Date Night (closed)

[not_the_philistine]

One thing Goliath had forgotten to let Elisa know about was the Sensoriums' capacity to make the slop taste like real food. It wasn't a feature he took advantage of often, because the food Stacy produced was tolerable for convenience's sake. But there was no reason not to share that feature with Elisa, during one of the brief times when they had no reason not to simply enjoy their time together.

"I would not know where to begin. Is there something you would like in particular?"

The only one of the clan who cared enough about food to think of it as something more than fuel was Broadway, and he was regrettably unavailable.

He would have called up an image of Manhattan just to begin with, but didn't believe Elisa would like to see an illusion of the home they shared so soon after her waking.

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[newyorkbynight.livejournal.com]

Elisa missed New York - both her friends and family and, to a lesser extent, the city itself - every day. No matter how realistic the image was, it wouldn't be home. After a moment of consideration, she brought up the image of a Parisian street instead, lit by street lights and the full moon that shined above them.

"Paris," she said, slipping her arm through his with a smile, "We didn't get to make the most of it last time."

She remembered how irritated she'd been when they'd arrived in the most romantic city in the world with Goliath in his stone sleep, unable to share it with her. Even when he had woken up, the presence of Demona and Thailog left them with no time to take in the sights.

[not_the_philistine]

Oh, that's right. Paris was supposed to be romantic. He'd surely read that somewhere, though their experience in the city had been anything but.

He projected a quiet, mental wish that the Sensoriums project a Paris with humans that would not react to his presence accurately as they would on his earth, and the people walking the nighttime streets paid the two of them no notice.

"It's a much more pleasant place without a mission from Avalon," he said, covering her hand with his own as they walked together.

[newyorkbynight.livejournal.com]

The fact that no one reacted to the Goliath’s appearance in any way, let alone with fear or surprise, was a reminder that they were a long way from the real Paris. Elisa didn’t mind. She was simply happy to be with him.

“It’s a good place for a first date,” she said, using the word ‘date’ carefully, like it was something to be savoured, and with barely concealed joy.

[not_the_philistine]

They had done things like this before, on rare occasions, but neither had ever acknowledged it as courting.

"It might not be the real city," he said, as humans passed them without comment, "but I am glad to share it with you."

They had real cities behind them and before them, anyway - alien cities where they were far from the strangest, or most alarming, set of visitors.

[newyorkbynight.livejournal.com]

Referring to the evening as a date - which was exactly what it was - made it seem official. It was proof that their relationship had moved on to the next level and, although it was technically the first date, they were so comfortable in each other's company that it could just have easily have been their fiftieth.

"So, what is it you want to?" she asked, casting her gaze along the dark water of the Seine. "The art galleries? The museums? Maybe we could climb the Eiffel Tower?"

[not_the_philistine]

"It would be interesting to see a museum without having to break into it first."

There had been times he'd had to enter museums for one battle or another, but it had never been through legal means.

[newyorkbynight.livejournal.com]

"When have you ever had the chance to enjoy the museums we've visited?" she pointed out, thinking of the same battles. More often than not, the pieces of art and the historical artifacts had ended up being used as weapons. "I don't think we far from the Louvre. We'll start with the Mona Lisa."

[not_the_philistine]

He laughed softly. "You have a point."

For all they knew, the streets of this imagined Paris were altering to fit their whims, because they didn't have any trouble finding the Louvre.

"It's a lot like this on planets," he commented, as they walked into the museum without hindrance. "I'd like to show you memories of a few some time."

Not the more embarrassing parts of XaXing, of course. Those could stay in the past, and between him and Eva, where they belonged.

[newyorkbynight.livejournal.com]

"The planets were you're not being dragged up on stage by medieval wenches, anyway," she teased, her eyes brightened by mirth as they stepped inside. "I'd like that. I'm sorry I missed them."

And, if anyone happened to draw her attention to that particular planet, she would be very interested in the stories from XaXing.

[not_the_philistine]

He still blushed slightly, remembering the wench incident. That it still amused Elisa went a long way towards making the memory equally amusing to him.

She'd have to drag XaXing out of Eva, because she certainly wouldn't hear any of it from him.

"Then I know which part of the universe I'd like to see with you, next time."

The promise of a 'next time' made even this evening seem better.

The architecture of the Museum itself went a way towards refocusing his attention on their current outing. The castle of the Louvre was built like a fortress, and the pyramid in the middle of the open court added an interesting variation to the defense tactics that could be applied to the location. He could hardly pass up a castle such as this without considering it's defensive applications.

As for the interior of the museum, he really was more than superficially interested in this visit. He knew enough to know that the Louvre housed some of the greatest human works of art, and if art was not his strongest passion, that could be blamed in part of how little of it he had actually been able to see.

[newyorkbynight.livejournal.com]

"I've got to confess, big guy, art galleries aren't exactly my area of expertise."

In Manhattan, she'd dedicated most of her time and energy to protecting the city. There hadn't been much time for art galleries or museums, although her parents - particularly her mother - had taken her to visit plenty of them while she was growing up.

"Should we grab a map? And maybe start with the Mona Lisa?"

[not_the_philistine]

"Neither are they mine. This seems the best course of action."

They could have always had the Sensoriums take them straight to the famous works of art, but that seems like a good way to cheat themselves out of some culture, and when have they ever just had time like this?

A short map-hunt later, the pair were on their way to the museum's collection of paintings, and Goliath privately glanced over the list of other collections, privately considering which might be the more romantic second quest. His instinct was suggesting sculpture, though the Greek, Etruscan, and Roman collections otherwise piqued his interest.

[newyorkbynight.livejournal.com]

Although the aim of their trip was to explore the museum's collection, Elisa was equally interested in - if not more interested in - spending time with Goliath. For a variety of reasons, they'd never had opportunities like this before.

The sensoriums provided a few other visitors to keep them company, but, for the most part, the galleries were empty and they were able to head straight to the Louvre's most famous painting.

"It's ... smaller than I was expecting."

[not_the_philistine]

"This is perhaps where being ill-versed in art is most to my disadvantage."

He knew OF the Mona Lisa, having seen pictures once or twice in encyclopedias, but he had no frame of reference by which to evaluate the experience of seeing the painting in person. And of course, he might have lacked a formal education in the appreciation of art, but that didn't stop him from philosophizing about it on his own.

"There is something to be said for the wonder that such a fragile thing as a painting has been preserved all these years."

Though, of course, this was not the real work. It was only a representation of how it would have been preserved, had they had the opportunity to view it in their time, on their Earth.

"It speaks for the civility of those who chose to spend their time preserving things that exist for no reason but to be beautiful - to be appreciated, and shared as works of greatness."

In the quiet calm of the gallery, he put his hand on Elisa's shoulder, enjoying the moment of closeness with her.

[newyorkbynight.livejournal.com]

"It's one of the few things that people can agree on," she noted. "We argue about everything else, but everyone acknowledges that art deserves protecting, whether it's a painting or a statue of a piece of music."

She'd choose Goliath's philosophical musings over professional art critiques any night of the week.

"I wonder if she had any idea what she was going to become part of when she sat for the portrait."

[not_the_philistine]

"Even if she envisioned the museum, I doubt she considered the spaceship."

In any case, they had a lot more art to muse over before their six hours were up.

"Shall we move on?"

[newyorkbynight.livejournal.com]

"I’m not sure. Her smile is famous. It’s supposed to mean that she knows something we don’t."

She nodded at his suggestion, consulting the map using her free hand.

"How about the rest of da Vinci’s work? We’re not far from the 'Madonna of the Rocks'."

[not_the_philistine]

"I'd like that."

He offered Elisa his arm as they walked again.

[newyorkbynight.livejournal.com]

"Right this way," she said, slipping her arm through his again – she’d never grow tired of being able to do that – and leaning comfortably against him as they wandered through the gallery towards the rest of paintings.