Art At Its Finest
"Are you sure you will not feel weird?" asked Beatrice.
"Of course" said Wolfgang "I mean, it probably seems like a couple thing to do, but we're here just to have fun, it doesnt have to be weird. It would be cool for each of us in different ways. I get to appreciate art I like and you get to learn more about human culture. No big deal".
"But your friends are clearly on a date here" said Bea.
Kana and Harumi we're talking tenderly to each other, holding hands and standing so next to each other that it almost seemed like they where touching. Harumi's family was very traditional, however, and she honored their wishes, so there were barely any contact between them, even at moments alone. Kana never really talked about that, but Kinshi would never miss the chance to remind Kana that he was likely a virgin, while Kinshi was not anymore (which Kana also wouldn't miss the chance to say, losing virginity was expensive for Kinshi). Not that it mattered to either Kana or Harumi, their love was the stuff of legends and fairy tales.
On that day however, Kinshi would miss that chance, for he was not present, nor was Yoko. Both of them declined the chance to go for the expensive Art Gallery, claiming they had better things to do and ways to spend their money. Kana in the other hand, realized it would be a romantic activity to do with Harumi, and the agreed to go, much to the relieve of Wolf and Bea, being alone at such environment would be weird, even now that they had made peace.
"Oh, don't worry about it. I held the candle for them before, it sure does not inspire romantic thoughts on the people around, we'll be safe." Said Wolfgang.
The Princess had conflicting thoughts about that, not entirely happy nor sad that Wolfgang was being carefull not to let anything more grow among them.
But she also did knew that trowing herself at him right now would gain her nothing, so she just hoped for the best and enjoyed the ride.
The Gallery's exhibition was mixed, half showcasing native japanese art pieces and half a mix of pieces from a variety of nations, both originals and copies.
There was also a small mid section, showcasing art of proeminente figures from liminal races, and also a few from famous artitists that where only recently proven to be liminals, such as Van Gogh, a zombie.
That mid section, as to attract more visitors, was visible from the line at the entrance.
"It's so crazy to think that Van Gogh was a zombie, isn't it?" commented Harumi "I mean no offense of course, but it kinda gives you the chills, yes? I mean, it makes you keep suspecting that everyone around you might be a liminal in disguise" them she added "That's not really out of fear or anything, really Beatrice, nothing against you, but I think I'd feel betrayed if someone I liked was a liminal all that time and had never told me".
"Yeah, that would be really crazy, right?" agreed Wolf, with a weak laugh, trying to hide how that phrase hit him.
"Well, I can see behind the disguises of any known liminal, Harumi" said Beatrice "And I can guarantee you, no one here is hiding anything of real importance from you" the Princess said firmly, blinking with complicity only to Wolfgang with one of her eye-tentacles.
Wolf hidden a smile as Harumi said "Gee, your Majesty, you're really awesome".
"Oh, you do not know the first thing about it, but indeed I am" the Princess boasted.
"And modest above everything else" Harumi giggled.
"There, there, you can keep praising Beatrice further inside" said Kana, giving his ticket to the guard at the entrance.
The others gave out their own tickets as well and proceeded into the exposition's lobby, decorated with the liminal themed part of the collection.
Past the small section dedicated to Van Gogh, there was a small replica of the Collossus of Rhodes, which was still up in a small Cyclopses village, and recently proven to be made by them, and past it, a small collection of ancient books, said to be the oldest known scripts of the Centaurs Code of Honor, written as poetry in a foreign language that neither character could grasp.
"This must be a priceless relic to the Centaurs. I'm amazed that they are even allowing humans to see it, much less bring it into exposition" said Wolf.
"Well they did not ease up on the security at the very least" commented Beatrice, pointing the four centaur guards in full plate armor, standing in the shadows.
As if they noticed the comment, the four immediately saluted, in unisom.
Kana and Harumi where the most amazed, looking in a mix of admiration and terror into an old orc tribal totem, made of wood and bones.
There was an actual Orc elder standing next to it, and as he noticed that the young couple was staring, he started "Do you like it? It's an old Totem of Bonding".
Startled, Kana and Harumi turned to him "What do you mean sir?" Kana asked.
"It is part of an old Orc tradition, yeah" he said "In the ancient days of the tribes, when two Orcs wished that their life would be forever conected, be it by marriage, friendship or rivalry, they would stand in front of the Totem, and pray pleading it to attend to their wish, and the Totem would tangle their lifes together for all eternity".
"Wow that sounds nice" said Kana.
"Haha, I'm sure it seems so for a couple lovebirds like yourselves, however, the Totem works for any pleading, be it good or ill, or even if only one of the parts wants to bond" the Elder said "In those cases there will be a price, bonding your soul into the Totem is serious business, you can't turn back on your decision, and it will be final, especially if you plead for life... Or death".
Beatrice heard all of it and promptly intromised "Preposterous. I think more of you than to believe in such things, Kana and Harumi".
The old Orc looked at Beatrice with amusement "It is not a matter of belief, young lady. The Totem is here for its cultural purpose, its meaning in Orcs history and lore. Much like any other piece of artwork in this exposition to be very fair. I'm not here to preach old Orc religion, but however, I believe that you did came here to learn more about other cultures lore, am I not right?"
The Princess' face flushed red as the lecture kicked in, she swallowed her pride and pleaded "Indeed, Elder one. I was most arrogant in my word, please forgive me".
"Apology accepted, young lady. It is known that arrogance is your people's most proeminent flaw, as a compensation for your many gifts, I'm sure" the Orc finished.
"You have to learn to be nice to people, little princess" Said Wolfgang, elbowing her softly, which just flushed her further red.
"What do you think Kana?" asked Harumi, on the sidelines of the discussion.
"What do you mean?" he asked back.
"The Totem" she replied, swinging herslef back and foward, playfully "Wound't it be awesome if we pleaded ourselves for each other?".
Kana simply smiled "Why? Are you that so little confident of our relationship?" he played.
Harumi punched his arm, strongly "What do you mean by that?".
"We'll be together forever because we want to, because we love each other" he replied "Not because some Totem binded us together so we don't have to worry commiting to it".
Harumi flushed red that time "Oh, you..." she said as Kana pulled her to a brief but tight hug, ending with a kiss on her forehead.
"Relax, we'll have all time in the world for that" he said, as Wolfgang and Beatrice both watched, both wishing that they had someone like that.
The tour was, at last, very enjoyable. Beatrice felt surprisingly accepted among Wolf and his friends, one would think that they all knew each other for ages, by looking at them.
At the end, Beatrice waved the old Orc goodbye, and they followed along the street still talking friendly, in a manner that Beatrice only dared dream of in her time on her homeland.
She smiled to herself, not really paying attention where she was headding.
Turns out she headed straight into a light pole.
The shock was so violent, that she fell back into her rear, even more surprised than she was in pain.
Wolfgang rushed to help her up, struggling to control a burst of laughter "Hey what happened? Are you ok?" he asked, concerned, despite the giggling.
"... Yeah" Beatrice answered, before she started to burst into laughter too.
"Whats so funny?" asked Harumi, concerned.
"It is just that... I never bumped into anything before, never tripped to, ever" she said, smiling, before bursting into laughter again "I have so many eyes, that... I was never so distracted to the point that I couldn't see a thing right there just in front of me".
That made Wolf smile too "Ha, that must have messed with your head, how can you be happy about that?" he asked jockingly.
Beatrice just smiled again, and gave the shoulders "You don't even imagine" she thought.