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[portolan]

Comments

[grindset]

[It's more the memory than the conversation itself, he thinks, but... better to let that pass.]

yes, well
as a scientist i have no choice but to operate on principles
:)

[portolan]

We have very different definitions of scientists, but I will admit I prefer yours.
Has it always been science for you? Or did something tip you in?

[grindset]

i wasn't always a scientist, per se, but have always been interested in making things
as a child, i met someone who taught me to think as a scientist
he too thought less of life than of progress, so our relationship did not last, but those early teachings planted the seed -
morally as well as vocationally, i suppose.

now i build things to raise a city up.

[portolan]

built your own path from what you were given
I can respect that
some heroic daftness in there too, trying to do it yourself
I can relate to that too

[grindset]

i think both our partners might have something to say about that.

what is your definition of a scientist?

[portolan]

you know a little of my partner; how long have you been with yours?

a person who seeks to understand the world by empirical questioning, observation, and testing -- through physical tests, not artistic models

[grindset]

then our definitions are not so dissimilar.
curiosity, a hunger for knowledge, for discovery - these are the fundamentals.
those empirical methods are simply the means to exercise our passions - to direct them, to refine the results, to enable legitimate proof.
i would argue that a scientist may contribute to the greater pool of knowledge with models alone - someone, somewhere, somewhen, will find that knowledge interesting, inspiring, perhaps even useful -
unless you mean the other kind of artistic model.
anatomical study is valid science.

[Is he joking? Maybe.

After a delay,]

it has been roughly seven years since we met.

[portolan]

at their best the arts and sciences are nearly the same
just differing in their products
models are quite a contribution
anatomical study is an excellent example of the overlap

[ Balthier's done his share of figure study. It's soothing. ]

Little past a decade for us

[grindset]

yes, very true
therein lies great synergistic potential -
a partnership.

did you celebrate your ten year mark?

[portolan]

yes well leave it to humes to fight where they could work together
I'm impressed you've retained your optimism and strength of belief

[ He chuckles at the question. He'd attempted to mark it, but Fran hadn't cared much, and they'd done what they usually did: slayed monsters, robbed a tomb. ]

We're more the celebrate every day sort of partnership.

[grindset]

[how many compliments are you going to make him matrix-dodge, bro, jeez]

through your work?
i am very much in favour of that.

[And always forgetting anniversaries, which he is not about to volunteer.]

[portolan]

we do most things through our work
it's been a good system

[ Is he starting to feel that he's aging and she isn't? Yes. He's aware they're going to have to start dealing with that this decade. ]

[grindset]

oh really
i seem to recall someone coming perilously close to scolding me for being enmeshed in work just minutes ago
was that you or some other pirate

[portolan]

[ He grins. Well. It's been awhile since he was properly called out. ]

I'm afraid you've got me there.
Though maybe I should clarify she's my work partner.
I like to take long vacations and long baths.

[grindset]

baths are simply necessary.

[Staring for a moment, thumb tapping,]

but you needn't clarify.

[portolan]

I should have assumed you were clever enough to figure that out.
You'd be surprised how many people argue with me over that fact.

[grindset]

argue with you about your own partnership?
how unusually presumptuous.
i would definitely enjoy watching someone argue that point with mine.

[portolan]

clearly you spend too much time in your lab if the behavior of regular people is surprising to you
but I wont' chastise you because I think I'm jealous of your blissful ignorance
it is indeed great fun to watch people try to tell Fran this. I think she's cracked a few spirits with her gaze alone.

[grindset]

i happen to spend the correct amount of time in the lab, thank you very much

["a wizard arrives precisely when he means to"]

but yes - she does have the look for it
like a steel edge

[portolan]

I might not respect your work life balance, but I certainly respect your cohesive value system, that much I'll give you.

She has an impressive high kick, too.

[grindset]

[Now there's a mental image. That one gets him.]

my partner does not.

[portolan]

Fran isn't hume. Human. We can't hold ourselves to her ability and expect to retain any shred of self-worth.

[ He has tried. ]

[grindset]

trust that i am in no danger of that
long ears might suit you, however.

[After this message, he will not respond for at least ninety minutes. Will he indicate this in advance? Of course not.]

[portolan]

[ That gets a laugh, and Fran gives him a look from whatever she's doing quietly. ]

perish the thought they'd ruin my silhouette

[ Not that he wouldn't adapt fashion is just artistic theory applied and he's excellent at color and shape.

The gap in time doesn't bother him. Honestly he's surprised he got so much undivided attention for as long as he did. ]

[grindset]

[Balthier has public transportation to thank for that. Yes, the gremlin left his occult lair for a while, alert the media. (The media does not care.)

Ninety-six minutes later,]

did you drop this

[Attached is a snap of a random earring lying on the sidewalk.]