[ 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

[tragic_mask]

"I can't see that happening, either."

The cab hits a red light. "My place is just a few blocks from here."

[mechanicalswans]

"It's a nice neighborhood," he says, glancing out the window again. "Is it mostly quiet here? Well, quiet for the city."

[tragic_mask]

"For the most part. It mostly gets busy in the early mornings, when people are all trying to go somewhere at once."

The taxi pulls up to the side street, and Melpomene gets out, patting her pockets.

"Oh, Jesus, I don't have enough cash. Well, don't tell anyone I did this--" She leans forward, and says to the taxi driver, very carefully, "You like me. You are more than happy to have given me a ride for..." She checks again. "Seventy-two cents."

He puts his hand out, and she puts the change in it.

[mechanicalswans]

He climbs out of the taxi and watches the exchange in silence, rather like an audience member watching a fairly complicated magic trick in progress.

When she has paid, he grins, shaking his head. "Impressive," he says. "Do you always do that?"

[tragic_mask]

She ducks her head, and grins sheepishly. "Not always... Rarely, in fact. I try not to abuse that particular power."

[mechanicalswans]

"I would have offered to help pay, but all I have with me are credit cards," he says. "And I don't know if they work here. In the old days I could find lost coins easily, but things are more expensive now..."

He offers her his arm. "It wasn't a very long trip, so it's not like he is out a lot of money."

[tragic_mask]

"No," she says. "It's just that I try not to take advantage of people just because they're... people." She takes his, and goes towards the apartment building as the taxi pulls away.

[mechanicalswans]

"It isn't something to make a habit of--well, I don't think you could, anyway. It's not what you are. For some, it is. For me, I would avoid it if I could, but if I couldn't, I wouldn't worry very much."

He looks up at the building as they approach.

[tragic_mask]

She fiddles in her coat pocket, and comes up with a key, unlocking the main door and heaving it open.

[mechanicalswans]

He will follow her into the building once the door is open, a brief scan of the names on the mailboxes if there are any in the entryway.

[tragic_mask]

And the door swings shut behind them.

"I'm three floors up." Melpomene's voice echoes around the building as she begins to climb the stairs.

[mechanicalswans]

"Mine's on the second floor, over an Indian restaurant," he says, following her. "I find that living over restaurants is very convenient."

[tragic_mask]

"Yes," she says wryly. "Until you get sick of the food they offer." They continue up the spiral staircase, up and up.

[mechanicalswans]

"It was an Italian place when I first moved in, and then it was a Turkish one for a while, and now Indian. By the time I move out, it will probably be a sushi bar, if it continues its eastward move."

He doesn't mind stairs, at least. They're not as awkward for him as they had been before his metal alterations.

[tragic_mask]

She stops in front of her door, and gets out another key, and fiddles with the lock. "There, finally home."

[mechanicalswans]

"Do you have any pets?" he asks, glancing to the door. "Anything that may escape when you open the door, anyway."

[tragic_mask]

"Only metaphorically." She pulls him inside.

[mechanicalswans]

"Wonderful," he smiles, as he is pulled inside.

[tragic_mask]

"Yes, that's me," she says, a bit wryly, and switches on the light.

[mechanicalswans]

He glances around as she turns the light on, then looks back to her. "'Has a way with words,' that's on the list too."

[tragic_mask]

"I'd better," she says, with an unabashed smile.

[mechanicalswans]

"Are you still feeling tired?" he asks. "Or do you have something in mind?"

[tragic_mask]

"Oh, I wasn't tired. Just comfortable."

[mechanicalswans]

"Well, we shall have to get comfortable again. Unless you want to go back to Milliways tonight, but I think one door is enough for one night."

He unbuttons his jacket and slides it off.

[tragic_mask]

"Yes, I agree." She takes his jacket, and hangs it neatly on a hook by the door. "Too much jumping across the universe and there might be side effects."