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]

[ Her recognition of what he's talking about brings about a smile of appreciation, and he digs in a pocket (not the one with frilly underthings) to pull out a Japanese labeled cellphone, dangling charm included, and he flips it open. ]

It has a few songs, but it's better for taking pictures. I know it can make calls and write electronic letters called texts, but nobody really uses phones here, even though I know they work. Someone set up towers for it a few years ago.

[heloise]

[ That looks like... nothing she has seen before, well. She reaches to take it from him if he allows it. ]

Stephanie said one can hear each other's voices, even from miles away. [ She considers it seriously, wrinkling her brow. ] How loud must you shout when I am in the castle and you are at the mansion?

[ofhope]

[ He lets her, though it might be complicated for a newbie to navigate. He sure was clueless at first. ]

Yeah, that's how telephones work. We have them in my time, but they're connected with cords and wires. These mobile phones are from the future. Maybe not so convenient here, but I sure wish they existed back home.

If you're using a phone, you don't have to shout at all.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia holds it up to the sun as if that would solve everything, yes. ]

Then, like the journal, I can simply speak into it so you would hear me?

[ofhope]

Not exactly. First you have to dial my number, and I'll show you about speed dial if I get you a phone. Then you'll only have to hit one key, and it will call me automatically.

[heloise]

[ She shakes the phone to see the charm sparkle in the light. At least it's pretty! ]

And this is yours, which I can later call?

[ofhope]

[ It's fun to watch her play with it like a child, though his expression seems as placid as ever. ]

I suppose. Technically it used to belong to Mai; I've never used it as a phone. But it still works, since I've found it's charger.

[heloise]

Like the wire for the blanket?

[ She's thinking power plug. There are so many names for everything. She holds up the charm for him with a grin. ] So long as I get this too.

[ofhope]

[ Welp. Similar enough idea. ]

I think there are a lot of different types of charms to pick from. So strange, to attach them to a telephone...

[ He eventually take it back, flipping it closed and settling it back in his pocket. ]

Where do you want to go?

[heloise]

[ Aw, there goes her toy. ]

Indian, did you say? Is it true that they eat foods the color of rainbows?

[ofhope]

It can be pretty bright, and you eat a lot of it with your hands.

[heloise]

The common people eat with their hands. [ On second thought-- ] The Holy Father eats with his hands, the fork is meddlesome, he said.

[ofhope]

[ Joshua just has to shake his head at her over-thinking, doing a disservice to the elegance of her outfit by reaching up to ruffle her hair, teasing. ]

You eat s'mores with your hands.

[heloise]

[ She tries to catch that hand now, excuse you, Joshua. ]

And donuts too. Have you ever had the colorful one?

[ofhope]

Most donuts are colorful...

[ Rude! Don't make him wrestle for it, although he won't try very hard by his strength's standards. ]

[heloise]

I mean the ones with... sprinkles!

[ She would still try to kiss his thumb before letting go. ]

[ofhope]

[ Now she knows he can't ruffle her hair, and just for being so manipulative (while somehow pulling off chaste), he...rewards her by not actually pulling his hand away. Good job girl. ]

You can put sprinkles on just about anything. Ice cream and hot chocolate, too.

[heloise]

[ She's damn good at this, nipping the tip of his thumb before dropping his hand to their sides. ]

Iced cream? Why would you eat something frozen?

[ofhope]

[ Cue Joshua actually looking surprised. ]

Your friend Stephanie has never introduced you to ice cream? She should be whipped.

[heloise]

No... [ Wait, let her think for a moment. ]

She was probably trying to keep me from growing rotund. I ate so much donuts.

[ofhope]

[ That gets a smirk out of him, recalling seeing her figure earlier in the dress currently covered up by the coat. ]

I think you get enough exercise to keep that from being a problem.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia chuckles. ]

I might grow too thin if we do not soon find where this Indian food might be!

[ofhope]

Well, I've only been there twice in years... My memory isn't perfect.

[ Hah. ]

But if we don't find it today, we can find it another day, and pick anything else this time. You can end up trying every cuisine by the end.

[heloise]

[ She hums in thought. She is getting hungry... ]

Zelman took me to a cafe once near the main street, a pretty little place. But I hazard he meant to eat me afterwards.

[ofhope]

He wouldn't have done it without your permission. He charms and asks most of the time.

[ Joshua rests an arm around her shoulders, as if the comforting move just backs up his claim. But it really is true (probably), whether or not someone might believe it. Zelman had manners most of the time, when he wasn't going on a bender.

Personally, Joshua preferred him on a bender. ]

He used to take me to ramen shops to celebrate.