It's all too sweet to last

[lucre]

Who: Cass, Joshua, Lucrezia and Spike
What: the aftermath of a slumber party
When: Nov. 5
Where: The creepy mansion
Rating: PG for now

It was all a labor of love done in relative secrecy.

The earthquake narrowed down their options considerably, with nearly half the mansion in rubbles and leaving only a few rooms untouched. At least two of these, neighboring ones, have excellent views of the town, though knowing their guests' strange sleeping schedules (and perhaps their own), Joshua and Lucrezia have put up blackout curtains to shut out the rest of the world when the need arises. Not that it makes them the most considerate hosts when there is also a large grandfather clock installed at each room with an obnoxious cuckoo popping out every hour. Be grateful, if you can still hear its cooing then the host must still like you.

The rest of the rooms are finely but differently decorated. Cassandra's is mostly in shades of purple, with a glittering knight's armor standing in one corner complete with a wooden lance. If anyone can lift that thing, it's probably her. Her bed is tall and big enough for two or three or four, because there will be occasion for her to share the space (most likely with the hostess). There is also a chess table by the window (this one to share with the host). Lucrezia may have snuck a few dresses and shoes similar to her own into the closet, which is otherwise empty for her to fill as she pleases.

Spike's has been done up in darker shades, nearly monochromatic if not for the occasional brown and gold, also with a bed big enough for an entire family. You never know. The rest of the space has been left relatively empty, because he strikes her as rather spartan in taste except for when it comes to steak. There is one decoration though, set aside to a corner like a side table if one knows no better: a plush coffin for when he feels the urge. Whether it was just a gag or something darker is a mystery.

The mansion might feel unnervingly quiet throughout the night, more so than the sentient castle and its intelligible whispers, but the morning might prove to be otherwise. The sun is already high in the sky, though the curtains might make it hard to tell, and there is the sound of cutlery on plates rising from the dining room just below the guest rooms, accompanied with the occasional laughter. Anyone stepping into the room will find Lucrezia in a particularly chirpy mood, dressed in a light purple robe over her white chemise and seated on Joshua's lap at the end of the table. She has a spoonful of practically crunchy pancake in hand, daring him to test her cooking mettle this good morning.

"It tastes decent with the honey!"

Cass and Spike are probably set to suffer the same fate, but the maids are cooking the bacon as they speak.

 

Comments

[gottaknockhard]

Haha... As aware as he is that most of their conversation is at his expense, they know just what to say to make an uncomfortable situation that much less comfortable for him. This would be better if everyone took a cue from Joshua and ignored him, but he can only see this getting worse the more they see him staring intensely at his plate.

So he does what he should have before he was tempted by the promise of bacon; he finishes chewing the bite he has in his mouth, downs the rest of his (very hot) coffee, and pushes his chair out.

"I should get going." -- At least he's polite enough to say that much. Just not polite enough to share a generous breakfast after being given a free room. It's a wonder why he doesn't have more friends.

[lucre]

Lucrezia sends a warning glance at Joshua, though playful. Something to say don't you dare but don't you dare stop either. It's probably doing Spike no favors either, even if she thinks Cass who would understand it better will only take it in stride. It doesn't stop her from looking genuinely crestfallen when she notices Spike already pushing his chair out to leave.

"So soon? But you have had nothing yet." She should probably ask if it was something she said but then she already knows it was. A bandaid for broken bones and all that. "You can bring some food with you for the road."

[ofhope]

"Spike."

Joshua finally speaks up in the man's direction, his voice soft but carrying throughout the room with ease. He looks away from Lucrezia to him, and he still has a smile, but Spike doesn't have to be a master of body language like Cass to probably know when Joshua is implying a threat.

He tolerates a lot of rudeness under his roof, he really does, from all kinds of people. He tolerates even more from 'friends' because frankly, he often doesn't care. But in some things he has his lines, his ways, and his expectations. This had been an offer, one that was made selfishly for the sakes of both himself and Lucrezia, but currently Lucrezia is not benefiting. It hasn't even been a day, and already the happiness it gave her is going.

How others make her feel on their own time is her responsibility, but others ruining a gift of his will not be permitted. Though he might appear relaxed to the casual observer, he's poised to move and push Spike's chair right back in if he stands up.

"You should finish breakfast. The maids just went to work to make proper food, and you're disrespecting them and your hostess. The food would get cold by the time you got to the castle." He pauses for a sip of his coffee, then a short laugh. "Besides, I would feel outnumbered by so many ladies."

[hellofist]

What an interesting change in atmosphere. What was once a bit awkward is now tense and Cass just watches over the rim of her teacup, elbows perched on the table. Will they fight? She isn't sure it will come to that, for the sake of Lucrezia's breakfast party.

Staying silent, she just watches this to see how it will play out.

[gottaknockhard]

It's natural for Spike to be flippant, to just take off without another word to anyone when he's in the right mood. He really hates that he has to rethink that reaction when Joshua speaks up.

For a long moment, it seems like he's about to leave out of spite, and his eyes pass over Lucrezia to stare across the table at Joshua with a look that says as much. Even with everything he owes him, and everything Joshua has to hold over him, he never liked filling the entertainment role.

Maybe if it were just the two of them, he would have at least voiced what he's thinking. Instead he taps his fingers on the table and nods.

"I guess I'm not in that much of a rush."

[lucre]

A fight would honestly be the highlight of her day, providing no one loses an eye. She is of the firm belief that Spike stands little chance against Joshua but that Joshua would never cause much harm to Spike. That might please the man than frighten him. This threat is of a different kind; the threat of making his life completely insufferable perhaps.

Lucrezia tries not to smirk too wide at Joshua and then her guest, stopping short of a giggle for his sake. See how much she would do for you, Spike?

She raises a hand to signal the maid. "Signor Spiegel will have more bacon. And coffee," a smarmy glance at him. "To keep you warm. What will you have, Cassandra, if not an embrace?"

[ofhope]

At Spike's reluctant surrender, Joshua relaxes back into nonchalance while returning to his coffee. He may have some fancy tea-wear and teas, for nostalgia's sake as much as Lucrezia's, but he definitely prefers his drinkers stronger. The way he likes his friends; could they put up with his eccentricities otherwise?

The speed with which he becomes distracted is as dangerous as his threats.

"She wanted everything, I'm sure. There can't be any leftovers, or the animals will get to it. Not everyone's as tame as the tiger."