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[Stephanie would rather not get involved with Joshua, but seeing as Lucrezia is trying to cut ties and asked for her assistance, there's no way she can just ignore this.

During the night, Stephanie left this letter at the mansion. Now, it's time for a filter.]

I don't know if you've found the letter on the gate yet, but I was asked to return it to you and tell you that Lucrezia won't be meeting with you. She knows you won't hurt her or the people she cares about, but her brother doesn't. [Stephanie isn't so sure either, and she doesn't like naming someone Joshua could pin this on... but Lucrezia seemed to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he wasn't completely unhinged.]

So... yeah. She didn't want to leave you hanging. Just passing the message along.

[She has no idea how to end this. Awkward.]

[Sometime later...]

Are you in your room? I did what you asked.

[Her tone says she's in one piece, but she's not exactly happy.

If a tone can say that.]

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...Her brother.

[ The irony isn't lost on Joshua.

Nothing after that for a minute. Then ]

What's your name?

Big brothers, you know?

[Common sense says don't tell him, but it wouldn't be too hard to figure it out. Just flip back far enough, or take a look at Lucrezia's friends.]

My name is Stephanie.

Brothers are meant to be very protective of their sisters.

[ A pause. Her name doesn't really make any difference to him, it just makes it easier to filter.

To be honest, he's pretty pissed. Unfortunately right now he doesn't know who at. And normally he wouldn't bother with a liaison, he would just go punt Lucrezia's brother off a cliff and do what he likes. ...Unfortunately...that would only turn Lucrezia against him.

Which shouldn't matter. Damn. ]

But what good is holding a grudge on her behalf when she holds none?

He does a good job of it.

Right. She didn't want you to just be left with nothing, I guess.

[ That could be what she meant. But Lucrezia Borgia so rarely says things this plainly. Half the time she says one thing and means another, or leaves a small little space in between her commentary with room for other idea. It's part of the reason he enjoys talking with her, and also part of why he detests her. Plant a seed, watch it grow...

But this, what it seems she's asking of him, might as well be leaving him with nothing. To suggest, even the slightest idea, that he should try to win favor with Cesare? He'd laugh, but it's not quite that funny.

And who is this Stephanie, to be used like a messenger? ]

Why did she send you?

[Uh. She sorta already said, but let's expand on that a bit.]

She doesn't want to upset her brother, but she doesn't want to upset you, either. So, she asked me to tell you.

No... I mean why did she send you? Above all others? You're important to her?

Oh. [Fffffffffff not quite sure what the appropriate answer is...]

I'd like to think so?

Because she trusts you to be discreet.

I guess that's been said about me once or twice.

[ That seems like a rare quality among people here... Most especially women.

Another drawn out silence. ]

Come back to the mansion. I have something to return to her.

What is it?

[Not her head on a stake, she hopes. Ha ha ha...]

Nothing of value to you.

[ SO YOUR HEAD IS SAFE. ]

Joshua

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[ That just sounds like Steph lost an arm in the process, and Lucrezia tries to push away the guilt before finally replying, after half an hour or so of pacing around. ]

Yes.

[WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG, LUCREZIA.]

I'll be over in a few minutes. Got something for you.

[ Thinking and worrying take a lot of time! Lucrezia leaves her door ajar and goes to sit on her bed and wait. ]

[Steph knocks before entering, that flower crown carefully in her other hand.]

So, let me tell you what he told me before I forget...

[ Lucrezia hops to her feet and rushes to Steph at the sound, eager to make sure her friend is still whole and healthy. She can't possibly miss that flower crown, but offers a tight smile anyway. ]

Go on.

He said he respects your choice, even though he doesn't care about Cesare's.

[And now the weird shit.]

And that you "could have reigned over time itself," [she did air quotes at that] but you're letting it move by the accord of others. Something about discarding a crown and territory, there not being half-hearted voyeurs here, and something about any existing in time will wither like flowers. I guess he was going for imagery with the crown. Which definitely wasn't flowers the entire time. And if you want to "claim that kingdom" [more air quotes] you'll know where to look.

[Steph looks so very, very lost.]

I'm guessing this makes more sense to you than me.

[ Lucrezia lets out a relieved sigh at the first message, though her frown only deepens as that warning goes on. Or is it an invitation, a rejection? One can never tell with Joshua.

She just lowers her eyes to her own hands, before stretching one out for the crown. ]

May I?

[Steph hands it over.]

It's yours.

[ She takes it gingerly, spinning it round to see the sunflower better. ]

Did he try to hurt you?

[She shakes her head.]

No, just confused me. What does that mean?

[ Lucrezia nods and manages a small smile. This is the best that she can expect, really. She reaches to place the crown on Steph's head, the sunflower like a crown jewel. ]

I will never know.