Malcolm sighed, his face flushing with embarrassment. "Yeah, I warned you…"
But Luna's reaction wasn't what he expected. Instead of shock or disappointment, her eyes lit up with fascination. She stepped inside, taking in the chaos with a sense of awe.
"Wow," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "This is amazing! It's like… a creative explosion frozen in time."
Malcolm blinked, surprised by her reaction. "You're not… grossed out?"
Luna laughed, shaking her head. "Not at all! This is exactly what I imagined an artist's workspace would look like. It's raw, unfiltered creativity. I love it!"
She walked over to the coffee table, picking up one of the crumpled papers and smoothing it out. It was a sketch of a fantastical creature, its intricate details still visible despite the creases.
"This is incredible," she said, her voice soft with admiration. "You're so talented, Mr. Heart."
Malcolm felt a warmth spread through him, his embarrassment slowly fading. "Thanks," he said, his voice sincere.
Luna turned to him, her smile radiant. "Now, show me more! I want to see everything."
Malcolm chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. But don't say I didn't warn you."
As Luna explored his apartment, Malcolm couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Maybe having a guest wasn't so bad after all.
Malcolm led Luna to the other room, the space where he spent most of his time drawing. The room was even more chaotic than the rest of the apartment, but it was also undeniably alive with creativity. Posters of his artwork hung from the ceiling, lined up in rows, some finished and others still incomplete. The floor was flooded with crumpled papers, a testament to Malcolm's relentless pursuit of perfection. In the corner stood his pedestal, a black gaming chair, and his laptop and phone, all covered in a thin layer of dust.
"I'm glad the minotaur's rage didn't reach my apartment," Malcolm said, his voice tinged with relief. "Or I… I don't know what I'd do if it came to that."
He turned to look at Luna, expecting her to comment on the mess. But instead, she stood frozen, her eyes wide with awe. The characters in the posters seemed to leap off the paper, their details so vivid and lifelike that it felt as though they were staring back at her.
"I… I… I…" Luna stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what to say."
Malcolm chuckled softly, a hint of pride in his voice. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Luna stepped further into the room, her eyes darting from one piece of art to another. She picked up a poster of an elf archer, her fingers tracing the intricate details of the character's bow and quiver. The elf's eyes seemed to follow her, filled with determination and grace.
Next, she picked up a drawing of a demon, its menacing figure looming off the page. The demon's horns were intricately detailed, and its eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity. Luna's breath caught in her throat as she studied the piece.
"These are… incredible," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "It's like they're alive. How do you do it?"
Malcolm shrugged, a modest smile on his face. "I just… pour everything into it. Every character, every detail, it's like they're a part of me."
Luna turned to him, her eyes shining with admiration. "You're a genius, Mr. Heart. Seriously. These are masterpieces."
Malcolm's cheeks flushed at the praise. "Thanks. That means a lot coming from you."
Luna continued to explore the room, picking up sketches and posters, each one more impressive than the last. Malcolm watched her, a sense of pride swelling in his chest. For the first time in a long while, he felt seen—truly seen—for his art.
As Luna held up a particularly detailed drawing of a dragon, she turned to Malcolm with a grin. "You know, you should really share these with the world. People need to see this."
Malcolm rubbed the back of his neck, his smile sheepish. "Maybe one day. For now, I'm just happy you like them."
Luna's grin widened. "Like them? I love them. You're amazing, Mr. Heart."
Luna continued to scan the room, her eyes catching every detail of Malcolm's artwork. Then, her gaze landed on a white cloth draped over two posters hanging on the wall. Curiosity piqued, she reached out and gently pulled the cloth away, revealing the artwork beneath.
Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at the two posters. "What is this?" she asked, her voice trembling, her eyes welling up with tears.
Malcolm rolled his wheelchair closer, his tone soft and reflective. "Oh, that… That's one of my greatest works. That's Adam and Eve."
The posters depicted two figures—one male and one female—each curled up in a fetal position, their forms raw and unfiltered. The male figure had brown, curling hair, his body outlined by the vivid rays of the sun as if he were sleeping in a mother's womb. The female figure mirrored him, her form equally serene and vulnerable. The artwork was breathtaking in its simplicity and depth.
Luna reached out, her fingers gently brushing the surface of the posters as if afraid to disturb them. She knelt down, her tears spilling over as she took in the beauty of the pieces.
Malcolm quickly rolled his wheelchair closer, placing a comforting hand on her back. "Luna, are you okay?"
She looked up at him, her cheeks wet with tears. "It's… it's the greatest picture I've ever seen."
Malcolm blushed, his voice filled with humility. "Please, I'm so embarrassed right now. But I'll take your compliments to heart."
After a moment, Luna composed herself, and the two of them moved to the sofa to sit down. Luna wiped her tears, her voice still shaky. "That was very unprofessional of me, Mr. Heart. I'm sorry."
Malcolm shook his head, his tone gentle. "No, no, it's fine. In fact, I should be thanking you for escorting me all the way here."
Luna smiled softly. "No, I'm the one who should be thankful. Your art… it's incredible."
Malcolm nodded, his expression serious. "Well, I hope you keep all of this a secret. I just don't like too much exposure or disturbance, if need be."
Luna placed a hand over her heart, her tone sincere. "You can be assured that none of this leaves my mouth. I, too, don't want any competition."
Malcolm's brows raised in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Luna simply smiled gently, as if insisting not to elaborate further. "Nothing," she said softly.
Malcolm shrugged, accepting her response. "Well, if you say so."
Luna glanced at her watch, her expression shifting to one of regret. "Well, I apologize for this short encounter, but my time says otherwise." She stood up and extended her hand to Malcolm.
He shook it warmly. "Thank you again, Luna. I really appreciate everything."
Luna smiled, her eyes sparkling. "Don't worry, Mr. Heart. Next time I come here, I'll deliver your new bionic legs."
Malcolm nodded, his gratitude evident. "I'm really thankful for that."
Luna waved one last time as she stepped out the door. "Take care, Mr. Heart!"
Malcolm watched as she jogged down the stairs, her cheeks flushed and a soft chuckle escaping her lips. He couldn't help but smile, feeling a strange sense of warmth and connection.
As he closed the door, Malcolm leaned back in his wheelchair, his mind racing with thoughts of the future. For the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope.
Malcolm closed the door, leaning back in his wheelchair with a sigh. "Welp, that's that," he muttered to himself.
Then, his memory snapped. Oh shit, Veyl.
As if on cue, Veyl appeared from the corner of the room, its pages fluttering with a mix of curiosity and mischief. "You seemed to have a lovely guest today, My Lord," it said, its tone teasing. "Though someone says otherwise."
Malcolm raised an eyebrow. "Someone?"
Veyl's pages flapped as if shrugging. "Just a feeling, My Lord. But I digress. What are your thoughts on the matter?"
Malcolm sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, I don't know what to make of it. I guess she's just a fan. Though my time is gonna be adjusted—I guess she'll be here more often or occasionally from now on."
Veyl hovered closer, its aura glowing faintly. "Hmm… My Lord, what are you going to do with these poor lads?"
Malcolm blinked, confused. "Where?"
Veyl gestured to the crumpled papers scattered across the floor. "These. They seem… neglected."
Malcolm chuckled awkwardly. "I don't know what to do with them, actually. I just thought they're part of my habitat."
Veyl's pages fluttered with excitement. "I've got a perfect idea of where to put them, My Lord."
Malcolm shrugged, rolling his wheelchair toward his room. "If you've got the perfect idea, then go ahead."
Veyl's aura brightened, and it floated to the center of the room. "You heard the Lord's decree! Heed his call!"
Suddenly, the Stickman Legion popped out of the book, their tiny stick-figure forms springing to life. King Leonidas stepped forward, his voice booming. "Warriors! Our Lord has tasked us with a mission. Let us not falter!"
The legion sprang into action, picking up the crumpled papers and tossing them toward Veyl. As the papers reached the notebook, they magically disappeared inside its pages, as if being absorbed into another dimension.
Leonidas barked orders, his warriors working in perfect harmony. "Organize the cleanup! Leave no paper behind!"
Malcolm watched from the doorway, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Well, that's one way to clean up."
Veyl hovered closer, its tone smug. "See, My Lord? Efficiency at its finest."
Malcolm chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll give you that. Thanks, Veyl."
As the last of the crumpled papers disappeared into the notebook, the Stickman Legion lined up, their task complete. Leonidas saluted Malcolm, his voice filled with pride. "Mission accomplished, My Lord!"
Malcolm nodded, his smile widening. "Great job, everyone. You've earned some rest."
The legion saluted once more before leaping back into the notebook, their forms dissolving into streaks of light.
Veyl floated over to Malcolm, its pages fluttering contentedly. "There you go, My Lord. A clean workspace, just as you requested."
Malcolm leaned back in his wheelchair, feeling a sense of relief. "Thanks, Veyl. I guess I'll have to get used to having you around."
Veyl's aura glowed warmly. "Always at your service, My Lord."
As Malcolm looked around the now-tidy room, he couldn't help but feel a sense of optimism. With Veyl and his creations by his side, maybe he could finally start moving forward.