ladyfirestarter: (Tet Corporation)
ladyfirestarter ([personal profile] ladyfirestarter) wrote2007-08-26 11:30 pm

(no subject)

Every so often, Charlie's called to the home office in New York. She tries to arrange a day or two extra before and after the scheduled meeting, just to walk around and see the city.

The desert has become her heart's home, but ... once or twice a year she starts to sicken for the sight of skyscrapers and yellow cabs, the way some people sicken for mountains or the sea.

It's a brisk day in early September, cool and breezy, ideal for walking.

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-28 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
"It should."

He waits.

"What are you thinking?"

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-28 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
A crooked smile snakes its way across his face.

"There's no clock ticking. All options are on the table. Particularly the first one."

Prometheus stops to take stock of where he is. New Yorkers don't do this. Almost instantaneously, a man with a fanny pack taps him on the shoulder. A woman, also with a fanny pack, waits behind him. Prometheus cups his hand around one ear as he turns to face them.

"Excuse me," the tourist says, "you don't happen to know where the -- what was it called, honey? The thin, pointy building on the intersection."

"The Flatiron Building," the wife provides.

"Yeah." The tourist looks up at Prometheus hopefully.

"The Flatiron? -- 'Scuse me for a sec." Prometheus holds out an arm behind him. "Go that way, maybe seven, eight blocks. Can't miss."

The tourists beam. "Thanks!"

He dips his head. "No problem." His crosswalk goes red.

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-28 05:56 am (UTC)(link)
"--I didn't say I was in New York? Oh." A smile! "I'm in New York."

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-28 06:03 am (UTC)(link)
He holds up a hand. "No touching, but I'm thinking it pretty loud, don't you think?"

The crosswalk changes. He steps into the street. "This is going to be a recurring theme, isn't it. The there-but-for-the-division-of-the-multiverse thing."

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-28 02:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm trying to remember the words. Hang on."

A pause, then: "Sunny day, sweepin' the -- clouds away!"

The words fit: New York could have been painted by Vermeer today, if he were more given to outdoor scenes. The light shimmers over a vivid sky-and-stone palette.

"On my way to where the air is sweet."

Prometheus would look like Gene Kelly, given a little more rain and a little more room to dance. He cranes his neck, only half paying attention to where he's going.

"Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?"

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 01:13 am (UTC)(link)
He barks a laugh mid-stride. "I am nothing more than an enjoyer of fine public programming! Don't tell me you're immune to the charm of muppets, now."

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm glad some things are a universal constant."

He sails over the sidewalk, not even pretending to hold a phone, just talking out loud and smiling.

New York is heady. He's only observant as far as it keeps him from walking into people.

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
Across the way, someone with a healthy set of lungs has just chosen to demonstrate his triune command of street preaching, rock music and Jim Henson productions.

"On the most sensational! Inspirational! Celebrational! Muppetational! This is what we call the Muppet Show!"

A grin, to punctuate the emphatic hand gestures. "I did that right, didn't I?"

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
"I got a whole repertoire--" he starts.

"What?"

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
He plants his feet and peers, shielding his eyes.

"I see a Starbucks, and somebody wearing a leopard-print jacket, and... and..."

If the passersby needed any more proof of this fellow's unhingedness, his sudden stillness is more than sufficient.

"I see a redhead standing there waving at me." He knits his brow. "But that doesn't make any sense."

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
His jaw moves soundlessly for a moment.

"The redhead may not want to be seen with me, considering the ruckus I was making a moment ago. It's a very fetching look on the redhead, though, I've got to say."

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Hang on."

Prometheus looks both ways -- it pays to stay safe, and provide a good example, after all -- and ventures out into traffic. A quick jog and a little darting later, he hops up on the curb beside Charlie.

"Hmm." An experimental poke at her shoulder, still disbelieving. "You don't seem to be an optical illusion."

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
He has to laugh. He has to. There's nothing else for it.

"Where are we?"

Something's certainly off, though he can't quite pinpoint it yet.

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