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]

Apollo had a sister, didn't he?

[ Of course, as he recalls, Apollo references the sun and Artemis the moon. Still, the smirk is there as he tweaks just under her chin. ]

A huntress.

[heloise]

Diana. With her bow and arrow.

[ The Greeks call her Artemis. The gods have many names and they are all sacred but her most of all. ]

[ofhope]

Maybe not something you want to wear to dancing.

[ He can't help but tease, though the comparison seems apt. He'd called her a huntress once, though now he's less eager to send her after trophies just for the fun of the stories afterward.

Reminding himself of dancing also reminds him of the dress, so he reaches up to begin tugging the tie off. All she wanted was a tie, right... ]

Tie shopping is easy, I think. Are we done here?

[heloise]

Her worshipers wear saffron.

[ Lucrezia could tell him about how Diana captured six golden-horned deers for her chariot once, and thought perhaps she should have kept those antlers and gave it to him for safekeeping instead. She could always take them back.

She nods and goes to take the other two blue ties from the attendant, then look to Joshua. Are we paying or what...? ]

[ofhope]

[ Yes yes, since he suggested shopping, he did actually come prepared, and he'll use the coins if he has them on him. Caisos are still strange to him even after years, but math seems to be universal, at least.

While they're being wrapped in boxes, Joshua just dumps a bunch of caisos on the counter and...lets the cashier do the counting, like the entitled jerk he is. Of course, she could be dishonest and take more coins than needed out of spite, but Joshua really doesn't care either way. It's not actually his money, just more wishes from the castle. ]

Doesn't saffron belong in curry, or something?

[heloise]

[ Oh good, that is also how she shops, throwing coins everywhere and letting others do the mundane counting. Or have her brothers pay for her trinkets, of course.

She taps her fingers on the counter as they wrap the boxes. ]

I hope curry is something good...?

[ofhope]

You've never had it? We should go eat curry instead of going to a soda shop, then. It's really spicy, though. I've tried two different kinds since coming here... Japanese and Indian.

[ Wow people, work faster! Once the boxes as set in a nice paper bag, Joshua snatches it and the remaining coins up before holding out an arm for her. ]

Spicy food is best in the winter. It warms you up.

[heloise]

[ And Lucrezia will take that arm with a pleased smile, even skipping once as they step out. She likes being escorted, no one does that enough here except her brother.

She draws a quiet gasp at the mention of India. That is as fantastic to her as unicorns and dragons. ]

Is that what the sultans eat and all his concubines too?

[ofhope]

[ Isn't that a fun mental picture to have in his head... Concubines! ]

I don't know a lot about India, but I'd imagine so, if they only ate the best. Their curry's probably a lot better than what's here, but it's still good. Even if it's spicy, it's a little sweet, and you can soak it up with this bread called naan.

[ Don't get too excited over food, Joshua, there's still a dress to buy! ]

What other type of food haven't you had?

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia's idea of concubines: you can kill them, unlike wives. ]

I have eaten donuts, potato chips, chocolate cake, some many-colored candy, and soda. Stephanie's boyfriend gave me popcorn. And American pizza. [ Look at her reciting all the fancy modern things, and even using "boyfriend" correctly and still not answering his question. ]

Anything apart from those, then.

[ofhope]

[ That's like...five things out of millions. He tries to think of what new type of food he's tried since arriving in Paradisa... Certainly a lot more than that, but he's been here for longer, too. ]

And an omelet.

[heloise]

[ She laughs. That time when Joshua Christopher cooked breakfast and tried to deny it. ]

Is that what it is called? And an omelet indeed.

[ofhope]

[ Still. Forever.

He only thinks of it now to mention just because he remembers seeing a type of 'omelette' on the Indian restaurant's menu the one time he was there. ]

When you move in, we can have s'mores. They're almost better than cake. [ And also one of the five things Joshua knows how to make. Right up there with sandwiches and oatmeal!

Maybe he should stop listing off messy food for her to try. ]

[heloise]

S'mores?

[ Funny name. It almost sounds like some more and maybe that is what he means. Something you can never have enough of! ]

Why only s'mores? We should have everything, and always an omelet for breakfast.

[ Nope, never letting him forget that. ]

[ofhope]

It's melted chocolate and marshmallow between two graham crackers.

[ Whatever she can order a maid to do that. So he'll have to find one ASAP, clearly. Joshua isn't cooking every morning! It's hard enough for him to crawl out of bed before noon... ]

You'll get sick of those before long, even if there are different kinds.

[heloise]

[ Oh well then they can just laze around until afternoon for all she cares. What is being productive and why do people do that to themselves? ]

Ah, I have tried marshmallows too. They taste like how clouds should.

[ She moves her hand to wrap her arm around his instead, pointing at a shop some ways ahead. ]

Are those dresses from the 20s?

[ofhope]

If only actual clouds tasted half as good...

[ Not that there's a taste in the first place, really. He would have a lot more fun flying if clouds were marshmallows, for certain.

Glancing over the dresses offered in the display window once they near, he shakes his head, but moves to open the door for her anyway. ]

It's unlikely we'll find something I've seen back home, but we might discover something similar. I suppose it depends if you want to dress conservative or flashy?

[ Stupid question. ]

[heloise]

Whichever is beautiful, whether conservative or... flashy.

[ Lucrezia lets go of his arm to saunter in, chuckling to herself with glee at all the pretty things. Her pleasures are simple. Really. One dress catches her eye, a gold sequin one. She brushes her hand over the surface to watch it sparkle. ]

What do you call this?

[ofhope]

[ Joshua has to chuckle as he slips up behind her to peer over her shoulder at what she's observing. ]

Just because I read a lot doesn't mean I know all the topics, you know. Fashion isn't my forté. I think you might need a girl's opinion...

[ He sighs and taps his cheek, as if this is a real problem, when really it's not at all. Who cares what she wears. ]

Too bad Hendric is no longer here, although she rightfully dresses as modestly as a nun. The same goes for that other Exorcist. Fiore's no better, and Rizelle was a shameless demon. I have no useful personal examples for you, unfortunately.

You should just should pick whatever makes you feel like a foreign princess.

[heloise]

[ She brushes her fingers against the dress one last time before moving through the rack, sparing him a glance over her shoulder. A nun and a shameless demon, is it now? ]

Do I not already dress like a foreign princess to you?

[ His suit and tie seems foreign enough to her, but five hundred years is a long time by any measure. She stops at a dress behind a glass display, gold and flashy indeed. She thinks it would be what Turkish princesses wear, perhaps. ]

And this?

[ofhope]

To me, yes. I meant by your standards.

[ Joshua really is no expert on what's considered high fashion, even in his own time, other than what Aion has told him to wear. He does still have subtle gut reactions to shamelessly tacky outfits (Rizelle and Faye Valentine come to mind), but otherwise hardly cares. Sometimes he has a favorite, but... They're all just dresses in the end.

He did say she looked good in gold, though, and he already knows he likes her in red. (White might be his favorite.) ]

Maybe with a jacket.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia doesn't believe white suits her anymore. White is for virgins, nuns, children. Doves, the symbol of purity. Once maybe, not anymore. Red hides many stains and gold will never be tarnished by blood or otherwise.

She smiles his way before gesturing for the attendant to take it out of the display so she can hold it up against herself for him to see. ]

It does seem to be missing its sleeves. [ Not that she personally minds, but for posterity's sake. She matches the hem against her knee. ]

And stockings to match.

[ofhope]

[ Oh, this is more fun than shopping for ties. His mood seems to pick up almost visibly. ]

Stockings?

[heloise]

Yes. [ She hands that dress to the shopkeeper with a nod, she can go try that. ]

White or red? Another gold would be too much, do you agree?

[ofhope]

White.

[ Because it's a classic and there's nothing wrong with it. ]