(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

[tragic_mask]

Melpomene watches the waitress recede. Then: "Sounds like you're giving my eulogy."

[mechanicalswans]

"I don't believe in eulogies."

He stirs his coffee to help it cool more quickly.

"Best to tell people how you feel about them while they are still with you. After they're gone, it does no good to anyone."

[tragic_mask]

"I'm a big fan of the ode, personally. Such potential for regrets and reminiscence."

She sighs. "We're doing a horrible job of pretending to be normal, by the way. Talking about things like this."

[mechanicalswans]

"I'm sorry," he says. "I'll try to do better. It's a good thing my aunt Esther isn't here, or she'd have every one of those jelly packets in her purse, and a few of the syrups too."

[tragic_mask]

She breaks into a grin.

"You're good at this, when you try."

[mechanicalswans]

"It's all in the details," he says. "I'm a sculptor--details are my specialty. You weren't there when Aunt Esther came out to visit last year, were you? She's quite a character. Eighty-seven years old and still travels."

[tragic_mask]

"I thought I remember her admiring my... spunk, or whatever. Maybe that was a different aunt? I can't keep track of your extended family."

She waves to the waitress, asks for a refill on her hot chocolate.

[mechanicalswans]

"That was Aunt Ruby," he says after a moment, "her younger sister. She was out with Uncle Max, going to visit his sister. Disappointed that Grand Central Station wasn't the way it used to be... they're going to Florida this year instead, so we won't see them unless we go to Minnesota."

[tragic_mask]

She looks at him with a raised eyebrow.

"No relative is worth the sacrifice of going to Minnesota. New York is the coldest place I'm going."

[mechanicalswans]

"They have summer in Minnesota too, you know," he chuckles. "It lasts a week and it usually rains, but there's no snow on the ground."

[tragic_mask]

"That's no way to live," she says, shaking her head at him.

[mechanicalswans]

"It's in my blood. In the old country, they say there wasn't even that much--you'd go straight from spring to fall. The leaves grew in already red and yellow."

[tragic_mask]

"Ah, well, forgive me for enjoying the greenery, and the flowers in bloom, and the breeze in the summertime."

[mechanicalswans]

"I may forgive you--but only if you wear flowers in your hair. Like you did the night of that art show--remember? I can still picture you then."

[tragic_mask]

"I suppose memory is as good a medium as any."

[mechanicalswans]

"It's not really suited to interpretive dance. I could make a sculpture, but... metal can't quite capture all the colors."

[tragic_mask]

"But it's all about the interpretation, isn't it? The colors don't have to be there, if the movement is."

[mechanicalswans]

"Mmmm... when we get home, I may try," he says. "In bronze, I think. You, with the flowers in your hair, leaning down to fasten your shoe..."

[tragic_mask]

"I could be a good model... Apparently I'm extraordinarily patient," she says.

[mechanicalswans]

"When we get home again, I'll take you up on that," he says. "You have beautiful hands, you know. I like them best when they're a little ink-smudged."

[tragic_mask]

She sets down her mug to look at the hands in question, ruefully.

"They serve their purpose well enough. I don't know what constitutes beauty, in hands."

[mechanicalswans]

"Proportions--yours are perfectly proportioned, both to the rest of you and to themselves. There's a grace in the way you hold and move them. They're stronger than they look, too."

[tragic_mask]

"They can lift a pen, anyway. And that's what matters."

[mechanicalswans]

"They do much more than that," he says with a smile. "Have you ever considered being a hand model? You could have them take pictures of whichever one you're not using to write."

[tragic_mask]

"Oh, I haven't. But I know the women on those infomercials with the diamond rings must be just rolling in the dough."