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

[secondchances]

[She lets her.]

Then you'll have to take advantage of the time you have with me right now.

[heloise]

[ Because later on if there were ever impostors, they could never get her hands as right as Lucrezia remembers them. ]

Would that not make the parting more difficult?

[secondchances]

I think letting time go to waste would make it more difficult. [She takes her hand back so that she can put her arms around Lucrezia, tugging her close.]

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia turns to wrap her arms around Steph too. ]

Would it make you happy to leave?

[secondchances]

[She's quiet, giving it some thought.]

I really don't know. I miss a lot of things at home, but if time is stopped for me... I'm not worried about missing things. Whenever I go back, it'll be like I was never gone.

[Supposedly.]

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia rests her chin on Steph's shoulder. ]

So all this is a gift, only borrowed. To be taken away at the end.

[secondchances]

[She leans her cheek against Lucrezia's head.]

I don't know how it'll end.

[heloise]

[ She leans into her. ]

Not well.

[secondchances]

You won't be alone. [She pets her hair.]

[heloise]

I will miss you dearly.

[secondchances]

I know. But I'm not going anywhere right now, okay? I'm not even planning on going back to my room until way later, if that's fine with you.

[heloise]

[ That reminds her. Lucrezia pulls back but takes Stephanie's hand with her so she can lead her into the room. ]

Stay with me.

[secondchances]

[Steph follows, glad her tune has changed.]

You don't have to tell me twice.

[heloise]

[ Not that she's any less clingy, holding Steph's hand until they reach the bed and gesturing for her to sit and not go anywhere so she can go get a box of candied fruits.

Donuts feel too festive for the occasion. ]

Canditi.

[secondchances]

[She won't take any until Lucrezia is sitting next to her, so she can lean over to kiss her on the cheek.

Cheer up :( ]

[heloise]

[ She does smile at the kiss albeit briefly, setting that box between them so she can place one palm against Steph's cheek. ]

Will you ask me to be happy for you when you leave?

[secondchances]

It's hard to be totally happy when someone leaves. But I'd want you to remember that I don't go back to bad things, and I was always happy when spending time with you. My sister from an entirely different time period.

[She taps her nose.]

And you'd have to take care of Ace. Have fun with that. You better hope I don't leave.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia takes a sliver of canditi and drops herself back against the bed to stare at the canopy. She shifts her head to try a smile for Steph. ]

You are the only for whom I need no armor. [ Besides family, but that is a given. ]

[secondchances]

[Steph takes a piece of herself, then moves the box out of the way so she can lay on her back next to Lucrezia.]

I'm glad.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia grins then bites it back, offering her canditi for Steph to eat! ]

[secondchances]

[She'll take it. :') ]

[heloise]

[ She would let her thumb linger over Steph's lips a moment, at one thought or another, before reaching for another for herself. ]

[secondchances]

[She lets the silence linger for a bit.]

You okay?

[heloise]

[ She stares at her canditi, holding it up over her face. ]

Are you?

[secondchances]

I asked you first.