This is part two of the story and it's one of the only times I wished I'd written the whole thing as one story, I think it would've read better. You could read pt 1 (only 1400 words) or here's a little background. Mulqueen is a once revered artist who's past his sell by date, he gets asked to present certificates at his old art school as is confronted by his past. There's no sex in this story, just challenging characters and dollops of nudity. Enjoy x
Mulqueen's brain was in turmoil. The previous day he'd learnt that he was the father of twenty year old twins. They had performed naked in a piece of performance art, slowly turning on a pedestal whilst their mother, Isobel, had sat hidden in the shadows, sketching them. It was designed to shock, arouse and challenge the audience. It certainly did that.
It was also designed with him in mind. The irony of one who had spouted on for years about the need for art to shock and challenge being confronted with his own past in such a way was not lost on him, only his hangover preventing him laughing out loud.
When he'd spoken to Isobel the night before she'd confirmed that Siobhan and Patrick were his and that they had always known who their father was and that it was their decision to meet him now and that confronting him with their existence in such a dramatic way had been Siobhan's idea which both Patrick and Isobel had gone along with. He'd asked if he could meet and talk with them and Isobel had said they were busy with the exhibition but would meet him that afternoon when it finished.
A knot in Mulqueen's stomach was telling him he didn't need this in his life, that whilst he might be their biological father, he wasn't really their father. He didn't know them or anything about them and had no feelings about them. He should just go back to London and forget about them.
Once upon a time he would probably have done that, but sitting there trying to make sense of it all he knew he would stay around and meet them, however that might turn out.
Isobel texted the name of a café, saying the twins would be there at 6pm. He looked up the café to get directions and saw that it actually closed at six, a bit strange but so was this whole bloody situation.
He arrived ten minutes early and saw there were no customers there, just a middle aged woman who was cleaning up, readying to close for the evening. "You must be Siobhan and Patrick's dad, take a seat, they should be here shortly."
Mulqueen nodded and sat down, wondering how many other people knew about him. The twins arrived at exactly six, Siobhan full of chat as she greeted the woman warmly, Patrick more subdued and nervous, looking anywhere but at Mulqueen.
Siobhan saw the woman to the door, giving her a hug before locking it after her. She squeezed Patrick's hand reassuringly before they both sat down across the table from Mulqueen and finally spoke to him.
"So you found it ok."
Mulqueen just nodded, struggling to say even simple words. Patrick looked as nervous as him but Siobhan seemed to have no such problems, seemingly at ease with the situation.
"We want to celebrate the success of the exhibition, we're having some wine, want some?"
Again he just nodded as he watched Siobhan go behind the counter and come back with a bottle of red and three glasses. She poured the wine and raised her glass, about to call a toast but then stopping herself.
"What did you think of our exhibit?" She asked him.
"It was amazing, very special."
"One of the big galleries from Newcastle has asked us to exhibit there, first time they've ever offered that to students."
"Wow, that's good. It'll be very intense for you two, having to be naked for so long and in front of a lot more people, although I'm sure it'll be very popular." Mulqueen couldn't help himself, smirking a little as he said this.
They both obviously understood what he meant, Patrick's expression changing for the first time as he smiled.
"How did you find it, being looked at, being so exposed?"
"I loved it. I think I must be dehydrated, my fanny juices have been running down my leg for the past two days. I think Patrick got a bit bored, even stopped getting a hard-on when people pressed number two."
"Except when it was a good looking girl, then I made sure it was extra hard." It was the first time Patrick spoke and it felt like a strange thing to say.
"Patrick thinks it was just about sex and people wanting to see big dicks and shaven cunts, his words, not mine."
"Siobhan thinks people were attracted just for the artistic aesthetic."
"Philistine!"
"Dweeb!"
Mulqueen knew what he thought but didn't want to get involved in the argument, delighted when they both burst out laughing.
"I know you pressed number two." Siobhan said in a half mocking, half challenging way. Mulqueen thought back, the number two button playing sounds of people having rampant, passionate, almost violent sex in the models ears, making them tense and react. Siobhan's nipples and Patrick's cock leaving the observer in no doubt as to its effect.
"Yes I did, I imagine most people did."
"At least 95% I reckon." Siobhan said this with a giggle.
"How many people came and saw it."
"Mum was keeping count, somewhere between eighty and ninety."
Mulqueen raised a toast, 'here's to being popular." Thankfully they got his sense of humour and smiled.
They fell into an uneasy silence, all knowing that there were a lot more things to talk about. Eventually, as always seems to happen, Mulqueen and Siobhan went to speak at the same time, Siobhan insisting that he went first.
"I had no idea that Isobel, your mum, was pregnant when we split up. I'm sorry."
"Mum says you were a complete prick in those days, alright in the sack but otherwise a waste of space."
Not for the first time Mulqueen wondered how much of what Siobhan said was said just for effect, to see how he'd react.
"She was probably right."
