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

[ofhope]

It's your gift, so you should choose the first dance.

[heloise]

How did you dance in your time?

[ofhope]

Oh, there are a lot of dances.

[ Not that he was a party-goer. Aion isolated Joshua too often, which was fine since he hated crowd most of the time. He's more familiar with formal ballroom dance, but still, he knows of others. ]

There's ragtime dancing, and it has several styles you can mix and match, but they're usually fast, like the Charlestone or Fox-Trot. I think it actually originated in a red-light district...

Jazz is more popular now, though, and I'd say it's even more casual, but not so different. [ Jazz is more like the baby of ragtime and blues... Oh, confusing, so confusing. ] I don't think people are ever too worried about organized dancing at speakeasies. They just want to party.

[heloise]

[ She finds it amusing to hear Joshua talk about dancing. It feels almost anachronistic, even if it shouldn't, right? She giggles anyway, at his expense. ]

If I asked you to show me the Fox-Trot, would that then be your present to me instead?

[ofhope]

I doubt I'd make a good teacher for that sort of dance. We'd need to watch some films or something.

[ Really, most of what he knows is simply from observing. The idea of even trying is kind of strange to him. But then, Joshua has usually preferred slower music and slower dancing. It rattles his thoughts less. ]

I could show you the waltz, if you don't know it already.

[heloise]

The waltz it will be. [ A strange name too, and strangely graceful. ] For the first dance of your birthday.

We can learn the Fox-Trot together, after.

[ofhope]

[ A little 'hmm' of consideration. ]

How do you wrap a dance in a bow?

[heloise]

[ That brings a chuckle out of her. ]

I could wrap myself in a bow...

[ofhope]

Good thing I'm practiced with knots.

[heloise]

Did you know Rosette is the name of a bow?

[ofhope]

[ ....No, he didn't. So the timing with his comment just makes him laugh. ]

You'll wear a rosette bow, then?

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia's radar for inappropriate sibling relationships is bust. His still functions better, apparently. ]

Perhaps I should leave that as a surprise.

[ofhope]

And I have to wait a week? Not fair...

[ No he loves surprises, so long as they are pleasant. ]

Are you in the city?

[heloise]

Patience is a virtue!

[ No really, she just likes making him wait for stuff or hasn't he noticed? ]

Are you to find me?

[ofhope]

It's a good day.

[heloise]

For a walk around town?

[ofhope]

If you want... There's a soda shop. Or we could find you a dress for dancing lessons. You should fit in.

[heloise]

[ She chuckles. Is this him trying to cheer her up? ]

A dress for a waltz for me and a blue tie for you. And then the soda shop.

[ofhope]

Tie shopping...

[ Wow, that is surprisingly mundane. Also, Joshua has never gone tie shopping, seriously. He just lets other people dress him. ]

Okay. Where do you want me to pick you up?

[heloise]

[ Don't worry, Joshua, they can pick up tap dancing shoes on the way too. ]

Ah, you would have to guess that part.

[ofhope]

[ Pfffft, guessing. It isn't that hard for him to track people down, he's become exceedingly skilled at it.

It just tends to creep people out, so you know, it's polite to ask and stuff. ]

Hide and seek?

[heloise]

I will even go easy on you this time.

[ofhope]

I can't promise the same.

[heloise]

What will winning earn you?

[ofhope]

You treat at the soda shop.