Wandering keys drifted out the balcony, and off onto the tables arranged around large pillars reaching high to a lofty coffered ceiling high above them. Beneath the clinking, swirling murmur of sophistication time brushed past gently quivering cymbals. Softly the glow of lamps stained in the electric tints of industry suffused a hall of rigid lines left naked without the haze of yesterday’s inhaled panacea. Dinner was served.
‘I can’t fucking believe you just said that.’
Olivia poised to stand. Dave reached a hand toward her. ‘Wait come on.’
‘No you’re right.’ She returned, swatting him back. ‘Explain yourself you fucking pig.’ Her arms folded beneath a face which quickly settled into scowl. ‘God I should’ve known.’
‘Just listen.’ Dave paused.
‘What it’s not so easy without all your disgusting shitter friends huh?’
‘No listen,’ He paused again but not so long. ‘Ok it’s like entropy.’
‘What?’
‘The end of the universe you know-’
‘Are you really going to rant again right now fuck of course you are shit I knew Sara was weird.’
‘No no no look my sister’s fine she loves all that super important shit you guys love.’
‘I can’t believe this.’
‘No ok look entropy it’s like when everything is over all the energy will spread across the universe.’
‘You are actually a pig.’
‘Just wait please imagine that no planets or stars or pockets of empty space.’
‘Imagine all the space in my gallery.’ Olivia equipped her phone.
‘Oh you mean your dad’s place down on 7th?’
The phone drooped. ‘Fuck you.’
‘Ok I’m sorry please don’t Sara’s great you know that.’
No words crossed the table as the phone brandished again.
‘You won’t even listen.’
‘Fine.’ Olivia’s eyes rose. ‘I do listen to all your bullshit David I just don’t care.’
‘It’s not bullshit I’m trying to whatever never mind the point is once everything ends everything will be the same those planets and stars the things you may have even seen a couple times guess what they’re like people and guess how that’s the same. So yeah in a sense I appreciate beauty so much I want to preserve it like a fucking zoologist with pandas and if wanting more diversity somehow makes me,’ Dave’s fingers lifted to bounce around the words, ‘a racist, then so be it.’
‘Wow how fucking brave.’ Olivia rose from her chair with a screech. ‘That disgusting hate is literally genocide and actually the joke’s on you,’ She caught on the words as tears dragged thick mascara down her face, ‘Your Nazi ass has been fucking a proud part Onondaga.’
And with that she turned.
‘Oh what like a sixteenth?’
She spun, and snatching her lip kissed glass threw a rich fruity noir. It splashed against the collar of Dave’s finely tailored suit, leaving a face matted with hair well doused.
‘Wow yourself,’ He yelled after her as she went, ‘I’m surprised any was left.’
‘Fuck you David.’
Across the soft piano silence of a now attentive balcony he called once more. ‘Maybe you’re right I never noticed, guess we’re all the same inside.’