(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

[mechanicalswans]

"Which is why my holiday will not be commercialized," he says. "I don't actually have one, but if I did, you can be sure--there would be no sales for it, no store-bought decorations."

[tragic_mask]

"Somehow, I believe you," she murmurs. "I like to think I've got a handle on the darker side of Valentine's Day. You know, the non-commercialized part, where people sit at home eating chocolates and drinking."

[mechanicalswans]

"I hope you'll let me join you for that," he says, "unless it would ruin the spirit of it. I can eat chocolates and drink with the best of them--maybe even think about ordering pizza, but get sidetracked by some awful old movie on television and by the time I get motivated to order, it's too late."

[tragic_mask]

"Hmm." She smiles. "You sound experienced with this. I think I can let you into the club."

[mechanicalswans]

"I resent the idea that we are expected to show affection only one day out of the year, and that conversely if we are alone on that one day, there is no hope for us."

[tragic_mask]

"Yes... these representative holidays are never logical. Try affection all year round. Or not at all."

[mechanicalswans]

"I prefer year round, when I do it," he says. "Nothing half-heartedly, you know? If it's worth doing, give it your all."

[tragic_mask]

"An excellent philosophy. I try to follow it, as well."

[mechanicalswans]

"The downside to it, of course, is that it can lead one to be... singleminded, shall we say."

Or stalkerish. There's that too.

[tragic_mask]

"Well, yes," she says, looking up at him. "That's rather the point. It just depends what your attention is focused on, I assume."

[mechanicalswans]

"Would you want it all focused on you?" he asks softly. "Luckily part of my attention is usually given to my work, even when I'm doing other things, or it would be... overwhelming, or so I've been told."

[tragic_mask]

"Well." She shrugs.

"I guess I wouldn't. Maybe it just reflects who I am-- not being able to focus all my attention on one person, being more focused on my work than on my love. Or so I've been told."

She gives a quick, wry smile, but there's some bitterness mixed in.

[mechanicalswans]

"Mmm."

He lights another cigarette.

"You know, for me... that was the perfect answer."

[tragic_mask]

"Well, that's good. I think it was the right one."

[mechanicalswans]

"I put my work first, even then," he says quietly. "And since then I've had nothing that would tempt me away from it, until now--but I could never give it up completely. It's what I am."

[tragic_mask]

"That's why you can understand me better than some," she says. "I'll always be tied to my work, as well."

[mechanicalswans]

"Some people get resentful," he says. "They think that affection means spending every waking moment together, and every sleeping one also. But who could ever do anything, tethered to someone else? There needs to be time apart, for the time together to mean anything."

[tragic_mask]

"Exactly. You can't be significant because of who you are with someone else."

[mechanicalswans]

"Presumably, the people they met and fell in love with were independent people and had jobs and did other things when they met," he says. "If they don't maintain those, they will no longer be the people they fell in love with. They'll be... echoes of themselves."

[tragic_mask]

"And being an echo is never good," she says, thinking of people she's known.

[mechanicalswans]

"I don't want someone to give themselves up for me," he says quietly. "In fact, it's the worst thing someone could do. I like independence."

[tragic_mask]

"I'd never give mine up to please you," she says, with a smile. "In case you hadn't guessed."

[mechanicalswans]

"See that you don't," he smiles. "I like you better when you're contrary, or unreadable. Or both."

[tragic_mask]

She gives him a look that is, preferably, unreadable.

"I do my best, in that regard."

[mechanicalswans]

"And I love every moment of it," he says.

"I can only hope that I give you entertainment in return."