(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]

"Still, as you said, nothing worth having comes without risk," she says, almost too brightly.

[mechanicalswans]

"What would you be getting from it, though?" he asks softly. "Not the weapon, surely."

[tragic_mask]

"A chance to see new places, meet new people," she says, on guard again. "I've been in New York for quite a long time. Probably too long."

[mechanicalswans]

"And I am tired of Minnesota."

He may take trips to other places, but they are still just side trips. He always goes home again.

[tragic_mask]

"So, that's a perfect reason," she says with a smile. "Things need to be shaken up, sometimes. And a quest for a sword is a good a reason as any."

[mechanicalswans]

"It will be epic," he says, "and hopefully--meaning no offense, of course--not too much of a tragedy."

[tragic_mask]

She shoots him a look.

"Yes, hopefully not."

[mechanicalswans]

"We'll just have to go home again before it can become one," he says. "Any story is, if you follow it long enough. Or, on the other hand... we can have it be one, but not for us."

[tragic_mask]

"I don't think that's necessary," she says. "But you're right. Give it time, and every story is a tragedy. That's why fairy tales end with 'happily ever after,' because they don't want to follow the story that far."

[mechanicalswans]

"So the muse and the smith go on their quest to find the sword of legend, and then... they find it, and return home," he says with a small smile. "It sounds wonderful."

[tragic_mask]

"You make it sound like the back cover of one of those fantasy novels with girls in bikini armor on the front," she grumbles. "I'm hoping it doesn't turn out like that."

[mechanicalswans]

"Though I could make you something like that if you really wanted to--I do those commissions now and then, you know--no, that will not be our idiom."

[tragic_mask]

"Good," she says, with a raised brow. "You know, I'd really not commission you to do that-- or anything you wouldn't want to. But specifically not that. I refuse to be one of those heroines."

[mechanicalswans]

He chuckles quietly.

"I made something like that for Scarlet," he says. "To look like flames--and she wears it, sometimes. Not often, though. And though I could make it so it would be comfortable, and wearable, that much metal would not suit you."

[tragic_mask]

"No," she says. "I can't seem to broaden my fabric horizons away from cotton and silk. And leather."

[mechanicalswans]

"Just not polyester," he says. "You'll need woolens for your trips to the cold north..."

[tragic_mask]

She makes a face.

"Guess I will."

[mechanicalswans]

"Oh, you'll learn to love it," he says cheerily. "Or at least tolerate it. Unless you're allergic."

[tragic_mask]

"To the cold? I don't think so. But I suppose we'll find out, won't we?"

[mechanicalswans]

"To wool," he says, "though I suppose it's possible to be allergic to the cold. And we will certainly find out. You may want to pack a suitcase before we go."

[tragic_mask]

"Oooor," she says, "I could go there with absolutely nothing at all, rebelling against the whole idea of well-packed suitcases and planned trips altogether."

She thinks about it. "I'd probably regret it later. This is what meticulous people like you are for, you know."

[mechanicalswans]

"Well... if you have comfortable shoes, swimsuits, cold and warm weather clothing you prefer. Anything you may need, to be gone for a while. I travel light, but I still prefer to have some things with me. Just in case."

[tragic_mask]

"When we're there," she says, "I take it we'll be dropping the stories, the façades, as we discussed. Or is that for another time?"

[mechanicalswans]

"We will not be going around flaunting what we are," he says, "not among people, anyway. But we'd have no particular need of a story."

[tragic_mask]

"I'm no good at them, anyway," she says, wryly.