０１８． ｔｅｘｔ ＋ ａｃｔｉｏｎ？

[mansuetus]

Sweet Tranquility;

Your company is requested on a perilous journey! one that songs would have been written on if we had a bard or a poet in our company.

it is an important mission; to go to the heart of the gardens and pick berries.

the necessary equipment is as follows;

- baskets

- a song to sing for the walk would be quite long.

- a mood which would suit such a task as berry picking.

I shall be most grateful to have your company.

Lucrezia Borgia;

Comments

action;

[vindictam]

[ It's still so uncommon to him, for nobles to share what he otherwise stole. Stole here too, if only no more than could be afforded taken. ]

Thank is not necessary m'lady, I should not like you to go without something that you find so wonderful.

[ His nod in reply was tentative. Wary of whatever it was she asked, out of habit more than anything else. ]

If it be within my power.

action;

[mansuetus]

I believe it may be. If my husband wishes to see me safe, I shall not stop these efforts. I hold great respect for his wishes and for those loyal to him. However.

[ her tone turns lighter. ]

At times I would have you at my side, not behind me.

action;

[vindictam]

[ There was a slight pause before he took the next step, eyes on the ground and the grass that crunched under his heavy steps. Silent when he wished to be, but was through effort and not her effortless grace. ]

Of course, Lady Lucrezia. [ Even if his face was hidden, his voice was rough with more emotion that the metal gave in its empty gaze that studied her. But for this, and in this, she had his attention in full. ] May I ask... [ why hovered, an unspoken word he was not comfortable following through, lest it upset her some. But it was strange to him, in so many ways, he was not quite sure how to resume the position he'd had once. Being strong and present. He would be just as content had she never seen him or known his purpose. ]

action;

[mansuetus]

You may.

[ easy and comfortable and sweet; she wonders what the face beneath the mask looks like when he looks upon her. ]

Ask.

action;

[vindictam]

[ he looks -- to catalog. too intent stare, but that had been even before he'd become thus. Stared too long and too often. But there was always much to take in, the curve of her mouth when she spoke, how little her hands were under his broad ones. Easy to defend, for she was slight enough to cover easily.

Still he hesitates, a long drawn in breath and he weighs carefully. ]

Why do you ask this of me? I was your shadow, before this, and nothing more.

[ Expression of loathing, but perhaps he would never understand why she could want his presence. ]

action;

[mansuetus]

You were, I greatly dislike it. There are enough things moving in the shadows, looking at us as it is.

[ the red smile, the beasts and monsters. we are always watched, she thinks and suspects that sometimes the walls themselves count her steps. ]

they would all seek to harm me. You seek to keep me safe; I treasure those who give me such honor. I do not want them at my back, I want them beside me where they belong.

action;

[vindictam]

[ the words were ones he understood, but his reaction had been different to so many when he'd been told of it. Then it had been a resignation. Another to watch in amusement. A shock to find this one more merciful to not torment him personally. He had sleep here that was his own. ]

And would you have me belong to you? [ another strange question, perhaps -- and he wasn't sure if he would in truth be able to respond to her answer, but the words had slipped free all the same. Even with his cold thoughtfulness. ]

action;

[mansuetus]

You belong to God, Corvo Attano, and to yourself. Never to me. I do not collect men as I do my gowns.

[ and she never had anyone truly loyal to her but her family, but cesare; it is an odd thought. ]

I would have you with me and faithful to me.

action;

[vindictam]

[ He knew it some mark of the void written into him, but the laughter that curled through the back of his mind was of the damned itself. Cruelty and maliciousness and children's happiness. It's a shudder along his spine, yes, he belonged to a God, but the cost of that was cruelty. ] I must surely belong to one, but certainly not to the other.

[ his marked itched, and his head swam, but nothing showed, for it never did, not any longer and not if he could help it. ] Ask me no more than this, and it shall be.

action;

[mansuetus]

[ she smiles a bit. she wonders if men like him find God; it's hard to know in a place that has no church. ]

then the next time, you will walk with me?

action;

[vindictam]

[ For his all he covered his mask hid him away as cold and unforgiving, his hand was gentle when he placed it over hers and slowly brought them to a stop in their walk, turning to face her. Larger than hers, and all of her fingers would break, he knew, if he ever used even a little too much strength, but even so, he carefully pulled himself free. ]

Your safety will always come first. Above your or even my own wishes. [ Loyalty could be a vice, when properly applied. He would indulge her nothing that compromised that, not even if she pleaded him, and sometimes he knew, it would be better if he was just her shadow.

It was not a no, but neither was it a yes. Polite as he could, even if he was not always such. ] Perhaps I may, should you wish it.

action;

[mansuetus]

[ she smiles a bit as he speaks; there is a great loyalty there and lucrezia sees it. a more shallow lady would have been angry at not hearing a 'yes'; lucrezia can see something much more important and she curtsies, bends to press a kiss to his hand. ]

Then I wish it.

action;

[vindictam]

[ His eyes widened slightly in surprise when she dipped to him. Respect he'd neither deserved nor expected, and the brush of a kiss a shock. He'd become better with such things, the time on the ship had seen to that. But it never dulled the wariness, the almost fearful reaction as he gripped her hand back, a little tug to pull her up once more. Fumbling once more with the proximity, for words that felt clumsy and thick on his tongue even before they passed his lips. ]

Forgive me -- [ for everything ] Lady Lucrezia, my hands are not fit for such a blessing. [ Too much blood on them, and like Emily, he worried, worried that it would stain her. ]

action;

[mansuetus]

I am the daughter of the Pope of Rome and I am a Borgia.

[ it's quiet and it's soft. ]

You fit to receive it from me.

action;

[vindictam]

[ soft and quiet, but all the same he replies. ]

May I endeavor to ever be worthy of it.

[ and like he had not done for any since his Empress, save Robb upon coming here, he knelt before her. Not suited to formality, no, but not foreign to it. Done with small concession; his mask tugged up but not removed, his dry lips barely touching in a dry kiss of fealty. ]