Chapter Text
"What does this one say?"
"This one? Let's see...it's called Embodiment of Spirit. Beautiful at a glance, but if you get too close, it will induce pain. It can only bloom in wholesome bodies. "
Emil warily looks at the giant red rose sculpture. It's very pretty, imitating a real flower to perfection if one could even grow to this size. He can only guess that it's taller than him and Luca combined. Despite its beauty and unnatural growth, there's still something about this rose that bothers him.
"Why is it called that...?" He wonders.
Luca shrugs. Art isn't his forte, never was. Not unless you count the messy sketches of his inventions and the scribbles of ideas that were created on paper. He couldn't label that as art, not when they were all brought to life with metal. His creations came to life with the purpose of science and assistance. Scientific creations had to follow rules and obey laws. Meanwhile, art was free. It's a spectacle to admire and interpret the hidden meanings that the creator intended to leave behind.
"Maybe it's supposed to take the title literally. Like a rose embodying one's spirit or represents who you are," Luca answers thoughtfully. If there was anything that was getting him to think, it was more on how this piece was created. Just how could one person craft a giant rose and make it stand on its own? What sort of material was used?
Emil tries to mentally repeat what Luca had read from the sculpture's description. When he looks at it, he can barely make out the words. If it wasn't for Luca reading it to him, he wouldn't be able to know half of what was written on the display.
The patient puts a hand to his chest as he tries to figure out this piece of art. He isn't quite sure why he's fixated on this one. This gallery had plenty to offer after all.
"Do you think...one can bloom in us?'
"Hm."
Luca shakes his head. His body is anything but wholesome. It's damaged beyond repair. Emil's is the same. Their bodies had been through hell and back. If flowers were to grow from them, it wouldn't be roses. And it certainly wouldn't be while they're alive.
"But, say that they could," Luca says, not wanting to leave the conversation with a negative answer, "I think you'd have a white rose."
It suits Emil. A prim, white rose. Pure with a touch of innocence. The world hasn't been kind towards him, putting him through pain and torture, breaking a poor soul. Despite everything, he knows how to love. Emil cares for Luca deeply, like no one else has. The patient offers him everything, intent on giving him his heart until the bitter end.
The patient thinks about it for a moment. He wonders if that color truly suits him. Emil doesn't know flowers and their meanings. To him, they're just precious plants that can be both beautiful and dangerous.
He glances down at his hand, fingers curling up as if he's holding something in them. The image of a small white flower flashes before him. The startling vision makes him turn to Luca.
The prisoner hasn't moved, still in a thoughtful pose with his gaze on the sculpture. Yet, Emil sees him with an orange rose in hand. His clothes were worn slightly, and even the walls of the gallery were pitch black. Emil closes his eyes and shakes his head. When his eyes open, he finds everything as it has always been.
"You had an orange one..." Emil says in a quiet voice.
"Orange?" Luca repeats. He tries to recall what an orange rose meant, but fails to remember. "I'd think black would suit me more," he mumbles. It's not something he wanted to say aloud, but it had escaped him before he could stop himself.
"Maybe we're thinking about this too hard," Luca brushes his last words off. He reaches out to take Emil's hand in his. "It's a pretty rose made with hard work. If it embodies a spirit, well, that's something we can leave the others to dwell on. We still have plenty left to see here."
Emil nods as he glances at the sculpture once more. It's not like they had to look too deeply into the artwork presented. Even if he couldn't grasp this strange feeling about the giant rose, he could still enjoy it for what it is.
"And after we see everything, we can get some lollipops on the way out. I saw they had a whole bunch of flavors too!"
The mention of sweets is enough to make Emil forget about his worries.
The couple continues their journey through the exhibit while the rose remains in place, unmoving. Neither had noticed a fallen petal at its base, one that is yellow.