paradisalogs | we'll be counting stars

Entry tags:

we'll be counting stars

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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."

"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."

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?"

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."

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?"

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."

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."

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."

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.

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.

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."

Now who is the cute one? Spoilers, it's Lucrezia. Cass smiles as she watches her friend eat, then leans in to kiss her cheek.

"You'd better. Would be sad, loving you... and you not feeling close."

No, that's too cute. Lucrezia tries to catch Cass in her arms when she moves in for that kiss, squuezing her tight once to show her just how close.

"Do you mean you love me, Cassandra Cain?"

She doesn't have to try that hard to catch Cass, though. No, she just hugs back.

"That's not news, is it?"

"Not quite, but one needs good news every single day of the year." And she turns to nuzzle her nose into her hair, content to stay this way even as the ice cream melts.

"This one bears repeating."

Who needs ice cream when you can have hugs? As far as Cass is concerned, they can stand there in the kitchen cuddling all day.

"Can manage that. Telling you every day." And she will now, Lucrezia will find the message scrawled in the journal in Cass' shaky handwriting every single day.

Writing practice! Lucrezia will send her a pretty Italian word each day in return, for Cass to practice too. She gives the girl a squeeze before stepping back to tend to the ice cream and the pie.

"Shall we?"

Cass heaves a sigh, pretending to look as put out about the hug ending as she can.

"I guess," she says, and leads the way to the living room. There's a blanket folded up across the back of the couch, so Cass picks it up and shakes it out before nodding for Lucrezia to sit. "Get comfortable."

That expression only has her giggling as she picks up both bowls to follow Cass to the living room. It must be true love, for Lucrezia Borgia to be carrying food for you. She sets the bowls at the foot of the couch, still closer than the table, before hopping (yes, hopping) onto the couch while grinning up at her friend.

"I would need company to get comfortable."

Like she needs an excuse. Cass jumps up right beside her and drapes the blanket carefully along Lucrezia's shoulders, then winds it around the both of them. There's a quick kiss to her nose and then Cass is tugging her down to sit, cuddling up close so they're wrapped up together. Best way to spend a cold day ever.

"Will this work?"

Lucrezia is all giggles as she easily wraps her arms about Cass and rests her chin on her shoulder. A perfect fit. It's comforting, in a way reminiscent of Stephanie, to have someone she can express her fondness for without fearing another's wrath and jealousy. Or fearing their eventual demise. Not that the fear goes away so easily.

"Why are we friends, Cassandra?"

This sort of thing just comes easily, for Cass. Ever since she was a child, seeking affection had only ever resulted in violence. If she reached for her father for a hug, she got a backhanded slap and a split lip instead.

He had gotten a bloody kiss on the cheek after beating him in the fight that caused in return, of course, but the lesson had always stayed with her. There was no room for soft, loving spaces in an assassin's heart.

And now, especially in Paradisa, that's so different. Here she's wrapped up in hugs every day, wrapped up in Lucrezia's arms now and it's just what she's always wanted, love given freely. So she smiles and kisses Lucrezia's cheek, forehead resting against the other girl's after.

"Because I like you." Another kiss, to her other cheek. "Because I want... to keep you close." Her forehead now, accompanied by a sweet smile. "Because you deserve friends. Someone you... can always trust. Someone to love, who won't... ever ask anything in return."

Only God loves so purely. God and family. Everyone else loves for a reason. There is always a reason.

Lucrezia has made herself easy to love because she's pretty and she says such charming words and she smiles so sweetly and laughs at all your jokes. But without all that, they don't love her, not really. Only her mother, her brother, might. Even then she's not so sure. With Cassandra, she's just as unsure. Lucrezia thinks she has been kind to her because first she thought it would help her get Stephanie back. Besides, Cass is sweet and cute and earnest. Endearing. But without all that--

She doesn't know why it makes her feel so guilty. Like a prodigal daughter offered forgiveness when she had expected a beating instead. She moves to hold Cass tighter and to hide her face in the girl's shoulder.

"You will never betray me, will you?"

Cass reaches up to stroke Lucrezia's hair, her other arm holding her in closer, tighter. If anyone were to come home now it would look strange, the two of them clinging to each other while their ice cream melted a few feet away, but that doesn't matter much to Cass. After all, she's used to seeing people react to how strange she is.

"No, Lucrezia. Will love you forever, would die protecting you." Which doesn't mean as much here, when death isn't a permanent thing, but it's no less true.

Death is the same wherever. It's the thought that she would give up her everything, even life, and the risk of never coming back. That's enough. No greater love has any man, as the Bible says.

Lucrezia inhales slowly then shifts her face to sigh and smile as she pulls back to show Cass her smile. All is well indeed. It is the proclamation that she wants. Words bind those who utter them, even more so if they are so wholeheartedly meant. She is no mind-reader, like Cass seems to be to her, but she thinks she knows honesty when she sees it.

"What do you call ice cream that is no longer ice?"

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject