xxiii. dictated

[heloise]

Spike
He came home.

What terrible months we have seen, before even the dog days arrive!

I say we put an end to it, at once. The Castle drinks our joys as greedily as it feeds on our sorrows; we might show it that happiness is what we seek. Happiness beyond bound, which we would gladly offer as payment for our borrowed time, and no more tears.

Summer brings music and merriment to the streets of Rome, gypsies and pilgrims alike dancing together. We can do similarly here.

Comments

Spike

[heloise]

You must have many dragons hunting you down.

Lucrezia

[gottaknockhard]

[... He should be more careful. She might be too clever for his metaphors.]

I'm lucky I picked such a good hiding place.

Spike

[heloise]

Where?

Lucrezia

[gottaknockhard]

I was talking about the castle.

Spike

[heloise]

Why not the mansion?

Lucrezia

[gottaknockhard]

I guess that proved itself before.

Spike

[heloise]

Someone did find you. She called herself a friend.

Lucrezia

[gottaknockhard]

[This is news. First he thinks of Faye, but she didn't sound like she had tracked him down to find out.

Then again, nobody else confronted him.]

You showed her?

Spike

[heloise]

Would that displease you?

Lucrezia

[gottaknockhard]

[That earns a momentary pause, which is the only real affirmative sign. He's not sure why he asked that or how he managed to steer the conversation in this direction.]

I wouldn't have said anything if you'd asked.

Spike

[heloise]

Asked for permission from one who is dead?

Lucrezia

[gottaknockhard]

Or whatever.

Spike

[heloise]

I would rather have kept you to ourselves.

Lucrezia

[gottaknockhard]

There's not many people who would have.

Spike

[heloise]

What does it say of me?

Lucrezia

[gottaknockhard]

[... She asks good questions.]

That you might understand more than you should.

Spike

[heloise]

Joshua would disagree.

Lucrezia

[gottaknockhard]

We don't always see eye to eye.

Spike

[heloise]

[ She chuckles. Cute. ]

Would you like to know her name?

Lucrezia

[gottaknockhard]

Does she still think I'm dead?

Spike

[heloise]

I could ask her.

Lucrezia

[gottaknockhard]

That may give it away.

Spike

[heloise]

Leave that to me.

Lucrezia

[gottaknockhard]

You like doing that kind of thing, don't you?

Spike

[heloise]

What kind of things?