Arctang had been too much isolated lately. His household staff had given him the space without complaint or scolding, but he had sensed their disapproval anyway. It didn't help his desire to get out and do things when even Raja was busy with his own life now. He and Rissa had actually moved out from his rooms, setting up house for themselves in the mortal area of the Pantheon. It didn't much matter to them that they themselves weren't actually mortal. They just seemed to be happily nesting. In fact, they had informed him that they were hoping to start a family soon.

Though he had gone to visit them to get himself out of his shell of a routine, the visit had in fact only made him feel more lonely. Unwilling to return to his rooms and the daily grind just yet, he'd strolled out beyond the gardens and into the marketplace. The noises, smells, and sounds were stimulating, helping him to move his mind off of his self-centered moping. So now he paced along, the top button of his dress shirt unbuttoned, his hands in his pockets, with no real goal in mind.

He stopped to inhale deeply at some exotic looking food stand. The scents were rich and heady, and the makeshift tables and benches around it were full of chattering folk. He ran his eyes over the kaleidoscope variety represented in the lunch crowd. Horns and hooves, scales and fur, one eye, two eyes, four eyes, none. The area around the Pantheon was such a melting pot of the worlds. He rather liked it this way, despite the reasons for it being so. Smiling, he moved on, still at a slow stroll.

He had wandered past stalls with fluttering fabrics, as well as a few with weaponry displayed in glittering, dangerous appeal, when splashes of bright color caught his eye. Unhurried, he meandered over, weaving between other stalls and the constantly shifting crowd. It was surprising to step into a suddenly serene space. The crowd was still very visible, quite audible, but somehow it had less impact in this space. He blinked owlishly around himself. Color and shape danced around him, spreading from canvas to tree bark to cloth. Music wafted in measured beats and intricate swirls, helping to create the space as set apart from the bustle of the market. Other people were drifting among the works of art, so Arc joined the flow.

What he found delighted him. The artist had used brilliant colors, splattering and slinging them all over whatever the surface was. What he loved about most of them, though, was the patterns that were used. Some were more subtle than others, but there was no denying the math. The intricate layering of colors were distinctly fractal in nature, some in macro sizes, others painfully detailed and delicate. Eyes wide with appreciation, he continued to stroll through the miniature gallery. There were non-fractals thrown in as well. Several were apparently random shapes stacked one on another, creating surprisingly appealing aesthetics Others seemed to be still life, but the likes of which he'd never seen. Objects portrayed in odd settings, or made up of unrelated objects. The variety was wonderful.

In a space set apart from the gallery were a bunch of makeshift easels, looking like an odd forest of man-made trees. There even was one very low to the ground, sized for its artist. Every easel contained some sort of material to draw or paint on, and had an individual sitting in front of it, studiously working on their own art. He stood quietly to watch for a moment before he noticed that this wasn't just a group of artists, but a class! A barefoot diva in a ponytail and bright clothing paced among them, giving tips or correcting mistakes. He watched with interest as she helped one gruff looking man form petals on a flower better. The irony of a viking-helmed male painting flowers was not lost on Arc, though it merely reinforced his enjoyment of the variety brought about by the necessary gathering of peoples around the Pantheon.

Just then the bright person caught sight of him. "Ah! You! At last! Come here." Startled, Arc suddenly found himself seated in front of yet another makeshift easel. He was given a large piece of tile, four times the size of his hand, with chipped edges. "Here, you work on this, I've got something I need to find." He blinked as a paintbrush was shoved in his hand and the art teacher hustled off. He blinked blankly at a neighboring artist, who shrugged and kept painting. Perhaps this wasn't so unusual for her to do? As he had come out here to be distracted, he decided he might as well oblige the odd teacher, for the time being at least.

When she returned, he had put a series of deep green swirls on his large tile. He'd kept with the fractal idea, pleased that it at least did resemble the mathematical pattern, even if his weren't as intricate or detailed as hers were. He was beginning to add a pale blue highlight when sudden energy at his elbow made him look up to see her cheerful face. Paintbrush poised, he raised his brows inquiringly.

"This was meant for you," she stated, handing him a wrapped bundle. "Also, I have been waiting for you to arrive. I want to keep teaching here, but I believe you have room for me in your home?" He stared at her, then burst into a laugh. How could he have forgotten such a vibrant spirit?! He knew here, and knew her well, or had at one time. Before the Fading, of course.

He smiled at her, setting down his paintbrush gingerly. "I should have remembered, when I saw your paintings," he told her in genuine apology. "There still is much I don't remember about the time before. Yes, I do indeed have somewhere you can stay in my home, Blip." She beamed at him brightly, as she did all things. "In fact, I have a very large room that is now empty that would work well for you and your art, I think," he added with amusement. She did a girlish bounce and clapped her hands, hair flipping joyfully as if it had a mind of its own. "I'm certain the entire place could use your touch, in fact."

"Just let me finish my class then, and I will move most of my things there," she answered him. "Will I be able to tell your door from your sister's?" He paused to consider that, but she waved a hand dismissively. "Nevermind, I'll figure it out. Now go look at what I gave you, before you forget." With that, she was once more among her students, her chipper voice rising pleasantly over the soft music and murmur of the crowd.

Shaking his head, wondering how he ended up with yet another member of his growing household, he rose from his seat and made his way towards home. He was halfway back before he remembered the bundle she'd given him. Curious, he unwrapped it. It wasn't very big, smaller than the tile he'd been painting. What it revealed was highly curious. It was a face... but like some of her other works of art, it wasn't made of what one would expect a face to consist of. Tubing looped around, forming the basic outer shape. What appeared to be metal plates of varying colors and shapes formed bone structure. Eyes that looked like they could swivel gleamed behind metallic lids. There was no mouth, but a thrifty mustache sprouted in its place. He stopped still to stare at it. It nearly looked... alive! Mind whirling, Arc resumed his walk back to his rooms. He had much to think about now, beyond just the daily doledrums. It seemed that the walk had been exactly what he needed.