(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]

"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."

[tragic_mask]

"That may be true. I can certainly see things, though sometimes I've misunderstood them."

[mechanicalswans]

"Whereas I could just bribe or bully someone," he chuckles. "Some random person we found on the street. Which could work, but... there's no control involved."

[tragic_mask]

"And they'd probably only show you the nastiest places in town, and mutter nasty things about you in their native tongue."

Pause. "Though I could translate. Still, the point remains."

[mechanicalswans]

"Exactly," he says. "'You wanted local color. Are slums not colorful?' That's the last thing we'd need... although, it would certainly be new."

[tragic_mask]

"Yes... there's few greater tragedies than what you find in the slums," she says, slow and dark.

[mechanicalswans]

"I get a lot of materials there," he says. "Life is short and cheap, and the emotional resonances are stronger."

[tragic_mask]

"Certainly true.

"It gets to be painful, when you can't shut it all out."

[mechanicalswans]

"I've lived in slum neighborhoods," he says. "Not often, but... a few times. It's overwhelming."

[tragic_mask]

"Why'd you do that?" she asks, softly.

[mechanicalswans]

"To try to blend in," he says, "to be ordinary for a while. It never really works."

[tragic_mask]

"No?" she says, looking up at him, a little amused.

[mechanicalswans]

"No," he says. "You can live among the people, but never really be of them. There's always a separation."

[tragic_mask]

"You're right. But then, we should know that, of all people."

[mechanicalswans]

"Still, there is some novelty. Immersing yourself in a settlement, trying to care about their problems. Limiting yourself, for a change."

[tragic_mask]

"Almost too easy, I think."

She shrugs, too-casual. "That's why I need an on-off switch. Can you make me one of those?"

[mechanicalswans]

"Probably," he says. "We'd just need to work out the specifics of it, but it could be done, I'm sure."

[tragic_mask]

"It might be a little scary. I'd be like a... a robot, in many ways."

[mechanicalswans]

"I would not find that unappealing," he says with a light shrug.

[tragic_mask]

She shoots him a look.

"That's what real robots are for."

[mechanicalswans]

"I think I would enjoy your presence in any way it would be possible for you to be," he says. "Robot or no."

[tragic_mask]

"But," she says, preparing to wax philosophical, "The two are different. If I were robotic, that would take away my soul, take away anything about me that made me... me. So what would there be left to enjoy?"

She ambles a few feet before adding, "If it's my presence specifically you're wanting to enjoy, that is."

[mechanicalswans]

"Do robots not have souls?" he asks, thoughtful, and takes a drag on his cigarette.

"Naturally I prefer you as you are. But I would not refuse to be around you if you were robotic."