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]

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. ]

[heloise]

[ That smile... She takes the liberty of making herself comfortable, slipping an arm around his waist, below his duster, and rest her cheek against his chest. ]

Do you never feel cold?

[ofhope]

I do, it just doesn't bother me as much.

[ This is pleasant, and now he doesn't want to be so near the ramen stall. Besides, the seating is outside, so she won't be any less chilly. It's too bad he can't remember exactly where the Indian place is this time. ]

A witch froze me inside a huge chunk of ice once. Now that was chilly.

[heloise]

And cruel too. [ Though that has her wondering if he is practically immortal. ] Why did she?

[ofhope]

Ah, I can barely remember...why we were fighting.

[ His gaze falls glassy for a time, although footsteps automatically slow to a halt once they reach the small ramen stall.

It still takes him a bit, holding her there against him while he replays it in his head, bits of it anyway, that he's untangled from others bits that belong in another memory. ]

Maybe somebody told me to.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia is distracted by the stall for a moment. It really is just noodle soup. But it worries her still when he drifts away, what if he never comes back or forgets her too? ]

You do not have to obey anyone.

[ofhope]

[ Joshua lowers his left hand, not having even realized he'd been rubbing at his temple. ]

I know.

[heloise]

[ She frowns, watching him for any sign... of what exactly? She doesn't know. ]

Have I been too noisy?

[ofhope]

...Maybe it would help if you listed Stephanie Brown's positive traits. To distract me.

[ And really, it would distract Lucrezia, at least towards the happier end of the spectrum, if only for a few minutes. They would both benefit.

He'll pull out one of the little stools for her, and to make up for the cold, pull off his coat to settle over her shoulders right and proper , long enough to offer her a little extra fabric to sit on (it dwarfs her, really). ]