paradisa | (no subject)

Sounds like my kind of adventure. There's actually something I wanted to talk to you about, too.

[She keeps her voice calm, even though her kneejerk reaction is I DON'T WANT TO MOVE IN WITH YOU RIGHT NOW because that's totally what he wants to talk about.]

Oh? What is it?

[Gosh, Steph. SO RUDE.]

I'll give you the details once we meet up.

Oooh, the suspense. I'll be at your place in a few.

I'll be waiting.

[She's knocking on his door an appropriate amount of time later.

Oh goddd what does he want to talk about?]

Hey. [Smiles when he opens the door, leaning in to give her a quick kiss on the lips.]

How's your day been so far? [Steps aside so she can step inside.]

Hi. [She smiles into the kiss, then enters.]

It's been boring. Sooo boring. [May or may not have been brushing up on American history, but Tim doesn't need to know that.] How about yours?

Today's been okay, nothing too exciting. [It's a shame she's being all sneaky, because someone is an expert in American History. Although someone would also have kittens if he knew what was going on...]

The past few days, however, have been eventful.

Eventful how?

Renaissance eventful.

[That alarms her, but he's not going into some rant about Ezio being a murderer, so she mostly controls her panic.]

Huh? What do you mean?

[Tim has studied people long enough, and knows Steph well enough, to catch onto the bits of panic she didn't control.]

What do you think I mean?

[Thinkquickthinkquick]

Did you learn something about Lucrezia? Or Joshua?

Tell me why you looked panicked first, then I will let you know.

That's why. I haven't heard from her in--forever, and so eventful is really the last word I want to hear in relation to her. Did anything happen?

[Write it off as concern for Lucrezia!]

[HMMM. Has his suspicions, but it's plausible enough that he goes with it for the time being.]

I got in touch with Lucrezia. I wanted to make her plan go as smoothly as possible. She's convinced that you don't want to work things out with her, so it might come off as suspicious if you relented too much. I said I'd "talk about" the situation with you.

You did? What did she say?

[Trying not to look too interested. She dusts some fuzz off her jeans.]

She mentioned that you broke into her room to read the letter her brother left for him.

[Whoops. She clears her throat.]

It just confirmed what I already suspected. I'm not proud of it.

[Folds his arms across his chest.]

And you didn't think that was worth mentioning to me? If she already knows you're willing to break into her room to get information on her, then she'd likely get suspicious if you started fishing for information on Joshua the wrong way.

[She sighs.]

She already didn't trust me. I guess it just slipped my mind.

If we're going to make this work, then we need to play it smart. I need you to be honest with me, and share anything else that's "slipped your mind" that's important for me to know.

That's all. [Regarding that, anyway.] I'm sorry. I have to get used to the whole "team" thing again.

Okay. [Steph withholding vital info is a sore spot for him.]

I didn't push the issue with her. I told her that it was hard for me seeing you upset, which is true, and wanted to see the two of you make amends.

[Smirks.] I also told me I preferred you spending time with her than with others in the castle. She said her brother told her the same thing.