(no subject)

[tragic_mask]

They are outside the Blue Owl Bar. It's mid-morning, so there are cars rushing [so to speak] by, and people walking, biking, or rollerblading down the sidewalk nearby.

"Well, here we are,"  she says brightly, ponytail ruffled by a light breeze.

Comments

[mechanicalswans]

"I think it would, in strange and mysterious ways," he says contemplatively. "If for no other reason than that a normal blender will slowly wear out with use, and one that does not would outlast everything, even you and I, and that simply cannot be."

[tragic_mask]

She thinks about it, looking up at the plaster ceiling.

"You're right. A blender that could outlast me... would be quite a blender."

[mechanicalswans]

"It gets into the old dilemma of the Christians," he says, leaning back against the headboard. "Whether their omnipotent god can make some rock impossible for himself to lift, and all of that. Does having a finite existence make something imperfect? Does being immortal? Sometimes I think about these things... and then I remember why I put the weather channel on when I'm traveling. So I don't have to think about things like this."

[tragic_mask]

"Ha," she says, affectionately. "The problem with philosophy is that there's never any definite answers. As far as perfection, though... I certainly wouldn't say that immortality gets things any closer to it."

[mechanicalswans]

"People want what they don't have," he says. "No one's existence is perfect, so mortals might argue that immortality is closer to perfection than what they have, while I would argue that mortality is better. None of us is happy... except possibly the Buddhists."

[tragic_mask]

"Maybe," she says, and closes her eyes.

[mechanicalswans]

"But I'll tell you," he murmurs, "this is the closest I have been in a very long time. If only the moment could last forever--"

[tragic_mask]

"But then, would it be perfect, or would we just wish we could change, and have another moment?" she asks, slightly ironic.

[mechanicalswans]

"You're probably right," he says after a moment, and reaches to tousle her hair. "But this moment right here--and this one--they're just as good as that other one."

[tragic_mask]

"Yes, it is," she says contentedly.

[mechanicalswans]

"I think I shall take a shower," he says after a moment, "and then get into bed. I love that feeling, clean sheets on clean skin."

[tragic_mask]

"It is a good feeling," she agrees.

[mechanicalswans]

"You're welcome to join me," he says, closing the pizza box. "Or not, as you prefer."

[tragic_mask]

"I think I will," she says, and goes to investigate the bathroom.

[mechanicalswans]

He puts the leftover pizza and sodas in the minifridge, and fetches his toiletry bag from his backpack. It's more a glorified shaving kit than anything else, but it seemed like a good thing to have.

"They gave us the soaps and shampoos and things, I hope?" he asks, eventually following her into the bathroom.

[tragic_mask]

"A few," she says, holding them up for inspection. "Clearly meant for someone who has less hair than I."

[mechanicalswans]

"I think I have a small bottle," he says. "We may be able to combine them. Or pick something up later, if we wind up using all of these right now."

[tragic_mask]

"Either," she says. "Or both."

She starts to peel clothing off industriously. "The important thing is to be clean. I don't know why, but long car rides always make me feel filthy."

[mechanicalswans]

He fishes a small bottle of shampoo out of his toiletry bag, and sets it on the edge of the tub.

"Traveling in general does it for me," he says. "Cars do it, and so do airplanes. I think it's from not being able to move around much, and the closed and confined air system."

[tragic_mask]

"That must be it," she says, slipping off her ripped jeans. "Though I try to avoid planes as much as possible."

[mechanicalswans]

"I like to fly," he says, pulling his t-shirt off and setting it on the counter. "Small planes, though. I fly them myself. Large airplanes, I don't care for, and only take when I have to. I feel trapped on them."

[tragic_mask]

"Particularly when seated next to someone really large," she says.

She tosses all her clothes to the side, and steps into the bathtub. "I hope there's warm water. Most hotels don't seem to reserve too much of that."

[mechanicalswans]

"And there's no legroom, even if you're in first class," he says. "And there's always a strange institutional smell to the airplanes. At least cars avoid that, and the problem of having to be around strangers."

He sheds his khakis and boxers. "There'll probably be some warm water, but we should be quick all the same."

[tragic_mask]

She turns on the water, and it's cold at first so she jumps back. But after a moment it warms, and she steps in. "This is better."

[mechanicalswans]

"I tend to be lucky when it comes to hot water in hotels," he says, setting his clothes on the counter and following her into the tub. "Cold water doesn't bother me much, but I do prefer it hot. Much more relaxing."