The Queen is Naked
A drop of thick pink paint splashed on the floor. The brush followed and the painter took two steps back to fully view his work of art.
He was flabbergasted. He couldn't allow Dante Crescendo to take the painting to expose it on Harmonious Hall. Actually, as therapeutic as painting was, Branch should never have agreed to paint for a public art show. EVER.
Art was pure feelings. It was a way to translate the urges of his soul into a colorful scenario. He would be exposed. Transparent. And the title he chose for the painting shouldn't leave room for misinterpretation: Happiness.
Thinking about happiness was a challenge, so he decided not to think and allow his emotions to guide every brushstroke to its natural path.
He spent hours engaged in the painting. He dove deep into its shades of a pink ocean and deep green background.
A sweat dropped on the floor next to the brush and his heart picked up the pace.
He had painted Poppy… asleep, with her cheeks lightly leaning on her arms. It was an innocent idea, a moment of pleasure they shared a few days ago. But when he took a step back and saw the painting in its entirety, he realized his mistake.
Branch had chosen to paint her in an angle where her blue dress was totally hidden by her arms. He also chose to paint her leg picking out behind the bright magenta hair.
She looked nude.
The innocent happiness became explicit porn all of sudden. The Queen was blissfully naked on a background that accidentally looked like bedsheets.
To his eternal unluckiness, Dante chose that moment to knock on the bunker's trap door. He was there to collect the artwork and Branch started panicking, thinking of a million excuses not to allow him to take the painting.
"Hi, Dante." Branch welcomed his friend inside with a humorless smile.
"My talented friend, I've come to collect your painting." The composer said with his usual bemused voice.
"Ahh… you see…" Branch followed Dante to his lounge room, suddenly realizing his arms were spiked with pink paint. "It's not finished, so…"
"Not finished?" Dante's smile dropped in disappointment, but he continued to fly towards the easel anyway. "Oh, well, let's at least see the shape and colors so I can save a proper space… good gracious!"
Dante halted in front of the painting and Branch felt his face burning.
Now Dante thought he was a pervert. Well… he wasn't exactly a saint, but he thought of himself a pretty decent troll considering that he was dating the most beautiful girl in the whole city!
"Branch… this is…."
"I know…" his ears dropped. Branch was so abashed and even his voice came out weakly. "It looks inde-."
"Genius!" Dante's eyes were spinning at the painting and Branch had to stand right beside him to try to see what was 'genius' about it. "Did you coordinate this with Poppy? I bet you did! I have the perfect place for it at Harmonious Hall!"
"Wait! Dante, I don't…"
"The way she's leaning down! So raw and carefree! Her barriers are lowered and we can see the girl and not the multitasking Queen." Dante was beyond himself in deep contemplation. "A nymph. Yes. Or Venus herself."
As Dante continued his art critics, Branch felt more and more awkward. Did he really paint all that? He had just tried to portrait Poppy…
"I beg your pardon, Branch, but this painting is finished. I'm taking it to the exhibition!"
Carefully, Dante threw a white sheet over it and carefully picked it up, like he was carrying some rare jewel.
"I can't wait to see everyone's reaction to it."
No coherent words would come out of his mouth. Branch tried to voice the good arguments that he had in his mind, but only incomprehensible stuttered sounds were muttered.
The classical troll left the bunker with a delighted laughter and Branch stared at him taking away his painting.
Branch felt like a fool and a pervert.
Synth's painting here, Synth's painting there… Branch took the opportunity that everyone seemed to be concentrated on an abstract piece of art and tiptoed his way through the Harmonious Hall to get his own art back.
The crowd of trolls were all gathered on the opposite wall and no one saw him sneaking next to the place where his supposed masterpiece was.
It was going to be really quick. He would get his painting, especially fast before Poppy had a chance to see it, and he would rocket out of there.
He found his painting. Guy Diamond was the only one close and, while pretending to be a statue, he could still see and hear everything Branch was doing.
"It was coordinated, wasn't it?" Guy asked, doing his best to keep still.
Branch was lost for a moment, but when he looked above his own art, he saw none other than Poppy's painting.
She had painted him.
His eyes widened at the colors she had chosen to paint. Aquamarine skin and pink background. His cerulean hair was shining its brightest and his chest was covered with a half open vest.
It was the smile and the half-raised eyebrow that gave the final touch of a contemplative smirk. His portrait looked as indecent as hers.
"No…" Branch managed to answer Guy. "It wasn't coordinated. We didn't even speak about our paintings."
"Oh well…" Guy Diamond quickly looked at both paintings before returning to his position. "You must be in each other's head then." And after a second of hesitation "and everywhere else."
"Oh, keep your mind off the gutter." Branch hissed, but he only got a laugh in response.
He was lucky Synth's painting seemed to get a lot of attention. No troll stood for long in front of his own painting. Naked Queen or not, it saved him a lot of trouble and a lot of explanations.
Maybe his art could stay at Harmonious Hall a little longer.