The Lover's Art.
A story about two gay men on a date that becomes something more.
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As one last hurrah for Bradley Ramsey’s The Halls of Pandemonium. I present my response to the Day 24 Wiki-Roulette prompt. The article I chose to take inspiration from was Imre: A Memorandum — about a gay american novel described as "the frankest and most affirmative gay male American work in the century's first decade," by Joseph Cady. Here’s my response:
“You’re an artist?” He asked, sipping from the wine in his hand.
I smiled confidently, “Yes. It runs in my lineage. Each of my father’s before me have taken not to the art of the sword, but rather… the art of the brush.”
His eyes study me, and for a moment I notice it – that flicker of longing, as if the desire could only truly be one of a crime.
“Would you like to see my work?” My cheeks reddening as I ask. “There’s some pieces in my portfolio I think would pull even a strong, military type like you down to your knees.” I wink for extra effect, knowing I’d won only when he looked away to hide the growing blush on his face.
“Is that so?” He asks, unable to hide the eager in his tone. “Are you… asking to take me home?”
A chuckle breaks out from my throat. “That depends,” I answer him. “On the masterpiece you’re wishing to explore.” I blow him a kiss, and he freezes. However, it doesn’t take much to see the gears turning in his head, a losing battle for his common sense versus the sweet allure of gay desire.
I’d always loved that part. The few seconds before they audibly confirm their interest, and then we leave. They’d always give in, and I expected this time to be no different.
“On one condition,” He says then, unexpectedly.
“Yes?”
“You take me on another date.”
Another date? No one had ever asked me for that before. Every man before him only wanted the one night stand, or a no strings attached, friends with benefits situation. Anything but the real romantic intent most people hid deep down. I was, properly, dumbfounded.
He waits for an answer, and when I don’t say anything, he says: “A masterpiece like you deserves more than just an exhibit.”
“W- what?” I gasp, not quite processing what he’d said.
“You deserve,” He cups my cheeks into his hands, “everything.”
Everything…
Whoa this grabbed my heart & just wow!