paradisa | (no subject)

[plays AUDITOR :) It's a word... shame he's shy that extra E.]

Remind me again what pizza is.

[Blinks at Lucrezia.] What? C'mon, pizza is like generic Italian food. It's a flat bread with tomato sauce and toppings. Don't tell me my life's been a lie.

And how did you do that? [She frowns. That's a weird coincidence.] It's probably a good thing I lost track of the score...

[She puts down FROG.]

[ She slowly shakes her head. It may be better not to point out that the Borgias are wealthy enough to use metal plates. ] What is this tomato?

[ She switches some tiles. ]

[casually ignoring that question]

Stephanie, Italy won't be a country for hundreds of years more. For us, there is no Italian food. Just Florentine food, Venetian food, Neapolitan food, and so on.

And we don't have tomatoes yet.

Oh, right... but still. I couldn't tell you the difference between Florentine and Venetian and Neapolitan aside from, you know, region.

[To Lucrezia:] It's a red thing about this big [she gestures] and used in lots of things. Salads, soups, sandwiches, oh I'm getting hungry.

[ Lucrezia smiles at Steph. This is in return for explaining the yak. ] Florentines are known for their opulence, sophistication. Experimentation. Roman fare is much simpler. And I have been told the fruits and vegetables of Naples grow richly because of the volcanoes.

[ She turns to Ezio. ] When will we invent tomatoes?

That does sound like Florence.

[Laugh, though.]

I think the Spaniards did that. Or discovered them, anyhow.

Lucrezia, you need to tell me your birthday so I can give you a billion books to read. Then, you can school Ezio here about everything.

[ She laughs. ] That is silly, Stephanie. He surely knows far more than I do, in many arts. [ She glances at the Florentine noble man. ]

Only because I have three weeks more experience than you. I have no head for books, I can rely only on what people tell me.

See? You'd outsmart him in no time.

[ Why is she even blushing. ]

I could read them aloud for you, Ezio, then you can tell me what they mean. [ Then to Stephanie. ] But I will never outsmart you unless you show me how the refrigerators work.

[Smile.]

I'd be agreeable to that.

[A laugh, though.]

I bet Stephanie doesn't know how it works.

Excuse you. [She throws a tile at Ezio. This game is ruined :'( ] It involves a lot of technical terms, okay.

You could read us American books instead, Stephanie. [ She glances between them. ] Then we will have an excuse for another day like this.

[He laughs, raising a hand to protect his face.]

I like Lucrezia's idea.

Story time, huh? I guess we could do that...

[ Neither of them seem particularly bookish, however. ]

We could do something else, as long as it is with my two dear friends.

[Dear friends :')]

Stephanie can find a book for next time, then. Or she can just make one up.

[ :') ]

I don't mind. Whatever you guys want to do.

[ Group hug! ]

Stephanie has brought us together today. It will be your turn next, Ezio.

[He has no idea what hobbies of his are actually PG-13.]

I'll find something for us to do, then.

Or Lucrezia can think of something. [Yeah, Ezio. Steph's sure you have suggestions...]

[ Shaking her head. She wants to do grown-up stuff. ]

Only after his turn.

[Grin at Steph]

Are you afraid of what I'd come up with?