Marble Lovers

One of the few locations Communion likes to haunt is Burrowgatory's largest art museum.  ...Preferably during a week day afternoon when the museum is quietest and Communion is free to roam the near-empty halls to appreciate the art all on his lonesome.

 

As a bit of a social recluse, Communion finds Burrowgatory's louder, more crowded venues overwhelming and nauseating, but the art museum is utterly perfect.  First of all, it's free for all museum pass holders, which Communion is, of course, and pays the annual membership fee happily.  Second of all, it's air conditioned to the point of freezing, which suits Communion just fine.  After all, anything beats sweating.  Satan forbid.

 

And last, but certainly not least, the great halls of the museum are filled to the brim with various artwork ranging from marble sculptures to oil paintings to less conventional installations and as a self-proclaimed lover of the arts, Communion adores it all.

 

Upon entering, Communion is immediately greeted with a large banner stretching across the entry hall, proudly advertising the museum's newest collection regarding works inspired by the Buntalian Renaissance.  Or whatever that means.  Strange.  Is Burrowgatory truly so old enough for a Renaissance period to have even existed?  Communion thinks not, but he can't deny his curiosity.  He walks up to the front desk, flashing his premium membership badge, before he's allowed free entry to explore the so-called Renaissance Period collection.

 

The special wing is pleasantly empty save for a few others much to Communion's delight and he begins to look around, starting with a marble bust of what appears to be a woman with multiple sceils for hair.  How utterly peculiar.  Each sceil is sculpted with care, almost life-like, as if they might wriggle free and strike any second at Communion and he pulls back slightly despite the ridiculous notion.  The marble bust is certainly beautiful, but exhibits a sense of ferocity especially in the woman's angry gaze and Communion swears the eyes seem to follow him no matter which direction he turns his perspective.

 

...Perhaps the next piece will be a little less unnerving.

 

The next piece Communion stops in front of is a massive painting titled, 'The Creation of Shibani', and sure enough, features Shibani, masterfully painted in intricate fresco, on the left holding his hoof out to a mysterious figure, which Communion can only assume is a demon, who holds his pointed finger towards the sleepy rabbit as if to bestow him with life and energy itself.  It's an incredible work of art and inspires Communion with so many questions that he knows will never be answered unless he somehow meets the painter supposedly named Bungelangelo himself.  It doesn't even sound like a real name.  Well, whoever this Bungelangelo is, his work is certainly beautiful and Shibani has never looked more sacred yet sleepy in his entire life.  Truly as magnificent as it is bizarre.

 

And just like that, Communion takes in the rest of the pieces housed within the Renaissance exhibit with a quiet curiosity.  Some of them just as strange as 'The Creation of Shibani', some of them a little terrifying, depicting great fires and overwhelming evils in strange lands he's never seen before and yet all of the artwork is undeniably beautiful and masterful.  So many strange, fantastical scenes with repeating figures Communion has never seen before.  Whatever this Buntalian Renaissance is, it certainly is a compelling world of magnificent fiction!

 

As the exhibit draws to a close, there in the splendid hall rests one final piece all on its lonesome and the sight of the two lovers entangled so passionately in eternal marble embrace steals Communion's breath away.  Mouth slightly open, he steps closer in awe, trying to get a better look at the smooth white marble.  How can this be?  Not that he would, but if he could, it's as if Communion could reach out and place his hand on the perfect thigh and despite it being made of marble, Communion knows the stone would feel warm and silky to touch like skin.  The light in this hall is intentionally dim as if affording these two lovers a moment of private intimacy and their coupling is almost too much to bear without feeling a little hot under his own collar.

 

A little shy, Communion looks away, partially because of the scene in front of him, but also because he can't help but think of a certain priest who might hold him similarly.  In fact, when Communion gazes at the lovers again, he doesn't see stone.  For just a shameful moment, he sees himself, naked and entangled, with the priest called Father.  Communion doesn't know his real name, but the priest has been nothing but good to him when he turned to religion when he could no longer find his way.  He has proved to be a dutiful listener and always provided Communion with the most thoughtful advice.  It was incredible... the way that Father somehow always knew when to listen and when to speak, the way his silky voice alone soothed the turmoil in Communion's heart and filled him with a fresh warmth he had not felt in a long time.  And now, standing in the museum of all places, Communion has the audacity to fantasize about this man, to —

 

"Exquisite marble work, wouldn't you say?"

 

 

In complete horror, Communion spins around to see Father standing right beside him.  "What are you doing here!?" he gasps before he has a second to realize what he just said only to clap a hand over his mouth.  Oh, Satan, oh, Satan, no, no, this is not happening.  "I-I mean," he stutters, clearing his throat, "Yes, I quite agree.  Beautiful.  Life-like, even."  Shut up, stop talking now.  He winces, squeezing his eyes shut, unable to control the flush on his face.  "Forgive me," he mumbles quietly, "I was not expecting to see you here..."

 

Amused, Father only chuckles.  "Oh, please, no need to apologize — the fault lies within me," he grins, utterly unapologetic as he pats Communion's shoulder in warm understanding.  Now fixed on Communion's face, Father slowly raises his hand to ever-so-gently brush the curve of the other's cheek with his gloved knuckles and watches the pink deepen darker with satisfaction.  "I shouldn't have startled you like that when you were so deep in thought."  He looks back at the marble figures with an arched brow.  "Care to share with me?"

 

Communion huffs, answer a little too immediate, "Absolutely not."

 

Father doesn't seem taken aback.  Instead, he asks, "...Was it really quite so sinful?"

 

 

Father laughs again, quietly offering his arm this time as if to make up for mercilessly teasing him.  "There, there, come here."

 

Grumbling under his breath, Communion steps forward, obediently taking the priest's arm and immediately feels a sense of calm wash over him.  "What about church?" he asks, blinking.  While today might not be a day of worship, the church is always busy and Father must undoubtedly have lessons to prepare, chores that need to be managed and completed... 

 

"What about church?" Father repeats, a sly smile ever present on his lips, which widens into a grin when Communion glowers at him in response.  "It's a pretty quiet day today.  The church will certainly not collapse without me.  And besides, we have the rest of the museum to take in, don't you think?  Perhaps, you could show me around."

 

Communion sucks in a breath at the thought of spending the rest of his afternoon with the priest.  While ordinarily, he would prefer to spend his ventures at the museum alone, he supposes he can make a rare exception for Father.  His heart skips a beat in painful excitement.

 

Biting back a small smile, he nods his head in secret thrill, "I think I'd like that very much."

 

And so, they leave the exhibit together, arm in arm, to explore the rest of the museum.  Maybe in another hundred years, there might sit a pair of different marble lovers in the great hall.  One with crystal antler-like horns and the other — a charming, all-too familiar priest.