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]

[ 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.

[heloise]

I think he was too shy in the end.

[ She reaches up her own shoulder to fiddle with the tips of his fingers, slipping past, matching the tips. ]

What were you celebrating? His finding food?

[ofhope]

[ Joshua has to laugh genuinely at that; Zelman being shy. Right. It was probably just that the girl charmed him enough to make him want to draw out the chase, or even that at the time she had seemed too innocent. Those both seem much more likely than any other possibility. ]

The few times he didn't ask.

[heloise]

[ Is he laughing at her? Zelman might be doing so right about now, if he could hear what she is saying. She just falls quiet, dropping her gaze to his hand by her shoulder to study the lines.

There are people who matter to her and then there are those who don't, at all. The mob. These two might understand. ]

Did he eat ramen too?

[ofhope]

Yes, he's the one that introduced me to it. I liked the one with corn. We went there often, so I remember exactly where it is if you want to try that instead. It's nearby.

[heloise]

[ She frowns, hesitating and trying to phrase this right... ]

Is it made of blood? Human blood?

[ofhope]

[ Oh God, he's laughing again; heartily. It takes him a few moments to be able to respond, and he hugs her more closely to his side. ]

Ramen is just noodle soup, Lucrezia! What did you think I was eating?!

[ Laughing some more, he can't help himself he's gonna bust a gut. ]

[heloise]

[ Oh, Lucrezia feels a blush creeping up her neck and burning her cheeks. Just noodle soup... She laughs anyway and gives him a playful shove, mostly so she can turn her face away and hide her red cheeks. What was she thinking? ]

I thought the worst!

[ofhope]

[ Okay okay he'll settle down, still chuckling. ]

Ah, I'm offended. You've hurt my feelings...

[heloise]

[ She lets go of him to place her palms against her cheek. Oh god, calm down please. ]

Ah, shall I remedy that?

[ofhope]

[ If he could stop grinning long enough to look offended. Her being so flustered only makes it worse, really. He has a troll's urges by nature. ]

I think you should.

[heloise]

[ CHRISTROLLPHER. She drops her hands once her cheeks feel less warm, though they're still tinged pink. ]

Would it be mine to offer or yours to demand?

[ofhope]

[ The picture of a blushing schoolgirl (if one ignored the high fashion), Lucrezia practically looks fifteen again. It's endearing enough to get him to stop laughing and instead drop his head down to press a chaste kiss to her cheek, still teasing though gently; ]

I'll just take it, and that solves all our problems.

[heloise]

[ Maybe she owes him even more then. Innocence, even in mere appearance, is priceless. She bites back another bout of giggles and reaches to place a hand on his lower back. ]

Was that all?

[ofhope]

I'm a man of simple pleasures.

[heloise]

[ Well then. Lucrezia grabs his suit for support, standing on tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek in return, though she mostly reaches near his jaw instead. ]

[ofhope]

[ And so she doesn't just fall over in her great attempt, Joshua will even slow to a stop, head tilting in the barest acknowledgment of assistance. Sweet, he'll take it.

When they resume walking, it's a couple blocks before he speaks up again, only a block or so away from the small ramen stand. ]

Are you cold?

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia prefers the silence too. It leaves her alone with her thoughts, which she likes just as much as boisterous laughing and bantering. Only now there is only Stephanie, Stephanie, Stephanie in her mind.

She shakes her head. ]

A little. It rarely snows in Rome.

[ofhope]

[ Seriously, that is why he is trying to distract her again. He can barely stand it, Joshua is beginning to hate that name. ]

Ah, now I feel bad for making you wear even less... Out in the cold, and in public, too.

[ Literal wink. ]

[heloise]

[ It's only when he asks that she remembers too, now wrapping her arms around herself. ]

You will amend this, how?

[ofhope]

[ Several answers come to mind, but Joshua speaks none of them out loud, and so there's nothing for several seconds and then — just a little smile.

He lets that linger for awhile until finally just hugging her closer against his side as they stroll, able to wrap part of his duster around her shoulders when she's this close, at least. ]