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[madetosin]

[There's nothing but quiet -snip- of scissors over the journal at first, along with the soft rustle of leaves.]

This one will be perfect.

[Muraki stands in the garden, an open box full of tiny glass jars all filled and carefully labeled sits at his feet as he clips the petals from a blood dark rose. Next to the box is a china doll with jet black curls and a purple dress, smiling blankly out over the grounds.]

[Lucrezia]

I bought Apega a new playmate. Would you like to come up and meet her?

[And yes, that is as thinly veiled as it sounds]

Comments

Muraki

[heloise]

Is she a worthy playmate?

Lucrezia

[madetosin]

I thought you might decide that for yourself. What would make her worthy?

Muraki

[heloise]

She would have to be as dangerous. What is her name?

Lucrezia

[madetosin]

I had not decided yet, though I was considering Sheila.

Muraki

[heloise]

I like Sheila.

Your room?

Lucrezia

[madetosin]

Sheila it is, then.

Yes.

Muraki

[heloise]

Pour the wine. I will be there shortly.

[ By which she means an hour, but details. ]

action forever

[madetosin]

[That works for him. It's time to finish his task dissecting the roses he's selected, gather the box he's collected them in (with Sheila sitting on top), and head up to his room.

By the time she gets there, he's busy arranging some cut roses in a square white vase]

forever!

[heloise]

[ Who knows how long she has hovered by the doorway until she speaks up, eyes on the white vase he's fiddling with. ]

Is that for me?

[madetosin]

[He doesn't look up]

If you wish. I had some extra cuttings. I decided to work on a cross. I could name if after you, if it's successful.

[heloise]

[ She steps closer to touch the petals and feel how soft they are. ]

Only if it is the deepest red.

[madetosin]

Perhaps if I had access to black roses, but the garden did not have any. I intend for my variety to be red and white.

[heloise]

Do roses come in black?

[madetosin]

Yes, though they are very rare, and only grow naturally in a part of Turkey. They are not actually black at all, but the deepest red or purple.

[He left her with the roses as he wandered over to pick up his newest doll, her dress also purple in color]

[heloise]

Turkey...

[ She pinches one petal between her fingers and leaves a half-moon mark there for him to find, maybe. ]

Is that her?

[madetosin]

It is.

[He holds the doll up. Behind him are two shelves on the wall, empty except for Apega, awaiting more companions to fill up the space]

[heloise]

[ She brushes the back of her finger against its porcelain cheek. ]

Lovely.

[madetosin]

I thought the color complimented.

[It is does...the deep red against the purple...but the doll resembled another one of his interests in the castle.]

[heloise]

How can I tell if she is indeed dangerous?

[madetosin]

A question for the ages, my dear. How can you tell is anyone is dangerous?

[heloise]

When you love them, they become dangerous. When you trust them.

[madetosin]

Ah, well, she is quite dangerous then. Do you see the way she smiles?

[He traced the doll's features with a light finger]

She seeks to help others; earns their trust and their secrets.

[heloise]

[ She smiles up at him. ]

Perhaps that is what I do too.

[madetosin]

[He eyes her, sideways, interested in the drop of pretense]

Is it? And what secrets do you think you know of me?

[heloise]

[ She chuckles and steps aside. ]

Those are mine to keep!

[madetosin]

[He places the doll back on her shelf, gentle with it like he was with little else]

Does it count if it's a secret of a secret?

[heloise]

It remains a secret.

[ She steps toward the shelf so she can look at Apega again. ]

Has she been behaving?

[madetosin]

For now. She waits and watches.

[heloise]

For the right moment to strike?

[madetosin]

But of course. Gathering secrets all the while.

[He reaches over, brushing the back of his fingers against her cheek]

We could always give her more.

[heloise]

[ Her smile tweaks a bit though her eyes don't waver from him. ]

Of what sort?

[madetosin]

[He notices, and moves his hand away, his expression more or less blank]

You decide.

[heloise]

[ She turns back to the dolls, reaching to neaten their hair. ]

Did you only mean for me to meet her?

[madetosin]

Perhaps I wanted to see you again. I have not seen you around the castle much.

[heloise]

I told you. I moved to another castle.