xvii. dictated, action

[heloise]

Paradisa
For my Giovanni. If you would be so kind.


[ Lucrezia can be found at highest roof with a wooden box inlaid with pearls at her feet. It is small and finely made, but the real (belated) gift is within: a white silk shirt fit for a little prince with golden narcissus embroidered on its sleeves. She turns away after enough time, retracing her steps back to her room. ]

Ovid once wrote, est etiam placuisse sibi quaecumque voluptas: virginibus cordi grataque forma suast.

But mirrors never turned out for good.

[ Translation goes: Besides, all women take a secret pride in being fine or else they are belied; for when the conscious maid explores her mirror and finds she's handsome, she herself adores. ]

Comments

[heloise]

[ She giggles. ] You have fooled me another way too.

[secondchances]

Oh? How so?

[heloise]

I met a new arrival recently. An old acquaintance.

[secondchances]

[Uh oh. Oooooooh noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...]

Of mine? [THAT'S NOT KARA??]

[heloise]

Acquaintance is too distant a term to use in your case.

[secondchances]

Who?

Stephanie

[heloise]

Alvin. Tim.

Lucrezia

[secondchances]

[FFFFFF]

Yeah. I'm guessing you called him Tim, huh?

Stephanie

[heloise]

I should ask him which he prefers.

Lucrezia

[secondchances]

Alvin in public, Tim in private is probably a good start.

[Ohgodohgod. Younger Lucrezia, maybe she wouldn't worry too much about... but.]

What did you guys talk about?

Stephanie

[heloise]

[ There's not so much difference in evil, she only shows it more! ]

You, of course.

Lucrezia

[secondchances]

[She's doing this on purpose!]

What about me?

Stephanie

[heloise]

He asked me if you were happy here.

Lucrezia

[secondchances]

[While Stephanie would like to think that was asked in total concern for Stephanie's mental health, she can't help but wonder if that was Tim trying to gauge her willingness to contribute to getting out of Paradisa.]

What did you tell him?

Stephanie

[heloise]

I said you found few reasons to be sad even during the worst times.

Have I told him true?

Lucrezia

[secondchances]

That's true.

What do you think of him?

[Not that it matters or anything. She's just curious.]

Stephanie

[heloise]

He is a curious one.

Lucrezia

[secondchances]

Curious as in strange, or curious as in asks too many questions?

Stephanie

[heloise]

The latter. He wanted to know if he could trust me.

Lucrezia

[secondchances]

If he has any doubts, I'll set him straight.

[She probably has a lot of explaining to do, anyway. Sigh.]

Stephanie

[heloise]

[ She chuckles. Yes, you do, missy. ]

He asked for my assistance too.

Lucrezia

[secondchances]

He did? In what?

Stephanie

[heloise]

In attempting to escape from this place.

Lucrezia

[secondchances]

He's eager to get back home. I'm sure that was obvious.

Stephanie

[heloise]

What about you?