Chapter Text
It was closing time in the Yokohama history of art museum, roughly 10pm. However, although the streets may be empty and lifeless, the inside of the museum was far from it.
When night hits, the gallery comes to life.
Statues of knights in shining armour patrol the halls, and women holding bowls of fruits in paintings carefully step out of their wooden frame. The plastic hanging structures of dinosaur skeletons free themselves and soar through the corridors. Even written texts describing book characters and people through history climb through the pages.
If it has the possibility to be sentient, it very much is and is able to move around as it pleases.
This is the story of how a certain sculptured tiger-man and an oil painting of a young prince fell in love.
——————
22:34, 5th of April, 2105
Inside the Egyptian section, a bandage wrapped mummy wax figure wriggled to life. It had a small brooch tied onto it and the only “skin” visible was its fake plastic eyes.
“Wooo, feels good to move again! Isn’t that right, Chuuya~?”
The mummy’s head stretched and turned to look at a small figure painted onto an old vase. One of the only authentic items in the whole museum.
The figure didn’t have too much detail, due to how tiny it was. About the size of your palm. It wore a small robe and an oddly shaped crown resembling a hat.
“Shut up, you waste of bandages!”
Typical response.
Chuuya had always been petty - unlike the rest of the museum dwellers, he was unable to leave the surface of his vase and could only walk around continuously - forever, in circles.
Understandable - I would be pissed too.
In a hurry, a tall, well-dressed figure rushed past. It wore a black button up shirt, a creme coloured vest and matching trousers, and had a blonde rat-tail flowing behind him. However, it was impossible to see his colour - he was in black and white, and had a pencil outline. He seemed as if he flickered in and out of existence.
That figure was Kunikida, a poet that materialised each night from an old worn scroll telling his story.
He was taking attendance to make sure nobody had been broken or sold to other museums during the day.
As different objects woke up, the exhibit gradually burst to life. Traditional swordswomen clad in armour chatted along, while many books and paintings etched into existence.
Down the hall, a young man draped in royal clothing was gracefully clambering out of his portrait in practised motion.
He had to drop a little bit to reach the ground, as his canvas was very large and high up. It was the main attraction of the museum - what school trips and tourists came to admire and pose with in photos.
He was gorgeous. Blessed with rosy skin, entrancing dark eyes, and soft plump lips. Of course, this was because he was an oil painting.
There was a hierarchy in the museum, and oil paintings were at the very top.
Especially him.
They had a smoothness to them like no other, perfect in every way. They were the epitome of beauty.
His boots hit the floor, making a satisfying clack.
His name? Akutagawa Ryūunosuke.
He swept down the hall, white cape fluttering behind him. He wore a frilly button up shirt, tight silk trousers, leather over-vest and of course, his tall cow-skin boots; the item that stood out the most on his posh attire however was his golden crown. It was shiny and symmetrical, incorporating several valuable gemstones.
He was a prince, after all.
Akutagawa strided confidently with poised posture. He didn’t break his stare - well, at least not until he was barged into.
He crashed to the floor, crown tilting lopsided and a thoroughly confused expression.
“Oh no, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to hit you…”
A tiger boy twisted on the ground to face him.
Ah yes, he knows him.
Atsushi Nakajima.
He was a model of what most called the “weretiger”. He was a clay adaption of an old skeleton discovered from the ice age. He was originally created by the museum staff because his bones seemed to be human AND tiger.
Unfortunately, the scientists that studied “his” bones would never be able to come to the real conclusion that he was in fact both, just able to shift between the two species.
He came from the very back storage rooms in the facility. He was cheaply made and rather worn and tattered, fur being rough and skin cracked and blotchy. Atsushi was never put on display due to the lack of an actual exhibit for him to fit into.
He was not very… popular… amongst the other artefacts.
Back to the present, he hastily transformed into a full (ish) human, warping away his striped white tiger limbs.
“Again, i’m so… sorry- oh. wow…”
He clasped his hand over his mouth and flushed in embarrassment.
He hadn’t meant to gasp, but he was not at all prepared for the stunning beauty he would face when he turned to meet his accidental victim.
… Who is this man, and how hasn’t he met him before?
He scrambled to his feet and extended an arm for the Prince to grab.
Hesitantly, Ryūunosuke took it and allowed himself to be tugged forwards into a standing position.
“It’s fine.”
Akutagawa nudged past him, brushing shoulders as he continued his path forwards.
Atsushi wanted to say something to get him to stay, to get an opportunity to talk to him just a little longer, but could not think of a single reason. Instead he just stared as the man sophisticatedly strolled farther and farther into the distance.
Maybe another time.
——————
Atsushi picked at the fake stone on the floor of Dazai’s stage.
“Dazai?”
The mummy turned away from teasing the miniature man in a vase.
“Mhm?”
Atsushi took a deep breath.
“Do you know who the King is? Y’know, from that huge old painting in the middle of the hall…”
Dazai thought for a second,
“I don’t know about any Kings, but there is a Prince. He’s basically the main exhibit of this place. Everyone loves him, but I don’t get the hype…”
Chuuya butted in,
“I like him. I mean, we aren’t close, but we’ve talked ‘n stuff and he’s nice enough.”
Atsushi nodded and rubbed his head.
“Does he have a name, or is he just “The Prince”?”
“Akutagawa Ryūnosuke. Cool guy.”, Chuuya helpfully added.
Dazai smirked,
“Anyway, why the sudden interest~?”
Atsushi froze and awkwardly
“I ran into him in the hallway… well, crashed into him to be precise…”
Dazai quickly inhaled, making a hissing noise.
“… Unlucky.”
“Right? Anyway, i’m going to the taxidermy aisle. I didn’t get a chance to talk to Karl and Poe last night.”
Oblivious, Atsushi wandered away as the Egyptian duo watched silently.
Chuuya and Dazai locked eyes - not speaking, but smirking with knowledgable glints in their eyes.
Atsushi never took interest in anyone - but if he did, it was an obsession.
——————
22:11, 6th of April, 2105
Tonight, Atsushi was making sure he would meet the Prince again - but time, he would definitely not crash into him.
He couldn’t really find an excuse to speak to him, so instead he stalked Akutagawa from a distance similar to a predator watching its prey.
Akutagawa Ryūnosuke.
Such a pretty name. It suited him.
He peered from behind a marble pillar as he slid down from his painting, gawking as his heels clicked upon each step he took.
If he found out where he went, maybe he could figure out a common interest between them! Or, at least, something he could pretend to be interested in.
What do Princes even do..?
Are they like normal people?
Or do they spend their hours munching carelessly on caviar and sipping expensive wines?
He had to find out.
Surprisingly, he found himself standing in the “medieval” section. Inside along with the two of them was several other paintings and figures.
To Ryūunosuke’s left stood a beautiful smoothed maiden who he recognised as Gin Akutagawa, a young lady being trialed as a witch inside another historical oil-painting. It was speculated by historians that they were related.
To his right, a small blonde haired lady clung to his arm. She appears to have came from a small village diorama in a glass case. Higuchi.
She had a strong personality and was well-liked among the museum dwellers, and it was not too surprising to see her trying her luck with the Prince.
Many thoughts and fears spilled into Atsushi’s head.
Were they dating?
Would the Prince date someone like her?
Why?
Calm down Atsushi.
You shouldn’t even care - he’s only ever spoken two words to you. He tried to push his worries to back of his mind but just couldn’t no matter how hard he tried.
It’s about time he leaves anyway, before on of them spots him creeping up on Akutagawa- crap.
“Uhm, hello?”, Gin called out. It was friendly, but obviously apprehensive.
He was so obviously spying on them, as they were the only 4 entities currently in the whole 15 metre radius.
Ryūunosuke tilts his head to see the scout, briefly making eye contact with him. Wow… such a piercing gaze.
So what does Atsushi do?
He turns tail.
He runs - as fast as he can, down the whole length of the hall.
…
“… That was weird.” Higuchi mutters.