[Jaden Wolf]

Mason

In the center of Lamenolai (or thereabouts anyway), a lone figure stood in the shadow of a massive statue. Donned in a long brown trench coat with black boots sticking out below, only the tilt of the hat revealed him to be looking at the carved stone. After several moments of silence, the figure hefted a sigh. With a shake of the head, Mason turned around and looked around the small, grungy, nearly empty square. It was odd, really, that there was so few people about. It WAS the weekend, after all. Then again, the markets were probably stuffed with consumers right now.

Mason made a mental note not to go to the market. If he could help it, anyway. A breeze flicked at his open coat  and he shuddered. There seemed to be a chill in the air, a certain...promise of snow. As if the snow lining the street cracks weren't enough. Though, technically, he didn't really care, so long as it didn't cause him any inconvenience. Not that that was easy to do. It was rare for him to be out and about on a day like this. Actually, half the time, it was rare for him to be out at all. After a while, he started to feel lightheaded and abandoned his peaceful little square and headed for the street. Upon finding himself suddenly enveloped in a throng of people migrating from one market to another, he quickly shuffled to the side with a grumble. Spotting a cafe that had been crazy enough to leave tables outside, he plopped himself down in the nearest chair and hefted another sigh.

[Jaden Wolf]

Misa

In front of a small cafe in the city of Lamenolai, there was a lone table, left to fend for itself in these cold winter months. At that table sat a woman who had apparently been served tea despite her choice of seating, with a sketchbook in her hand and a pile of pencils at her side. While the chilly air threatened to remove all warmth from her drink, she continued to sketch furiously, her eyes constantly shifting from the crowd bustling past to the page in her hands.

After a while of this, she seemed suddenly aware of her once steaming cup of tea. Taking a sip, she stared down at it with a slightly disappointed expression. She had been looking forward to the tea...while it was warm. With a roll of her bright blue eyes, she returned to her work, only to be distracted a moment later by someone sitting across from her. Looking up, she stared at the man who, apparently, hadn't noticed her.
"Hello," she said, with a light amused smile on her lips.

[Jaden Wolf]

Mason started as someone spoke from across the table, and felt thoroughly embarrassed when he realized that he had sat at an occupied table.
"Oh, uh...hi. Sorry miss, I didn't realize this table was...well, yeah, I'll go somewhere else. Sorry." With that, he jerked up quickly, with every intention of letting this woman go back to her business. Unfortunately, his body had other ideas, as he got a head rush and his chest suddenly felt like it was being stabbed. Reluctantly sitting back down, he rotated his shoulders to ease the pain and rubbed his temples tenderly.
"Are you okay? You didn't have to leave, or apologize. I don't mind. You...ARE okay, right? the woman's voice sounded again. Mason looked up at her.
"Yeah. I'm okay. Are you sure it's okay if I stay here a bit?"
"Of course. It's fine! I needed a bit of company, anyway. My name is Misa, mind if I ask yours?" she asked after fluttering her hand as if dismissing the thought of sending him away.
"Mason." Short, blunt, to the point. That was how Mason usually was...except on occasion when he got flustered. Like before. The woman, Misa, gave him a funny look but seemed to dismiss it.

Misa then started to look between him and the sketchbook Mason had just noticed she held.
"Can I ask you a question?" she asked. Mason blinked. A question? What kind of question would this woman have to ask a complete stranger?
"I guess?" he muttered with a shrug. What else was he going to do? His chest still had a dull ache and Mason didn't really want to push himself too far. Yet he found himself thoroughly surprised as he found himself with her sketchpad in his hands.
"How do they look?" she asked, gesturing to her book. Mason glanced at her and wanted to ask if she was blind or something, but then decided to chalk it up to some artist thing. He flipped open the pad.

[Jaden Wolf]

Misa watched Mason as the man flipped through her book. She knew she wasn't a bad artist, but her...problem made art a little difficult sometimes. People told her that it actually made her art even cooler and special, but she still got the feeling that they were just saying that out of fondness. So that was why she had decided to ask a complete stranger. Why not, right? Then she'd get an honest opinion rather than flattery.

Mason's face remained placid as he looked through her book, which started to make her a little nervous. So, she decided to check out her company instead. It was hard to tell what the man looked like with his coat and hat on, but she could see somewhat long hair, at least to his ears, but it was brushed backwards, so it didn't look quite as long as it was. His eyes were a lighter shade, planted in a rather handsome face. Misa had next to no interest in men, and not because she preferred women, no, she was simply happy being the way she was and didn't feel like she needed someone to complete her life. Her admiration of his slightly taller, well-built features was simply from an artist's point of view. She somehow felt like it would be a crime not to forever engrave his naturally sad expression onto parchment.

An expression that vanished as he closed her book and looked up at her. Blinking, she leaned back and smiled at him.
"Well? How were they?" she asked. She seemed calm and collected, but inside her stomach was churning with anticipation as she took a sip of her tea, frowning with distaste as she recalled that it had gone cold.

[Jaden Wolf]

Mason had no idea what to think of Misa's...art. They were well done, with almost perfect detail, but the colors...
he wasn't sure how she'd managed to make drawings using all different shades of red, blue, green, and yellow, among other colors. For example, some people had orange faces with blue noses and purple lips. It was odd, to be sure, but somehow she still managed to create depth and used just the right shades despite the wrong color.

He set the book back on the table and leaned back with a sigh, eying the woman. There must be some reason she did that...or perhaps it was just her style. He didn't know about all that art stuff, so he couldn't be sure. As the woman frowned at her cold drink, he chuckled.
"Well, it's unique," he said, once again to the point. Misa gave him a funny look that bordered on worried.
"Like, good unique or bad unique?" she asked, concerned. Then she shook her head and leaned forward onto the table. "Tell me, what do you think they look like?" she asked. Mason stared at her for a moment, his face expressionless. Then he casually leaned sideways in his chair and looked at the crowd.
"I don't actually know alot about art but they were good. Detailed. Perfect shading. The only thing is..." he trailed off, looking back at her before continuing, "I'm not so sure about the colors."
Misa opened her mouth hesitatingly, shut it, and then opened it again. Mason raised a brow at her. He wondered what it was that she was so unsure of.
"But...do they look okay like that?" she asked nervously. He shrugged.
"Like I said, it's unique. Isn't art about being creative or whatever?" he responded, waving a hand in some general, vague gesture.