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

Stephanie

[heloise]

[ The intent is enough. ]

I do not want you to leave.

Lucrezia

[secondchances]

I don't want to leave you. Not at all.

[Paradisa itself? She can do without.]

Stephanie

[heloise]

[ She could be angrier but she doesn't want to give Steph more reasons to go. ]

Promise to say goodbye when you find the way.

Lucrezia

[secondchances]

[Crap. She didn't think her answers would get Lucrezia like this.]

Can I come over?

Stephanie

[heloise]

Why?

[ So she can leave again? ]

Lucrezia

[secondchances]

Because it sounds like my friend is upset, and I'd like to do what I can to make her feel at least a little better. Please?

Stephanie

[heloise]

Yet there is nothing more to be done, or said.

Lucrezia

[secondchances]

Is that a no?

Stephanie

[heloise]

Yes.

Lucrezia

[secondchances]

[Sigh.]

C'mon, Lucrezia.

Stephanie

[heloise]

No more.

Lucrezia

[secondchances]

No more what? You're upset I've talked about leaving, when it's not even my first priority and I'm pretty sure I'm stuck here, seeing as I've been here a whole three years? And the proper reaction is to shut me out?

Stephanie

[heloise]

For now. I wish to be alone.

Lucrezia

[secondchances]

Well, I don't. I'll stand out your door all night if I have to.

[Going to go upstairs and knock! The pros and cons of being neighbors.]

[heloise]

[ NO. Lucrezia wants to sulk. She lets Steph wait there for the moment, watching the door as if a thousand armies might break it down at any time. ]

[secondchances]

[Knock-knock-knock-KNOCK.

Fine, then. She'll just sit there. >:( ]

[heloise]

[ Ugh, Lucrezia has a feeling Steph is still standing out there on the other side of the door. She can't do anything in peace! She gives up soon enough, moving to open the door. ]

[secondchances]

[She's sitting on the ground, cross-legged and unimpressed.]

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia sighs and takes a seat beside her on the ground. What else are you gonna do? ]

[secondchances]

[She sighs, turning her head to look at her.]

Do you think I want to go away?

[heloise]

You said as much.

[secondchances]

But I don't want to go away from you. That's the thing. You should know that.

[heloise]

I know. [ She drops her gaze to fiddle with the pearl ring on her finger. ]

I only do not know what to do, not to hurt, when you leave regardless.

[secondchances]

Don't worry about that. [Given her track record, Lucrezia is likely to leave before she does. Probably better that way.] We don't know what's going to happen. I just don't want you mad at me.

[heloise]

[ She tries to take Steph's hand so she can inspect it, put it to memory. ]

I am not angry, only afraid.