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[mansuetus]

[ Lucrezia is in one of the lounges! Sprawled on one of the sofas, fingers busy turning a pendent of gold in the shape of a sea-horse. There are no poems today, no joyful greetings, something is different. She looks more pensive than anything else but there is a shade of concern there as well as quiet annoyance.

When she speaks, her voice is devoid of any of it. Her eyes still focused on the sea-horse. ]

A riddle, Tranquility.

How to mourn for someone who does not deserve it?

If your duty demands it and you have no desire to - do all men need to be mourned for? Is it a a more grievous sin not to mourn than it is to speak false words of grievance?

[ a beat. ]

Perhaps I must fast again.

[ a moment later she puts down her necklace, smiles. ]

I would have a cup of wine with your answer, if any of you have some to spare. You will join me in the lounge.

[ and it is not a question. ]

Comments

action;

[talkstoengines]

[Kaylee sits back, but gives all her attention to the younger woman.]

Then it's probably someone who don't deserve to be missed. There are people like that. People who just hurt other folks, who like hurtin'.

action;

[mansuetus]

They were like that. Exactly like that; they - he. He enjoyed hunting and beating and rutting. A brute.

action;

[talkstoengines]

In that case, you shouldn't have to feel sorry he's dead. [Kaylee makes a face.] Fellas who like hittin', just because it's fun, that's not a fella anyone should miss.

I mean, Jayne likes hittin' stuff, but only people that deserve it.

action;

[mansuetus]

Perhaps he thought I deserved it.

[ she pours herself another glass, sips the wine slowly. ]

For being a Borgia.

action;

[talkstoengines]

No one deserves anything just because of their family. Can't choose your family. You can choose your friends, though, and choose what to do with your life. And folks who choose to hurt others, well. They're not deservin' of your tears. [She says that with firmness.]

action;

[mansuetus]

And if I could choose, I'd choose my family a hundred times over. For all of how others view us as ambitious foreigners I would like to be nothing but a Borgia.

action;

[talkstoengines]

I'm sure you're family's real nice, and no one should be hurtin' you just because you're a Borgia. That's just wrong. Besides, anyone who would hurt you, that's evil. You're such a nice girl.

action;

[mansuetus]

You are sweet, Kaylee.

[ and she won't enlighten her; on the nature of her family, of her own, of what it means to be a Borgia. ]

Drink some of our wine before I shall be quite intoxicated on my own.

action;

[talkstoengines]

[Kaylee grins, and takes a drink. Not a ladylike sip, either, but a pretty generous gulp.]

Gettin' drunk is only fun with other people.

action;

[mansuetus]

I only became intoxicated once. Cesare had to carry me to my room and tend to me the the entire day after. It was the feast for his birthday. He had not complained.

action;

[talkstoengines]

Sounds like a great older brother, not even complainin' about it. [Kaylee smiles.] My brothers'd all bitch and moan if they had to do that for me.

'Course, they'd still do it. So would Mal. Or any of Serenity's crew.

action;

[mansuetus]

That is the secret of true loyalty, is it not, Kaylee?

action;

[talkstoengines]

Takin' care of you when you're drunk or hungover? Yeah, that's a pretty good test of it. [She grins.]

action;

[mansuetus]

Not a test I would pose again. I felt quite sick the first time.

[ but she drinks another cup anyway. ]

action;

[talkstoengines]

Ah, everybody needs to let go sometimes. Even Simon. He's a nice drunk, though. Real friendly. [Woops there she goes, talking about Simon again.]