ix. dictated, action

[heloise]

The castle gives and takes away. But, mostly, it gives.

Henry and Emma
The tale of Griselda begins with Gualtieri, the Marquis of Saluzzo, who gave more thought to nature and hunting than to marriage and family.


Zelman
Shall we take a walk, once in a blue moon, perhaps?


[ In the wee small hours of the morning, Lucrezia tries to bake a belated birthday cake!

On the kitchen counter is an instruction sheet for a Torta Pane Degli Angeli among packets of flour and sugar, piles of eggshells, a large bowl of egg yolks and one cake that literally fell flat. Everything is dusted with a generous coating of flour and icing sugar, like the girl currently beating egg whites with gusto.

Uru made it seem so easy. ]

[ ooc; as open as can be~ ]

Comments

dictated

[amiable]

It is in a way... but I--

[ A beat. ]

I wouldn't want them to be in danger.

dictated

[heloise]

But of course.

Have you found yourself in danger here, Uru?

dictated 1/2

[amiable]

Eh?

dictated

[amiable]

[ FLUSTERED. ]

What makes you say t-that?!

dictated

[heloise]

Well-- I only thought, since you are so concerned for your family's safety should they come here?

Lucrezia

[amiable]

Sometimes... the world changes into a scarier place or even some of the residents they do bad things. Like hurting others.

Uru

[heloise]

There are many who would protect us from such dangers, Uru.

Lucrezia 1/2

[amiable]

I know they would! We have so many brave and wonderful people who would always protect us.

Lucrezia

[amiable]

I--

How do I say it? [ Admitting it is a lot harder than expected for herself. She doesn't like to be seen as incompetent or as a damsel. ]

Mom would... she was against me living on my own before.

Uru

[heloise]

[ Awh. She thinks Uru is the actual kind of girl people assume Lucrezia to be. ]

She would insist on living with you then?

Lucrezia

[amiable]

She once told me that if I didn't do well in school, I'd have to come back home...

Uru

[heloise]

[ She knows what a school is! ]

You do not wish to come home?

Lucrezia

[amiable]

I moved out when I was sixteen because I wanted to be independent.

[ Not because she hates home! ]

Uru

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia doesn't understand that, she wants to go home. ]

I had to move to my husband's house when I was fifteen, but now my brother said I will return home soon.

Lucrezia

[amiable]

You are? [ Also the whole marriage thing at fifteen just confuses her. Even her mom was about 20~21 when she got married. ]

Well, my mom... remarried. I didn't want to get in the way of her happiness. [ Then quickly: ] I know now I wasn't! But I still wanted to show I could take care of myself.

Uru

[heloise]

[ She doesn't like talk of marriage much, especially her own. Deflecting... ]

Do you like her new husband?

Lucrezia

[amiable]

My stepdad? Of course! I love him just as much as I love Mom.

Uru

[heloise]

How wonderful.

Tell me about your mother, Uru.

Lucrezia

[amiable]

[ She pauses, reminded of how her loss leaves certain gaps in her memories. ]

What do you want to know?

Uru

[heloise]

Is she beautiful? Full of grace? Did she sing you to sleep or tell you stories of old?

Lucrezia 1/2

[amiable]

Mom is very beautiful!

Lucrezia

[amiable]

Grace?

Ah... I'm not very sure. She acts like a witch sometimes.

Uru

[heloise]

[ She laughs. TOO CUTE. ]

I promise never to repeat that if I ever met her.

Lucrezia

[amiable]

She really does try to bring me back home in sneaky ways! Even though I showed her I'm fine by myself!

Uru

[heloise]

You can bake chocolate cakes, that should be evidence enough.