(no subject)

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia blames this on boredom, or curiosity, whichever you prefer.

She has a small wooden box in hand, another present since he so disliked the previous one, not that this one is intended to appease him, not precisely. She knocks softly twice, checking to see that the hallway is clear. She would not like to be seen. ]

Comments

[assassino]

[Ezio keeps his room relatively spartan -- the important stuff is in the hidden room -- but the mantle of the fireplace and the shelves are still stocked. Framed photographs and an antique gun on the mantle. Books line the bookcases, seldom-touched but a status symbol nonetheless. There's a digital camera on the mantle, too –– one of the ludicrously simple ones, for obvious reasons.]

Shelter for the poor, I was thinking.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia takes the gun of course, weighing it in her hand and trying to figure out what it is exactly. ]

Do you suppose there are many orphans here?

[assassino]

Where aren't there orphans? There are orphans within this very castle.

[He eyes her with the gun. He doesn't exactly follow safe gun storage.]

Be careful. You could kill someone with that.

[heloise]

[ That just makes the gun more interesting. She purses her lips and takes care not to touch the levers at least. ]

They have a decent home, at least. Those in the city might have no place to sleep.

[assassino]

Hence my thought to place it within the city. Obviously their facilities are... inadequate.

[He takes a seat on the couch, setting the wine bottle and two wine glasses down on the coffee table. He pours them both liberal glasses, uncut by water.]

[heloise]

[ Noticing the wine, she places the gun gingerly back on the mantel so she can walk over and take a seat across from him. The wine is very welcome. ]

Would you ask for my assistance?

[assassino]

Perhaps.

[He takes a sip of wine and then sits back in his seat, arms stretched out along the back of the couch.]

Would you offer it?

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia lowers her eyes to her glass, watching the dark surface, and letting him wait. She takes a slow sip first. ]

If you asked.

[assassino]

I will call upon you when my plans progress that far, then.

[His eyes watch her, carefully.]

Is the wine not to your preference?

[heloise]

You must.

[ Lucrezia looks back, watching him watching her. ]

Shall I drain the glass and prove to you that it is?

[assassino]

Only if you feel challenged enough to do so.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia twirls her glass by its stem and takes another sip, a bigger one, before setting it back on the table still half full. ]

My pride will not be my weakness. [ Looking at you, Ezio. ]

[assassino]

And pride could be a weapon just as much as a weakness.

[heloise]

[ She smirks cheekily at him. ]

How has that worked for you now? How many weeks has it been?

[assassino]

Approaching a month, now.

[And god, does he ever feel it.]

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia is cruel, so she laughs. ]

You may be more suited to the Cloth than many of the Cardinals.

[assassino]

I doubt it. With the taste I have, I could not parch myself for too long.

[smirk]

Besides... I do not include my own good self in celibacy.

[heloise]

How long did you challenge yourself with?

[assassino]

I set no time. I will break it when there is adequate cause to.

[heloise]

And what might be an adequate cause?

[assassino]

Who can say? It is harder to tempt me than most would think.

[heloise]

[ She smiles to herself, reaching for her glass of wine. Really, Ezio? ]

[assassino]

[Smirk.]

I see you doubt me.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia busies herself with the wine. It really is good. ]

What reason would I have to do that?

[assassino]

Your face says it all.

[He leans forward in his seat.]

I see it.