paradisa | xxvii. dictated

Joel
You will prove to me that your assault was accidental.

[ That is a command, Joel, not a request. ]

Joshua
Only you and I are left, my love. Will you ask me to come home?

[ It has been so long since Lucrezia addressed the castle at large. For a time, she had been content with those closest to her, taking comfort in familiarity. But all that is unraveling fast and she is running out of places to go. Cassandra assured her that she would never be alone, and she believed her for a time, but look at her now. Death severs all vows.

Still, she is in no habit of airing her grievances, readily assuming that the news has spread and that acknowledging it would only mean admitting her weakness. She settles for a red herring: ]

You will find horses to be a most pleasant way to travel, if treated well. Carrots and apples will do you great favor.

Stephanie
[ Lucrezia is already waiting downstairs with a steed, too afraid to come knocking at the door. So she writes her a message on the journal instead: ]

You are in dire need of a bath.

[ ooc; she also has an open action thread HERE! ]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It's been a long time since he's experienced anything close to guilt, or shame, for the simple fact of not being psychologically equipped to handle it. If he thinks about one, he has to think about hundreds. But this, the Castle brainwashing him into taking out somebody he actually liked, he wasn't prepared for something like this.

He'd hurt Cassie, Cass. Killed her, for no reason whatsoever. He doesn't expect anyone to be forgiving in this scenario. The worst part is being able to trace back her line of thinking in leaving him disabled instead of dead. It's been a long time since he's experienced guilt, but there are other things he thought he couldn't feel anymore that he'd been wrong about.

Joel is recalling how useless this emotion is. It fixes nothing. As self-serving as rationalizing, because if he felt really bad, he wouldn't hide. ]

I have no way to do that.

[You brought this on yourself, Lulu]

Don't forget cupcakes, because those are-

[No. Hold up.]

What do you mean a way to travel?

They're far too slow if you ask me.

[ Joshua is...currently so fucked up he can barely tell which way the sky is. Waking up after being brainwashed, on a level that is disturbing even for him, leaves him groggy, confused, and very cranky. ~~Like when you wake a toddler up from a nap too early.~~

His voice is a bit hoarse, like someone who's been screaming for hours, and though he's asking questions, they end with a sharp jar, like he keeps losing his train of thought. ]

I—

don't know where I am.

Where are you.

What happened.

[She sort of wants to protest, but between the castle changing, the fights, and oh--Cass dying, she's not very clean nor does she have it in her to argue.]

Smell that bad, huh?

[ Lucrezia would be inclined to agree. Guilt is useless because there is no such thing as mercy. Only God forgives. She certainly has no plans to. ]

You must find one then. It is the guilty who flees.

[ Dun dun dun. ]

Horses? Are they not fit to travel where you are from?

[ Are they all too plump from cupcakes? ]

Faster than on foot.

What do you prefer instead?

[ Ah. And she had holed herself up in her room for too long to even notice, what does that say about her? She feels a twinge of guilt when she hears him but knows that it would be worse if she comes rushing now. It would just be worse. ]

Too many things. You should rest.

[ Lucrezia would go straight there and drag her out of bed if she's not too afraid of catching sight of Cass's body or meeting Tim. It would be too much. But Steph had promised her once that she would always drag her out of bed if she ever became too sad. Perhaps it's her turn, finally. ]

Yet I will bear it for a little longer to take you to a bathhouse.

I don't know about horses so much, but ponies are. If they want, anyway. Most ponies just stay in one town.

[A laugh, it's funny because it's ridiculous.] For a second there, I thought you were saying you like...rode on them or something, crazy right?

[Look the cupcakes are good ok.]

[ People are more worrisome creatures than infected. ]

Well, I can tell you my side and you can believe me or not.

Edited 2014-03-02 23:54 (UTC)

It sounds like a good idea. I'll meet you somewhere. What's closest to you?

[A walk would do her good.]

[ When all she had wanted was to find him, lure him in. ]

Begin.

Outside your apartment. I have come to bear you away on a mighty steed, my crowned one.

Not until I reach home.

Where are

you

Come home.

[God, it's going to take some getting used to, that. Stephanie doesn't respond, instead choosing to head outside.]

Hey.

[She's got a bruise on her cheek, and more hidden under clothing. It doesn't seem to be too painful given that her hand brushes over it as she tucks some hair behind her ear. She just seems tired.]

[ He'll keep his distance, thanks. "Castle's fault" sounds as stupid as it did the first time he thought about how speaking up for himself might go. ]

Couldn't recognize anyone. Everyone looked like, uh, enemies. Ones from my world.

[ If Cass hadn't crushed his hands, he would've kept trying to kill them all. ]

Edited 2014-03-03 00:45 (UTC)

[ Lucrezia would be inclined to dismiss any faults caused by the castle, but not in this case. Not when it involves the death of a friend so dear to her. ]

Would you have killed me too?

Edited (WOW) 2014-03-03 02:57 (UTC)

[ Well they're certainly off to a good start. She'll get the lay of the land first... ]

Should ponies not be ridden?

Can you suffer the noise if I did?

It is best I do not.

That isn't

your decision.

Don't

call for me and then

leave.

No.

[ Lucrezia is standing in front of the horse, feeding it carrot pieces which it scatters to the ground as soon as she hears Steph. The bruise has her worried, taking off the glove from one hand so she can cup the wounded cheek. ]

Did you duel with the bed?

[ She can't. She can't deal with this right now, and she figures she would only drive him mad. Madder. ]

Would you rather I not call for you?

[Best start, really.]

Not unless they're asked first. And aren't you humans kinda...big for that?

[You'd crush their tiny little spines D:]

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xxvii. dictated

Lucrezia

Dictated

dictated;

Lucrezia

Lucrezia

Joel

Dictated

dictated;

Joshua

Stephanie

forever!!!

Lucrezia

Lucrezia

Joel

Stephanie

Lucrezia

Lucrezia

Lucrezia

Joel

no subject

Joshua

Lucrezia

action!

Joshua

no subject