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

[i_got_this]

I knew I liked you.

So why the sudden introspection?

[heloise]

All this talk of mirrors, perhaps.

I am glad to see you free of such nonsense.

[i_got_this]

Well, yeah. I've had enough of mirrors for a bit, and I know by now you don't touch weird shit that shows up kn he lobby.

[heloise]

Ah, beauty and wit is a rare combination.

I had a present for you for Christmas.

[i_got_this]

That's me, a rare woman.

[Now this definitely surprises her.] Really?

[heloise]

Yes. Is that so unexpected?

[i_got_this]

Well, yeah, I mean ... I wasn't expecting anything from anyone.

[heloise]

We are friends, are we not? [ Totally rhetorical, South, don't answer that. ]

Will you come see it?

[i_got_this]

Yeah, sure. You want me to met you at your room? [She's curious, now.]

[heloise]

Yes. Whenever pleases you.

[i_got_this]

I'm not doing anything at the moment, I'll head on over now?

[heloise]

I will be expecting you.

[ And she'll go on and lay out the gift on her bed~ ]

[i_got_this]

On my way!

[And she's heading over now, announcing her arrival with a sharp couple knocks on the door.]

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia even skips on her way to the door, opening it wide with a grin on her face. ]

Quick as a wink.

[i_got_this]

Not like this place is all that huge. [South shrugs, smiling back.] The Mother of Invention was bigger than this castle, I'm willing to bet.

So, what'chya got for me? [South and her ever-present mountains of tact.]

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia grins, whirling around and leaving the door open for South as she steps toward her bed, which is pretty much covered with a purple Italian renaissance style dress and all its paraphernalia. ]

Something to make you feel even more beautiful.

[i_got_this]

[South's speechless for a moment, since it's not exactly what she would have called beautiful if she'd been pressed for a description. Also, there's enough fabric there to make at least a handful of outfits she normally wears. Still, Lucrezia's enthusiasm is a little contagious.]

Wow, that's .... a lot of dress. How do you even get it all on?

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia goes to fetch the undergown first. Silk threaded with gold flowers. ]

One by one. I will help you. Here!

[i_got_this]

Wow, is that ... ? [Such fancy underthings?] Wow.

[She makes a little motion to her current outfit.] I should ... probably get out of this, year?

[heloise]

Yes. Should I help you with those?

[i_got_this]

Fft, nah, I got it. [Fortunately she hadn't wandered here in full armor. She goes about shedding her shirt and pants without shame, leaving them in a crumpled pile on the ground. She was getting curious how the whole thing would look on her.]

[heloise]

[ Good thing Lucrezia's cool with that. Going naked is totally acceptable. She holds up that undergown for her to take once she's done. ]

This is the camorra. [ And she'll move on to play with South's poor short hair... ]

[i_got_this]

[South pulls it on, and then at belatedly figures she probably won't need her bra and unsnaps it and pulls it out from under the camorra to drop it with the rest of her clothes. She freezes when Lucrezia starts playing with her hair, and gives a little smirk.]

You like it? Probably a bit different then hairstyles in your time.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia stops with the fiddling when she freezes, though it doesn't stop her. ]

I did say you reminded me of a friend. I should think her hair was like this too.

[i_got_this]

Heh, well, it fits my face, don't you think? [She stands back and gives her head a little waggle.]