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]

A trick to growing up? Or to feigning innocence.

[toobravehearted]

No trick to feign innocence, no. It comes naturally or not at all. But for growing up: remember your roots. There's no point in growing up if you can't act like a child once in a while. Forgive me, I have to ask, just how old are you?

[lucre]

[ But she thinks others see her as far too innocent than actually so. Perhaps that too comes naturally. ]

Eighteen now. But I was fourteen last week.

[toobravehearted]

[People will see what they want to see and appearances can be deceptive.]

Pardon me? You were-- Ah. I see. The castle has a trick or two of its own.

Eighteen is still very young.

[lucre]

How many years would be old enough? Twenty? Or thirty?

[toobravehearted]

That all depends, and on old enough for what, specifically. It's all very relative but in my humble opinion, eighteen is young indeed to come across sounding so jaded.

...And I rather think I forget my manners. My apologies. I've asked your age without first asking your name, not that that would make asking your age acceptable of course... [He should stop talking now, shouldn't he? His tone is slightly abashed as he carries on.] I'm known as the Doctor, may I ask with whom I have the pleasure?

[lucre]

[ She giggles too, sounding perhaps closer to her age this time. ]

Lucrezia Borgia. Shall I call you Il Dottore of the commedia dell'arte fame?

[toobravehearted]

[There's definitely a pause before he answers her. His Earth history is very good, no surprise there, but that's not to say she's the same one... Although really, with commedia dell'arte? He does well to cover, and on the back of a short laugh,]

Ah, no, thank you. [Capes, black attire and ruffled collars are best left to those that can manage the look...] Although I was Arlecchino once. I'm pleased to meet you, Lucrezia. Out of curiosity, which character would you be?

[lucre]

Arlecchino. [ She approves, by the sound of it. ] I know a handful of those whom I am most fond of. I should be Columbina.

[toobravehearted]

Columbina. [He says the name slowly, mulling it over.] Isn't she Arlecchino's--? [Why yes, yes she is, and he makes a short cough.]

A strong character indeed, and a fitting one for an intelligent lady. Unfortunately, I think my Harlequin costome is lost. [Except it's not.]

[lucre]

[ Watch out, Doctor, she's such a minx. ]

Lost? Most terrible. I must help you find it at once.

[toobravehearted]

[No kidding. His words come out spoken quickly.] Perhaps when we are better acquainted. I do have a question for you, if you would permit my curiosity again. Do you know someone called Joshua? [Joshua had mentioned her name, once.]

[lucre]

[ Lucrezia giggles at how quickly he rushes his words, thoroughly amused to elicit such a reaction. But then she's still playing. ]

Joshua? But of course. I heard he asked the sun to stand still and she obeyed.

[toobravehearted]

[Oh, very happy to illicit that laugh, and while he's certainly not a stranger to charm and holding his own, she is only eighteen, not to mention her lineage.]

[There is a smile in his voice, however.] Well played. The moon also stayed in place so a talented fellow indeed. The Joshua I'm thinking of actually resides in Paradisa with us.

[lucre]

Does he indeed? [ She can play at this all day long. ]

Have you such need to halt the sun's journey?

[toobravehearted]

Why ever would I want that? [He smiles and scratches at an eyebrow a moment.] Are we still talking of Joshua in the biblicle sense, of the young man in the castle, our play on words or of characters?

[lucre]

[ But it's so dull to have to define anything, better that they hover between talking of the real world and the not-so-real. ]

Fine, if you would rather speak of the man in the castle. What could you ever need of him?

(I'm sorry this is so late :( )

[toobravehearted]

[He's sure that one of them will distract the other enough again.]

I didn't say I needed anything of him. I just have a curious nature and he mentioned your name once. I thought he-- Well. It doesn't matter what I thought.

[A pause for a moment, thinking back a few months ago, now.] For Columbina, who would be her Perriot?

no worries, i love this thread :>

[lucre]

[ It's inevitable. Of course, she's still playing. ]

No, tell me what you think of this Joshua, and then I will tell you more of Columbina.

<3

[toobravehearted]

[What he thinks of Joshua. That's a loaded gun if there ever was one and he's not about to put voice to opinions based on a few conversations and what he has heard about him, especially to someone he has only just met, but he's not going to lie, either.]

When he mentioned your name, I had to wonder if-- If he was hallucinating, frankly.

Columbina. Your turn.

[lucre]

Columbina's Pierrot will be an angel who is also a demon, but is neither in the end.

Do you think his mind so feeble? [ Which she wouldn't blame him for thinking, really. But she wants to know more. ] Why do you ask, is it out of concern for me?

[toobravehearted]

[Hmm. Pierrot.]

Feeble minded? No. A little... different, perhaps, but variety is the spice of life. Hearing your name - or rather, if i say the same name, was just a surprise to me.

[lucre]

Perhaps I should ask what you wish to ask of him instead.