Title: Artistic Impression
Author: Karina
Rating: PG
Pairing: Relena + Heero
Notes: Challenge 212. Baby Series 4 #93. Takes place approximately at the same time as Domestic.
Spoilers: None
Warnings: Extended Length
Many thanks to ShenLong Deb for her work betaing this set of fics.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the Characters from the series but the baby is mine.
Title: Artistic Impression
"It's too regimented." Relena stepped back, staring at the wall for a long moment then stepped closer, standing side by side with her companion.
Heero frowned, glancing from the mosaic to the young woman beside him. He should have had her safely back at the palace hours ago. Her mother, and possibly her brother too, would have a fit if... when... they found out Relena was out unchaperoned at this abominable hour of the morning.
"Regimented?"
They would probably make a habit of this, if they were not caught out by her mother... or unless Pagan decided to take matters under advisement. The man was Hunter and she was the Princess Royal.
Relena sighed. "It's set out too 'exactly'. Each tile is set at the exact same distance and position in relation to every other piece. As mosaics go, this one sucks, though given how much the 'city fathers' paid for it, others don't agree."
Heero stared at the patchwork of tiles for a long moment. "I am afraid I don't understand the difference between a good and bad mosaic."
Relena edged a little closer, hoping he would not realise he made a wonderful windbreak...not that that was the reason why she wanted to get closer.
"I'm not a great fan of mosaics in general. I find they are often too 'square', just a bunch of small tiles placed in regimented patterns. These days the patterns are not exactly complex. Simplicity has its place, but it does not make a chessboard interesting; it's the playing pieces that accomplish that. Some of the ancient Roman mosaics are magnificent, but for what the city management paid for this one... It was a waste of money. Too regimented, too plain. It's just like looking at a paved street that's been lifted onto its side and hung on a wall."
Heero didn't dare comment on the fact the 'wall' was a solid cliff face surrounded by lush gardens beneath the delicate filigree of a wrought iron arch. He found the orderliness of the hand sized tiles appealing. Each placed side by side at just the right regimented distance... Like soldiers on a battle field. The colours, white, green, black and red encased in a dark blue tiled border of exactly sized tiles.
No, he didn't mind it at all, but his was a more simple and straightforward viewpoint in general. He had grown up in an environment as regimented as these tiles set so precisely in perfect juxtaposition to each other. He had not had the cultured upbringing of the Princess, and saw art in a much less complex fashion. He did not dissect it and try to second guess the artist's intentions. For Heero, he either liked it or not.
In this case, he did. The gardens and the ornate archway framing it appealed to him. He did not wish to interpret the artist's impressions, he simply reacted to what he saw when he looked at the whole, not individual segments. If there was any symbology to the work it was the regimented orderliness that was military rule giving way to the lush paradise that was the arch framed garden.
"Hnn."
Perish the thought of him ever becoming an art critic.
End
Karina Robertson 2013