(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]

"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."

[tragic_mask]

"Oh, continuously."

[mechanicalswans]

"I'm glad."

He takes a drag on his cigarette. "You know, you're the best thing about the bar, to me. By far."

[tragic_mask]

"Come on," she says, head tilted. "The universe exploding outside, evil things lurking in the lake-- there's bound to be more exciting things in there than... muses. After all, we're a drachma a dozen."

[mechanicalswans]

"I'm part sea monster, you know," he says, "so evil things in the lake don't interest me much--I'm sure I've seen it all before. And if you've seen one universe explosion, you've seen them all. It's always the same. But you... you are always different."

[tragic_mask]

"Yes, well, I'm glad you see that.

"Even if you are, ultimately, just a bored Leviathan."

[mechanicalswans]

"Come now, my dear," he says, deadpan. "I'll have you know I'm so much more than that--I'm a bored Leviathan with an unlimited expense account."

[tragic_mask]

"Hmmm." She raises a brow. "So, are you implying that I should stick with you merely for your magic credit card? That'd be terribly shallow of me."

[mechanicalswans]

"Of course not. Merely that, unlike most sea monsters, I would not insist on staying in or near the sea. I can go anywhere you'd like."

[tragic_mask]

Her first thought is: home.

... but that was thousands of years ago. Now it's just another mountain by the sea.

"Where would you want to go, then?"

[mechanicalswans]

"Somewhere new," he says after a moment. "I've been so many places, but there are still so many I haven't seen. Still some surprises left in the world."

[tragic_mask]

"That's true. It's a big place."

[mechanicalswans]

"I haven't traveled as much in the eastern world," he says. "It might be worthwhile."

[tragic_mask]

"I was just thinking that," she says. "Our thoughts must be in sync."

[mechanicalswans]

"Is there anything you've always wanted to see, but never had the chance?" he asks. "Now's your chance. Well, not now, but soon."

[tragic_mask]

"The Taj Mahal, for the East," she says, after thinking. "Though it's so tourist-oriented, now. There have to be beautiful places like that that no one knows."

[mechanicalswans]

"One could always go and then ask the locals where they would go to visit," he says. "Hire one as a tour guide."

[tragic_mask]

"That could work, if you pick the right local."

[mechanicalswans]

"I would leave that up to you," he says with a smile. "I think you'd be the best judge of a guide's potential."