=== Louis & Chloé ===
--- C ---


[Chloé]
Louis! Were you watching me again?
[Louis]
Indeed I was. You and your whole coterie
of ladies.
[Louis]
The sight of you all together pleased me to
no end.
[Chloé]
The way you talk, it sounds like you were taking
in fine art at a gallery.
[Louis]
To me, there is no greater art. The finest
galleries fall far short by comparison.
[Louis]
There are so many subtleties and nuances to
be seen that I could do so all day.
[Chloé]
That's really the whole reason you do it?
[Louis]
It's no different than appreciating a beautiful
landscape. I sit quietly and let it soothe me.
[Louis]
I see no harm in people-watching, and I'm sure
you of all people must agree.
[Chloé]
Yeah. When you put it that way, I guess I do.
[Louis]
I've seen the way you drop everything to moon
over any especially picturesque scenes.
[Chloé]
Like a princess and her knight...a prince and
his servant...oh, or a pegasus and a maiden!
[Chloé]
So many lovely scenes straight out of a fairy
tale. I adore them all!
[Louis]
You and I are kindred spirits in that respect.
[Louis]
Here's an idea, why don't you and I have
a little viewing party sometime?
[Louis]
We can stand at a remove and point out scenes
that catch our respective eyes.
[Chloé]
That sounds like fun. I'm game if you are.
--- B ---


[Chloé]
Take a look at that, Louis. Isn't it lovely how
that couple shares a meal together?
[Chloé]
The girl hand-feeds the boy, and then the boy
returns the gesture.
[Chloé]
So intimate...like a prince and princess from
my fairy tales.
[Louis]
It's quite a sight. One imagines the sort of lives
they lead, how they met, and so forth.
[Louis]
It's an interesting change of pace to observe
your favorite scenes now and then.
[Louis]
...
[Chloé]
Uh-oh. For someone who just said it's
interesting, you don't sound so invested.
[Louis]
I'm sorry. There is something I feel is lacking
after all, it seems.
[Chloé]
Hmm-hm! And what would that be?
[Louis]
I'm not certain, but...
[Louis]
I suspect what's missing is...you.
[Chloé]
Me? How so?
[Louis]
Everyone adores you, Chloé. You're perpetually
surrounded by friends.
[Louis]
The closeness you show with those friends...
there's nothing quite like it.
[Louis]
The sight of it fills me with such joy that I
would hold it in my mind forever if I could.
[Louis]
The drawback, it seems, is that scenes without
you in them lose their luster.
[Chloé]
I can tell you mean that as a compliment, so...
thanks, Louis.
[Chloé]
But I'd be careful who I said that to.
[Chloé]
I know where you're coming from with that
hobby of yours, but other people...
[Chloé]
It takes a lot of explanation before people will
understand. Not all of them have the patience.
[Louis]
Haha, I'll bear that in mind.
[Chloé]
We should probably get going. That couple we
stared at is starting to stare back.
[Louis]
Yes, perhaps it's time for us to withdraw.
Shall we see what else we can see?
--- A ---


[Louis]
Shall we observe some more lovely scenes
today, Chloé?
[Chloé]
Sure, Louis. Here's hoping we can spot a really
dashing one.
[Louis]
Ah yes, I have this for you, if you wish.
[Chloé]
You brought me...dried fish?
[Chloé]
I've never seen any quite this color.
[Chloé]
All those blues and greens and yellows... Hard
to believe it's really food, huh?
[Louis]
I'm told it's quite rare and not often found
at market.
[Louis]
That's the sort of folk food you prefer, yes?
Take it in case you feel peckish.
[Chloé]
Thanks, Louis. It looks great! I'm always eager
to try something new.
[Chloé]
But I don't think I ever mentioned to you my
love for folk foods.
[Louis]
Oh, Chloé. I've spent too much time observing
you not to be an expert on the subject by now.
[Chloé]
Hmm-hm! You're an odd one, Louis.
[Chloé]
But then, I'm not one to talk.
[Louis]
What do you mean?
[Chloé]
I got you some dried grapes. Hope you
like them.
[Louis]
Why, thank you, Chloé. Grapes are my favorite,
you know.
[Chloé]
I do know. I've been watching you too.
[Louis]
You've been watching me?
[Chloé]
Just like you've been watching me.
[Chloé]
No matter who you're with, Louis, it always
looks like something out of a fairy tale.
[Louis]
Haha, turnabout is fair play, it seems.
[Chloé]
We know a lot about each other at this point.
Hmm-hm! What a way to get to know someone.
[Louis]
Isn't it, though?
[Louis]
Some might call it odd that I learned your
preferences via observation rather than asking.
[Chloé]
Not me. It makes perfect sense, given our
shared love for people-watching.
[Louis]
I suppose you're right.
[Chloé]
Well, if we both have our favorite snacks, is it
time to go?
[Louis]
Quite so. I think it's going to be another lovely
day, my friend.
--- S ---