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

[bustered]

[The absolute worst!! She does have the 'leave them wanting more' part figured out though, and it isn't long before Zack follows her to the altar. The relics left there mean little to him, just as the rest of the religious imagery of the church; he focuses more on the patterns her fingertips trace in the dust and wonders how long it's been since this place has been really used.]

Mm-hm. As a teacher, and as a friend. Here, I'd wondered if it was a little bit of what having a brother would have been like.

[heloise]

[ Too long. She hoped her brother might help her clean it, make it shine again as it should, but religion has always been a sensitive issue. She picks up the plate and blow across its surface to rid it of dust. ]

The most wonderful. Like having an anchor and a shelter too.

[bustered]

[The dust motes float in the air, catching light here and there and drawing Zack's attention to their dance for a moment. Lucrezia seems almost like the dust at times, almost like she too could be blown away on a puff of air. Perhaps he's simply reading too much into her recent loss, but part of his brain does wonder why she chose to come to such an abandoned building.]

Who shelters you now, Lucrezia? Who is your anchor?

[heloise]

[ A trick of the light, a sleight of hand. Lucrezia sets the plate back and turns to him with the faintest smile. ]

Apollo, of the sun and healing.