The Lone Figure, ci: Kohaku | iso: Open

[Kohaku]

Spring 7th
12:30p.m

Perhaps he should of been out eating at the local resteraunt, cafe, or whatever it was that this town offered its citizens. Kohaku really had no idea, or cared one way or the other, and would most likely never go out of his way to find out. Dressed casually in a white button up shirt which he'd left the first few buttons unbuttoned, and black jeans, the dark haired man walked into the Art Gallery.

Absently, while passing the place, he had wondered what kind of art such a small town could possibly hold. Then, later on, when he had passed the gallery a second time he had decided to take a look inside in order to find out. He was a man who enjoyed the fine arts, if only slightly. In truth, he had no real opinion on it or even, for that matter, the money to partake in it.

And yet, even while thinking such, his gaze locked onto a painting from across the room. Although it was strange, if not ridiculous, Kohaku had the unnerving feeling that it was somehow drawing him in to its depths. There was so much emotion in each brush stroke, each dulled color that was splashed across the canvas. The dark colors of the tree, almost black against the graying colors of the heavily clouded sky, the dead grass, and the lone figure standing amongst it all. It shook him, formed a lump in his throat so it was hard to swallow, and captured his gaze so he could not look away.

Even still, his face remained completely impassive and revealed nothing. To others passing, if any, he merely looked like a man broodily glaring at a picture he'd like to see burst into flames. Perhaps, that wasn't so quite off the mark. Just perhaps.

[Berrytail]

"What a boring town brother chose." The girl sighed as she entered the near silent art gallery. Paintings and sculptures of unfamiliar people passed her as she walked briskly down the halls of art, their faces, though artistically beautiful, were seemingly sad.

That, perhaps, was what drove Antoinette onward. Was she sad? Or possibly angry? No, the girl with pale hair did not bother with such frivolous things like feelings as those.

Antoinette walked slower now, considering her choices. She was far from hungry, that she was sure. The only reason she was here was that her feet had carried her to this place in her own absent-mindedness. Turning a corner, for a moment, she caught a glance of another being there, a tall man with dark hair, as black as hers was white. Being who she was, Antoinette appeared bored but focused on the paintings, though she was all alert.

[Kohaku]

His senses perked instantly and he already knew the presence of another before the woman roamed around the corner and into sight. Eerily, the skill to notice others before they came into view seemed to be something built into his body since birth. Even as a small child, he'd been overly aware of those around him. Kohaku supposed it was something he had simply inherited from his missing parents.

It vastly annoyed him that she simply walked across the room in order to stop beside him and gaze at the same portrait as he. There were hundreds of others hanging throughout the entire gallery, and he had never been one to appreciated the meaning or feeling of being surrounded by others. In fact, he far better liked to be left alone than to be bothered by people who were really of no importance to him anyway.

Glancing down at her from the corner of his golden eyes, Kohaku took in the detached look glowing in her eyes as she stared forward. He was somewhat curious then, wondering what type of woman would stare at the painting with the same bored expression as he but, at the same time, find it necessary to stand beside him.

"The colors are dull and flat," he said after a moment, staring at the painting he wasn't sure he liked or disliked.

[Berrytail]

Using her own ruby eyes, Antoinette glanced up sharply as the man spoke. He had a point, a good one.

"Even though the artist's attempt is fair," She closed her eyes while folding her arms, cradling her elbows, "The blandness creates it to be more 2-dimensional than that of in the third, do you agree?" Antoinette's eyes opened halfway, lazily, and she again stared intently at him. Perhaps he will make a better conversationalist than the farmers around here. She silently wondered.

Again she silently looked the man over, now up close. He was a better looking, if not darker and more toned than her stick-like, fair brother. Something about him struck her as odd, but that only intrigued her further.

[Kohaku]

Ever since Kohaku had stepped foot onto this small village, he had been filled with the notion that the entire small population here were nothing but Neanderthals. Of course, he hadn’t been in the slightest bit of a good mood when he had arrived with his sickly old horse, nor had his mood lightened any after which when he found himself hungry and in a damn bakery. With an inward sigh, Kohaku shook the thoughts away. At least now, he could have some sort of decent conversation. Although, he wasn’t exactly sure whether or not this young woman actually knew what she was talking about, or simply trying to throw up an intelligent conversation about the painting before them.

“Yes,” he answered her question with that single word, and he wondered why he would enjoy a conversation in the first place. He had never been known as the social type. Instead, it was quite the opposite and most people thought him to be a real jerk who didn’t give a care to anyone but himself. And yet, for some reason, he felt the need to express his discomfort regarding the painting. Maybe it was for the same reason it had drawn him to it, or maybe it was the fact that this woman seemed to share a like opinion. Whatever the reason, he found himself saying, “I believe it is unbalanced. There is far too much emotion and not enough color.”

In fact, he decided, he hated it. The whole thing was hideous and if the gallery owner had been around at the moment he would of rudely told him to get the monstrosity off the wall. With a vengeance he tore his gaze away from the painting to instead glare down at the woman. “Who are you?” He asked a little roughly, when in truth he was merely trying to divert his attention elsewhere.

[Berrytail]

She unfolded an arm, and with it flipped a long pigtail over her shoulder. Resettling in her position, Antoinette considered telling him her name. No one here had been so intriguing, not since she landed a booted foot at the train station. He was obviously a man of stature, or at least a college graduate.

Again she looked at him. Then, smiling once more, held her head up, still facing the painting, if you could even call the ugly thing that. "I am Antoinette Shigou," She announced, not skipping a beat, "And who, good sir, might you be?" It was only then she turned to him.

[Kohaku]

"I am Antoinette Shigou," She answered easily, fully turning toward him and looking him straight in the eye. Casually, she went on, and asked, "And who, good sir, might you be?"

She had a startling appearance, that was the thought that ran through his head now that he'd gotten a close up glimpse of her. It wasn't her startling white hair which caught his attention, but the burning red eyes that appeared all the more vivid against the milky white background. Outwardly, he merely blinked down at her and gave no indication that he found her appearance quite intriguing.

"Kohaku," He answered simply, not bothering to give his last name. Although, the corners of his mouth twitched upward ever so slightly at the way she had addressed him as a good sir. He was anything but, and that was what made it all the more amusing. After a moment, he added, "A pleasure, Antoninette."

[Berrytail]

She held out a dainty hand. "I'm sure." Antoinette's lips turned up at the corners, against all proper tendencies she'd picked up over the years.

"And why would someone of your knowledge be here," Antoinette inwardly groaned at the town, "In an art gallery in the worlds slowest town?" Her ruby eyes flashed with intrest, waiting to devour any good conversation. Wanting to appear less interested than she was, Antoinette let her eyes wander to the paintings and sculptures that bored her.

[Kohaku]

"It's a long story," He replied with a dark frown, not bothering to go further into the back story of how he ended up in a small village. The whole situation was still fresh, and he wasn't sure how his emotions would react if he were to think, let alone talk about it.

"Although, concerning the latter: I was surprised this small town had a gallery to begin with. I see now, however, it was not worth my time." Kohaku gave a unconcerned shrug of his shoulders, seeing as it wasn't a big deal to him.

[Berrytail]

"Hmm." Antoinette sighed and nodded. "Not very artsy town, is it?" She scoured the hall, turning her head. The hair she had so vicariously tossed over her shoulder slipped back once more.

"Truly the best artist," She said, sharply, turning her head back to Kohaku and sending her silver-white locks whipping back, "Is Gaia, don't you think? She did, after all," Antoinette took a moment to look him up and down quickly, "Create each of us specifically."

[Kohaku]

Kohaku arched one eyebrow, staring down at her impassively as she looked over him from head to toe. He wasn't quite sure what she was trying to get at; whether she was commenting that he was attractive or she was simply making a statement. He supposed she could be doing both, but had no real knowledge of her character so, in the end, could not determine.

"Ah, yes," He replied, but didn't bother returning her favor of looking her over. Instead, his gaze slid to her hair and then back to her face and answered, "The earth is quite a work of art." Although, he did not believe in Gaia, the myth that the Mother Earth is a living Goddess who had created the earth and everything on it. He was a firm believer of science and preferred things to have explanations. Logical ones. But, there was no need to bring that up with someone he didn't know, and would probably never see again.

With a shrug of his shoulders, he turned toward the exit. "It was interesting talking to you, Antoinette," he said lightly over his shoulder. "Although, now, I think I'll go back to my original purpose this afternoon." It was nearing one in the afternoon and he had yet to eat a single thing all day. It was finally catching up to him, and his conversation limits were approaching rapidly.

[Berrytail]

Antoinette smiled against her better nature, revealing her white teeth. "Quite." She noted how he used 'the earth' instead of returning the Goddess' name, and now thought him to be one believer, perhaps in a single God or maybe a not believer at all. Still, without much to go on, she let it be.

She turned her torso with him as he began to leave. "As it was talking with you, Kohaku," Antoinette in turn began walking the other way, her boot heels clicking once more on the tiled floors, "But I do believe this is where we part. I hope you find something nice to," She paused, drinking in the image, "Suffice. Have a pleasant evening, Kohaku." Antoinette had gotten all she needed, herself, and she turned a corner.