[thirty nine] Ah, Paris.

[goodgrasshopper]

I've never been to Paris before.  Food, museums, art...

Thom!  Where are you?  We're going to get some culture.  And I think you need a beret.

Comments

[giftedtwin]

What on earth is a beret?

[goodgrasshopper]

It's a kind of a hat. Fabric, and a little puffy. I'll get one too. You'll see. They're cool. Where are you?

[giftedtwin]

I have no idea; this place is strange to me. [He's so lost. And probably nearly got hit by a car a couple times.] There's a tower with a golden statue on top of it.

[He's talking about the July Column.]

[goodgrasshopper]

...I should be able to find you. Where are you in relation to the tower?

[giftedtwin]

Close to it, across the... road in an avenue lined with trees. [Pause.] What are the carts? They're too fast. Are they magic?

[goodgrasshopper]

They're called cars--automobiles. They're not magic, they're technology. They run on gasoline.

[giftedtwin]

Cars. How are they made? What of? And what's gasoline?

[This kind of questioning is going to keep going through this whole port, Molly. Just so you know.]

[goodgrasshopper]

They're made in factories--usually on assembly lines--out of metal, rubber and plastic. [beat] Plastic is a man-made material, and its strength varies depending on its thickness and composition.

Gasoline is a fuel, oil-based and combustible.

[giftedtwin]

This is your world, then? How does magic fit into this?

[cisskabob]

Molly. You, me. Croissants.

[goodgrasshopper]

DONE. And there need to be berets, Cissie. Red for you. For me... something that won't clash with my hair.

[goodgrasshopper]

At the very least, it's similar to my world. Magic where I'm from isn't generally very public. Most people don't believe in it.

[cisskabob]

Black's a classic. Or maybe white--or cream? We'll have to shop. In Paris.

Also, as a warning? I plan to eat as many pastries and breads and cheeses as I can handle, and if I make myself sick on baguettes? I can recover back on the Barge.

[goodgrasshopper]

There will be shopping. It will be awesome. I'll cut Thom loose for an afternoon. I'm pretty sure he'll be happy to be rid of me for a while.

And I like the way you think. Recovery is for when we're not on vacation.

[cisskabob]

That sounds perfect. I have to say, this is pretty well timed, as far as ports go. We could use a good vacation. So far the only downside seems to be the Eiffel Tower situation, but there are worse things.

[strangehistorian]

It's so pretty!

[goodgrasshopper]

I know! I've never been to the Paris on my world--I wonder if I can stay awake the entire time to enjoy it properly.

[goodgrasshopper]

There are. I mean--the Louvre is open. And there's food everywhere.

[strangehistorian]

Awake?

[goodgrasshopper]

Well, we're getting a port that doesn't terrify us or make us want to run screaming--I don't want to miss a minute. [grin]

[strangehistorian]

Ah! Well good luck to you, then! [Giggle.]

[goodgrasshopper]

Thanks. Sleep is for when we get back, right?

[strangehistorian]

Of course!

[giftedtwin]

How can they not believe in it? [Does not compute. :|]

[goodgrasshopper]

Magic isn't exactly public knowledge. Most people are content to believe that it's all just tricks ad sleight of hand--easily explained away.

[giftedtwin]

More fool them. The Gift shouldn't be something to be taken so lightly.

[goodgrasshopper]

I think it's easier for them to believe it's not real--and it's honestly easier for most of us to keep it that way. It certainly cuts down on frivolous requests for love potions or nonsense like that.

[giftedtwin]

Love potions. [Tch, some people. No respect for the Gift.]

Your world is strange. At least in mine, everyone knows. They may not like magic nor have the Gift, but there's no denying its power.

[goodgrasshopper]

I think the supernatural of my world are pretty content not to have to be constrained by human laws. It's easier if normal people don't know about them.

[giftedtwin]

Like I said, strange. We come from very different places.

[goodgrasshopper]

I think that's fair to say.