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]

[ She just laughs, because really the zipper could be in front for all she cares. But the dress she is wearing is fastened on the back, so she turns to let him, watching over her shoulder. ]

Do you know who invented zippers?

[ofhope]

[ Joshua shakes his head, while leaning back against the door to close it, quiet while he unfastens her dress. Sometimes he's too distracted to handle his clothing, let alone others, but it seems that these dresses are a lot easier to handle than his own shirts. ]

No.

[ As the dress's back parts, his fingertips drift from the fabric to graze her skin, brushing upward along her spine while he continues to murmur, expression placid. ]

I guess you should always have another girl who might know more about shopping with you.

[heloise]

[ She holds her breath as his fingers trail up, shivering only he reaches the base of her neck. It is always difficult to know what he means when he wears that face, let alone what he's thinking. ]

In your absence?

[ Lucrezia pushes the straps off her shoulders, leaving her in white stockings and panties. Her camorra would only look silly under that dress. She steps over the dress on the floor to reach for the other one. ]

[ofhope]

[ That gets a shadowy chuckle before his hand drops away and he watches, face unchanging as ever aside from the occasional shift in lucidity and pining his own gaze offers. ]

It would make me look just terrible if I scared away all your friends with my bad behavior.

[heloise]

[ She slips the other dress over her head and tries to arrange how it falls over her. Like a golden waterfall. She chuckles at his comment as if he meant it sarcastically. ]

Which bad behavior are we speaking of, exactly?

[ She walks closer and turns her shoulder to him to help fasten. ]

[ofhope]

[ He did partially. Half-truths are coin flips.

He's careful not to catch her hair while zipping up the side, brushing it with his fingers when he's through so that it falls over her shoulder. One arm moving around her waist, Joshua pulls her around so he can get a proper view of the front with the dress. It certainly looks a lot more eye-catching on her. ]

Well, you recently witnessed that exchange with Spike... I'm sure your Stephanie would disapprove. But some people are just a little too obsessed with rules.

[heloise]

[ She smooths her hand over the dress and poses somewhat awkwardly for him. It isn't so easy to do without a twirl, when she would at least know what to do with her hands. Eventually she places one just below his cheek, placing one thumb over his lips, and the other just over his heart.

There are many powerful men, but all of them are only dangerous when set against one. ]

Would it trouble you if you do frighten all my friends away?

[ofhope]

Trouble? There's that word again... You keep associating yourself with it.

[ It shouldn't make him smile the way it does, but it is almost humorous considering how many warn against him. He catches her neck in his grip once more like earlier, thumb pressing underneath her chin. Still teasing, a light tone. ]

Should I be worried, Miss Borgia? Maybe you're going to scare all my friends away.

[heloise]

[ She should know by now the kind of trouble she brings to the men she chooses, even in the absence of her brother. But Joshua would surely brush it off with nonchalance. All the better for the both of them.

She chuckles and steps even closer, placing her hand over his, but not to wrest it away. Rather to affirm its right to be there. ]

I may have scared one away. Spike, was it not? Would you have me bring him back to you?

[ofhope]

[ Oh, if she knew exactly why Spike had been so irritable in that instance, she'd know it had very little to do with her. But that's not the point, really. It had been clear Lucrezia's manner had unnerved Spike somewhat, because it had amused Joshua. It was the only reason he hadn't tried sending her away. ]

Then I guess I should tell you a secret.

[ The pressure of his thumb increases just the slightest bit, though nothing suggesting danger, as he pushes her the couple feet to the other side of the small dressing room. There, he leans down to whisper in her ear. ]

He likes blondes. Quiet but commanding. Classy.

[heloise]

[ She gasps in surprise when her back meets the wall. He is as predictable as the flip of a coin, only he has more than just two sides. Still she lets out a small chuckle at his comment, reaching to comb her fingers through his hair. ]

Ah, good thing I was far from quiet.

[ofhope]

[ Even still he tenses subconsciously when her fingers pass his ears. Even when nothing is visible to the naked eye, his paranoia is difficult to stifle. It takes practice, but she offers a lot.

Moving his hand from her throat to her chin, Joshua taps beneath her bottom lip. ]

So you're only able to be quiet when sleeping, then? I guess you are troublesome.

[heloise]

[ He should be grateful for how noisy and touchy she can be then, for offering lots of practice indeed. Still her hand drops too to his jaw, enough so she can try to tug him closer. He revels in building tension it seems but she would rather resolve it. ]

There are other ways to silence me.

[ofhope]

[ With her pulling he needs to give no effort in pressing a kiss to her lips. His arm falls to drape around her waist again, hand pressing against the small of her back though he barely pulls her from the wall.

He doesn't quite trust how sturdy it is, but it would be a shame if he tore the fabric of her dress. ]

I don't think you would stay silent.

[heloise]

[ Not completely silent, no, but that does stop her from bantering at least for the moment. Her hand finds its way to the back of his neck to deepen the kiss.

Lucrezia could care less what happens to the dress or the dressing room's wall, or the shopgirl waiting outside. Her other hand drops to his waist to pull him closer still. Moments are not so easy to come by, when he is lucid and here. She pulls back just enough to remember to breathe. ]

[ofhope]

[ When she breaks for air, it reminds Joshua that her stamina and general sturdiness are at risk if he isn't careful. It is mildly frustrating to have to be ever conscious of his own grip, his own attention. What comes naturally to any other human, he needs to never let himself forget, and it can be tiring. Only occasionally worth it.

This may or may not be one of those events. It's already turned out to be a pleasant day, for him at least, and in the future there's even the promise of a soda shop or Indian food. Granted, his mind is very much in the present given unusual circumstance.

Bumping his nose against hers affectionately, Joshua runs his hand up from the small of her back to the neckline of her dress, tickling the golden hairs at the nape of her neck. He doesn't actually care about her keeping silent. ]

Your friends think I'll hurt you. Are you delicate?

[heloise]

[ Ah, he is learning fast too.

She wraps one arm around his back to keep her knees from giving, burying her face in the crook of his neck to stifle a whimper. Stop, never stop. She turns only enough to mutter against his skin. ]

As spun gold. [ That is, very and not at all. ]

[ofhope]

[ Joshua stays firm in his footing to make up for her weakened knees, and the other arm around her waist tightens to keep her close as he nips at the corner of her mouth. She's still trying to tease now, which he enjoys. If someone can't talk themselves in or out of a situation, they get boring quickly. Using force can be fun, but there is a time and a place, isn't there?

Fingertips lightly grazing her lower back, the thin fabric makes it easy to allow him to find the waistband of the panties beneath. ]

Then you shouldn't weigh yourself down with unnecessary accessories. The less there is underneath, the better it will look.

[heloise]

[ Perhaps she should have said as a spider's web instead, with all the connotation that carries. Luring, snaring, trapping, though perhaps that applies more to her words. She bites back a smile and traces his jawline with the tip of a finger, buying herself time until she can stand on her own. ]

As you wish. [ She pushes him back then, at least an arm's distance, enough space for her to hike her skirt on her own. Slow and nonchalant is how she does it, with hardly a care when she steps out of her panties.

Add another twirl. ] And now?

[ofhope]

[ Unable to step back much more without outright tripping, Joshua simply sits down on the small bench to watch. She works it like a strip-tease, and he can't help but react to it, a hungry look to his eye. His voice remains at a nonchalant level, at least. ]

Now it's perfectly smooth. You really do look like a movie star.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia stops her twirling and preening to look at herself in the mirror, growing quiet. It is a little less tall than the one before but still startlingly clear compared to the ones she is used to. She looks different to how she has imagined herself all this time. ]

A movie star. [ He's free with the compliments today and she can hazard a reason. ]

What if, I choose to walk out in this dress and leave the old one behind?

[ofhope]

[ He grows quiet, just watching her for a time. Her eyes, her lashes, her lips, how her chest moves when she breathes, her hands, her fingers... His response, if it is any, is more subdued. ]

There's no need to leave anything behind. Why not wrap it up to take with you, for when you feel it's appropriate to wear it again?

[ Reaching out, Joshua snags her wrist to tug her close, pulling her down onto his lap. ]

With different masks and different names, you always want to have back-up. Do you remember what I said about making your own?

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia is careful not to lean entirely on him, shifting to keep her balance on his lap and resting her free arm over his shoulder. He feels so near this way, close enough that she can almost count his eyelashes and maybe even decide on the color of his eyes. She hasn't found the right shade yet. ]

Must I still wear one?

[ Perhaps that is her life's dilemma; forever wanting to leave things behind to move forward, but never having the heart to walk away. And in the end the mask becomes the person. ]

[ofhope]

[ Joshua shakes his head while at the same time shrugging, his knuckles gently pushing under her chin to tip her head back. His thumb tickles along her jawline, and again he's watching her, all over and inward and through, and still there's something else. ]

Others are the ones asking you to. It doesn't matter to me, since you can't hide from me.

[heloise]

[ He must be checking for where her mask ends, and she smiles a little at the thought. She tips her face so his thumb would slip, a smooth escape so she can steal another kiss, ardent and cut short with a giggle. No more of this gloom, she has had enough to last. ]

Do you really? [ Ever the tease, she moves to step away from him and reach the door. ]