viii. dictated

[heloise]

Giulia said there are many kinds of kisses, weighed with promises or equipped to satisfy them. Any woman should know them all, she said.

I know now the kiss to promise and the one to fulfill it, like contracts and, perhaps, like marriages.

I have never kissed my husband, and I shall never. I have nothing to promise him.

[ Only she should never have said that. She holds her breath and tries to think, but what's done is done, so she shuts her journal instead. ]

Comments

Lucrezia

[assassino]

[Chuckles... even though she's closed her journal. When she opens it next, there will be a message waiting for her :)]

And what brought this on?

Ezio

[heloise]

[ She wonders if it was amusing. ]

I had to kiss a toad yesterday, as a boon.

Lucrezia

[assassino]

[He is certainly amused]

I should hope that a toad would not deserve a kiss of promise...

Ezio

[heloise]

[ Oh but he does make her laugh. ]

And who should deserve such a kiss?

dictated;

[ofhope]

...What an odd admission. You aren't very subtle.

dictated;

[heloise]

It is no great secret. [ But it might be. She isn't sure. ]

I kept my promise to you.

dictated;

[ofhope]

That was hardly me.

dictated

[molotov]

You have never kissed your husband? Even at the altar?

dictated

[heloise]

Would it not be improper to do so at the altar [ in St. Peter's. ]?

We did not.

dictated forever

[molotov]

Why would it be improper? Does the officiant not say that part where you are from? "You may kiss the bride"?

[ino]

I don't think a kiss for marriage should be like "fulfilling a contract". That's kind of businesslike for love, isn't it?

[heloise]

But marriage does not imply love.

[ino]

Well, I guess not for some people ... but it should. At least, I think so.

Lucrezia

[inafadingcrown]

Your marriage was arranged. [Poor dear. Her voice is weighted with sympathy. This is one of the ways in which Elven culture differs most greatly from its human counterpart- something for which Galadriel is most grateful.]

Galadriel

[heloise]

And it shall soon be annulled. [ Because she doesn't want to see Galadriel so unhappy for her sake. ]

Lucrezia

[inafadingcrown]

[That does make her feel a little better about it. She just worries, you know?]

If this pleases you, it pleases me also.

I know little of either matter. Elves marry but once and only for love, even those accounted great among kings.

[amiable]

All of them? How many kinds are there?

[heloise]

Ezio says they are uncountable!

[amiable]

Ezio? [ Watch her butcher his name somehow. Italian names!! ] Ah, I guess that must be true. No one would count all the kinds.

[ She's wondering if she should ask about the husband bit. ]

Lucrezia.

[sorefoot]

Perhaps it is still knowledge that would help your future.

This man

[heloise]

Knowledge? What of?

[sorefoot]

The different type of kisses you can lay upon a man of interests, even if your husband is not here.

[secondchances]

Good thing he's not here.

[heloise]

Yes. I doubt he would allow me to take trips to the beach with my friends.

[secondchances]

Can't say I'd be thrilled to meet him.