Odette tilted her head slightly, that cold elegance flowing naturally.
— The pleasure is ours.
Her blood-red eyes drifted over Victoire without haste. Assessing. Measuring.
— We've heard that this is where one finds pieces… truly unique.
She stepped forward. Her heel echoed against the black marble.
— And that is exactly what we are looking for.
Vivienne remained half a step behind, her amber-gold eyes fixed on the woman. There was curiosity… and recognition. Predator before predator.
Victoire raised her glass of wine in a silent toast.
— Unique pieces require unique owners.
Her gaze slid over Odette… then to Vivienne.
— And you two… clearly know what you want. Something chic. Different. Nothing obvious.
Odette moved one step closer.
— Two paintings.
Direct.
— Large. Elegant. Classical in form… modern in soul.
A pause.
— Something that, from afar, appears simply beautiful… but up close makes the observer feel as though they are being watched in return.
Victoire's smile deepened.
— Perfect.
She stepped away from the counter with a fluid turn.
— Then you're not interested in what's on display.
She walked toward a black velvet curtain.
— Come.
The Chamber of Veiled Lights welcomed them like a secret.
Smaller. Warmer. More intimate.
Golden light reflected against polished wood. Paints in glass jars seemed… alive.
Victoire snapped her fingers.
Two canvases floated up to eye level.
— Let's begin with light.
She dipped her brush into liquid gold.
— No posing. No performance. Just… be.
Odette sat.
Crimson velvet beneath her, one leg crossed, the red dress parting slightly along her thigh.
Her gaze found Vivienne.
And stayed.
Love. Possession. Contained desire.
Victoire painted.
Fast. Precise.
A library emerged. Dusk. Old books. A black rose wilting. Cool light entering through a tall window.
Elegance.
Power.
A heavy silence.
Vivienne took her place.
Standing. Near the window.
Lavender fabric slipping slightly from her shoulder. Golden light in her hair. An open book in her hands.
Her gaze met Odette's.
And softened.
Victoire painted again.
Warmth. A lit fireplace. Soft tones. Quiet intimacy.
The two paintings were placed side by side.
And created something more.
Odette and Vivienne gazing at each other across separate worlds.
Connected.
Always.
Silence fell.
Odette observed.
Long.
Then… her eyes shifted.
To the empty walls.
And she smiled.
— Two…?
Vivienne let out a soft laugh.
— Not even close.
Victoire said nothing.
She simply watched.
Interested.
Odette rose slowly.
— I want more.
Simple.
Final.
— Variations. Different light. Different atmospheres. I want morning, night, storm…
Her fingers brushed a blank canvas.
— I want moments before… and after.
Vivienne added, softly:
— Different places. Garden. Balcony. Corridors… something that feels almost real… but not entirely.
A silence.
Then—
Victoire smiled.
And snapped her fingers.
Two canvases became six.
Six became twelve.
The room responded to their desire.
— Now we're talking… — she murmured.
Time ceased to exist.
Outside, the rain continued — steady, soft, eternal.
Inside…
Movement.
Glances.
Almost touches.
Touches.
Paintings emerged.
A night garden.
A rain-soaked balcony.
A library in quiet chaos.
Shadows. Light. Skin. Presence.
Each painting…
More alive than the last.
When Victoire finally stopped, the room was filled.
Canvases everywhere.
Breathing.
Watching.
Waiting.
— For now… it's enough.
Odette walked among them.
Like an owner.
Vivienne at her side.
— How many are there? — she asked.
Victoire took another sip of wine.
— Enough to fill a mansion.
Odette smiled.
— Then we'll need more.
The carriage departed beneath the rain.
Stronger now.
Drops struck the roof and slid along the windows in long, distorted trails, turning the outside world into something unrecognizable.
Inside, the paintings filled everything.
Stacked. Wrapped.
Yet… present.
Vivienne rested her head on Odette's shoulder.
— The main wall won't be enough…
— Not even the entire wing — Odette replied.
She tilted her head, brushing her lips against Vivienne's hair.
— We'll need more space.
— Another mansion?
A small silence.
Odette's smile deepened.
— Perhaps.
She glanced at the paintings.
Then at the rain beyond the glass.
— Or perhaps we simply need to keep creating reasons to fill the ones we already have.
Vivienne smiled.
The rain continued.
Steady.
Endless.
And inside the carriage…
Two eternals returned home carrying more than art.
They carried fragments of themselves.
Glances that would never fade.
Presences that would remain.
Always.
Watching.
Always together.
While outside…
The rain fell as if the entire world were being slowly painted as well.
PROFILE UPDATE →
Name: Victoire Aramont
Race: Unknown (Appears Human) / Arcane Painter
Apparent Age: 30
Real Age: Unknown
Height: 1.75 m
Weight: 62 kg