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Edgar wasn’t one for pity, or interest. He’d rather turn his nose and scoff, his lips constantly upturned in a sneer or pursed with a hardened gaze riddled with disgust.
When it came to the residents of this godforsaken manor, he preferred to do his duty and spend the remainder of his time alone. Between matches, he retreated to his room, surrounded by scattered art supplies- the need to create controlled him, everyday was the exact same, and it drove him insane.
He set himself out to create something new each day, bring a new perspective to even the simplest of things- many of the other residents didn’t seem to understand. The gardener, a bubbly girl with emerald green eyes, repeatedly questioned his art, as if it was a puzzle.
He didn’t care to explain it to such a simple minded person, he didn’t care for their perspective. Especially if it didn’t align with his.
He didn’t think he was better than anymore, but he wasn’t on the same level. Nevertheless; he stood in the manor’s garden, his hand guiding the paintbrush in it’s endless strokes to perfection. His brows furrowed slightly as he concentrated on capturing how the wind ruffled the leaves, the branches bending and twisting with each breeze.
The landscape was perfect, a simple garden adorned with flowers and greenery. The skylight allowing light to spill into the open area and light the room whilst nourishing the blooming plants.
That was until the door creaked open, heavy breathing and a collection of giggles disturbed his peace.
“Edgar! Hey, Edgar check it out!” The overexcited inventor wrung his gloved hands, his spiky tooth poking into his lips as his cheeks rose with a cheeky grin.
Edgar didn’t turn to face him, only letting out a soft hum of acknowledgement. Luca reached into his pocket, holding up a mess of wires and circuit boards.
“I made an uh.. Uh..” Luca faltered for a moment, staring at the mechanism with a scrunched face.
Before Edgar could speak Luca’s voice interrupted his pensive thoughts “Right! I made an automatic paintbrush for you!”
Edgar finally turned to face him, his expression painfully blank as he repeated the inventor’s excited ramblings.
“Automatic paintbrush.. For me?” He raised an eyebrow, his expression judgy and somewhat intrigued- why would HE, a literal artist need an automatic paintbrush.
Luca nodded eagerly, showing the artist his creation while rambling on- explaining how it would flick the brush back and forth once in place.
“…How nice.” He managed to say, his expression and tone contradicting his words, he wasn’t pleased with this ‘invention.’
What was the point of an automatic brush? How could an invention pour it’s soul onto a canvas if it lacked such?
Luca grinned, crouching with wobbly knees, putting the invention on the floor at Edgar’s feet- his scraggly ponytail moving with his head.
Edgar’s eyes followed his form as it crouched, his eyes crinkling slightly at the unsteady man.
“I’ll leave it here for ya! Just show me what you make with- with it, yeah?” Luca grinned, his eyes twinkling with excitement before he walked off, a static shock raking through his body as he shut the door.
Edgar scoffed as the door creaked shut, leaning down and picking up the invention. Despite himself- he smiled, touching the machine with a curled lip.
Later that evening, he set the invention on his desk, He placed it neatly among the other odd creations Luca had made- gifts he'd never use, and would never discard
A slow warmth bloomed in his chest, the fluttering in his stomach like spring air catching in his lungs as he leaned his head on his palms, his elbows resting on the desk as he looked at the little machines.
He smiled faintly. “You crooked man,” he murmured, eyes drifting to the unfinished painting of Luca hunched at his desk, lost in creation.