The End is Where We Start From

[ambitious_woman]

[It has been a year

Comments

[wontplaythesap]

[tips back his fedora to take a good, long look at her, then lets out a low, approving whistle.]

Ain't the sort of place I'd expect a lady.

[ambitious_woman]

[she glances at him over her shoulder, not entirely interested]

And what sort of place is that?

[wontplaythesap]

Well, place where men like me meet up.

[starts to circle her] I'm gonna take a wild leap out there and guess you're not from 1941, are you, Princess?

[ambitious_woman]

[something about him sets her teeth on edge, and her mouth compresses slightly]

1750. And how gratifying to find that in two centuries men still have not managed to learn the art of manners. Shall I spin for you?

[wontplaythesap]

Oh, Princess, I learned 'em. Learned 'em and then learned better.

[pulls out his tabbacco pouch and rolls up a cigarette] And if you told me you'd do that before, I wouldn't have wasted my time walking.

[ambitious_woman]

[offensive habit]

If you found what you witnessed during your travels such a waste, I am hardly going to bother to entertain you now.

[wontplaythesap]

I don't need to be entertained, Princess.

So, 1750. Before the revolution.

[ambitious_woman]

[her gaze narrows]

It is fortunate that I have already read of what you speak. Otherwise that would have been cruel.

[wontplaythesap]

Don't see how. [no, really, he doesn't]

[ambitious_woman]

It seems to me you do not see a great many things.

[wontplaythesap]

I didn't see the Declaration of Independence signed, and I didn't fight in that war, but I know what happened.

[ambitious_woman]

[her eyebrow simply arches]

And what else do you know?

[wontplaythesap]

Plenty.

Why? You got a need to hear about the details of detective work, Princess?

[ambitious_woman]

There is no need.

What we believe we know defines us nearly as much as what we clearly do not.