by Karen Kincy
Five
I sit at my desk, my head in my hands, and wait for my laptop to start. Now that I’ve met him, I can’t resist inspecting “Takehiko’s” blog again. He has a lot of inspired lunacy on there. Last week he posted a comic called “Invasion of the Mutant Tribbles!” An anime-style samurai stands in a bamboo forest as monstrous little furballs jump toward him, fangs gleaming. The samurai says, “WTF? (in Japanese).” Actually with the parentheses. Tavian also has a strange fascination with zombies. He likes putting them into sophisticated situations, like zombies golfing, or zombies sipping champagne and saying, “Indeed.”
Stuff like that makes me wonder whether Tavian’s just a total goofball with a penchant for the bizarre, but he occasionally posts serious fantasy art. At least he calls it fantasy, but the Others he draws look so very realistic.
Today he uploaded a quickly colored sketch of a bay centaur standing on a grassy hill. The centaur is standing with his back to us, staring at a flaming sunset beyond a grove of olive trees. I can see longing in the tilt of his neck, the tension in his arms. The title: “Home.” Oh, the centaur must be in Greece.
Wait. I stare at his dark curly hair. Isn’t this the exact same one I saw at the Safeway?
I lean back in my chair and frown. Who is Tavian, anyway? I click on the About Me part of his blog. It doesn’t say anything about his age or location, just, “I’m a work in progress.” Up at the top, there’s a button to message him.
My finger hovers. Should I bother him?
blackmagic: Tavian? this is Gwen
blackmagic: we met today at the bookstore
Takehiko: are you stalking me online?
blackmagic: maybe ;-)
Takehiko: O_O
blackmagic: lol
blackmagic: I like the art you posted, especially the centaur
Takehiko: thanks
Takehiko: brb
After waiting five minutes, I wonder if I scared Tavian off. Or if he’s just not interested in chatting with me.
Takehiko: back. I was texting one-handed while eating
blackmagic: eating what?
Takehiko: tofu. mmm
blackmagic: seriously? :-P
Takehiko: I
