xviii. dictated, action

[heloise]

Once-ler
One song would suffice.

Tim, who also goes by Alvin
Has that invitation reached my door?

Five more days till the Lenten season. I have known much better uses of the time than this idleness.

[ The Pope's daughter has the prerogative to decree when Easter should fall.

Lucrezia is surprisingly about town, all bundled up in Winterfell-grade cloaks with the hood up, for anonymity or to ward off the cold, or both. She seems to be in no hurry, strolling about and sometimes halting to take special interest in any worn or even derelict buildings. ]

Comments

[wolfchild]

[ Two gray figures stand out against the snow-covered steps of one such building. The child's hood is similarly up, hiding her short hair. Her furs render her shapeless, helping to disguise her sex. An accident on her part. The wolf, grown bigger still, mislikes the indoors so she have taken to spending most of her days walking and playing with Nymeria in the snow. Catching her breath, Arya taunts Nymeria. The wolf watches her, mouth open, seemingly trying to bite Arya's fingers. The few times she does not snatch her hand back fast enough, the direwolf only nips at her fingertips. ]

[heloise]

[ It is the wolf she recognizes, and there is only one such giant in the castle as far as she knows, which gives a clue as to who the other figure might be. Lucrezia stands by the side, not hiding in the shadows but not announcing her presence either.

The wolf obeys the small figure, it is the master she should not upset. ]

I suppose the collar did not fit.

[wolfchild]

[ Arya looks over her shoulder. The fur lining obscures her vision and she tugs the hood to rest further back on her head. The patch of newly revealed hair sticks up every which way. ]

She doesn't like them.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia tries not to stare at her hair. It's too sad. A woman's hair is her crown. But she doesn't think Arya appreciates such things.

She steps closer, slow as can be. ]

What would she like?

Lucrezia

[whichwayyoulean]

[This would be the sound of a guitar being picked up. Twaaang]

Anything in particular?

And what's a Lenten?

Once-ler

[heloise]

The season before Easter, when one fasts and abstains.

And a song for dancing for me.

Lucrezia

[whichwayyoulean]

Oh. Well that doesn't sound all that fun. [Fasting and abstaining? Eww]

I can do that for sure. I can even try that guitar thingie you got me for Christmas. I'm not great at it yet, but I've been practising.

[ dictated ]

[madetosin]

What would you rather being doing with your time then?

[ dictated ]

[heloise]

They have Carnevale in Venice.

[ dictated ]

[madetosin]

I've heard of it. Have you ever been?

[pompous_today]

It's that time of year already? Truly time seems to fly in this place...

[heloise]

Idleness makes time fly!

[pompous_today]

Have you found something to occupy your time, then?

Lucrezia.

[dorkwonder]

I just moved into a new apartment, actually. You're welcome to come over once I finish cleaning.

Tim

[heloise]

So soon? Did the castle's hospitality fall short of your expectations?

Lucrezia.

[dorkwonder]

I don't trust this place all that much. I'd rather be somewhere where I know what to expect, versus something reality altering happening.

[revolter]

Is it close to Easter here?

[ From the little she knows she is not at all surprised anymore that the timings are off between home and this place. ]

Do you fast? I read in a book once that people fast during Lenten season.

[ she'll hurry to add after a moment. ]

I suppose it is a personal question, isn't it?

[heloise]

About forty days until then.

[ That is personal, but not so sensitive when much of the known world is Christian by name. And she has always been kinder to children. ]

And yes, I do fast, it would be expected of me.

[revolter]

You should drink a lot of water, I think that's what people should do when they fast.

[ unless - ]

Are people allowed to drink water when they fast?

dictated;

[songsandstories]

What is this season? [She's only known the four.]

dictated;

[heloise]

The month before Easter, a time for fasting and prayer. Contemplation.

dictated;

[songsandstories]

And this Easter is some holiday for you?

dictated;

[hellshaped]

How do you celebrate Lent in your time?

dictated;

[heloise]

We fast and pray, but before Lent we would have the grandest festivities.

dictated;

[hellshaped]

That's pretty much the same in my time. Funny.

The big celebrations are in New Orleans and Brazil, though.