(no subject)

[tragic_mask]

Melpomene slept deeply without dreaming, and only woke up when the light between the curtains fell across her eyes.

It was a nice way to wake up. So now, as she opens her eyes, she stirs only slightly, and then settles back into a comfortable position.

Comments

[mechanicalswans]

"Although I have been known to go for a swim in the winter when I have just finished working in the forge, if there are no more modern bathing facilities available," he admits. "Cleanliness takes precedence over comfort, in that case. If you ever see how filthy I can get in the forge, you'll understand why."

[tragic_mask]

"Oh, I have no doubt," she says.

[mechanicalswans]

"Messy work. Covered in soot from head to toe. And flakes of metal, sweat, metal polish, sometimes sawdust--there is a barrel of water in the forge, but you don't wash up in that."

[tragic_mask]

"I remember you telling me it would never be a good idea to have a liaison in the forge-- and I can see why." She grins.

[mechanicalswans]

"The forge by the bar is too public, and bathing in the lake would be even more so," he says with a faint smile. "My own forge is much more private, but it lacks the lush green surroundings. Of the few people who go there at all, almost none of them go outside."

[tragic_mask]

"Travel is clearly good for you..."

[mechanicalswans]

"You may have noticed I don't get out much. Work and home, work and home. Sometimes work at home, and the occasional bit of business or social event that I can't get out of and leave as soon as I'm able."

[tragic_mask]

"Well, that's why we're here," she says, eyebrows somehow expressing hopefulness.

[mechanicalswans]

"It's been the most enjoyable time I've had in... a very, very long time, I don't know how long. Many years."

[tragic_mask]

"Good," she says. "Because I'm enjoying myself immensely." She takes a crunchy bite of bacon.

[mechanicalswans]

"You should enjoy yourself," he murmurs. "You should be as happy as possible, as long as it doesn't ruin your ability to do your work."

[tragic_mask]

"I try," she says. "But sometimes doing my work ruins my ability to be as happy as possible. You know?"

[mechanicalswans]

"I do," he says. "But that doesn't mean we can't try. And I want to try. No more 'all work' for either of us."

[tragic_mask]

"Good plan," she says.

[mechanicalswans]

"What shall we do when we get home again?" he asks. "Or wait until then to decide? By how things have been so far, I would like another vacation. To the beach, or anywhere else you'd like. Or just stay in... but not at home."

[tragic_mask]

"I don't know yet... we'll have to figure it out as we go. Part of being spontaneous, you know." She prods him, gently.

[mechanicalswans]

"I warned you I'm not very good at being spontaneous."

Another quick glance up at her, this one almost nervous.

[tragic_mask]

"That's what I'm here for. We're like... yin and yang. I don't know."

[mechanicalswans]

"Together we're unstoppable. We could take over the world, and then... make things, I suppose. We wouldn't make very effective rulers. But we'd have no trouble at all taking over."

[tragic_mask]

"What makes you say that?" she asks, tilting her head.

[mechanicalswans]

"Which part? The having no trouble taking over the world, or not being able to hold on to it once we've taken it?"

[tragic_mask]

"The latter. I don't underestimate your ability."

[mechanicalswans]

"...well, what would we do with it?" he asks. "I don't care to rule, and you don't like the spotlight. We'd spend all our time trying to get each other to take charge, and next thing you know, someone's overthrown us."

[tragic_mask]

"Well, Plato said that the best rulers are those who don't want to rule," she says, idly. "Of course, the man was essentially a fool. But he probably had a point, in that regard."

[mechanicalswans]

"Then again, I could always build us a machine to rule in our place," he says, and sips his coffee. "We would control it, so we would still technically be in charge, but it would have to make all the speeches and dodge all the assassination attempts."