x. dictated, action

[heloise]

I had not dared to wish for a sister or a daughter. Yet look, I had both, and the sweetest husband any woman could hope for.

Only the Castle does me a disservice by removing my better half!

[ Lucrezia dictates from the orchard, leaning against an old tree. She closes her journal before going back to, slowly and rather messily, sewing colored glass onto a piece of lace while muttering a song to herself: ]

♪ La bella lavanderina che lava i fazzoletti per i poveretti della città! ♪

[ ooc; so open, journal or action! also, translation and music!

Comments

[heloise]

[ She turns to him with confusion on her face, wondering for a moment that he's only jesting. But why would he? To think she spoke about how his little brother would grow up to learn his charms. ]

Your brothers are dead?

[assassino]

[He pauses, realizing he hadn't told her that part. Whoops. He nods.]

Yes.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia bites her lip and trains her eyes on the grass. ]

I am so very sorry. [ She wonders if that's what comes to families in the end, torn apart, and if that's why he would have her stay away from the history books. ]

Would you like to tell me about them?

[assassino]

[It's been ten years and he still feels like he freezes up when it comes to talking about what happened, and in a lot of ways, the anger is still there -- he's not sure he could explain to a Borgia how they died without spilling everything in rage.

But he can tell her about his brothers as people, can't he? There's a long pause while he pushes down some particular feelings, and then he looks to her again, even if she isn't looking at him.]

Mm. Federico taught me almost everything I knew about women, when I was young. We were reckless together, we got in trouble together, and he was always there when I was in deeper trouble than I could manage. He was supposed to become a banker, but his spirit couldn't be tamed for it, so with my father's support he decided to pursue another life.

Petruccio might have been just as reckless, if he were not bedridden with illness so often... but even so, he snuck out often, and was endlessly fascinated by collecting things and creating. He was a good boy.

[His chest feels tight.]

[heloise]

[ She does turn to him when he begins talking, even if she isn't sure she should. He might not want her to see him cry, if he means to. She tries not to seem too amused by the stories. She thinks she would have liked Petruccio. ]

Would you live a life so full it can be shared between four people, Ezio?

[assassino]

[He'd been trying to do that for a long time, hadn't he? Doing his father's work, bedding enough women for himself and Federico, collecting feathers for Petruccio... God.]

I suppose I do.

[heloise]

Then I think you have done well, whatever my thoughts are worth.

[assassino]

[His jaw tenses for a moment. He's living for the men of his family and here he is, consorting with the Borgia... Even if this one, at least, is innocent. He looks at her, feeling miserable all of a sudden.]

They are worth enough. Thank you.

[heloise]

[ She hesitates first, before trying to gather him in a hug. He did this for her once, for a much lesser thing. ]

[assassino]

[He's surprised by the gesture, but he allows it, putting an arm around her waist in return. Baww, Lucrezia.]

[heloise]

[ She'll let him hold on for as long as he would like )': ]

[assassino]

[He does, for a bit, chin against the top of her head. When he lets her go, it's with one last gentle squeeze.]

I do not talk about them often.

[heloise]

[ She offers him a muted smile. ]

Because it hurts?

[assassino]

[Nod.]

It is not easy to lose a brother, or a father.

[heloise]

[ She inhales then holds her breath. ]

I would not presume to know.

[assassino]

I hope you never need face that.

[But you will.]

[heloise]

[ She drops her gaze. ]

I am selfish enough to wish the same.

[assassino]

How is that selfish?

[heloise]

It is inevitable. One of us must die before the other.

[assassino]

Ah, but you are young. You need not fret about that now.

[heloise]

[ The young die too, she thinks, quick and sudden. ]

I was told death comes like a thief.

[assassino]

Sometimes... but it's no good to dread it. You'll just waste your life worrying.

[heloise]

[ She would ask how his brothers died, if he would have any reason to fear that he would follow them, but that would be crass. ]

We must concern ourselves with one thing or another. What would you choose?

[assassino]

What would I choose to worry about, you mean?

[heloise]

Yes. Aside from women.