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 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.

[heloise]

Then no. Your turn.

[secondchances]

Could be better.

[For a lot of reasons.]

What can I do?

[heloise]

[ She plops that canditi into her mouth, taking time to swallow before she replies. ]

Are you pleased to have him here?

[secondchances]

Kinda. I wouldn't wish this place on him, but it's good to have another familiar face around.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia turns to face her. ]

What is he to you now?

[secondchances]

[She looks at her.]

He's my friend.

[heloise]

[ She reaches to push aside any loose strands from Steph's face. ]

Only that?

[secondchances]

Are you trying to hint at something, Lucrezia Borgia?

[A diversion attempt? Maybe.]

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia smirks. Using the entire name now, this must be getting serious. She shifts to lie on her side. ]

I have heard of friends becoming lovers but never the opposite.

[secondchances]

[So gossip cheers her up >:( Fine, fine.]

Probably because it's not easy.

[heloise]

[ It distracts her so well! ]

How so?

[secondchances]

Feelings just don't go away overnight. But neither do the disagreements or whatever issues there were. It's difficult putting up a barrier with someone you dropped all of them with.

[heloise]

[ She drops her gaze to her sheet, tracing the embroidered curls with a finger. ]

Yet you succeeded.

[secondchances]

[She stares up at the ceiling.]

As much as we could, anyway.