paradisa | (no subject)

Maximus loves apples more. Are you with him now?

I will be soon.

[Teasing:]

And what makes you seek out his company instead of mine?

It is not only his company I seek.

Would you have me join you, too, then?

I would even share my apples with you.

[chuckle]

How could I refuse such an offer? I shall be there soon.

[ Success!

And she would be there already, brushing Maximus's neck and chattering to him. ]

So saying, Ghismonda took the cup and drained it dry. And with her lover's heart in her hand, she laid it over her own and there slept, awaiting the eternal embrace. Meanwhile her servants, seeing and hearing what passed without knowing what water she had drunk, sent word to her father...

[He chuckles as he overhears her, and then rounds the corner to bring her and his horse into his line of sight.]

Ah, Boccaccio. Despite his name, I do not think Maximus was ever fond of the great Roman Classics.

[ She turns to see him and breaks into a smile. ]

Is he alike with his master in this matter?

[He smiles, too, approaching and coming to a stop by her side, a hand drifting to rest on the small of her back.]

Much alike. I grew up being told tales of war and history, things like the fall of Costantinopoli. My father had no love for myths.

My father deemed them too vulgar for a lady's ears.

[ She tries to ignore his hand, brushing an apple against her sleeve before offering it to the horse. ]

Here you are, dear Maximus, for suffering my stories.

[He smiles as Maximus takes it and starts chowing down, and happily at that.]

Stories of war are sad, but they have much to teach. Knowing history is important, too –– if we do not understand the past, we may be doomed to repeat it, hmm?

[ Awh, cute horsey. She seems amused by the eager chomping. ]

Do you know of history books on Paradisa, Ezio?

I have not heard of any. Is that not why people are so eager to explore beyond her borders?

[ She nods, patting the horse's neck for an apple well-chowed down. ]

I only wish to know about the fairy children, if the castle has hidden the magical doors somewhere. In this Dead Zone, perhaps.

[Ezio pauses.]

You had a child, then?

[ She doesn't want to say it but she does want him to know, does that even make sense? Because he would say something and make it feel better. ]

I kissed a toad and then I was given a fairy child with him. He said that suits the original story better as well.

[He gives her a sympathetic look.]

Ah, I am sorry, piccina. I'm sure it is difficult to have a child and then lose them.

[ She draws a breath and tries not to cry, but it happens anyway. ]

Have you ever...?

[He's lost brothers, but he's not sure that's the same thing. He removes his hand from her back in favour of putting his arms around her in an embrace. Poor girl.]

Not a child, no.

[ She doesn't resist. It helps that she can hide her face. ]

He still searches for my son and I am afraid to tell him I have given up.

[He strokes her hair.]

The castle is prone to tricks... searching for an answer to its mysteries proves fruitless. Who is the father, then?

[ She takes a deep breath and smiles to herself at the gesture. He's the sweetest. ]

Joshua. He looks the part of a prince and he--grew kinder.

I have found that people seldom grow kinder, Lucrezia... You've found a rare kind.

[Except himself, he thinks, belatedly... he used to be a massive douchebag...]