Shift
disclaimer: Ohh, how I wish. Sadly not mine. Ros & Guil are property of Shakespeare, and actually, a fair amount of the characterization here draws on Stoppard's 'R. & G. Are Dead.' (I had fun trying to write dialogue like him… does it show?)
"I have never understood," Guildenstern mused, "how water can appear to move in two directions at once." He leaned out over the ship's rail, peering at the shifting surface of the sea. "I would expect it has something to do with alternating currents caused by wind and temperature- seen, of course, on a very small and very widespread scale. Rosencrantz? Anything to add?"
"I am going to be seasick," his companion elaborated.
"Then you shouldn't look right at the water," advised Guildenstern. "Study the sky instead. Ponder the clouds."
"You started it," Rosencrantz protested, but he obligingly sprawled out on the deck. There was a pause while the taller man scanned the sky from his prone position. "There aren't any clouds," he observed at last.
Guildenstern sat, leaning back against the rail. "There will be clouds at some point," he said airily, "and then you can ponder them at length."
"It's appalling, this boat business. I can't tell if the world's shifting about or we are."
"I'm rather inclined to think that we both are. If we can get our personal shifting synchronized with the rest of it, we'll be fine."
"I suppose," Rosencrantz sighed. "If I didn't know better-"
"Yes?" Guildenstern prompted.
"If I didn't know better… I'd say it was almost like the old days. Traveling. Knocking around with Hamlet. Philosophizing."
"We've always done that," Guildenstern remarked dryly.
"Everything we used to do," Rosencrantz continued, caught up with the momentum, "only now it's all clouded with consequence. Our every movement is connected in various subtle and complicated ways to things outside our microcosm, and I can't keep anything straight anymore." He sat up, frustrated. "I miss the days when we were the only people that affected us."
"So do I." Guildenstern shifted over to put an arm around his friend, who leaned into his shoulder gratefully. "You remember- what else we used to do…?"
"Yes…" Rosencrantz hesitated, then stiffened his resolve. "Yes. Alright."
The shorter man's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yes. It seems… right, with everything that's happened. We owe it to ourselves to enjoy something. We… we deserve it."
"Very true- now, ssh. You're starting to babble," Guildenstern said, putting a finger over the other man's lips.
"Wait- Guildenstern?" Rosencrantz asked uncertainly.
"Yes, Rosencrantz?"
Rosencrantz smiled, leaning in. "Nothing, really. I just needed the reassurance."
