(no subject)

[tragic_mask]

Arriving at the Visitor's Center, Melpomene takes a look around.

"Well, this is it. In all its touristic glory. "

Comments

[tragic_mask]

She stops in the middle of the street to look him up and down.

"Yeah, sure it isn't," she says-- with a straight face-- then marches onward.

[mechanicalswans]

He chuckles, moving to follow her. "Walking isn't as easy as it was when I was young, but at least I have upper-body strength. That counts for something."

[tragic_mask]

"I suppose. Better than letting those biceps and triceps go to waste."

[mechanicalswans]

"The better to carry you around with, my dear. Light as you are, but I could carry you for hours... show me a twenty-year-old who could do the same, and I will fight him for you."

[tragic_mask]

"I'll have to test that," she says, lifting a brow. "Two hours, let's say. Now all I need to do is find a twenty-year-old willing to do this-- or try-- for the sake of your ego. Not an easy task, I think."

[mechanicalswans]

"You know just how to treat a man's ego," he murmurs. "I knew there was a reason I liked you."

[tragic_mask]

"Yes..." she says, with a grim face. "I kiss the boys, then make them cry."

[mechanicalswans]

"And how do you treat the men?" he asks, with a small smile.

[tragic_mask]

"You'll just have to figure it out for yourself," she says, with a lofty eyebrow.

[mechanicalswans]

"I look forward to it," he says, glancing around at their surroundings.

[tragic_mask]

She looks around, too. "Are we anywhere near the hotel? I feel I didn't pay close enough attention, the first time around..."

[mechanicalswans]

"A few blocks, I think," he says. "Uphill, though. We'll get there."

[tragic_mask]

"Somehow things look so different when you're being carried downhill," she says, and smiles.

[mechanicalswans]

"If you'd like to be carried back uphill, it could be arranged," he smiles. "We could also find a taxi, I imagine."

[tragic_mask]

"I can handle it, I swear. It's all part of roughing it," she says wryly.

[mechanicalswans]

"There's roughing it, and then there's roughing it," he says. "No need to do the one when only the other is called for."

[tragic_mask]

"Well, this is probably not even the first one," she says. "I've hiked some pretty fierce mountains in my time, you know."

[mechanicalswans]

"Barefoot?" he asks with a chuckle. "Or was this after your wild youth? I've done it barefoot, but not in the winter."

[tragic_mask]

"I've never hiked a snowy mountain barefoot. But... for the grassy Mediterranean mountains, I had a strict no-shoes policy."

[mechanicalswans]

"We'll stay away from the snow, for now. I need to be reminded sometimes that there are other seasons."

[tragic_mask]

"You're with the right lady, then," she says. "I much prefer the warm."

[mechanicalswans]

"It suits you," he murmurs. "Just as long as we should not be the sort of star-crossed types who can only meet on the equinox, as a compromise..."

[tragic_mask]

She smiles.

"Sounds absolutely tragic... Pretty sure I've done some stories about that, actually. But... I think I can work around my aversion to cold weather, to withstand seeing you more than once or twice a year."

[mechanicalswans]

"And I think I can manage to endure the warm weather, for you," he says. "Though you might have some difficulty getting me away from wearing socks with sandals. We pasty northern types don't have the exposure to warm-weather fashion that you do."

[tragic_mask]

"Oh," she says, making a face. "You're asking me to make a huge sacrifice by allowing you to escort me through public areas while wearing socks and sandals. I hope you know that."