xxv. dictated

[lucre]

My brother said, most things in life prove to be sad, but which are the few that will prove otherwise?

[ It is tempting to hide and never explain the foolish things she did during her recent loss, like smiling too much and trusting too easily, or what happened to change her since then. These days Lucrezia wants only to be left alone and yet not alone. She wants to be innocent yet strong, happy but not ignorant, to have friends yet not be hurt. ]

As for the answer to your question: I came of age, and proved to be sad.

Cassandra, Stephanie, Tim

[ As much as she would rather pretend her stay at the apartment never happened, it would be rude not to thank her hosts. Then again, perhaps that is simply an excuse to relive the time somehow. ]

My thanks.

Joshua

We must go to the movies.

Comments

[lucre]

That is no fault. There is a time to pretend weakness only to prove yourself the victor at the end.

[ In other words, to be tricksy. ]

[wolfchild]

Is that what you do?

[lucre]

[ Clever child. ]

Perhaps.

[wolfchild]

And you're sad.

[lucre]

Perhaps I pretend to be to prove happy in the end.

[wolfchild]

That's a lie.

[lucre]

Pity. I must be better at feigning happiness.

[wolfchild]

Unless you pretend to be as you were, you'll always seem sad.

[lucre]

So I must frolic about and rouse you from sleep with silly music?

[wolfchild]

I'll punch you if you do.

[lucre]

[ She laughs. Oh, child. ]

Fine, I will feign sadness instead then.

[wolfchild]

Why don't you stop pretending instead?

[lucre]

That is silly. Who would I be then?

[wolfchild]

You.

[lucre]

We all make ourselves into who we must be.

[wolfchild]

But you pretend. You're hiding. Do you mislike yourself?

[lucre]

No. But the mask has become the person.

[wolfchild]

That can happen?

[lucre]

It happens all the time.

[wolfchild]

[ arya chews her lip as she thinks. she had worn so many names and so many faces; at times she had thought she had only made up arya stark. ]

You're not as stupid as you were. [ she says finally. ] You shouldn't have to go around pretending all the time either. It's safer...it's not very good.

[lucre]

[ Just as Lucrezia Borgia is a creation, but Pygmalion can no longer tell where he ends and Galatea begins. ]

Do you still want to punch me?

[wolfchild]

Only if you do something that deserves it.

[ like do her brother B( ]

[lucre]

[ But King Hottie :c ]

Like put you in a dress and braid your hair?

[wolfchild]

My hair's not long enough to braid.

[lucre]

Nonsense. I can make you little braids.