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

video

[elvenking]

I believe I could accomplish such a quest with you.

video

[mansuetus]

With such guidance, I shall undoubtedly find the most handsome berries the garden has to offer. I will tell you of one of your kin that I have met; I found her charming and eloquent and humble.

voice

[woodlander]

You may find me there, lady Lucrezia. I could walk with you a while, if you were amenable.

voice

[mansuetus]

[ her voice is giddy and bright and joyful since yes. ]

More than amenable, I must request it. For as long as you have time, I shall be at your side.

video; Lulu brings all the elves to the yard

[inafadingcrown]

I could not refuse such an important quest, nor so charming an invitation.

video;

[skjalf]

I would be most happy to accompany you upon such an adventure.

[ a beat. ]

I do enjoy song and verse, and composing both. But I fear my talent is not great.

text;

[needsheadphones]

[ Borgia. She should keep her distance, but-

Well. She has to know. This is hardly the vicious woman she saw in Ezio's memories, and if she is marrying Arya's older brother and is under Corvo's protection.... well.

She has to know. ]

What sort of berries are there in the gardens?

action;

[vindictam]

[ Truly, in the end, he does not mean to disturb her. Only that he must check, and the reason now more pressing than before. She'd invited half the ship, and he had to go for himself, given the threat that he had been told of. Just to make sure.

Corvo wouldn't spoil her happiness with his presence, but her safety came before her comfort -- or at least that was how he had been raised to his position, but he could afford her some privacy.

But she was a bride to be, and all that entailed, so he kept is distance as he trailed after her. let her keep her be happy. It was easier and simpler this really, when she stopped to begin her gathering, he found a tree to lean against, arms crossed over his chest. The dull metal of his mask glinting in the light. ]

[northerner]

A dangerous mission, my love? Would you like Grey Wind's company on it, to fend off whatever foes might attempt to prevent you from obtaining your berries?

הןdeo;

[mansuetus]

You must. I shall wait for you in the gardens. We will make such a journey of it all. I am not a great singer but -

[ her eyes are twinkling ]

I am very good at dance. We shall find someone to sing us a song we can dance to. You will grant me a dance, will you not Elizabeth?

video; just as she should

[mansuetus]

Then truly it shall be the most wonderful of all journeys, if I am grace by the most beautiful being who ever walked upon our ship.

[ she smiles. the elf queen if one of her favorites ok. ]

Are you fond of berries, lady, Galadriel?

text;

[mansuetus]

forest berries and garden barries; I have learned they call them strawberries. The gardens are quite vast, who knows, truly.

You should join us; we can see how many kinds we can trace.

action;

[mansuetus]

[ he has been watching her for quite a while. it is a sort of a presence lucrezia has grown used to. she has always felt as if someone was watching her on the ship but this sort of a gaze is less ominous in nature.

he watches her and she does not know why; only that she is glad to have cesare for whoever watches her is surely watched in return.

she picks a berry, brings it to her lips and speaks. ]

It is high time you and I are introduced.

[mansuetus]

His eyes are certainly sharper than the ones of the man who is counting my steps.

[ it has taken lucrezia quite a while to take notice of corvo's presence and when she did, naturally she called him out. ]

I dare guessed he wished to stay unknown to me but if he is to guard me, I'd have him at my side. He must have been born to death.

[ she'd dismiss him if she thought he'd listen but. if she can't get through to him, perhaps there is some hope in convincing robb though she does doubt that. it must be the one thing cesare would approve of. ]

is he of you realm?

action;

[vindictam]

[ There is a moment, when he realises that she has seen him enough to talk to him, rather than letting him just slip by, that he contemplates simply leaving at once.

But he knew how shocking that was ( to go like he was made of shadows ) when someone was not prepared for it. So instead, he bowed. This was his master's to be wife, after all, and though he knew little of her other than her cheerful temperament. She made Robb happy, and that was enough to afford respect. Arms stiff by his side, he bows, dipping at the waist to her. ]

We have been, Lady Lucrezia, though I do not blame you for forgetting such. [ It had been a small thing, she had asked for stories in place for dancing, and he'd given her false gold instead of the blood it truly had been. ] You asked me for a story, and I told you of the sea, and battles upon it.

action;

[mansuetus]

I remember. You told me of your Queen and the treasures you have found when you fought the pirates.

[ she takes a bite of the berry, as red as her lips and considers him for a long moment. ]

You have given me a story and now you follow my steps. Why?

action;

[vindictam]

[ A maid with a woman's mannerisms, and as pretty as a Sokolov painting. All fine brush strokes and sharp colours. He did his best to be cynical and use that to centre his mind, but her stare made him unsettled in truth. Maybe if the blood of a noble woman was not so fresh on his hands, it would have been easier, to speak with her.

Lying either way, was hardly his forte, instead he chose to be careful with his words. ]

For safeties sake, Lady, and to ease the minds of those who would care for you.

action;

[mansuetus]

Indeed.

[ in rome she would suspect him to be out of her life. on the tranquility, however, the name 'borgia' has not not bought her any enemies. either way, if he wanted her death, she trusts he had plenty of opportunities to do so beforehand. ]

which minds are so concerned for my safety, signore?

action;

[vindictam]

[ He mentally promised to make amends to Robb for this, sure quietly probably the man would want to explain this for himself.

But even still he took his time before he answered, less because of a hesitation to answer her, but to check that no one else strayed about them. The less that knew outside of those that he and Robb trusted, the better. ]

Your husband to be. He sought me to protect all his family. [ Protecting once more is something he struggled with. Killing came easier, these days. Confused a little that Robb had asked him not to when he was sure that was why he was being kept in service. ]

action;

[mansuetus]

[ there is a frown on her face. who could robb wish to protect her from? certainly not the red smile which haunts the ship for a thousand men cannot stop him for he has no presence they can attack.

if not him then who.

but this. this she will go to robb with. she smiles, offers her arm. ]

walk with me.

action;

[vindictam]

[ This is truly not his place, and he regrets her sharp eyes as much as his poor hiding place. He does not deal with closeness, kindly meant or otherwise. The months here had helped some, he no longer baulked at the thought of being touched at all, given its inevitably upon the ship.

But this takes his teeth being grit, before he steps forward to take her arm. Even then it is light, like he was scared she might shatter, or that there was some blade upon her that he would struggle to block in his position. But he does not wish to offend her any further than his purpose already had. ]

As you wish. [ He was still held stiff. Formality dictated a lot from him in this instance, most of which when he had been at court, he'd chosen to ignore. ] Have you found very many berries so far yet? [ Idle chatter, and he could at least try. At the very least divert it away from him and his reason here. ]

action;

[mansuetus]

[ she walks beside him, blue silks and golden curls and a basket of berries on her arm. ]

more than I can eat. I shall place the rest in the kitchen, perhaps someone shall seek to make a cake out of them.

[ and then she can call dibs on the first slice. ]

what business have brought you to my husband?

[ they are not yet married and yet to her in many manners they have been married for quite some time. ]

action;

[vindictam]

[ yes, Sokolov would have liked to paint her. He can know that much at least easily. ]

You like sweet things?

[ he winced behind his mask, though the metal mask gave no reaction. Caught like a rat in a pretty trap of silk and curls. ] Unpleasant business. [ a sharp breath in, and he weighed the consequences of simply leaving before he could be asked more. ]

[inafadingcrown]

You praise me far too highly. [But it makes her smile anyway; it's sweet.]

I am, of course. I will even confess to having something of a sweet tooth.

video;

[skjalf]

I am already in the gardens, as a matter of fact. It will be but a short walk to meet you.

[ she smiles with no hint of guile. ]

I can also sing, but doing so whilst dancing would be quite the challenge indeed.

Yes, I shall. Though it is highly likely that I will require being taught first. Lest I trip over my own feet!