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]

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.

[secondchances]

Emotionally distant, you mean.

[heloise]

He still lives a few floors above.

[secondchances]

Close enough to visit, still.

[heloise]

[ She huffs. ]

He told me to stop after I did.

[secondchances]

Can you blame him?

[He's trying so hard to be a good boy :( ]

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia shrugs a little. ]

Shall I wear a nun's habit when I visit or would even that be too arousing?

[secondchances]

Were you really not trying?

[heloise]

[ She sighs. ]

I do not know if I want to hurt him or to help him.

[secondchances]

What would hurting him do? I think he's had enough of that.

[heloise]

So must I help him after he has hurt me?

[secondchances]

You don't have to help him, either. But you two apparently keep hurting each other, finding ways to clash, and just not letting this rest.

[She huffs. Not a time to get upset.]

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia reaches for Steph's hand so she can squeeze it, by way of apology. ]

Perhaps we both mean to hurt each other.

[secondchances]

[Let's not think about that. She squeezes her hand back.]

I'm not going to be arranging any more meetings.

[heloise]

They would do more damage. [ Than good. ]

[secondchances]

Apparently.

[Sigh.]

What to do for my birthday, though... [Even if it's in August, she thinks it's a good time to talk as if she'll still be here. 'cause she probably will.]

[heloise]

[ She smiles a little. ]

He asked me to be civil to him in your presence.

[secondchances]

And you'd do that for me?

[heloise]

If you ask.