. That isn’t to say that his family didn’t encourage his creative pursuits, they did! However, Isidore could never shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right in terms of himself when compared to the members of his family.

As young Isidore grew up, he had a figure that would visit him each night to teach him how to glamour himself to the human world and teach the dangers of being discovered. He always referred to this figure as the “Shadow Lady” and his parents always chalked it up to an overactive imagination. When Isidore turned ten, he began to pursue the Shadow Lady when she attempted to bring him back to his room. Instead, he started demanding to know more; to go with her. Every time she refused, leaving Isidore confused as to what he was and what he was truly capable of. 

Having wings in a family full of wingless humans grew more and more of a problem, and by the time Isidore hit fourteen, he knew he couldn’t continue to live in a world where humans didn’t know what he was. He kept finding himself accidentally trapping people into promises or deals without knowing what he was doing, kept almost dropping his glamour in moments of intense emotions. As a teenager, he found it harder and harder to feel like he belonged. So for a year, Isidore planned to leave home with no plan on returning for the safety of his family.

At fifteen, Isidore left Inverness in search of answers. He traveled throughout the country, but ended up spending the most amount of time in lowly-populated areas as he spent time finding any fae that would teach him what they knew. For years, he avoided contact with human populations for fear of being found by authorities looking to reunite him with his human family, yet he continued to evade them. After three years of being taken in by whatever fae he could find from wildlings to night fae to his own kind, the day fae, Isidore turned eighteen, and felt he could finally risk travelling to more populated areas again. 

Instead of going home, Isidore took his French language skills and moved to Paris, France, where he studied studio art at Paris College of the Arts. For four years, he honed his skills in art to develop what was once a lifelong passion and hobby into a career he could turn into a business. He was rather gifted in semi-realism, and found himself drawn to portraiture. Upon graduation, Isidore began working with various game companies as a character designer, travelling around wherever made sense for him at the time. 

At twenty-six, Isidore knew he had to stop focusing as much on his career and begin to travel to places that helped him to sustain his magic. Though the idea of getting too close to home worried him, Isidore couldn’t fight the fact that he was innately drawn to Scotland. He’d heard through different contacts of Eden Ros. With the money he’d made through his career, Isidore moved back to Scotland and settled down roots in the town that allowed him to both be himself and continue to do the job he loved. While he’s no means the most gifted fae, he has enough baseline skills in both healing and light manipulation to at least scrape by.

[errantesadas]

And there it was. Passion. Spark. Metzli was a little envious of the feeling, but seeing it had to be enough for them. They took a few notes on their clipboard, citing a number of things they and Isidore needed to flesh out to make this idea successful.

"Approachable to investors, sure, but young artists have more than once called me an android. They don't know I heard them." Metzli chuckled, shaking their head. It wasn't anything they hadn't heard before.

"We could make a contract so you get paid, and we'll need to make a plan, but if you want to try this and educate the next generation of artists on the professional world, I'm all in." Maybe they wouldn't always sign the artist on, but there was still pride in that work. Well treated roots cultivated the most impressive crops.

"Perhaps we hold a weekly or monthly seminar for these students, and for those that can't afford schooling, too."

[sunlitartistry]

"Well if you need approachable artists, considered me interested." Isidore bowed his head slightly, a half smile quirking across one side of his face. Everyone was allowed to march to the beat of their own drum, Isidore decided. Seeing as how he certainly did just that, he saw no reason why Metzli couldn't do the same. Even if it, apparently, only appealed to investors.

"I think to start, a seminar could be a great way to get a community involvement. Start small, work our way up to more if the interest is there," he suggested with wide, focused eyes. He loved this idea, and the idea of being able to help people that were down on their luck made him all the more excited.

"Keeping it open to the public as opposed to just art students would be a lovely way to get people involved that aren't able to get proper schooling. I've seen incredible artists that are one-hundred percent self-taught. There's no reason that they shouldn't be included!" He clutched the pamphlet in his hands tightly, leaning towards the other with an excitement he hadn't allowed himself to feel in some time.

[orville-deighton]

"Come now, that is not the look of someone blending into anything," he said, with an easy grin. It was a very flattering outfit, and one well-coordinated to the aesthetics of the club. "After all, I have spotted you, oui? Certainly to be only the first of many." Orville waved a hand at the man's thanks — "Of course, of course. It is nothing, really, just a way to say hello."

He slid his card back into his wallet and tucked it away, then took his drink as the bartender passed it to him. "Isidore... I am Orville. You have quite the elegant name; gift of Isis." Years of travel & exploration, of looking further into the mythos driving his former friends, had familiarized him with those ties to Egyptian gods & goddesses. "Do you live in town, or are you only visiting?"

[sunlitartistry]

Isidore shrugged, he couldn't argue with the guy's logic. "Well as long as you aren't like creepy dude number three from a few minutes ago trying to get me to dance with him after trying and failing to buy me a drink. You're smooth enough to get away with it." He shot the man an amused smirk.

Once again, he was impressed by this man's readily available knowledge. And for a brief moment, he heavily contemplated taking notes on this man's approach. He could learn a thing or two on how to get people to talk to him as easily as Orville was getting him to talk. "So you're French and you happen to know the meaning behind names. Color me impressed."

Isidore's focus was momentarily torn away from the stranger as the drink was placed in front of him, and he took a moment to take a sip from it before setting it back down beside him. "I live here. New in town, I guess you could say. Little over half a year here, not quite a full year. Long enough to get used to a routine, but not long enough to have established roots, you know?"

[amoraldestructionchaoticcreation]

Watching Isidore as he spoke, Bellamy grinned faintly in his quiet observation over the other. Realizing he was staring too much, he turned his gaze away as he spoke, "Do they?" He had enjoyed art, of course. But he was never one to follow art on social media. His interest more aligned with going to museums. Art outside of that was mostly discovered at random intervals of exploring the internet. He considered, at times, that if he could choose a medium in art, it would be painting. The ability to physically touch what he was making, in such a way, much like many of his more favorite hobbies, was that he enjoyed in most of them the ability to interact with them in the material world. Like his making of candy, or potions. Or candy, like potions. Throwing an ax felt better in the real world than talking about it online. Being in basically a coven, it caused him a little bit of a laugh, "Cult-like behavior is exhausting to see in such spaces." Bellamy glanced away, glad not to get too involved in the online world, like that.

He enjoyed his ability to have privacy. Of course, it wasn't always the case now, or growing up. Being in not only a wealthy family, but an important family of Primal Witches, on top of that. There was certainly times he had to his at people like a feral cat, just to set a boundary indefinitely. If he was 'crazy' to some people who invaded that privacy, so be it. Bellamy looked again toward Isidore, "I'd love that, Izzy." He continued, giving a small nod of his head, "We are our first critics, in many ways, aren't we? Perhaps it's not so bad to be in the rabbit hole. But to obsess, and obsess, and obsess with something, that might be something we definitely should avoid." Yet, was he not prone to obsession with things…or others, regardless?

Bellamy stared at Isidore, weakly grinning at the others' eye-rolling that followed. His grin grew distinctly more apparent on his lips at this as Isidore spoke. Amused. Isidore was so close to him, so close. He could almost feel his warmth. He inhaled a little, blinking as he cast his gaze away, fidgeting at the shelf they were near in his nervousness as Isidore spoke. Risking only briefly looking onto Isidore again when the other chuckles, "Oh. Well, they are very precious, undoubtedly. But, you have twisted my arm." Bellamy made sure such stock was often specifically asked for, as it was precious material regardless, that shouldn't have been handled out at random whims, due to their special properties. A lollipop with aloe vera concentrate was nothing compared to what some of the rarer… exotic plants he grew were capable of doing.

Holding up his hands playfully, he made a light, silly face at the others small, playful, glaring, "Your wallet is safe." As Isidore continued, Bellamy glanced around the nursery a little, not anything too powerful was out in the open. Someone had to ask for the more powerful plants specifically, revealing more or less who they were, to get them. Being neutral, Bellamy didn't look too deeply into some orders he had filled out in his time as owner of the nursery. As long as he could be neutral about things, the better, "Ah." He raised a hand, loosely gesturing, giving a small wag of his index finger, "See, that might be concerning behavior, actually." Though he could not argue, he could get into a flow state at times, too, and it would probably be days before he came back from his focused fixation, "Well, I could certainly give you a few ideas on doing something else." Bellamy nodded, leaning a little more toward the other for a moment, before pulling himself back slightly again.

As the other took the tablet, he nodded, "Line work is not always so bad to look at." Quirking an eyebrow at the others' swiping, he squints a little. When he was again shown the tablet, he craned his head to look at what was on it. An orc and a dragon, "Oh-" Studying the image for a moment or so more, he nodded, "I think it will be a wonderful piece when finished. You can't really turn down anything that's got a dragon in it, now can you? The orc's armor also really brings in a sort of culture they come from. It reminds me of a game I'd play in high school." Bellamy commented. After a moment or so, Bellamy seemed to remember something, "How…is the aloe vera I gave to you a while back, by the way?" Aloe vera was an amazing plant, it may not have popped with colors or standard beauty. But that was not really its point. It was a protective plant, with thorns, as well as its contents. But in the right hands, that protection could be turned into the supernatural. His hands preened this plant tediously for Isidore.

[sunlitartistry]

"Well the cult-like behavior wouldn't welcome you anyway," Isidore teased back, knowing they'd never find common ground on Isidore's internet habits. He didn't mind the artists he surrounded himself with, didn't mind their interactions. While there was sometimes online drama, it never revolved around anything to do with him, so it never bothered him. He was content with his life, which was a lot more than he could have said even five years ago, truth be told.

"For now, I have to keep slogging away at my commissions. I closed my queue, but I'm still backlogged a few months. Which is a good problem to have, all things considered." He shrugged his shoulders, a certain tiredness in his eyes when he spoke about continuing to work. He didn't do many pieces for himself anymore, though he did try. But he spent so much time getting paid to do art, that when it was time to do it for enjoyment, he would much rather do literally anything else.

"My wallet is safe, but the only thing that stops me from going home with a giant monstera is you and limited flat space." Isidore chirped back with an amused smirk. "Yeah, concerning maybe. But I won't change. I'm too stubborn for that." He wrinkled his nose, but there was a smile in his eyes that he couldn't mask no matter how hard he tried. "That's why I need you to force it. Anyone else and I'd be grumpy, but like I said, you have the special touch."

"No, the dragon was too good to pass up. Monetarily and creatively. I love working on a giant illustration piece like this, lets me get lost in the details without having to worry if I charged enough for it. This guy wanted me to go crazy with it, so crazy I will go." He tapped a finger to his temple, as if the insanity was already within him, primed and ready to go. Which, it absolutely was.

"Oh, the aloe?" isidore looked instantly guilty. "I, uh... I'm bad with plants that need less water and more sunlight. Tropical plants I've got down, but any succulent or cactus dies as soon as I get my hands on it." He seemed to droop at his admission, looking away. "Maybe you... shouldn't give me another aloe. They'll just keep dying, Bells."

[petaledarmour]

Oh, Izzy was quite the delight. Welcoming and accepting, with no sign of ill intent. Teagan was all too ready to jump in and give the stranger a giant hug, but she stopped herself. It'd been well over a decade since she fell for the wolf in sheep's clothing trick. Though she had a feeling Izzy was safe, Teagan knew she had to play it even safer.

"Those little rectangle doo-dads are useless out here, even with service." She stepped closer, scrunching her nose playfully. "The pixels and bytes are nothing compared to the views out here, and mother nature has a way of providing knowledge if you're willing to look." A shrug. "Or listen."

Propping a hand to her ear, she beckoned Izzy to quiet themself and listen, pointing toward a sound. It was a babbling brook. Each pop and trickle of water rippling its tune to anyone who would listen. "Water!" Her welsh accent thickened with her excitement. "There's only one river that runs through this area, and it's toward town. That's a neat bit of knowledge, that is."

[sunlitartistry]

The more he spent time in the presence of Teagan, the more he felt a sense of safety. He wasn't sure if that was necessarily a good thing, exactly, but he prided himself on his ability to trust his gut after living on his own from a young age.

There was something to what the woman was suggesting in lieu of being reliant on his phone that spoke to him, had him inching closer to her as he put a hand to her ear as if to listen to the world around her. Sure enough, he heard the running water that she'd brought attention to.

Something his father had told him when he was growing up, that if he ever found himself lost, to follow a body of water. His father had never been lost a day in his life, and quite frankly, wasn't so sure his father had ever spent time outside for longer than it took to get in his caqr to drive to and from work. He wasn't so sure how credible the information was.

But here was this woman talking about the area's natural makeup like she knew it intrinsically. He wanted to know more about her. "So if I wanted to get even more lost, all I should do is follow the stream back to town?" He asked, making no movement of following it. He was content being lost for now, this was where he could let his true self be free without many consequences to be had. If he did it here, he reasoned, he wouldn't do it in the middle of the grocery store in the produce isle where poor Grandma Ruth would faint at the sight of his wings.

[elysiankerr]

closed starter for @sunlitartistry where: tamh park when: afternoon

Every day she wasn't arrested for the death of her parents (if they could even be called that) felt like a step in the right direction for Elyse. Unfortunately, it also felt like another step towards a cliff's edge from which she'd never recover (if she hadn't already).

It wasn't exactly easy to figure out this fae business, with no specific direction to strike out in. Every attempt felt like hopelessly thrashing against the sea. Wave after wave of doubt and confusion beat back against her. The only thing Elyse had probable cause to believe was that her necklace -- the strange tugtupite thing that changed in the sun -- was part of this. Because the more she thought about it, the more she realized it had never once come off. Not even when it didn't quite fit the outfit she was wearing. And every time she had a thought to try to remove it, her mind was thrown elsewhere. Her hands could try, and they did, but the power of a good fashion accessory won out every time.

Coco Chanel would turn over in her grave for that one.

So Elyse wandered the trails at Tamh Park in desperate hopes that the path to Fae would open itself again and that woman who shone like the sun would answer her questions, or perhaps break the chain. Maybe that man with the sword, who'd given her a business card...

"How fucking hard is it to find Wonderland out here?" she growled as she stalked through the trees, deviating slightly from the paths set out by others. It seemed to be her lot in life, after all.

[sunlitartistry]

It had been a long past few weeks for Isidore in terms of his other side. The side he pretended wasn't there, the side that he failed to control when his emotions got the better of him, which they often did. The side that had a pair of fuck-off wings and glowed light a damn lightbulb if he wasn't careful. Being a fae who grew up surrounded by humans was a living nightmare, isidore had decided. So when he finally was caught up with his work, when he finally allowed himself a moment to breathe, he escaped into the middle of nowhere to simply let himself be who he truly was.

Funny thing about that was he wasn't sure if who he truly was matched the outside so much. He knew a thing or two about that to begin with, but now he had a pair of wings? Ridiculous. Get rid of one thing and another makes itself known. At least there was a solution to the other one, at least. The wings, he wasn't so sure had an answer other than accepting his fate.

A voice cut through his melancholic overthinking, and he immediately jumped up from the fallen tree he had been sitting on, looking around for cover. never mind it was overcast and he had a slight illumination coming off of him, he wasn't exactly thinking very clearly. For someone who had survived on his own for over ten years, he was bad at thinking ahead.

The figure came into view, and Isidore panicked and hid behind a tree, trying to keep his wings close to his body and control the glow. The ends of his wings near his shoulders stuck out, and the glow certainly wasn't being controlled. This wasn't going according to plan. He squeezed his eyes shut anyway, like that would make him invisible to this person.

[errantesadas]

"Hermoso." The gallerist nodded along impressed, delighted by the technical expertise. Artists didn't need to know all the language to create art. In fact, many legends simply picked up a brush and got to work. That wasn't how Metzli worked as an artist themself, though. Or generally.

When it came to passion, they engrossed themself in the quiet nuance, studying things thoroughly so they had as much knowledge as possible. It was what made them an excellent curator. They could spot a forgery in minutes. Sometimes even seconds. They could place items from the Ming Dynasty to the present. Down to the way the paint was made in the respective period.

"So you want to connect?" That was something they could offer, though it'd be the first time. The two of them would have to work out the kinks. "If it's not an income you're aiming for, perhaps you'd rather assist the students that come in here hoping to find their start? There's only so much knowledge I can offer, and I'm afraid I intimidate most of them anyway. You are much more approachable."

[sunlitartistry]

As soon as the offer was put in front of him, Isidore perked up considerably. The idea of helping budding artists appealed to him. He had the connections and experience, and he was more than willing to teach students how to curate an online presence and get their art in front of more eyes as he had done. "I could do that, yeah!" He quickly said, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear.

"I am quite approachable, yes. I think you are too, otherwise you wouldn't be running a gallery as successfully as you are," Isidore pointed out with a gentle smile. "I like spending time around other artists. Better to get ideas and build off of each other than you would with someone who simply says 'well I couldn't do that' when you show them a piece for feedback purposes."

[errantesadas]

"No particular firm theme. MuertArte is coined from the Spanish words for death and art. This town has many peculiarities and the artists tend to reflect this, but I welcome all talent." It would be incredibly limiting otherwise, though Metzli did prefer the macabre. They resonated more with it.

"Please." Metzli put a hand up to halt any further apologies. "I have artists that haven't done this at all and seem all too ready to sign whatever I put in front of them, but I would rather explain any gaps first even if the questions haven't been asked." Because Metzli didn't like lying, and artists deserved the respect of clarity.

"What are your preferences as far as subjects go?"

[sunlitartistry]

Isidore nodded, feeling more at ease since Metzli seemed to truly care about the lives of the artists that displayed in their gallery as much as the gallery itself. It was comforting. Isidore seldom felt comforted in professional scenario such as this, so it was a unique experience for him, to say the least.

"I like doing portraits. Whether with references or live models, I like to draw as many different people as possible. I use a lot of more difficult angles in my traditional art, so angles and poses that have a lot of foreshortening and dynamic posing. I use oil paints, and like to make use of chiaroscuro in my works as well." Isidore felt like he was selling himself again, being an artist was a very humbling experience at times.

"For me, this is more of a way to network and meet other artists than an earning opportunity. Obviously it's excellent when my art sells, but that isn't my main objective, if that makes sense." Isidore admitted with a bit of a vulnerable expression. He loved art, but he missed the collaboration that art school offered to him. The real world wasn't as collaborative as he would have hoped.

[orville-deighton]

who: @sunlitartistry where: harvest gold when: late july

True to his promise, he was coming by Harvest Gold more frequently. It was a fun, happening spot full of fresh & interesting people. It wasn’t a place for a hunt, but hunger was to be sated another night. Tonight was about enjoying life, and losing himself in the world long enough to (hopefully) return home with a spark of inspiration.

Orville had played lately with adorning one of his more real-looking prosthetics: first had been the ‘nails’, artfully bedazzled with stones to catch the light; now he was experimenting with paint, having drawn elegant gold patterns over the surface. It glinted in the light, his sleeve cuffed just under the elbow. In a quieter venue, it would be too much; but it fit in rather well to the glitz and the glamour of Harvest Gold.

"Non, put it on my tab," he interjected, before the man next to him could get his wallet out. "My treat. And for me..." he lolled his head to the side, contemplating. "Surprise me. Your favorite, or something fun. Merci."

Call it unconventional, bold, over-the-top; Orville saw little point in playing coy in his friendly overtures. There were a great deal of things he went about gradually, but introductions weren't one of them. He offered his hand to the man. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I hope you do not mind my interruption to your night."

[sunlitartistry]

Isidore liked to turn up at various haunts to force himself out of the apartment. It was easy for him to get wrapped up in what he was doing for a commission and forgetting to take care of himself, so when he caught himself doing that, he forced himself out of the house to reset and charge his social battery. That's how he ended up at Harvest Gold.

He'd put on his best outfit, a white croptop with gold detailing and tight black pants and a pair of boots with gold metal detailing to match the overall theme he had going on. Gold felt appropriate, given the name of the establishment, after all.

He'd ordered an old fashioned, and just as he was about to pay for it, a French accent graced his ears, and it caused him to perk up as the man insisted on paying for his drink. Now, Izzy liked to think he was hard to please, hard to win over, but it was a French accent and a winning smile that always made him weak. Damn this man and his stupid accent. One day Isidore wouldn't prove his own beliefs of self wrong.

"Please, interrupt away. I was just sitting here blending into the furniture until you walked up. Thanks for paying for my drink, by the way." An easy smile stretched across Isidore's face as he looked over the stranger, noticing the fancy prosthetic. This one was a creative soul, or so he'd like to believe, given the paint details on the arm. "I'm Isidore, the pleasure is all mine." His sly, crooked smile turned into a full-on grin, the smooth ease of which Isidore tried to come across with slowly turning into his regular, excitable self.

[errantesadas]

While Isidore pitched themself to Metzli, they took to writing down a few notes. There were quite a few sculptors in the gallery, but most pieces were on canvas or some sort of display with paint. Metzli preferred it that way, though they'd never turn away talent. If they did, that wasn't sustainable, nor was it any way to run a gallery.

"Everything you're saying makes sense." Metzli nodded, adding a final note about Isidore's preferences to their clipboard. "We do things a little differently here." Pulling out a borchure, Metzli slid it over their desk for Isidore to take. It had all the general information for artists that wanted to collaborate with them.

"Art students from the university also display things here, and I work with the school to do showings for graduating students as a final exam. Afterwards, I give them the opportunity to show and network after graduation. Their pieces are displayed for a month and all earnings are theirs." Metzli gestured to the brochure. "Whereas artists like yourself would be displayed for three to five months, with an opportunity for permanent installation. Any pieces sold would be subject to a thirty percent cut for the gallery, and all other profit goes to you." A pause. "Any questions?"

[sunlitartistry]

Isidore picked up the brochure as it was slid over to him, leafing through its contents as Metzli spoke. He had no issue with fees, or with talking to students if they wanted to network. If anything, the idea of being able to talk to budding artists excited him, seeing as how he'd been in their shoes once upon a time.

"Is there a theme that's followed, or is it just a general whatever the artist chooses to display kind of thing?" He asked curiously as he kept reading over the details in the leaflet. Truthfully, he hadn't really displayed any of his work in a gallery setting since being a student. it was daunting, and he just found it easier to do commission based work than create something and hoped that it sold.

This was a new option for Isidore, and it frightened him as much as it excited him. Maybe the fear won out a bit more in that current moment, as he bit at his lower lip and fidgeted with the pamphlet in his grasp. "I haven't done this in a long time, so I'm sorry if there are things I should ask that I'm simply forgetting to."

[amoraldestructionchaoticcreation]

Laughing after a moment from letting Isidore's words settle, he nodded, “Well, I've been playing that character for years, in the same ongoing session. I wouldn't expect much of anything less, honestly. Hefty description is par for the course, my friend.” He leaned onto one of the displays with his plants, listening when Isidore continued to talk, nodding his head as he gave the other his full attention. Bringing his other hand to his chest, he smiled, “All you need to do is give a price, and it is yours.” Though he glanced away at the call to call himself special. He already had plenty of people saying he was in his life, already, since he was three. It had since dulled. But hearing it from Isidore did spark warmth in it. It gave it meaning again, made it feel new once more. He smiled warmly at the wink after.

“Well, you should certainly try to do something like that at your earliest convenience. I have my campaign. Sure. But I also have others.” Nodding at the others wanting to keep busy, he could understand, “I'm the same, as we are aware.” Though he did not speak much about how he came from wealth, and very much tried to avoid talking about it or showing it off. Especially when Isidore was around, as the other seemed to become distraught upon acknowledging these indications of his seemingly life fabulous life in the lap of luxury. The reactions, while upsetting for the both of them, also sparked in Bellamy a curiosity from the moment he had witnessed just one. He wanted to know Isidore more.

Moving his hand across the plant display, he moved his hand from Isidore's ipad, “Ah. Business is…blooming, as always.” He said cutely, giving a wave of his right hand, “How was that, funny? Cute? Blooming. Hehe.” Bellamy cleared his throat then and sniffed lightly, adjusting his nose a little, “Yes. Had some man come in here last evening asking about one, left with a very good stack of cash in my hands.” Not that he had needed it, most of what he made at the nursery he put into other things for the town. Orphanages for starters. Animal sanctuaries and the like. Small businesses.

Bellamy blinked, leaning in once again, “Oh. You would like for me to?” He asked about the pestering the other more, “Well, say no more. I'll be upping the ante.” Pausing, he pulled away again, glancing absently to one side of the store, lost half in thought, “I'm sure it will be a lovely commission once it's done. Could I see it, too?” He then asked in the end. There was something about Isidore that radiated off of the other, in kind to the same effect that came from Allie, another friend of his. Like sunlight reformed into a person. A rash started to form on the back of his right hand, one side of his face began to become reddened.

[sunlitartistry]

"You know, a lot of the creators I'm surrounded by usually post specific characters of theirs over and over again, they get kind of a cult-like following around them. I could do something like that with one of your guys. Maybe one of my own too. I've always just kind of posted commissions, but there's a whole world out there of people obsessed with their creations. It's not too late for me to fall down that rabbit hole." Isidore grinned, leaning over the counter towards Bellamy before pulling himself away and remembering himself.

As Bellamy used a pun on his own business, Isidore couldn't help but roll his eyes with a smile of what could only be described as adoration. Try as he might to keep himself looking calm and collected, he wasn't very good at it. Not when it really mattered, anyway. "Oh yeah, blooming, indeed." Isidore replied back, shaking his head with a soft chuckle. "I swear, rare plants are like gold. Please never sell me one. I'll be bankrupt by October. I'll buy whatever you sell me, it wouldn't be nice to me or my wallet." He pointed a finger in Bellamy's direction, narrowing his eyes in a playful glare.

"Yeah, I do. I forget that I'm a living being that needs to eat and sleep when I'm in the middle of a project. I'm not a normal person that takes a healthy amount of breaks or whatever you're actually supposed to do. It interrupts my flow." Isidore huffed, as if the idea of being responsible with his time was a completely ridiculous concept. "That said, if someone else suggests I do something else, it's different." He reassured with a wave of his hand.

"Well... not right now. it's in its ugly phase. But I can show you the line work?" Isidore took the tablet back, then began swiping through his photos and came to an intricate illustration of what appeared to be an orc in full plated armor facing down a dragon on a burning cliffside. Nothing was colored in, but it was clear that the design was elaborate, and explained why Isidore was losing all hours of the day to this piece. "What do you think?"

[dawnlings]

         Her eyes sparkled, she's happy he's not upset with her fopr disturbing him, and pleased that trusting her gut had led her right to his door in the perfect time. Really, she's not the smartest, not even a little bit- but she's always tried hard to do right by her friends. It's easy. They're easy to love, precious to her heart. Izzy's may be a newer friend, but he's no less beloved for it. Allie doesn't mind coming to find him. It's good for her, too, to be near his sunshine and to let it warm her in return.

         " It's okay to be a shell. Shells are pretty- but it's even better to be a shell with a friend, I think. " Meaning, she doesn't mind if they end up right back on his couch. She does love going out with Isidore, but all that's really important to her, now, is being with him. " No turtling allowed, at least not without me. "

         She giggles, " Oh, come on- You know I don't judge! And, like, anyways, there are so worse problems to have. You should see my place. We've got the garden and the whole inside has leaves and flowers everywhere, I've made sure of it. " There's nothing wrong with the greenery, she'd only been noticing how much fuller that shelf has gotten since she'd seen it last. Izzy asks her if he could get her anything, and she shakes her head. Then, the fairy girl laughs. " Okay, no couch- Poor thing, you've been held hostage. " She pouts at him, before her bright smile returns. " Whatcha' watchin'? Anything fun? "

[sunlitartistry]

"Shells are pretty if you're an ocean creature who uses it for shelter and protection, not so much for a person reaching a state of vegetation and pure dissociation." Isidore quipped back with a wry smile. "I promise to try my best to not return to my turtle state. You're here now, so I do have something to occupy my time now." He reminded her with a wink.

"You should. You know I'm not going to that store for the plants. And I keep walking out with more despite having now drive to cultivate and take care of any kind of plant. But I do it as an excuse to talk to him. Did you know you're supposed to prune plants? I didn't! I let them grow wild and unchecked! If Bellamy came over, he'd be horrified." He gestured to the shelf of plants, and they looked... well, they looked perfectly fine. Still, Isidore had convinced himself he was doing something wrong.

As Allie asked what he'd been watching, Isidore blinked and looked back to the screen. "The local news, apparently." He responded blandly, clear that there was no interest in actually paying attention to what was on. "I was more stuck in my own head than actually paying attention to my surroundings. You saved me from myself, truly." He shoved his hands into his pockets, tilting his head. "Have you been up to anything particularly exciting lately? Maybe that's a better question than asking about what I'm doing to kill time."

[petaledarmour]

It was a wonderful thing to become one with the woods. To whisper like the leaves against the gentle breeze and dance like the grass in waves. In her true form, Teagan could hide and watch, which she often did when strangers ventured in.

That was the easiest way to tell intent. People were themselves when they thought no one was watching. After some assessment, Teagan gathered the person taking a ling di long was no threat, going so far as to hope that she could make a new friend.

Following that tender line, she made herself known, offering her own beaming smile. "That later problem may become more than just a spell." She warned softly, with an air friendliness. "It's a good thing you ran into me though. I'm practically an expert on the area!"

[sunlitartistry]

Isidore relaxed almost instantly at the sight of the stranger, she appeared friendly and inviting, more than he'd have expected from a stranger in the middle of the woods. "I was hoping that I'd have service out here to guide me back towards civilization," he admitted with a self-depricating chuckle.

"You're an expert? That's wonderful! I wouldn't call myself an expert of anything to do with nature, but that certainly doesn't stop me from trying my best anyway!" He exclaimed, leaning toward her with an equally excited smile on his face.

"My name is Isidore. Call me Izzy! I... like spending time out in the sun. Something that this area of the world doesn't get all the time, so I take advantage while I can while the weather allows me to." He looked toward a group of wildflowers with different insects flittering about, pollinating them. "It's peaceful out here. A peace you can't get if you're surrounded by civilization." Perhaps it was because he spent so long on his own away from people that could bring him back to his parents, perhaps it was because of what he was. Perhaps it was both. He wasn't quite sure.

[errantesadas]

It seemed Metzli wasn't the only one experiencing nerves. Isidore prattled on, almost unsure of when to finish their greeting. "Mm." Metzli nodded, taking his hand into theirs for a firm shake.

"The pleasure is all mine." They practiced keeping their gaze in between Isidore's brows, releasing their hand and then taking their seat at their desk. Metzli gestured for the artist to take the one across from them, offering a bottle of water by placing it on Isidore's side of the desk.

"Your work has garnered online attention, and thus, mine as well, but you already knew that from our brief conversation." Venturing into a more traditional setting could prove difficult, but changing mediums wasn't uncommon for any artist. "Tell me, what drew you here?"

[sunlitartistry]

There was an intensity to Metzli, Isidore realized as he struggled to keep himself from talking a mile a minute. It was enough to make him want to talk even more than he already was, but was glad when Metzli spoke and kept him from going even further than he'd already gone.

Isidore nodded along with what they said, keeping himself engaged in the conversation, trying to make himself look attentive and excited to be there. Which, he was, but he was trying to make himself appear the part as much as possible, whether or not it was needed.

"Well, my focus is in oil paints, I do photorealistic portraiture. I found more success when I started posting my digital work, so that's why I made a career out of that online, but it's not... my passion, if that makes sense. I like it, but there's something about working with physical media that makes me feel more at home with what I'm working on. I like surrounding myself with traditional forms of art, so I was excited to see there was a gallery in town that did just that. Online digitial art is a bit isolating. There's something different about seeing it in person that you just don't get online." Isidore blinked, hoping that any of what he was saying was getting across more than just babbling like it felt.

[dawnlings]

who; @sunlitartistry . ♡ where; Isidore's apartment .

         " Guess who? " A sing-song voice sounds from the other side of Izzy's front door following a rhythmic knock that's just as playful. When the door opens, the fairy girl waiting on the other side hugs him before she sees him, her eyes squeezing shut in her excitement, as if it was the very first time- despite never having going long before going looking for the other day fae.

         With one final squeeze around Izzy's shoulders, she lets go of him with a smile that beams even brighter than the blue of her eyes. " It's Allie! Duhsies ... " Her hands fall back to her sides as she realizes that she didn't have a real reason to come find him, today. She missed him, isn't that enough? Isidore never seems to mind her sporadic tendencies, but she's always a little afraid of scaring him off with all of her too much-ness. Naturally, the plants behind him catch her eye. " Wow, it's so much more green in here ... "

[sunlitartistry]

Isidore had long spent his day mastering the art of becoming one with his couch, and he thought he was doing rather well with the act so far. Truth be told, the television was on but he hadn't a clue what was playing and what it was about. He blinked, eyes adjusting from a legendary space-out when a knock sounded from the door and a familiar voice sang from the other side of his front door. A soft smile spread across his lips as he came to his senses, turning off the long-ignored television and extracting himself from the crease he'd created on his couch. Sometimes, he deserved to do absolutely nothing with his day, thanks very much.

As soon as he opened the door, Allie spent no time in wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. "Allie, hey!" Isidore exclaimed as she pulled back and announced herself. "I see you saw my inability to extract myself from the couch as a cry for help. You'd be correct." A soft chuckle escaped him as he shook his head. "Sometimes I turn into a shell of man if I let myself veg out for long enough..." he trailed off as Allie looked over his shoulder to the embarrassing amount of house plants that were all placed on a shelf he'd bought to sit under the one good window for sun in his entire apartment.

"Oh, uh. Yeah, I... have a problem. No, I won't seek help." He smirked, then gestured with a jerk of his head for her to come into his apartment, which was decorated in a rather neutral color pallet for someone who claimed himself to be an artist. The only pops of color coming from the paintings that hung on his walls and the plants under that one good window. The apartment wasn't messy, but it still appeared lived-in. "Can I get you anything?" He asked, staring back down to the couch he'd been melding into mere moments ago. "Don't let me sit back down, the couch will pull me in and never let me go."

[amoraldestructionchaoticcreation]

Holding up the plant he was about to give to his customer, he was speaking in a knowledgeable tone, informing on how best to take care of the plant. Giving suggestions on what to do to help if any issue came up, outside of coming back to him. Treating plants more like people than not. When he was in the middle of that conversation, however, he happened to look over toward something distracting. Seeing Isidore's face pressed to the glass window in the front of his shop, he made a face briefly toward the other before returning to his customer. When he was tempted to look again, Isidore had disappeared. Glancing around for a moment, he squinted before again returning to his customer.

“Good? Good.” He gave a nod as she seemed to be following along with what she was being told. Not very often, but occasionally, he did get the know it all customer who had done their research on the internet or some such things. Then would call in a few weeks or so to tell him horrible things about his plants. Though this was only on rarer occasions, thankfully. He was even more thankful that this customer was one of those willing to listen to him about his plants. Sending her off, he gave a wave to her and the plant, “I think they'll be just fine…” He mumbled to himself, turning back toward the shop.

When his name was exclaimed, he turned his head toward Isidore and, going by the excitement that seemed to come on their face, he could tell the other was having one of their good days. Raising his eyebrows at the announcement, he stuck to the shade, avoiding the sunlight beaming across strategically placed spaces of plants, “Ah? You did?” He stared at the other a moment long before he turns a little, tilting his head slightly, angling it so he could comfortably look at the other's iPad when it was presented to him, “Oo. That's gorgeous. You have got his likeness very well, Izzy.” Smiling gently toward the other, he lift his head, “I could ask for many more, mm. I think that would be a great idea.”

Lifting a hand, he pointed out his index finger toward the image, “I like these little details here. You have really gone to great lengths here.” Nodding as he spoke, Bellamy gazed at the image afterward for a time, quietly, continuing to take in what he was seeing, the care that Isidore had put into it was very apparent to him.

[sunlitartistry]

"Well I got his likeness because you gave me a heft amount to work with," Isidore reasoned with a crooked grin as he placed the ipad down so the surface would be steadier than his hands. "You could ask for more, or I could force you to commission me just like everyone else. You're lucky we're friends, because I don't just do this for just anyone. Consider yourself special." Isidore leaned in toward Bellamy conspiratorially with a playful wink as he spoke.

"You give me a lot to work with. I just make the characters for the most part, I haven't really alotted myself any time to join a campaign or anything myself. I enjoy it, don't get me wrong, but... I like to keep busy." Isidore grit his teeth, his smile becoming a bit tighter as he thought about the fact that he couldn't risk just hanging around random humans when he barely had a handle on himself in the first place. Hell, even hanging around Bellamy was a risk. But Isidore was weak, and he wanted to spend time with the individual before him.

He tried not to make heart eyes at Bellamy too hard as he collected himself, clearing his throat to center himself a tad. "So how's business? Sell any rare plants today?" He leaned on the counter, eyes focused on Bellamy's. "Oh, and sorry for the radio silence the past day or so. I locked into completing a commission and I forgot to come up for air, if I'm honest. Feel free to pester me harder if I'm doing that. I'd appreciate it, truth be told." He felt like he was rambling, but he couldn't help it. Something about Bellamy made him nervous, and he wasn't used to it. He pressed his lips together, trying to reign himself in.

[errantesadas]

Where: MuertArte Who: @sunlitartistry

Sometimes when the blood was low in stock in the mini fridge, Metzli ventured to the butcher. Blood was sold all the time, never appearing strange to do so. Even purchasing several pints wasn’t enough to raise a few brows. What was strange though, at least to the butcher and a few patrons, was the way Metzli spoke and interacted. They supposed it was supposed to be taken as lighthearted and fun.

Poking at people for their idiosyncrasies sometimes meant one was part of the group. That’s what the book Metzli was reading said anyway. It certainly didn’t feel fun or like they were a part of the collective. Actually, it felt like they were being ostracized. Ridiculed. Metzli knew the difference, truth be told. The names they were called and the laughing they were forced to listen to when they stood in line to pay, said a million things, but mostly it brought up questions. Because Metzli was all there. They understood what was happening. They just didn’t understand why.

Shuffling back into the gallery, Ailsa was the first to notice the pacing. She kept her distance, offering what she could here and there, but ultimately gave her boss the space they needed. It always got that way. Lights became too bright, sound became too loud, and touch became too textured. Metzli tended to pace when that happened. Which wasn’t ever really good, but it especially wasn’t then. They had an interview to conduct with a potential hire and they had to find some way to appear normal, lest this person has a few names to add to the collection in their head.

Pacer Test. They weren’t sure what that meant, but it definitely was a jab at their pacing. “Mx. Bernal, your one o’clock is here. Do you need more time? Water?” Ailsa knocked on the door, eyes soft and worried. “Or should we reschedule? It’s okay if you have to. I can even say I scheduled incorr—” “No lying.” Metzli interrupted, halting their path and looking at Rachel. “Let them in. Isidore, right?” She nodded and walked away to fetch theie guest. Meanwhile, Metzli settled into their chair and fidgeted with their suit button to remain calm, to try to force the feeling to numb itself out like it always did.

It will be fine, they thought, leg bouncing. Breathe.

[sunlitartistry]

It had been enough time that Isidore no longer had an excuse to keep putting off networking. He had a lot of experience in the art world, but he also knew the importance of networking with local artists. Especially those who owned galleries. Truth be told, he didn't like networking. It felt fake and vacant in its attempts. People didn't want to get to know him, they wanted the influence he had. He knew how that felt.

Still, he'd built a following online for being a digital artist when traditional art was what he was trained in, what he'd worked hard to get a degree in. Business was exhausting, and so was trying to prove himself to those around him. Isidore idly chewed on his lower lip as he waited for the receptionist to return back into the lobby where she'd instructed him to wait.

After a moment, she reappeared with that same friendly smile that she'd greeted him with, telling him that the director was ready to see him. He wanted to be back in an environment with traditional art, where he could spend actual time with artists that wasn't text on a screen. he longed for the simplicity of just waking up and going to the studio that was filled with other art students without having to make a concerted effort to do so.

After being let into the room, Isidore took in the form of Metzli, who he'd spoken with only briefly. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he expected they knew what they were doing if they were able to run an art gallery. At least that much was a given. "Hello, I'm Isidore. I'm a local artist in town, I'm new. I'm trying to get more into things, integrate myself more in the town than I have been. I thought starting with artists would be a good place to do it, seeing as that's what I do." He rambled when he was nervous, and he found himself trying to bring it to a halt as he was met with the seriousness of the individual watching them as they entered their space. "It's nice to meet you!" He quickly added, smiling as brightly as he possibly could.