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

dictated;

[heloise]

My heart isn't faint.

dictated;

[ofhope]

Are you sure, Princess?

dictated;

[heloise]

As sure as the fact that I am no princess. At least not yet.

dictated;

[ofhope]

You are to me. It's an image I'll never shake.

dictated;

[heloise]

Well then. A princess with the bravest heart.

dictated;

[ofhope]

Acceptable. But if it's to be story-time, it's supposed to be in person. It makes it more dramatic. And there can be tea.

dictated;

[heloise]

I shall take that as an invitation then, which I graciously accept.

dictated;

[ofhope]

Then you can be the gracious hostess.

dictated;

[heloise]

Have you any preferences for your tea?

dictated;

[ofhope]

[ His tone softens considerably, lazy and dreamlike. He liked the way Abel made him tea... ]

Earl Grey, with lemon and lots of sugar.

dictated;

[heloise]

Duly noted. How does this Wednesday afternoon sound to you?

dictated;

[ofhope]

Sounds wonderful. You stay in the castle?

dictated;

[heloise]

Yes. At the Ortus Tower.

dictated;

[ofhope]

[ Oh, he knows that tower. Uru's room is there... And so is Katara's. Thinking on it, he recalls the name on the door across from the Waterbender's. ]

Lucrezia Borgia, room 1708. Yes?

dictated;

[heloise]

Yes. You know how to find it already?

dictated;

[ofhope]

I know the girl across from you.

dictated;

[heloise]

Ah. [ She doesn't, but maybe she should be a better neighbor. ] I know Takamura Uru...

dictated;

[ofhope]

Yes, I know her, too.

[ In fact he's already wondered why Ino and Uru haven't jumped all over this and told Lucrezia to stay the eff away from him. But then they're talk about girl stuff...so clearly they are distracted.

Seriously, you girls are having the most inappropriate conversations. It's hilarious. ]

dictated;

[heloise]

[ Hey this is all appropriate stuff. Kissing is very, very appropriate. ]

She seems to be friends with everyone, which is no surprise.

dictated;

[ofhope]

She isn't friends with everyone. That's impossible, if it's a real friendship.

We used to be friends.

dictated;

[heloise]

Did you have disagreements?

dictated;

[ofhope]

Yes. I'd hoped to get past them, but it seems she hasn't. I know where I'm not wanted.

But I'm not going there to tell her a story. Just you.

dictated;

[heloise]

[ But she wants her buddies to be buddies. Yes, Joshua, you're her buddy too now. ]

Perhaps I could help with a reconciliation.

[amiable]

[ WATCHING THIS D< ]

[ofhope]

[ Yeah he BETS. ♥♥♥ ]