we'll be counting stars

[lucre]

Who: Lucrezia and Cassandra, Lucrezia and Spike!
What: Finding lost dogs and making house calls nbd
When: December 2
Where: everywhere
Rating: PG for now!

Cassandra;

More than half the lavish parties thrown in Rome were probably hosted by her family. The church certainly has deep pockets, most of the time, even if sometimes her father digs too deep. So it's rare that she would miss any of the important festivities or feel the need to leave her house to attend the ones worth going to. Regret is an uncommon sentiment for her when it comes to parties, but she does regret not attending this Bathaus one when it could be a chance to mend old friendships (or just to get away).

It's good that the weather has turned rather cool, since Lucrezia doesn't know what dry ice is and how to properly transport a tub of ice cream. At least she knows to wrap it up in a scarf when she comes knocking, herself all bundled up in a coat as well. Here is hoping everyone is at home (minus Tim).

Spike

The dog was surprisingly well-behaved even if it did bark at the kittens once or twice. It even befriended the tiger, though whether that's to his credit or the tiger's is up for question. She has enough pets as it is, with the mansion quickly turning into a zoo without quick intervention, and Spike is a friend who seems ever in need of a friend, whether one that can talk or not.

But Lucrezia knows to greatly reward those who please her with their company, which is easier done in a magical castle that grants all wishes. So it's with a pretty pink pearl collar about his neck and a matching little velvet coat that she carries Ein back to his door, knocking just twice and hoping the master of the house is in.

 

Comments

[gottaknockhard]

It's more of a fluke than anything that Spike is in his room, as much as he wanders, worse now than before the castle temporarily evicted him. When he is, he knows who to expect at his door within two or three guesses. Lucrezia's visits are so common that when he hears the knock, he doesn't even immediately assume the person on the other end is here to settle any scores. Whether that's an improvement on his part or not really depends on the angle.

So Spike takes just a moment to put away what he was doing, then he rises to the door, opening it halfway to see the familiar face on the other side. He starts to say something in greeting, but once he sees what's in her arms, his mind goes blank.

The dog. He takes a step back, only finally remembering to look back at Lucrezia's face after a long moment of staring quizzically at Ein's. "--Hey."

[lucre]

Ein is so full of yummy steak that he's as docile as a cat in her arms, hardly even rebelling against the dainty ornament around his neck. Lucrezia bends down to place a kiss on the top of his head, totally spoiling him for you, Spike. It might have been intentional too, when making his life harder is such a fun pastime.

She tries to peer into his room and judge the state of it before looking back at him with a pleasant smile.

"He keeps asking for you so I finally relented."

[gottaknockhard]

He's not blocking her view, because of the shock or because he isn't trying. There isn't much to look at in his room, as usual, except this time he remembered to slide anything he was reading under the couch. Maybe a forgotten bowl on the floor somewhere, but that's more because he was too lazy to get rid of it than anything. The last thing he expected was for him to willingly come back.

As if a dog could ask for someone.

"I'll bet." By now he's noticing the collar. What did you get into, Ein? He's almost embarrassed for him. "You wouldn't talk him into anything."

[lucre]

That hardly matters now that she has seen that book on Anne Boleyn he was reading before. She might think it's a favor to her that he would think to hide anymore books on historical people he happens to be reading at the moment. Ein has begun to squirm in her arms by now, either to run away from Spike or toward him, so she goes to her knees to release him.

Consider this a significant moment in which a Borgia kneels in front of you, Spike.

"He was envious of the kittens with their pearl necklaces."

[gottaknockhard]

"I never would have guessed." A dog envious of a cat. Spike keeps staring at the two of them, up until Lucrezia sets him down and Spike dumbly steps aside to let him trot past. It takes him exactly that much time to wonder how long she's been holding onto him. Or if she's the reason he went missing in the first place.

"Are you sure he's the same one?"

[lucre]

Lucrezia spares a chance to scratch the dog's neck before letting him wander off into the room, rising to her feet while pulling off her gloves, seeing as she is now indoors and without an animal to handle. His question is just met with a laugh.

"No other dog can be as charming, hm? But that is a question I should ask you."

[gottaknockhard]

Eventually, he thinks enough to hold the door open as an unspoken invitation to step inside before anyone else sees her. All in all, this is a weirdly elaborate plan to get into his room.

"It's hard to say. The person who would know isn't here anymore." A dog is a dog to Spike, obviously. She could have wished one up and he wouldn't have known the difference.

[lucre]

Spike, please, she thinks she can get into his room with just a word uttered to the journal but then she may also think too greatly of herself sometimes. He certainly does little to discourage her. She slips in with a grateful nod, sparing a last glance over her shoulder to check if anyone sees.

"Who would know?" He was fishing for that question.

[gottaknockhard]

Spike closes the door once she's inside, and almost immediately fishes around in his pocket for a cigarette.

"The dog's owner." Which isn't Spike, despite how circumstances turned out. The whole reason he looked at all was for the kid's sake. "That's probably why he keeps wandering off."

[lucre]

She stops at the middle of the room, turning slowly around to watch him, as if he is the guest and she is the hostess, judging whether his company is worth her time. He still amuses her though, all this evasion.

"You are his owner now."

[gottaknockhard]

He glances at the dog, who gazes back as much as Lucrezia seems to be, but with what he perceives as a questionable look. Spike wasn't his only choice, so why did he stay for so long? Loyalty to the man who saved his life, maybe.

"Did he scare the cats?" Eyes back to Lucrezia, this time catching the hint of amusement. To think she gave up such a tempting piece of blackmail.

[lucre]

Lucrezia tips her head to the side in question. She cradles her hands in front of her and waits for an invitation to sit or to go where he would prefer her to. He is the host now, isn't he?

"We also have a tiger, as you should know." Ein didn't scare the kittens as much as the big cat might have frightened him a couple of times. "He is so well-mannered that I would keep him if I thought you would not miss him."

[gottaknockhard]

She's expecting a little much from his lessons in manners; Spike takes a seat before ever offering her one, unlit cigarette in hand.

"I think he would have been better off with the tiger." As if he could miss a dog. The worst decision Ein had made was choosing him as a roommate. Now that he knows he has the option of staying with someone who feeds him, there will be no living with him.

[hellofist]

All things considered, Cass had been fond of Thanksgiving. It would have been nice if everyone had been consolidated to one place so she wouldn't have had to walk all over the whole of Paradisa, but the food and company had more than made up for it.

And really, she isn't expecting any visitors and Steph and Tim never knock, so when she opens the door to find Lucrezia on the other side, genuine surprise quickly fades to an incredibly pleased smile. It's nice, having friends who come to see her. It's a new kind of thing, people seeking her out, and Cassandra really isn't sure if she'll ever get used to it. This feeling of belonging, being wanted, it's almost too good to be true.

Stepping back, she waves for Lucrezia to come inside, her smile never dimming.

"Come inside, it's warmer." And she can't help that her attention focuses on whatever it is Lucrezia's carrying. "Can put that down, too."

[lucre]

Lucrezia is holding that tub of ice cream like a babe in arms. Someone should introduce her to the concept of grocery bags really. She could have brought one of the maids with her if she wanted, but they are still busy with cleaning up the place after the logistical nightmare that was thanksgiving. Besides, some trips are better done more discreetly. Alone.

Still she tries to hold that bundle away from her, just enough to she can throw an arm about Cass for a quick hug before stepping in and looking about. Probably for that pumpkin pie.

"Ice cream. I thought of donuts but Stephanie might be jealous."

[hellofist]

"Would have met halfway, if I knew... you were coming." So she could have carried the ice cream for Lucrezia, of course. She reaches for one of her hands after the hug is ended, leads her towards the kitchen so she can just put it down.

"Ice cream is good. Donuts can be... for when Stephanie's here, too. We can all share."

[lucre]

Lucrezia could say something like she needed the exercise anyway but that's not quite true and Cass would easily read through her. The truth is that she would rather keep her friends a secret for now, in case her brother disapproves, because where would that leave her then?

She follows to the kitchen, setting the ice cream down and starting to unwrap it. It might be soft by now, but it shouldn't be completely liquid at least. "What about when Tim is here, what would he want?"

[hellofist]

Breaking away from Lucrezia for a moment, Cass gets them bowls and spoons.

"He likes healthy things, mostly." She says, with a bit of a pulled face. Silly Tim, doesn't appreciate sweets nearly enough. "Did introduce ice cream cake, though. And made the pies."

[lucre]

She doesn't care if Tim is around to hear her, laughing freely at Cass's expression.

"All things are good for health, especially ice cream and pies. Good for your bones," or something like that. More people die of plagues and childbirth that it would be silly to fret over calories and fat and cholesterol. The tub is big enough for a family, but she's dividing it just between the two of them. "Is there any pie left?"

[hellofist]

That's definitely a point of view Cass is willing to subscribe to. Why worry about what food is unhealthy when you're going to die early anyway, it's a good motto. With a nod, Cass goes to the fridge and pulls out the very last pie they have left.

"Last one. It's chocolate," she says as she brings it over, setting it down for Lucrezia's approval. "We made some, for Thanksgiving. Some went missing, so... made more, after that."

[lucre]

Although in Lucrezia's case, it's more a case of unbridled hedonism. Why deny yourself any pleasure, whatever it may be, out of fear (or consideration of other people)? Everything is permissible and the Borgias should be assassins.

She giggles at Cass talking about missing pies. "I wonder who might be so cruel as to hide the pie."

[hellofist]

Cass just grins, not at all embarrassed about it.

"Might have been me." It definitely was. "Figured, everyone should have pie... on this holiday. Since it's for... people who are close."

[lucre]

No, that grin is just too cute. Too cute in fact that Lucrezia feels the need to dip a finger into her bowl of ice cream to then swipe at her noise, just to soil the cute.

"But I have not yet had pie," she pretends to frown too.

[hellofist]

Nope, not allowed. Cass catches her hand and sucks the ice cream off Lucrezia's finger, at least polite enough to not let her finger stay dirty, and then grabs up a spoon to get some pie onto that.

"We can fix that." She holds the spoon up for Lucrezia now, offering her a bite of it.

[lucre]

Lucrezia laughs when Cass licks her finger clean instead. The trouble with having a friend who can read what you're about to do. But then when something does happen, she can tell that Cass wants the same. It's no loss.

She returns the favor, taking that bite from the spoon as cleanly as she can. Wow. Chocolate. Wow. She chuckles after she swallows. "Now I feel terribly close to you."