Open Drawing With Ink

[Savos]

9th of Summer, 514 AV


Within the confines of Lazuli Ink's dome, Savos was hard at work. Work for him, at this point, consisted of a lot of training. Much more training than he could have expected, which made him wonder why the shop owner had even bothered hiring him with so little know-how. When Inecino had agreed to take him in, he had said something about that. Tattooing was not a popular skill. Not many people knew how to do it or even knew what it was. For this reason, it was difficult for Inecino to hire anyone without putting them through an extensive training period.

Despite the logic in this, Savos toiled away at yet another pig skin in complete frustration at his slow progress. Wrinkles settled into his face as he failed at creating a unified gradient, stabbing again and again into the skin with little improvement.

He laughed at the day where he had considered the art of tattooing not too different from drawing. The method was entirely different. To make things worse, his eye for drawing made his expectations far higher than a normal beginner. Making a simple tapered line, which on paper took him a fraction of a second, was an enormous challenge on the dirty pig skin. He was told that it was easier to tattoo human skin than this poor substitute, but that did not ease his frustration.

Inecino's entrance surprised Savos, who almost stabbed himself in surprise as he dipped back into the ink.

“That could have been your first tattoo,” he said airily. Even Savos, who had not been in much of a joking mood, couldn't help but chuckle at that.
“Wouldn't have been a very good one,” he replied.

Inecino walked over and peered at the pig skin, observing the gradient keys and line work that Savos had attempted on it.

“You're improving,” he said helpfully, “But there's still some work to be done before you can start working with clients. “How about trying to recreate one of your drawings, instead of these boring exercises? It might alleviate your impatience.”

“I'm not-”
“How about you take a small break, come back here in a bell or so. Soraya tells me the sun is setting quite beautifully outside.”


-

[Kaik Leyr]

Ever since Kaik tried getting into Auristics he forced himself to see the world in a different perspective. Looking outside from the comfort of his own home, the sun was beginning to set. At the time he was working on a simple wooden doll about the size of his hand. He quickly puts the project into his backpack and told Arya to get ready. He wanted to get a better view of the sunset. Hurrying outside Kaik searched the city for a better view of the sunset with Arya by his side. Having focused himself to the sunset, he failed to realize where he was. He wasn't sure himself how he found himself in a alleyway but he didn't really care, he had a rough idea how to get back home, all of his attention was on the view of the sun. Exiting the alleyway he found a convenient bench to sit on. Arya takes her place next to him. Growing tired of both the sunset and walking Kaik pulls out his latest project from his backpack along with his tools and begins work. The Animator failed to notice the man emerging from the building in front of him, however Arya takes notice right away and grabs her master's hand forcing him to stop work. Tracing Arya's line of sight he saw the stranger. He saw nothing truly remarkable about the man, as he was human, and returned to his work. As he did so he took a glance at Arya to make sure her hood was up as well as his own. He was enjoying the quiet he had before and did not want to draw any attention. His carving axe slips from his hand, causing a cut on the doll's chest. A sullen look appears on his face as he stares at the doll, "Sorry..." his words slip from his mouth. Realizing he said it aloud he pulls down his hood pointlessly in embarrassment. Looking down he notices the axe, he bends down to pick it back up. With axe in hand he once again begins work as if nothing had happened.

[Savos]

It was a disgruntling experience to be dismissed like that by Inecino. Savos exited the small dome with his sketchbook in hand, a well of malaise building up inside of him. He knew there was no harm in this break he was having, and that Inecino meant only well by it, or he would have told him otherwise. Yet, the flicker of uncertainty in his own skill and ability to do his job correctly was troubling.

He did manage to help while he was still learning the skill required to properly tattoo a client. He helped Soraya with preparations and assisted in keeping the various clients' skin taught during Inecino's operations. Still, it did not feel like enough. He needed to do more in order to truly make his place at Lazuli Ink, and consequently in Lhavit as well.

Savos was interrupted from his pool of troubling thoughts by a light thunk, followed by someone barely muttering the word, “Sorry.” His eyes immediately followed the direction of the noise and fell on a small figure sitting at the bench that he had been planning to mope on.

He couldn't identify much of the person, as he had a hood on and was hunching over something that was in his lap. Savos reconsidered his destination, wondering if he should leave the thin figure alone and find another place to enjoy a sunset that was indeed rather beautiful. But Savos knew that staying alone and spinning around in his own thoughts would only end in a whirlpool of frustration. Tentatively, he took a step forward toward the bench, treating the new face as a happy coincidence.

“Hope I'm not disturbing,” Savos said in a friendly tone as he approached the young man. Upon closer inspection, he was able to observe that the thing he held in his hand seemed to be a sculpted doll. An artist like him, perhaps? He had never tried his hand at sculpting, but he imagined it would be harder to work in three dimensions rather than on paper. “Do you mind if I sit next to you? I was hoping to sketch something before the sun set.”
-

[Kaik Leyr]

"Hmm...would it be better to improve the arms? But then it would look wrong...perhaps I should fix the torso inste-" his thoughts are interrupted by the man who came out of the building in front of him. "Hope I'm not disturbing," he said as he approached the bench. Kaik felt like saying, "You are." but that would be rude so he keeps it to himself. The stranger continues by saying, “Do you mind if I sit next to you? I was hoping to sketch something before the sun set.” Cursing his luck Kaik felt he had no choice but to say, "Go ahead." He was in no mood to talk, especially after making a scratch on his project. He was hopeful the stranger would stay quiet. Arya leaned closer to her master. Having been programmed with the emotion fear it was natural for her to do so. Peaking from Kaik's side she looked at the stranger for a brief moment to see if he was a threat, once she knew he was no threat she returned to leaning on Kaik. She was happy to be so close to him, for she was his creation. Although Kaik was fine working in silence he was mildly curious what the stranger was drawing. Talk was inevitable, so he decided to be the first to speak up. "I take it you're an artist? Um...so what are you going to draw?" He kept his eyes on the doll as he spoke.

[Savos]

There was a girl sitting near him that he had failed to notice earlier. While he had treated her as a normal child, he noticed now upon approaching them that this was not the case. Her skin was not skin at all but rather, wood. She was a doll. Even more confusing yet, Savos was shocked to see the doll in the boy's lap move. He sat down at a polite distance away from the boy, his eyes fixated on the creature in his lap. It moved again, inching closer to its owner, and confirmed to Savos that it was no trick of the eye. The doll was somehow... alive.

Had Savos been in Denval a few years ago, he would have reacted in a much more obtuse manner, possibly with finger pointing and loud questions included. But he was in Lhavit now, and he had become accustomed to the knowledge that there were a great many things he could not explain. In this particular case, it was magic. It had to be some sort of magic powering these dolls, so Savos kept his cool albeit stiffening ever so slightly.

The boy's question caught him off guard, and he realized he had been staring at the doll a few moments longer than he should have. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small case that safely contained his charcoal pieces without breaking them. He took one of the larger sticks and put the case safely back into his pocket, opened his sketchbook and slowly began creating marks on the page.

“I'll admit, I was originally here to draw a landscape,” he said with a smile. His eyes darted between his page and the doll in the boy's lap. He blocked out her form with quick gestures on the page. “But if you don't mind, I changed my mind. She is much more fascinating.” He smiled again as the seemingly random lines on the page started to take the doll's shape.

-

[Kaik Leyr]

OOCWell...I suppose I'll just go with the flow, though I didn't expect to be bringing her to life, it was fun to do so! The stranger was taking a few more chimes than necessary to answer a simple question. Kaik looked up at the man and saw the look of shock he had. Kaik traced the man's stare back to the little doll he was working on. A long sigh escapes him as he glared at his creation, now understanding the stranger's surprise. The unnamed doll was a side project, an experiment. It gave Kaik something to do in his free time. He had almost finished animating the doll as well, but giving it a second glance it required a few more adjustments, so the doll's awakening was postponed. Kaik figured it was then he had somehow awakened it partially. One question answered, but a second question was raised. How would the stranger react? Surprisingly the man took to the golem quite well. The artist even wanted to draw his creation, which Kaik allowed. The nameless doll looked at the sky content with just sitting. He was displeased she would be getting a portrait without being at her full potential. Standing up with the nameless doll in hand he said to the stranger, "Um...I'm happy you want to draw her but...I need to fix her, it won't take long!...a few chimes should suffice." Arya stood up from the bench as well. "Ah! Right! Arya should serve a better er...picture? No wait!...anyway! I just need to fix this one, then you can draw her if you'd like." Arya fearful of the man runs to Kaik, but is ordered to sit on the bench and wait. Arya walks back to the bench, albeit with a slow pace. Without waiting for a response he quickly created an animation circle on the ground with his dagger and placed the doll in the destination circle, while he stood in the source circle. A drop of his own blood unto the circles starts the process as the circle begins to glow a dim black. Closing his eyes, he begins to recall the steps he took in the animation. The soulcore of the doll was based on Kaik, in other words it's base identity. The persona of the doll was the same as Arya, except when it came to the directives. The nameless doll was only given two directives. Loyalty to Kaik and a killprhrase that was activated by Kaik's voice only and no one else. The killprhase was 'Goodnight, till we see each other again.' The shutdown would last one bell. Teaching the doll basic movements was covered a few days before. In contrast to Arya, the doll was only given joy as an emotion. The only step that needed to be accomplished was the awakening. In his mind he spoke to the nameless doll, "Wake up." Upon opening his eyes the circles fade back to their original color and he is left staring at his creation. The little doll looked back, only to jump up in sheer joy...only to fall back down to the ground. Picking itself back up it runs toward Kaik and trips. Her master begins to rethink giving the doll joy as it's only emotion. Looking over his creation, he was mostly happy how she turned out. Bright blue eyes, an even brighter smile, and a body devoid of all but two marks...short red hair would complete the image, but Kaik put's that thought aside. She needed a name. And because of his meeting with the stranger, she was created on the spur of the momment...it was only fitting he named her. Turning to the stranger he said, "I-...well...would you like to name her?"

[Savos]

oocI replied to your PM, sorry again for the confusion

Savos looked up from his drawing as the boy began to scramble about, insisting that the doll was not yet "fixed". To him, that doll was the most functional thing he had ever seen, considering it was an object that moved without the aid of mechanics. Still, he stopped drawing and proceeded to curiously observe the young man's actions. He quietly wondered if it was okay for him to have started drawing the doll without permission. It didn't seem to bother the stranger at least, who nervously tried to point him to the larger doll to keep him busy.

He had originally been fearful of mentioning... "Arya", was apparently her name? He didn't know whether to treat her as a human or an oversized wooden doll, she appeared to be both. What was the etiquette on this sort of thing? He wasn't even sure if it was an entirely ethical form of magic. Should he ask for her permission to draw her?

His speculation was put aside as he grew increasingly fascinated with what was happening in front of him. At first, he felt a mix of admiration and curiosity for the engravings that were quickly and expertly drawn into the earth. He opened his mouth to ask a question, but the expression on the man's face was one of concentration. He figured that he had better not interrupt.

He winced as the stranger cut himself without a moment's hesitation, allowing his blood to drop into the circle. A growing feeling of unease settled in Savos, fearful of the unknown that lay before him. He stiffened, clutching his sketchbook to his chest as though he were ready to flee at a moment's notice. But he stayed there, unable to avert his gaze from the dark glow that crawled into the air.

"Wake up," he heard the boy say as though a distant call had summoned him back to reality. He was still speaking to the doll, but it felt relevant to Savos as well, who was positive that he had never before seen anything so foreign.

He looked up as the stranger spoke to him, still as shy as he had seemed before, completely unphased by this extraordinary thing he had just done. Savos was unsure how to reply.

"Ah, well. I- I don't really think, I'm not sure how to proceed," He stuttered, embarrassed by his obvious astonishment. To the boy, this was normal. For all he knew, this was probably a very normal thing for Lhavitians. There was no reason for him to be so shocked, and he wished he could hide it better for fear that the boy might think him rude, or crazy.

"Ehm.. My mother's name was Lina," he said, half muttering under his breath. Was it appropriate to name after one's mother? looked down, scratching his head head as he tried to think of something better.

-

[Kaik Leyr]

The stranger showed hesitation before answering the question. Worry began to creep up on Kaik as he waited for an answer. He was relieved to hear the man speak, though it was not an answer, more like him stating he was not sure how to proceed. Irritation now replaced his relief when the man didn't answer his question. Eventually he did answer his question, 'Lina'...he let the name swirl in his head. He even began to say the name, to see how it sounded. He did not care if it was a mother's name, what mattered to him was the name itself. Names were the basis of identity. It helped define what is what in a world filled with things. Kaik let the name sit his mind until he came to a decision. "Hmm...I think...it's nice, yes it will do," he said quietly. He bends down snapping his fingers until the doll took notice. Once giving her master utmost attention he began to speak, "Your name will be Lina...is this understood?" The newly name doll called Lina nodded her head, as she could not speak. Another creation to call his own, it was painfully obvious how happy he was. Calming himself down he said to the stranger, "W-would you still be um...do you want to still draw her? You're free to do so." He set Lina down on the bench, while he stretched his arms. A sudden realization came to him, "I-I-I have not asked your name! Wait! My name, right! It's Kaik...so yours is?" Lina begins jumping up and down from the bench trying to say her name. Arya doesn't jump up and down but clearly wanted to say her name. A chuckle escapes him as he tried to clarify the misunderstanding from the two dolls. "I already know your names! You two don't have to answer." They return to their stoic state. "Er...anyway! Again what's your name?" Upon hearing his name he asked him another question, "Do-...d-d-do you have any questions? What did you think of the...what did you think of my magic?"

[Savos]

It was an eerie feeling to watch the doll respond to a name Savos had chosen. He wasn't even sure what he had just contributed to. He watched with troubled fascination as it nodded its head. It seemed completely capable of understanding the young man. He wondered... If it was capable of comprehending speech and responding intelligently, was it truly alive?

"Ah, we never did introduce ourselves," Savos replied, glad to get his mind off the disturbing thought. He couldn't help but laugh when the dolls responded as they did. Kaik's shy but friendly attitude helped Savos dispel some of his discomfort and find some of his old humor again."The name's Savos. I don't think I've got any drawing left in me after all that," He said with a chuckle, and tucked his sketchbook back into his overshirt pocket.

"Apologies if I looked like I was losin' it," he said jokingly, "Still gettin' used to... well, Magic in general, I suppose. Wasn't as well known back home as it is round here." He paused, wondering how to proceed. He didn't want to sound like an idiot or ask an offensive question by accident. Finally, he ventured,

"Those dolls... Are they alive?"



-

[Kaik Leyr]

Kaik was disappointed to hear Savos was not up for drawing as it was what made him awaken Lina in the first place. After chuckling Savos apologized jokingly about his past appearance and his inexperience with magic. When Savos's home was mentioned it was painful for Kaik to withhold his question about the man's home. He reasoned with himself it would be rude to ask about his history, but his curiosity felt otherwise. As he fought a battle inside his mind, a question from Savos broke through. A question so familiar that it wiped his mind of it's past conflict. "Those dolls... Are they alive?" It was a question he had asked himself ever since he began Animation. Were they alive? He looked over to Arya and Lina, the question ringing in his head. He took a moment to formulate his words. He had always wanted to answer that question, but now that it was actually said a feeling of sorrow filled him. "That...is a difficult question, but...from a logical perspective yes, they have a soul, they were designed to be alive, and that is what they are...from another perspective...no...it- is my wish they are alive...it is my wish to bring back something dear, yet if it is all fake...is what I do right?" He falls to the ground, unsure himself why he felt so weak, his hand dig into the ground, "I'm horrible...just horrible...I hate it all, this game I play...I hate it..." He begins laughing, near the brink of crying, "Ahha hah ha ha! Can you believe it!?! I just want to bring her back but I can't! She is dead! I can't bring her back, so I try to make a replica! What I create is but a hollow lie, they can only obey and can't deny my wishes! Ah it's even more funny I tell all this to a stranger! Aha ha ha ha!" The laughing stopped as Arya walked closer to her master, his head now looking only at the ground. Watching her master fall apart was a torment she could not bear. The emotions Arya held were created by him, she did not regret nor loved the emotions she had because she was but a simple doll. She only acted on her emotions, the sadness he felt were her own. In her mind the stranger sitting on the bench was what caused the pain she and her master felt. Anger filled Arya to take the dagger from her master's side and bared it at the stranger. Her directives were clear...she could not kill the man, however she could harm him, and perhaps drive him away, thus stopping master's pain. She approached the man slowly with dagger in hand. "Arya no!" Arya stood still, forced to follow the order. Kaik stands up to take the dagger away from her. The weapon sheathed he looked toward Savos's direction, not looking him in the eye. "I-...sorry...pl-please forget this...I- I really must go...sorry...I am so very sorry...goodbye." He takes Arya's hand and picked up Lina before taking steps toward the exit. OOCSorry, I may have overdone it with this one...too much emotion?