xix. dictated, action

[heloise]

Lana
How about an early morning ride?

Micheletto
You will help me with my crates. [ Because packing is tough. ]

Stephanie
Tell me if you mean to visit, even if not to see me. He would not find unexpected guests so pleasant.

What does it mean when the castle gave some no glimpse of old age?

[ Lucrezia is on her knees in the church in town, hands counting through her white rosary and reciting her prayers under her breath. She keeps her hood over her head.

It might seem foolish to believe that saying something over and over again gives it greater weight, or that time and voice can buy penance, but she feels she must at least-- try. She isn't praying for her own soul, she wonders if she would ever. But she loses count of how many times she has said the Ave Maria, and stands to go. ]

Comments

[heloise]

[ That gets a chuckle. ]

I would say your mouth is not exceedingly large.

[bustered]

Gets me into trouble well enough though.

[heloise]

Not this time.

It has been a while.

[bustered]

Only because you're too kind.

I've been. [A beat.] Preoccupied.

[heloise]

With thoughts less morbid than mine, I hope.

[bustered]

I wouldn't place bets on that.

[heloise]

Would you share them with me?

[bustered]

I'd hate to be the one to bring ruin to your mood...

[heloise]

My mood has suffered worse.

[bustered]

Where are you?

[heloise]

At the church in town. Do you know where that is?

[bustered]

I haven't been there. But the town's not that big, I'm sure I can find it.

[heloise]

You want to find me? Why?

[bustered]

Do you want not to be found?

[heloise]

No, I should not like to be lost. [ In a object sort of way and not a person. ]

[bustered]

And if I did seek to find you, what should I find?

[heloise]

[ She chuckles. ]

This is a riddle.

[bustered]

One I mean to solve.

[heloise]

Well, I say you will find what you are seeking.

[bustered]

In an hour's time, then. [At least, that's when he thinks he'll be there, if he makes himself presentable and heads out now. Whether or not she'll keep him waiting is another thing entirely.]

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia won't be the one to keep him waiting for once.

She has been at the church since the sun peeked out, and waiting, she now learns, is such a difficult task. Her book of prayers come in handy, and she mutters the Latin under her breath, seated there on the pew, and imagines how her brother, her father, would utter them. ]

[bustered]

[And maybe if Zack stopped for a moment or three to reflect on that, it would have been telling. But his thoughts have been heavy of their own accord lately, heavy with the weight of his sword on his back and his honor on his heart. The church's appearance brings back stray memories as well, though they feel dim and hazy -- something that should perhaps alarm him, but it's not a time of his life that he likes to recall anyway, and thus lets his brain skirt the issue.

His bootfalls are cushioned slightly by the carpet as he lets himself inside, striding down the aisle after spotting Lucrezia at her seat. He'll slide next to her silently, to not interrupt her prayers, but rather to wait on her finish. One should not begrudge another her comfort, after all.]

[heloise]

[ She wasn't praying, only mulling the words. And if she were, then it would not be to a god who probably does not exist here in this universe. She allows him the wait however, taking a few minutes before she finally closes that book. ]

Now, unburden yourself of these morbid thoughts.

[bustered]

Angeal's gone.

[He's not even aware of the words spilling out of his mouth -- it's rude after all, to just unburden his own thoughts without asking first after her own. But it's a church and a pretty girl and there's something about all this that should be familiar, but his brain feels all muddled and honestly, thinking about his mentor just hurts.]

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia turns to him. Words tend to fail in this instance and she would not trust them. Someone told her she sounded cold when she announced her brother's departure, but she knew nothing would do him justice, anyway. ]

One after another, they leave. Would you rather be the one to go or the one left behind?