Ankh & Masya
Masya
Hey Ankh, I was just dusting off an old clay tablet in the archive—had to be extra gentle, you know how these things are fragile. I’m curious, how do you decide when a piece is "ready" to be displayed? Do you ever find yourself wishing it stayed in the mud, protected from all the fuss?
Ankh
I wait until every layer of patina is stable, the ink still legible, and the context is clear enough to tell a story. If the tablet still feels like it could crumble or if the meaning is murky, I keep it in the vault. Sometimes, after all the cleaning, I do wish it stayed buried, protected from the glare of the spotlight. The past doesn’t need a museum; it needs patience.
Masya
That sounds like the right balance, Ankh. The past is a patient thing—it’s never quite ready to be shown. Keep guarding it, and when you do decide it’s ready, just remember that a little light can do more good than a lot of glare. I’ll bring the tea tomorrow if you want to go through the next batch together.
Ankh
Thanks, that sounds good. I’ll have the light set up for the next batch, and we’ll go through each tablet line by line. Bring the tea, and we’ll make sure nothing gets lost in the dust.
Masya
Sounds like a plan, Ankh. I’ll bring the tea, a small towel, and maybe a whistle—just in case the tablets start sighing in protest. We’ll keep the dust at bay and the stories in line. Let’s get to it.
Ankh
Great, I’ll have the lights and the clean surface ready. The whistle’s a nice touch—if the tablets get nervous we can give them a little pep talk. Looking forward to digging through the next batch.