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 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.

[heloise]

[ Her turn to tap her nose. ]

What is the matter?

[secondchances]

Hmm? Nothing's the matter. [A smile.] It's just that... things with Tim are always going to be strained and awkward, I'm pretty sure. It's like that's all we know how to be around each other now.

[When they weren't kicking bad guy ass, that is.]

[heloise]

Would you rather still meet him, despite it, or not see him at all?

[secondchances]

I still want him in my life. We're not THAT bad.

[heloise]

Or you are more merciful than I.

[secondchances]

Are you thinking about someone in particular?

[She can guess at a few.]

[heloise]

Should I be?

[secondchances]

That's not fair, answering my question with a question, you know.

[heloise]

My Narcissus is gone and Sforza is an enemy. [ Who is also deceased. ]

[secondchances]

[Let's be blunt!]

And Ezio?

[heloise]

You are suggesting we were lovers.

[secondchances]

No, but you were close.

[heloise]

[ She lies on her back, resting one arm over her stomach. ]

We are distant now.