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. ]

Lucrezia

[whichwayyoulean]

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

Anything in particular?

And what's a Lenten?

[ dictated ]

[madetosin]

What would you rather being doing with your time then?

[ dictated ]

[heloise]

They have Carnevale in Venice.

Once-ler

[heloise]

The season before Easter, when one fasts and abstains.

And a song for dancing for me.

[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?

[wolfchild]

[ Their pack. ]

What would you like?

[ Nymeria thumps her tail at the question. Arya tugs her ear. ]

[heloise]

[ That's cute :') Lucrezia smirks. ]

For me to not intrude your game, perhaps?

[wolfchild]

We're not playing. We're resting.

[heloise]

Resting from?

[wolfchild]

[ Playing. ] Exploring.

[heloise]

What a coincidence. I was also exploring.

[wolfchild]

For?

[pompous_today]

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

[heloise]

A potential shelter or something that was once.

[heloise]

Idleness makes time fly!

[wolfchild]

Do you want to leave the castle?

[heloise]

Not without my brother. [ She ventures closer, eyes on the wolf. ]

The castle residents are fortunate enough. There are others without any shelter from the cold.

[wolfchild]

[ The townspeople, she surmises. ] Are you to make something?

[ Because you don't look like you've ever seen a hammer, much less used one. ]

[heloise]

A shelter, for orphans.

[ Nope, she just pays people to do the dirty job for her. ]

[wolfchild]

Who will make it?

[heloise]

Anyone with the heart to. Would you help me?

[wolfchild]

[ She looks down at Nymeria as if the direwolf has the answer. Children need someone to be with who will look after them. Mayhaps in the process she will learn more for her own building. ]

I guess. It's not a stupid idea. [ Congratulations, Lulu, you just got Arya to pay you a compliment. ]