“Did you know male penguins present potential mates with nice rocks as a way of courting?” The pair had been so preoccupied with painting that several minutes passed without comment. Unfortunately, she could only go so long sitting in silence.
Yanfei peered over her own easel for the next question, a mixture of curiosity and amusement in her expression. “Do you do something similar? Pelt them with love rocks?”
random asks / @wise-innocence. always accepting !
Yanfei had recently mentioned taking up some 'bodyguard work' for an illustrious painter. An eccentric man who only puts out work on his own schedule but is supposedly renown in the art world. Azhdaha doesn't have an ear to the ground in that field but they'll believe what she tells them. The young Hunter has no reason to fib about such matters and so they take it at face value. If they had more interest in the man, an internet search would answer all of their questions—but Yanfei is more than capable of handling herself. Lest he become an old miserly man who only nags in her eyes; they shudder at the thought.
They're absolutely cool. (Right?)
Nevertheless, her work with this 'Rafayel' is why they're currently engaging in this exercise. She must have been inspired by her charge's latest works. The canvas is a place of self-expression, a window into one's soul. Or at least that's what the ancients used to believe and was why artisans were taken in by patrons and sometimes gods themselves. Golden eyes stare at the brushstrokes gliding across the expanse, slowly filling in the blanks. Filling in the gaps, once empty, slowly filling with color. Their gaze shift to her at the thought—painting his world anew with fresh hues.
Eyes soften and as their guard falls, the memories return—an open field of golden flowers, a lone tree glowing with azure light and two silhouettes standing at each other's side looking up at the moon.
Yanfei's voice pulls Azhdaha out of their thoughts. She must have felt their gaze and thought to break the silence.
Penguins? He recalls the new penguin keychain plushie on her bag from a recent trip to Twinkle Toys arcade. Ah.
As they are about the respond, her next question catches them off guard. Laughter bursts and eyes crinkle in amusement. A hand reaches for his stomach, trying not to double over. Azhdaha wipes a tear from their eye.
"'Pelt them with love rocks'? Why on earth would I do that?" Since recalling her memories after helping him find fragments of his Cor Lapis, Yanfei has been inquisitive about the Earth Spirit's true nature. It's a welcome change in their relationship, one that they don't mind. They no longer toe around the 'should' and 'could's of what topics to avoid.
"If you're inquiring about courtships, my kind did not have such rituals." Azhdaha stands and walks around their easel, towards her. His gaze is soft, gentle—always with her, always...
You were special. The words die at the tip of his tongue, upon the graveyard of unspoken sentences longing for release.
"We usually remain alone for as long as we exist." They slowly reach for her hand and entwines their fingers. "But we welcome companionship. So long as the other party is willing to stay—we will welcome the shared warmth."
So, please stay awhile longer...