(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]

"What makes you decide you want to give one up?" she asks, quietly. "Aside from the wasted moments of waiting for a train, I mean, which I can understand wanting to use up."

[mechanicalswans]

"If the project is important enough," he says, "or if there is no other way to create the desired effect. I don't do it often, but it does happen sometimes."

[tragic_mask]

Melpomene thinks that it would have to be a pretty damn important project to give up some memories.

Out loud, she says nothing, only nods, and ruminates.

[mechanicalswans]

He takes another drag on his cigarette.

"The best work is a part of the artist, after all," he says eventually. "A part of ourselves is reflected in the work--a part of ourselves is contained in the work."

[tragic_mask]

She nods. "That's true, of course. Though there's a layer between me and the work the way there isn't, for you-- that is, the author. That's why I try my hand at other things, like... needlepoint. It seems so satisfying to have created something with my own hands, however shoddy the product is."

[mechanicalswans]

"It only takes practice," he says. "The more you work at a particular kind of crafting, the better you'll be at it. Find one that you enjoy, and keep at it."

A small smile. "Sometimes it helps to have one very different from your usual work."

[tragic_mask]

"So I understand," she says. "It's hard to find the balance, sometimes, between doing work because it's satisfying and doing other things because they're frivolous."

[mechanicalswans]

"I work at it, maintaining that balance," he says. "I tend to lose myself in my work if I don't try. I need things like this, to get away from it."

[tragic_mask]

"Yes," she says, content.

[mechanicalswans]

He is content as well, to drive along in silence and enjoy his cigarette. He offers her one of her own.

[tragic_mask]

She takes it, thanking him and taking a puff practically in the same breath.

She closes her eyes, leaning into the space between her seat and the window, ruminating. Despite her disastrous history with cars, she's enjoying the ride.

[mechanicalswans]

He's a good driver, at least, which makes the ride much more smooth.

That and the possibility that he has done something to the workings of the car, to improve it.

So there is smoking, and driving, and eventually a stolen granola bar from the backpack in the back seat.

[tragic_mask]

... there's always that.

"We can stop for lunch, or dinner, or whatever," she says, looking sleepily up at him. "I'm sorry for being such a horrible world-host. I always forget about these things."

[mechanicalswans]

"It's fine," he says, giving her a brief pat on the shoulder. "We'll need to stop to refuel at some point, and can eat then, if you like. No need to stop before then, unless you want to."

[tragic_mask]

"I'm good," she says. "You're an oddly smooth driver."

[mechanicalswans]

"It's easier, only having two dimensions to worry about," he says. "I'm a bit less smooth of a pilot, as one day I'm sure you'll experience."

[tragic_mask]

"Think so?"

[mechanicalswans]

"That I'm less smooth of a pilot, or that one day you'll get a chance to find out for yourself?" he asks. "Yes, on both counts."

[tragic_mask]

"I look forward to that, then."

[mechanicalswans]

"Mmmm."

He eats his granola bar in contented silence, before looking to her again. "Where would you want to fly? We could take my aircraft, or we could take a more conventional one..."

[tragic_mask]

"I'd love to take yours. I guess the answer to the where would be... where would we start our quest?"

[mechanicalswans]

"We'd have to decide that," he says. "Either by research, or by instinct. There are stories of it reappearing, if we can trust those--but they may simply be ordinary men with ordinary weapons, trying to make themselves seem more important."

[tragic_mask]

"Yes," she says. "But... it's hard to separate the myths from reality. I guess there as good a place to start as anywhere."

[mechanicalswans]

"The other question is," he says, "which world to look in. The world of the mortals, or... one of the others. It could be in any of them, by now."

[tragic_mask]

"That... would be a good question." She makes a pained face. "It's a good thing we have all the time in the world to find it."

Pause.

"Well, at least, all the time up until the end of the world."