Each Painting Has Its Own Stories
Author Note:
Ngh, hopefully it doesn't bother too many people but I'll probably be doing slow updates despite having a few chapters done. That way, more chapters can be written and updated at a somewhat consistent pace.
ArrowRyouHaddock: Thank you! I hope the story can keep up with your interest though, lol! It's a bit tough to write both Ib and Mary personalities since Ib is the silent protagonist (but it's great for free interpretation of her character) and Mary seems to go in different extremes (depending how you , as Ib, treat her).
Again, reviews are always appreciated! : 3
Milk Puzzle
Garry sigh in exasperation for what seems one of the many times he's been doing since he came to this unsettling world. They have just barely walk 10 minute back to the other room where they ran into Mary when she decides to stop them and continue on her storytelling game. He didn't think she actually mean every single painting they're going to see, and he hopes he was dead wrong. They don't have the time and liesure to lounge around and make up stories!
"Can't we play this game in the next painting? Really, a milk puzzle is nothing to be telling a story about."
Mary stomps her foot and holds her ground, "No! No! It's a good painting to tell a story! Come on, pleaaaaaaase?"
Garry looks at empty white-clean puzzle painting. It was just not a piece they can talk about as it can be anything when it's really nothing! Why is Mary being so insistent? Garry looks down as he felt Eve gently tug the tattered coat sleeves of his.
"... Just a small one. For Mary?"
He melts at the pleading puppy look Eve gives him. The girl will be a death of him one day with those pitiful eyes! He sighs once again with his fingers rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"... Alright. Alright. I suppose a quick one won't hurt at all. But I really can't think of anything for something like this. I doubt Eve can too?"
He gives Eve questioning look and she shakes her head, confirming his statement. Mary blows up her cheeks puff but flicks her hair gleefully in triumph, "Hmph. Alrighty then! I guess I'll do this one too! And don't worry! It's be short too!"
- o -
Eveline huffs in frustration as she slams down the puzzle piece not all too gently, but still contain a dignified lady-like frustration that her mother always reminded her. It was a gift from her uncle across the world. A milk puzzle he called it. But with all the pieces looking similar and the resulting product just a blank slate, she starting to see a lack of point in doing such a puzzle.
"You should try this piece instead."
Eveline turns around to glare at the boy similar to her age. He was holding a piece to her. Her anger seems to intensified by the offering gesture. The only reason she's with him is because their mothers decide to have tea time and gossip with each other, leaving their two children to play together. Though they just barely did that. Each keeping to their own corner. That was until Eveline begin to play around with the puzzle when they actually finally talk to each other.
"I knew that! It's just this is dumb! No one can ever ever finish this puzzle! My uncle is only teasing me!"
The 9 year old girl pounds her legs to the floor repeatedly in a whining attempt. The boy merely smiles coyly before he place the piece on the section she was trying to jam in with another earlier. It fit perfectly. He begin to pick certain pieces at a lazy speed, putting each to their proper place. Each was always the correct answer. Her short and tiny progress of one hour was completed entirely within 10 minutes. Eveline gape at the sight of completed puzzle. She turned her astonishing look at the boy.
He gives her a shy grin, "I finished it."
That was how Eveline met Weiss Guertena.
- o -
Mary expected applause from the two. She expected Eve to give an amazed and dazzle look as always when she does something she thought it was impressive, and short but meaningful words. She expected Garry to make some subtle snarky but playful batter with her. What she didn't expected was silence and the surprised looks.
The blue-eyed child tilts her head, "What's wrong?"
Finally, Garry gives a small laugh, "Huh. Wow.. I didn't know you were actually making Guertena, the artist of all these paintings to be part of your story. To be honest, I was almost convince you guys didn't remember who Guertena is even if this is his exhibition... Um... Wow, and a continuation too? You have an impressive imagination."
Eve eyes then once sparkles with quiet amazement and delight, she points to herself, "Is Eveline me?"
Mary beams at the praise the violet-haired man gave; however, she turns her attention quickly to Eve and nods eagerly, "Yes! Well, sort of! But she's just like you!"
Garry scratches his head and smiles weakly, "I get the impression she's actually a bit more like you, Mary. Eveline, that is."
Mary furiously shakes her head at Garry and turns determined, adoring eyes back to Eve, "No. She's definitely like Eve! She looks like Eve! And she's cute like Eve!"
He was a bit disturbed how close Mary was to Eve. Sure, what would be intimate if it was between a boy and a girl was often considered normal between two girls these days. And they're just young girls who didn't know anything better. But the look and attachment Mary was showering to Eve ever since they met, and they barely just met, wasn't sitting too well for him. It was abnormal.
Mary and Garry lock eyes for a moment. In that moment, he felt an icy chill as if Mary was calculating him. Looking at him with a hint of suspicion and remote coldness. As if she was daring him to take Eve away from her hold and face the consequence.
… And what consequence would it be?
Then it quickly whisk away as she smiles, the bright usual smile.
"Well, let's go!"
Mary pulled Eve, hand-in-hand, to the door.
He was beginning to wonder if he and Eve really want to– should continue to play this game.