Somehow 5:00 turns out to be further away than Feli expected. He's already at the Modern Art Museum even though it's only 4:00 pm (why does time seem to take forever sometimes?) and he's unsure what exactly he should do with himself.
He ends up sitting down on one of the lovely wrought iron benches dotted around the museum, which is located in a small park. Pulling his small moleskine sketchbook out of his jacket pocket, he looks up and considers the space around him. What to draw? He could sketch one of the lovely, intricate twisty-trees that you only find around this museum. (They're not native, but this is an art museum and artists tend to like pretty things as a general rule.) He could sketch some of the randomers milling about.
There's also the pigeons. But he isn't exactly fond of the scavenging birds after being crapped on that one time when he was wearing his only suit jacket back when he was seeing that Frenchman. What a douche. On the other hand there had been perks to that relationship; namely, suit jackets. Seeing how he came out of the relationship with a grand total of zero suit jackets, he's not sure what he did actually gain from it.
But back to the problem of what to draw. He has a long tedious hour to fill. The thought sparks him to check his watch, only to find that is 4:06 pm and he's managed to while away a grand total of three minutes since he last checked his watch. He sighs.
Without meaning to, he ends up randomly dragging his pen back and forth across the paper while his thoughts drift. It's a little habit of his which he has happily named 'idle hand drifting' although he was sad to find it didn't count as a skill he could put on his CV.
It's almost like meditation. The strokes of his pencil don't have to mean anything, and besides that they don't even look suitably artistic enough for him to claim they're just abstract. They don't even look good. But it's easier to just sit when his hands are doing something. He was always a fidgeter.
And maybe he falls asleep, or really does fall into a trance state, because after no time at all he realises he is looking at the very same German who has occupied his thoughts all day.
Feli startles upright, hastily shoving the moleskine into his jacket pocket and standing up, almost knocking the guard over in his abruptness.
"My god, you startled me!" says Ludwig.
The Italian gives a small laugh and runs a hand through his hair nervously. But he tells himself it's not nerves, just excitement, and the effects of being startled out of sleep.
"Well…you startled me first!" He replies lamely. Wow, does he lack his usual style and confidence when he's caught off guard. Or when he's half asleep. Not that the guard has seen him sleeping…yet.
Ludwig just looks amused, and takes in Feli's scruffy-yet-indie attire. What can he say, he's an artistic soul and he doesn't have to wear uniform today.
"What were you drawing?"
"Oh I don't know just random things…I call it 'idle hand drifting' and it's one of my favourite hobbies but they wouldn't let me say that officially because I invented it. Which seems unfair because it's my best skill. But again, that might be because I am the only one that practises it."
This time the German doesn't look as taken back by his small outburst. Instead he just seems to accept them with a small frown of concentration as he tries to keep up with the fast speed of talking. The Italian thinks he likes this look just as much.
They amble the short distance to the entrance to the Modern Art Museum, and somehow, it's only just now that Feli becomes aware of the exhibitions taking place. He had known about the interesting looking Post minimalist exhibition featuring several installation art pieces, but he hadn't known about the other exhibition.
See, it's because of these surprising situations that he ought to read those 'Museums and the Arts' magazines that he gets. Maybe then he would have known about this new exhibition in advance.
Essentially, he knows that this museum is prone to the odd risqué show, but he simply didn't see the 'portrayal of the nude figure in ancient art' exhibition coming. They won't be able to avoid walking through it because it's in the central room, amongst the installation pieces. So he's going to have to take his german through a room full of nude figures again. He wonders if some greater being orchestrated this.
To be honest, he's an Italian, and he has no problems with nudity. He's just very, very interested to watch this German's reaction. Judging by his reaction to the naked statues in the statue room, this is going to be another brilliant experience. And judging by the guard's limited art knowledge, he won't have realised what he's in for until they're in that room.
As he thinks this, he and his German exchange brief small talk about their day and get tickets (for free, with their museum ID - ah, the joy.) Something about Ludwig sleeping and going to the gym, 'the usual' he claims. Looking at the guard's fitness level, Feli would judge that yes, he must go to the gym often.
The blond is immediately curious about the strange installation artworks they approach in the first room.
"Feliciano -"
"Most people just call me Feli. It's easier." He interrupts.
"Oh, ok then. Feli, what exactly is this? I mean, it just looks like bits of string all over the place."
The Italian laughs brightly for a little at the look of confusion on the German's face. Clearly, he hasn't had much experience with installation art. He looks so adorable like this. He wonders how red the guard would turn if he told him this.
"That's what most people say when they first see art like this! It's because you're looking at it all wrong. Don't look at it like you normally would in our museum. This isn't about the skill or elegance or any of that. This is, well, it's. Um. Ok this is hard to explain, I don't normally do modern stuff. How should I say this…" Feli struggles for a moment. And watches the confused German.
Suddenly the Italian rushes around the large structure - which looks something like a large abstract form made up of string in different shades of red strung from the ceiling.
Through the gaps, the blond peers at him; his expression a question.
"Ok so, don't try looking at the piece like a piece of art. Look at it like shapes. See me?" He smiles broadly through the piece at Ludwig. Who just sort of looks at him.
Feli moves around the piece.
"Now see me. See the shapes the string creates. The form and the different forms that it can create if you move around it to a different angle." At which point the Italian has circled the piece and takes the German's sleeve to pull him around it with him.
"See how it's never the same? There's always something different to look at. And what is art, if not something interesting that makes you look again, and again…"
The German contemplates the structure for a while.
"I suppose I sort of see what you mean. It's certainly very different from most art, but you're right it is rather interesting visually. I think I may disagree with you about what art is though."
"Oh yes? What do you think art is, Mr Guard?" The name gets him a little grumpy frown (again: adorable.)
"I think it's…expression? Beauty? A form of skill or entertainment maybe?"
"For a beginner you really are very insightful, and much sharper than most. Come on, I can't wait to see what you'll make of the next room. Sadly, we will not find as many naked statues in here…"
Once again, the guard regards him curiously, but his demeanour doesn't change and he says nothing. They walk in comfortable silence through to the next room, or rather, the naked paintings room. Feli can feel his excitement bubbling. Which may say something about him.
"And in this room we have a rare collection of ancient artworks…"
He sees the German startle in surprise as they enter the room. He seems to take a moment to swallow - his eyes that little bit too wide - as he surveys the room. Feli can see the second the surprise switches to intent curiosity and interest. He really has made an art historian out of the man, and in such a short time too. None of this stops the violent deep blush across the guard's cheeks. It's getting so easy to crack that rigid armour he just knows he could get a smile any second.
As he watches Ludwig flounder for a few moments, he considers what would happen when he does get a smile. Will that be it? Will his interest in the guard wane like it does with so many men? The idea shouldn't scare him as much as it does.
The reason for the german's surprise is this: essentially the room is full of breasts and penises. For those unfamiliar with ancient artwork, they had a fondness for both nudity and enlarged sexual organs - often they were seen as fertility charms for newlyweds, or were painted for private collectors or brothels.
"Ludwig, did you know they have a museum room just like this in Pompeii, devoted to the hundreds of stone penises they found when they excavated the Roman city?"
"Um…N-no I didn't…" The German seems to recover as he begins again. He really is such a beautiful shade. "Why are there so many naked people?!" He hisses.
The Italian just raises his shoulders with a grin on his face. He gestures broadly with his hands. "Art, my friend."
And they move on to the rest of the exhibition.
Thanks for reading! Beta'd by the lovely Issy. Much more to come, please follow/review, it means a lot :)