[ with weyland in nyc ]

[tragic_mask]

They step through the door, and find themselves on the cracked sidewalk outside of a lively bar. A sign glows: "Blue Owl."

It's nighttime, but the city still glows with all kinds of light, and shakes with the noise of honking, shouting, music, the clinking of glasses, all blending together into the cacophony and symphony of the city.

Melpomene looks around. "Well, we're back... Right where I started."

Comments

[mechanicalswans]

He shifts position a bit to take out his wallet, and consults his driver's license. Apparently godly influence can get one a not-unattractive license photo.

"I'm 37," he says, "38 in November. Certainly old enough to start looking 'distinguished.'"

[tragic_mask]

She looks, and takes on a serious face. "Mhm, yes, I can see how people might get that impression."

[mechanicalswans]

The license also lists his name as Isidor Adler, his height as 6'4" and his eyes as brown.

"I don't like to look too young. When you are very old, it's hard to pass yourself off as young and innocent. And even when we were young, we were never so innocent--at least my family was not."

[tragic_mask]

"Well, mine was. Rather, they said they were, though I think my sisters were born perverted."

There's a reason Melpomene doesn't ever see her family.

[mechanicalswans]

"There's a look in the eyes, you know. You can spot an immortal that way no matter what shape they are in, if you look closely enough. Some things can't be hidden."

[tragic_mask]

"I've never caught a god just strolling around, so I suppose I'm not trained in the ways of god-spotting."

[mechanicalswans]

"We won't have to worry about that while on our vacation," he says with a smile. "There will be no looking for gods--there will be no gods at all. Nobody but us ordinary mortals."

[tragic_mask]

"That's right," she says. "Just on a weekend trip up to the falls to see what all the fuss is about and buy presents for... Aunt Trudy, right?"

[mechanicalswans]

"Aunt Trudy, yes," he says with a nod. "You can buy something for Uncle Phil if you like, but I haven't forgotten what he said at Thanksgiving last year, and I'm not quite ready to put him back on my gift list yet. But you may."

[tragic_mask]

"Well, I'm sure he didn't mean it." She warms up to the part. "Besides, he's my only uncle, and he may keel over at any moment. So try to forget the family feud for just a little while, will you?"

[mechanicalswans]

He wrinkles his nose. "I will try," he says after a moment. "He doesn't make it easy, you know. I know I don't either, but... well, he thinks I'm not good enough for you. And he's going to have to get used to the fact that I'm not going anywhere."

[tragic_mask]

She laughs, and leans against him. "You do indignant spouse very well, you know that?"

[mechanicalswans]

"I do adoring spouse very well also," he says with a smile. "If there's one thing I'm very good at, it is artifice--imagine passing off a mechanical person as your spouse, to your neighbors and the people around town. I've had a lot of practice."

[tragic_mask]

"Oh, right. I guess I'm the newbie here."

[mechanicalswans]

"There's no shame in not having experience with synthetic relationships," he says softly. "I like you better this way. More spontaneous, as you said."

[tragic_mask]

"It's a good way to be, in my opinion. No formula, unexpected results."

[mechanicalswans]

"It isn't easy, for me. My life tends to turn into routine, if I don't have someone or something to shake me out of it, so it can get very dull. The trouble with clockwork, I suppose."

[tragic_mask]

"Well, if you do it, clockwork is fairly meticulous."

She kisses him lightly on the cheek. "And that's why we're having a tourist weekend. When are we doing this, anyway?"

[mechanicalswans]

"Whenever you like," he says. "I have nothing on my schedule at all, and would just need a day's notice. I'd need to get some money from the bar, and we can go shopping before we leave."

[tragic_mask]

"Well, I don't have much on my agenda either, so... when we get back to the bar, we can decide."

[mechanicalswans]

"Excellent," he says, resting his head on her shoulder again. "The joys of having a... time-portal thing, and of being immortal--very few things are terribly pressing. Right now I'm quite enjoying this."

[tragic_mask]

"Good, so am I." She's quite comfortable, too.

[mechanicalswans]

"You are a treasure. I hope you know that."

He kisses the side of her neck, largely because he can reach it without moving very much.

He thinks he may regret letting his guard down so much, tomorrow morning when he is sober, but right now it feels very right.

[tragic_mask]

"Yes, I've been told so. But I never really believe the authenticity of the words of a man with alcohol on his breath." She grins. "But I suppose I've been plying you with my best tequila, so it's my fault."

[mechanicalswans]

"It's not the tequila, so much as the vodka, the... Scotch? and the beer that preceded it. And the cigarettes instead of dinner, that didn't help much either."

He chuckles quietly. "But it's true all the same."