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 2007-08-29 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.

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 03:00 am (UTC)(link)
His eyes seem to lose focus for a minute. His gaze drifts somewhere over Charlie's left shoulder, before it snaps back into place on her face.

"Yours," he says wonderingly. "Radio silence from the old lady -- I don't hear a thing. That's so funny. I didn't notice any changeover..."

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 03:14 am (UTC)(link)
He nods.

It could be distressing, under different circumstances. It's unusual, to say the least. But he's not picking up on anything more malevolent than the average New Yorker. And Milliways happens like this, from time to time. And where there's no voice of Gaia, Prometheus is free from the rest of his family too -- always a bonus.

The thought cheers him immensely. He beams at Charlie. "Hi!"

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
"I suspect we ought to keep walking. Were you on your way somewhere?"

Perhaps an anywhere he could tag along?

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
"What?"

That's a kind of shine that makes him very, very curious.

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, he's not going to fight that. "Now that you mention it, I do remember you saying something to that effect."

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
"Then lead the way, madame. I am at your disposal and eager to be a sightseer." A beat. "Do I get any sort of warning, or is it all going to be a fabulous surprise?"

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
He gives the idea some pause. "I like surprises," he decides. "Real ones are very rare." He eyeballs the Empire State Building. "No giant gorillas, though, right? No giant unfriendly (or just misunderstood) gorillas?"

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
"Okay. Not that I have anything against gorillas," he hastens to add.

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
One hand comes to rest on her elbow. "There's a lot of particulars. Ask me what you want to know."

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
It's a few moments before he speaks.

"The clay is old, and untouched. It remembers its purpose is to shape and be a shape; that's why it worked so well when my brother and I were using it, the first time. When you put purpose in it through the work and intent of your hands, it learns it, and learns but good. You infuse it with your will and give it life of its own.

"That's how you build a new being. We would be after something different, though: we would want to teach your body not to take harm from the fire. Give it armor, in effect. The clay, when it touches a mortal, it alters them. That's what I meant by potent: it's will turned into reality."

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
"If I said so, yes."

He's looking straight ahead.

"We'd cover you and let it dry. It wouldn't hurt, as far as I can guess, and I know the stuff pretty well." A pause; he doesn't alter the quiet in his voice. "You'd have to trust me enough to let me be the one putting it on."

[identity profile] notboundnow.livejournal.com 2007-08-29 05:12 am (UTC)(link)
A small tug at the corners of his lips. "You don't have to know. I dropped it on you half an hour ago. Don't rush in to anything this big, okay?"

He should know; it's what he's named for.

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