"I appreciate the warning. Though I'm not necessarily opposed to opulence. Even a minimalist like myself can appreciate the beauty it holds."
Vendetta led Toshiro back out- to where the event was naturally breaking up. The pair made their rounds of farewell to the guests, many of whom offered contact for future collaboration, business, or invitation to future events to Toshiro. Toshiro thanked the guests and took the offers well- a few had one last question for him, curious to know if he would be returning to the life of an artist. Toshiro admitted that the idea of returning was something he had mused from time to time, but he was hesitant to take the plunge once again.
Soon enough it was just Vendetta, Toshiro and the staff- the latter of whom were busy taking everything down, before the snows got worse. After a moment's observation, Vendetta led Toshiro inside through lovely double doors. Immediately within, the pair were greeted with a lovely dining room- rectangular table, eight chairs. Perfect for small-scale parties... or political affairs over dinner. To his left, a wall with an open window and doorway revealed the kitchen- very glossy, full of black marble and dark stainless steel, rather modern appliances. The wall area doubled as a serving station, and a few people could sit there if they wished. It appeared black and grey, with splashes of violet was the colour scheme. Very befitting of her.
Moving forward, they ended up in a beautiful parlour designed to entertain. Soft couches tastefully adorned the walls, while small tables elegantly filled the corners. A fireplace sat dormant, but elegant- easily one of the room's dominant features. On the walls, some of Toshiro's earliest pieces hing- they held up nicely to time, for she took extraordinary care of them. Just in here, five pieces stood out. Venetian opulence and Japanese shibui blended well together. Following Vendetta inside, Toshiro silently took in all the sights. Quite a bit of space for entertaining, he wondered how often the space was used- as very little was known about Italy's Obsidian Castle.
Being led into the parlour, Toshiro's first thoughts were to the cozy, warm atmosphere of the room. Looking around, a bright smile graced his lips as he spotted five of his earliest works, surprised by how well they held up. "I should have expected nothing less than you taking meticulous care of these paintings."
Emotional expression and aura unreadable, Vendetta merely let him admire- before pulling into her foyer... But quickly pulled him past, into her library. Intimate, filled with shelves of books, it held that studious yet cozy charm. More plants scattered in the corners, adding a little colour. In one corner, a beautiful rosewood desk sat for working at. In a different corner, comfortable chairs and a small table gave a social space, while a third corner held enclosed spots for audio books. Looking around, all sorts of books jumped out- many identical titles easily. But there were also books in history, botany, the study of gemstones, horror stories, music, magick, the occult, alternative lifestyles... plus random books, on topics like wine, cats and tea.
Entering the library, Toshiro's gaze washed over the bookshelves, recognizing a few titles. Many gave him insight to some of Vendetta's interests. In here, eight more paintings could be found- even more pristine, ones he was quoted as having an especial love for. Taking in more of the room, memories came flooding back to him as he spotted the paintings lining the walls. It had been so long since he cad created the paintings- yet he could still immediately recall the emotions attached to each, truly why he had been quoted as having a love for them.
After a silent spell, Vendetta led him back to the foyer...
This was what she meant, when she mentioned opulence. This area was a study of pale silver and black, multiple paths leading away. Including an elevator, tucked away neatly. Rather inclusive, unusual. And a stairway disappearing into darkness behind the library. However, all eyes drew to the defining feature of her home- the main stairwell. Looking like something from a movie, or legends, it was truly regal- starting about the width of most steps, fanning out as one descended. That wasn't the impressive part. The truly impressive thing- it was carved form a single piece of obsidian. How Vendetta pulled that off, he had no conceivable idea.
Toshiro's eyes widened as they entered the foyer again, immediately feeling as though he were unworthy of being in such a place. Everything was so beautiful and pristine, one could have thought they entered the realm of gods based on the opulence. Especially that stairwell.
She chose to take him into the darkness below, soft lights illuminating as they passed. To his left at the bottom, a silver door- tightly locked. He got an emotional impression she didn't wish to reveal that yet... But there was more to see. The first room they passed, a training space- clearly Vendetta kept her family's secret skills sharp once she settled in here... Next came a recording studio? His eyes did not deceive- Vendetta had a space to record violin music, and spoken word. Across the hall, was something Toshiro never expected to see- a mini spa. He could see a tiny sauna, a small spot for meditation and sound therapy, a pair of massage tables- one soft and inviting, the other like it could be filled with water... There was a chair in a corner, with all sorts of tools and shelves of jars, bottles and more beside it. And even a corner with a full-length mirror and vanity, dedicated to beauty. Or so he thought. At the other end, a black door- also with the impression she did not wish to reveal it yet. Similar, yet different. While the silver door almost invited him,t he black one left him uneasy...
Following Vendetta down, he struggled to wrap his mind around how or where she could have gotten such a piece of obsidian intact. The rooms below seemed to emphasize a different side of Vendetta. A training room dedicated to the deadly arts of her family, a recording studio as an outlet for expression, a spa for relaxation... and the two mysterious locked doors, each seemingly two sides of a coin. Toshiro dare not ask, however.
Once more they ascended, Vendetta taking him upstairs. Her heels clacked on the stone, glossy and beautiful and how did she manage to get this obsidian intact? Just mind-boggling. At the top, there was a door- unlike the ones to the right, simple matte black, this one had a scene of glowing purple crystals, blood-dripping black roses and cruel chains suspending a broken and bleeding crystal heart. Probably her room. To the left, a door covered in a rainbow of splatters. Vendetta led him here, unlocking and opening the door.
Toshiro was being shown her studio, where her paintings came to life.
Glossy black walls housed splotches of colour all over- chaotic, but well-rendered. Shelves filled with brushes, palettes, paints, inks, paper, drawing/writing utensils, canvases, pigments, calligraphy tools and various miscellaneous objects filled them. Easels, drop-cloths, half-finished paintings scattered the floor and lower walls. References filled one wall- collages, mood boards, technique tutorials, photos, posters and more all over. In one corner, a permanent painting space had been set- it was there, the Vampyre's Obsidian Collection laid out but well guarded, its magick drawing him. Already her own magick and energy began to infuse, adding a potency. The entire space held a chaotic beauty to it- at once similar to, and completely unlike, the Lady.
"So this is where your magick happens." Looking over each unfinished painting, he was filled with wonder how each would look when finished- if they were to even make it that far. Then looking over her supplies, he was quite impressed with her collection- having a few things he himself found hard to keep in stock. Seemingly being drawn to the Vampyre's Obsidian Colleciton, he could feel its magick radiating off of it.
"I hope it has been as fantastic as you had dreamed. You've certainly been making breath-taking pieces with it as far as I'm concerned." Toshiro almost didn't want to leave her painting studio, feeling as though he could spend weeks in there and still not be bored. There was something about her paintings, even in their unfinished form, that captivated him beyond belief.
Eventually Vendetta led him out, and locked the door once more- deciding to show him her room. She opened the door; immediately he noticed she kept it cold. Taking his hand, she led him inside... Visual Wonderland. So much to see! Everything from the desk to his immediate left- minimalist-modern, to the two doors to the left, tucked away yet in plain sight, to the sliding door on the adjoining wall that led to a beautiful balcony. Beside that, a bay window curved around- a little seating place in the gap, with two drawers below. Before him, her bed- four-poster, draped in black satin. Gauzy curtains added an æthereal beauty, but he could see blackout curtains tucked away. Adorning her walls and ceiling... mood lighting, mirror shards, chains, small art projects, cards, pages of a cook, empty frames all beneath a starry sky- Wonderland like. Scattered in, mementos of previous performances, shelves with mementos... and in a spot she could see every day, the finest piece Toshiro ever made.
Stepping into her bedroom, Toshiro shivered lightly, stepping in closer to her as the cold air hit him. Looking around her room, he had to admit that her bed seemed to be quite comfortable, causing him to wonder how she ever managed to sleep on his weeks prior. Spotting his painting, another smile spread across his face, memories once again flooding back as he looked over it.
"You know... there were multiple times where I thought about just scrapping this painting and starting anew. But sure enough, I would find myself being drawn back to it every time. As if the painting itself wanted to be created."
Vendetta slipped away quietly while Toshiro admired her room and his painting. She showed him all this- in part because he requested it. But in part, because Vendetta knew her intuition well. She wanted Toshiro to share her world. Her life. Amid everything else, loneliness had been the curse to strike her soul for centuries. Vendetta just wanted to settle down, share her life with someone who understood her... And in some measure, Toshiro did. She worried, though, if he got below into the darkness, he would be scared off... But for now, one moment at a time. Even if her mind kept picturing Toshiro living here with her, sharing her bed every night now and forever...Returning soon, she was much more natural- hair taken down, face cleaned of makeup, changed into a simple black T-shirt and shorts with little skulls on them. Sunrise was well on them; drawing the curtains, the room fell into darkness.
"Paintings, much like people, have a life of their own; while many can be flat as the surface they are made upon, some demand creation. Emotional connections, drawn deep from the soul, demanding to be immortalized. Moments in time, beautiful or reviled... leaving such an impression, to be set in some medium or media. Dreams, fears, hopes, desires... Ecstasy and despair, love and hate... The best works have life of their own; and the best works also stir the deepest part of the soul. It's why I had to have this one- and why it lives here."
"You have such an amazing way with words. I'm truly glad that this piece could find its way into your hands. It seems right at home here."
Turning his head as he heard the curtains being drawn closed, Toshiro's gaze took her in. "Every time we're together, it feels as though sunrise sneaks up on us before we know it."
Vendetta slipped into her bed, nodding. "Feel free to sleep here... or you can take the next room, should you wish some space- it'll be just as safe from day."
Her offer echoed in his mind as he weighed the options before him. But after being apart for so long, the chance to lay with her once again quickly made up his mind. Undressing down to his dark red boxers, he slipped into her bed. Marvelling at the comfort, Toshiro had Vendetta pop her thought into his mind- her bed was top of the line, from a reputable maker... the frame had two sets of hydraulics in it, vibration, heating/cooling and special foam that was better than even memory foam. Plus the pillows were also specially-made. Vendetta truly enjoyed the finer things.
Scooting over to her, his arms wrapped around her- warm embrace meeting icy, her scent relaxing him. Soon, the scene lulled him into a deep sleep. And in turn, the warmth of his embrace drew her into the best sleep she had in weeks.