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]

[ 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. ]

[ofhope]

[ Joshua's leaning forward, catching himself with a disappointed expression as she pulls away. He keeps hold of her hand, though his grip is loose, eventually letting it fall away when she actually reaches the door. Wench. He needs a minute. ]

You still have surprises, even for me.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia hovers by the door and waits for him, biting back a grin. She runs away because she knows he would follow, but she won't let him today, in case she only ends up in tears and ruins the moment for both of them. ]

Should I fear the day when I run out of them, like Scheherazade and her stories?

[ofhope]

[ As easily as he normally goes with the flow, Joshua doesn't mind as much as some men might. He loves simple pleasures; all of them, not just the most obvious that mindless people always rush towards. Besides, as upset as she's been, he knows he shouldn't expect more. Women are like that, aren't they?

Standing, he finally moves to follow, though he'll take the panties to let them hang off his fingertips while reaching down to pick up her old dress. ]

When she ran out of stories, she got true love and three sons. What's to fear?

[heloise]

[ Welp. She laughs and tries to swipe the panties from him. ]

Ah, but that is because her king grew wiser and kinder in time. Would you?

[ofhope]

[ Nope, he's bunching them up in his hand and stuffing them into his duster's pocket. Someone shouldn't have followed his advice, perhaps... ]

Do I need to?

[heloise]

[ HEY. She makes a pout, so close to stomping her foot. At least now it's out of view... ]

If I am to have any chance of surviving my one-thousand and second night.

[ofhope]

[ He chuckles, unsure if he should be insulted her just plain amused. Well, he has actually grown quite a bit since his first arrival, though he might be the first to argue that. To suggest he's lost his edge...

Although he has now been reduced to a panty thief. ]

Almost three years away. I think we'll have time. Maybe we should worry more about when I run out of surprises.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia gives him a sly look, unlocking the door with a click. Oh, look, the poor shopgirl is still there! ]

You have no reason to worry. I have no taste for beheading and such things.

[ofhope]

Blood is impossible to get out of silk...

[ Seriously, the poor shop girl, who he just smiles and waves to in passing, handing her the old dress for her to bag up nicely. It's quite a lot of fabric, really. ]

[heloise]

But it does not show on black.

[ Meanwhile Lucrezia only gives her an amused smile, watching Joshua to make sure he doesn't then pull out her panties for public view... ]

[ofhope]

[ He'll be a good boy, they're staying hidden. Joshua will linger in case she wants to get something else, though. ]

I guess I better be the one to handle any beheadings, then.

[heloise]

[ She wants to get the entire store, but that would make packing even harder than it already is, so she starts walking away again once the shopgirl has gone away to package her dresses. She holds out a hand for him. ]

Are there not more elegant modes of punishment?

[ofhope]

[ Joshua thinks she still needs some sort of coat or jacket to keep from freezing when going outside, so he'll reach out for her hand, pulling her with him while he looks around the store. ]

It depends on what kind of point you want to make.

[heloise]

[ She squeezes his hand and follows along. ]

Something to deter upheavals. Fear, I think, is the point.

[ofhope]

[ Joshua could never downplay the power of fear. ]

Is that how you would rule?

[heloise]

No. [ She is quiet for long enough. ]

If I were to rule, I would see the people love me, but it is foolish to hope so from the Italians.

[ofhope]

[ That receives a quizzical look, away from the skirts and jackets. ]

Because you're Spanish?

[heloise]

[ He gets a smile at that. Four for you, Christopher. ]

Because we are Spaniards who dared to rise above them.