Tag: deepblackdreaming

deep-black-dreaming

“Just about,” she spoke up showing what she had so far. Fingers cacked in dark charcoal dust. Placing the pad back down she wiped her fingers on her, thankfully black, skirt. “Not much longer, you’re very unique, I want to be sure I can properly depict it.”

Casper couldn’t really understand why she had started drawing the creatures and monsters she’d been meeting, however she felt it was better then fearing them entirely. A few more added details and she showed Aku the drawing.

The demon leaned closer to inspect the finished product, his movements accompanied by the ominous sounds of creaking timber. He stared at the drawing and checked to see if all the components were there: great flaming eyebrows? Check. Beard, sharp claws, six horns? Triple check. Bonus points for impeccable posture that did not reflect his current slouch. 

“Mmmmmh…” he mused. “Acceptable.” 

But he did not lean back in his seat just yet and continued to eye the sketchbook with mild curiosity. “What else is in there?”


deep-black-dreaming

“No. No posing. You’re fine as is. I don’t mind if you watch as I go.” she got her charcol out and started to draw on a clean page. Occasionally she would glance back up for smaller details but otherwise she had a basic sketch down pretty quickly.

She didnt use any color but rather shaded and accented details. Pretty soon the image came together of Aku sitting in his throne straight and regal in his body language. Casper added a few details to the throne itself, the flame patterns were made a little more dull comapired to Aku himself.

Aku looked anything but regal as he sat slouched on his throne while his portrait was drawn. Now and then he sipped the black tea until his cup was empty again. He would have dozed off if not for the tea and the soft strokes of her pencil.

Finally, his jaws parted in a great yawn and his long tongue stretched outward and downward like that of a lion. When he was finished, the tip of his tongue blepped out just slightly, unnoticed. He blinked his eyes a few times, then looked toward the portrait. 

“…Is it finished yet?”

deep-black-dreaming

“What? No. I honestly don’t mind what goes on in other worlds, it’s too much effort to worry about them all when I have my own situations to deal with at home.” she paused, pondering on that for a long moment.

“I wonder if that makes me evil.” she shrugged. “Ah well…You can bet I won’t lecture you, Master. However, would you be offended if I drew you in my sketchbook?” she held up a damaged sketch pad.

“So long as I do not have to pose and I may view the results when you are through… It will be allowed.”

He continued to sip his tea while looking straight forward.

deep-black-dreaming

Casper poured more tea into the cup since he appeared to want more. The list of titles were impressive, if not intimidating to her, still she remained silent until he addressed her again.

“My name is Casper,” she answered, settling to sit with the tea kettle. “Um, I’m no one special. Guess you could call me an explorer, Master Aku.” she figured that was the proper title he expected. As an after thought she hopped up and curtsied, it was a little sloppy but the attempt was made.

“Explorer? Hmph…” Aku grunted half-heartedly. No wonder she hadn’t known who he was. She must have been one of those ‘travelers’, like Azura. At the very least, she knew how to properly address a superior being. 

“So you are one who walks between worlds,” he said. “I hope this does not mean you’re gonna tell me that what I’ve done to this world is ‘wrong’ and I must ‘become a better and kinder person’.” Aku spoke with a roll of his eyes. “I will not sit through such agonizing drivel.”

deep-black-dreaming

Casper took the cup back when it was empty, refilling it for him.

“Sorry to ask, but, what are you exactly?” she handed him another hot cup of tea. “I’ve never seen anyone like you before.” she glanced back down at the kettle trying not to show how silly she felt for asking.

“I am Aku — Master of Darkness, Shogun of Sorrow, Emperor of Evil,” he answered. Normally, his list of titles would be recited with greater enthusiasm but today he rambled them off as if recalling a grocery list. “I am the ruler of this world. You have never seen another like me because none other exists.” 

He sipped his tea, emptying the cup rather quickly once again before resting his hand beside her for more. It was about this time that he looked upon the human serving him and realized he’d never seen her before. 

“…And who are you?”

deep-black-dreaming

Casper went right to it, getting the darkest tea she had. As she waited for the water to boil she looked back to Aku almost curiously, trying to be subtle about her studious gaze. In all the years she had been in the presence of creatures like him, she’d never seen one so willing to be paitent, or show emotion like he did.

In no time she finished the tea, handing it over to the other. “Here you go, careful with it though.”

Aku’s eye had slid shut so the glances directed at him went unnoticed. By the time the tea was finished, he was rumbling softly with his eyes still closed. But Aku was not asleep, mind you. He was just resting his eyes.

When presented with the tea, he blinked to life and his flaming brows seemed to flare with a slight startle. Reaching for the cup, he picked it up between clawed fingers.

“Careful? Pfeh!” He scrunched his snout in a sneer. As if tea could pose a danger to the almighty Aku. Without bothering to let it cool, the yokai sipped it down, enjoying the heat and steam as it went down.

“Mmmhh… yes, not bad,” he remarked.

deep-black-dreaming

“Conjure?” Casper looked down at her hands as if expecting sparks to fly for a moment. Shaking her head she looked back up at him. “Er, I’m not a witch that I know of, but I’ll make it the traditional way if you’re fine with waiting for a few minutes.”

The demon heaved a great sigh and sank lower in his seat.

“Very well. I shall wait.”