Work Text:
Though many in the world have been blessed by the gods with outstanding abilities, Rohan believes his blessing has been the greatest. Having been blessed with the ability to create wondrous art, he sculpted many figures. His most prized creation, however, was a figure he had created out of snow-white ivory, the sculpted beauty more perfect than any man who has ever been born.
To Rohan, his sculpture was the most perfect thing he had ever created. He soon found himself falling in love with his own beautiful creation.
Rohan often found himself lifting his hands to the sculpture, running them gently across the span of the sculpted chest, testing to see whether it was flesh or if it was truly just ivory, and never admitting to himself that the sculpture- no matter what he may bring himself to believe about what he felt- was still just ivory, never changing to the warm skin he had hoped for. Regardless, he treated the sculpture with love. He would kiss the sculpture and believe, for just a moment, that his kisses were returned, his mind playing sad tricks on his love-stricken heart. He would hold it gently as he spoke to it, believing that his fingers sank into the flesh of the sculpture’s arm, and then feared that his grip was leaving marks and bruises on the beautiful, ivory skin.
On days Rohan would go out, leaving his ivory love at home, he would return with gifts for the sculpture. He would leave various items- shells from the shore and smooth stones from the river bank, lilies from the market and foxgloves from along the sides of the road- at the base of the sculpture. Along with gifts, he would bring robes and jewelry, decorating the sculpture as though it were his spouse. Though the gifts were beautiful, nothing could compete with the beauty of the sculpted man Rohan loved as though it were a real being. He would lay the sculpture on a bed with the finest sheets, resting its reclining head on soft, downy pillows as if it could enjoy them, treating it better than any other being he had ever met.
Soon after the creation of his sculpture and the blooming of his love for it, the joyous day of Venus had come. Everyone in the country came out to celebrate the goddess, hoping that they would be lucky enough to be blessed with what they desired most.
Rohan took his gift up to the altar, a gift for the goddess to hopefully fulfil his prayer. He stood at the base of the statue and began praying.
“Oh, beautiful goddess, if you could grant me anything, I pray to have a husband --” He paused for a moment, not daring to add ‘his ivory love’ in fear of what the goddess may do, rather saying, “as beautiful as my ivory sculpture.”
The golden Venus, however, knew exactly what his prayer meant. The candle flames on the base of the statue leaped in the air, showing the goddess’s favor.
Rohan left the festival shortly after praying to the goddess, his mind plagued with thoughts of the beautiful sculpture he loved so dearly.
When Rohan returned home, he kissed his sculpture as he did every day. This time, however, he seemed warm to Rohan’s touch. He kissed him again, this time bringing his hand to the other’s chest as well. The ivory of the statue grew soft to the touch, as though it were wax melting in the sun. Rohan stood back up in amazement, doubting that what he felt was real. He brought his hand back to the sculpture’s chest, again touching it gently. Under his hand, Rohan could feel the veins pulsing, he could feel that it truly was flesh that he was touching. Without hesitation, the artist thanked Venus, pouring out his heart in thanks to the beautiful goddess for blessing him with a man, with his man, to love. After he had thanked the goddess more than enough, Rohan pressed his lips to the other’s now-real lips, kissing him again. The man now felt the kisses, his skin blushing a soft pink from the touch. He lifted his timid eyes and, at the same time, saw the sky and his lover for the first time ever.
The lovely goddess, Venus, having created their love from the goodness of her heavenly heart, graced the wedding with her presence, blessing the two with the happy future they deserved.