paradisalogs | am I dreaming? am I dreaming?

Entry tags:

am I dreaming? am I dreaming?

Who: Cass, Lucrezia and Spike
What: exchanging gifts (and kisses)
When: Dec. 23
Where: castle library
Rating: PG-13

The weather outside is crisp and cold and sharp, unfriendly if not for all the winter cheer warming the air inside. The library is especially homey and Lucrezia has chosen the warmest spot to sit on the floor, waiting for her friends to arrive following her request over the journal. She is even dressed according to the season, in a deep red coat with fur lining. It's chilly enough to warrant something fancier, no? The shade even matches the few gifts wrapped in crimson velvet laid about her.

As much as she loves collecting gifts (especially the shiny and pretty ones), giving feels even better. Granted, there are those less appreciative of such things, like herself having grown up in a family powerful enough to see many hoping to earn her favor by sending her pelts and jewels and sweets. Then, there are those like Cassandra and Spike, who seem constantly surprised to discover that others care enough to give them presents.

For the girl, she has wrapped an infamous book, illustrated and decorated with gold leaves. Nothing less would do. After all, alma Dione praecipite nostrum est, quod pudet, inquit, opus. What you blush to tell, says nourishing Venus, is the most important part of the whole matter.

And for the man, something more suitable for children: a striking costume and a strange box that came with it. It was mostly a blind guess. She does hope the castle got the right Bruce Lee, whoever he might be.

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It's kind of funny to Cass that Lucrezia would want them all to meet here when meeting at the mansion would be so much easier. They're all there so often anyway, so why go through the trouble of going all the way to the castle just to exchange gifts?

But it's Cass, and it's Lucrezia asking, so of course she goes. There was never any doubt about whether she would or not, and when she slips into the library with her packages all wrapped in festive Christmas paper, she's already looking pretty excited about this whole thing.

It's her first Christmas, after all. She likes the snow and the decorations, it's fun to think up presents for people. For Spike, it was easy to pick things to take care of his car with. For Lucrezia, she has a real gift and a gift that's more of a joke, both wrapped up together in the same package. Hopefully she's done well on both counts.

She finds Lucrezia easily, smiling and coming over to sit beside her.

"You look warm," she says, leaning over to kiss her cheek. "I'm glad you... wanted to do this."

Despite what a fake family and a fair amount of fake preparation and fake house decorating may imply about him, Spike and Christmas are kind of opposing forces. Especially since coming to Paradisa, which insists on giving him a lifetime of the awkward holiday memories that he missed out on. Since he knows better, he should have refused, or at least rescheduled until the castle was safe. But circumstances had obligated him to stop by the clinic anyway. Why not swing by the library if it was on the way? The excuse made the whole thing easier to stomach.

Not like the mansion was more convenient for the three of them. To Spike, this was a sign that whatever gift Lucrezia had for him is something she doesn't want Joshua to see -- which unfortunately drove his curiosity to get ahead of his better judgment.

If he's leery when entering, it can only be seen in the way his hands are firmly stuffed into his pockets and how carefully he keeps his distance from anyone loitering around the bookshelves. When he sees them, he stops to glance around for any offending weeds before they ever settle on any actual gifts.

"I guess you were serious." As if things weren't already awkward, there they are with real gifts. Apparently he shouldn't have come empty handed.

Edited 2014-01-06 02:58 (UTC)

The mansion is hardly neutral ground as shown by their last gathering, which was also a little less than pleasant. It's Christmas and Lucrezia would rather have no subtle threats doled out this time, only presents and good cheer. But if Spike had hoped that Joshua isn't privy to the yellow jumpsuit, well, he's out of luck. He should brace for upcoming Bruce Lee jokes soon enough.

She returns Cass's kiss on her other cheek and wraps an arm about the girl. She is Italian enough to kiss liberally and certainly Spanish enough to embrace most generously. If she grants the man only a cheery smile, it's less to do with her modesty and more to keep him comfortable enough that he wouldn't try to flee as he so often does. Maybe one day he will learn that she doesn't bite (much). It doesn't stop her from patting the space to her other side for him though. Close, too close.

"Have you come bearing a cloth of so peculiar a nature that only a legitimate son of his father can see it, Spiegel?" An older form of a familiar story. Hans Christian Andersen wasn't the first to tell the tale.

She reaches forward to pick up the lighter box of the two to offer to him, before sparing a mischievous glance at the girl beside her. "Or perhaps kisses for two lovely ladies. Would that please you, Cassandra?"

It might not be exactly what Lucrezia is expecting, but she gets a frown from Cass instead of her automatically going along with teasing. Poor Spike, at least someone is on his side this time.

"Only if he wanted to." Again, but she's just going to leave that part out. It's highly likely Spike would prefer Lucrezia never know about their little liplock.

She smiles at the man in question, a little like she's apologizing for Lucrezia but really, they all know that's pretty much pointless. Mostly it's just hi, we're still friends, I'm not going to try to jump you. It's accompanied by her passing her present over to him, too.

"You can go first."

Open your gifts, Spike. You know you want to.

Spike stares at the two of them, either confused by what Lucrezia said (not even registering her suggestion until Cass got him off the hook) or perplexed by the two them handing over gifts, which he has no choice but to reach for.

So he's got two boxes in his hands. What now? He should sit down, like they're expecting him to, but there was a fleeting possibility that he could take them and go. If Cass hadn't insisted, he would have already tried to get away with it.

It takes a lot for him to muster up a smile, although he feels that he pulls it off. Accepting gifts from young girls. Obviously this isn't any big deal.

"I'm not sure that's fair. I was the last to the party."

That's rude, Spike. Are you saying Lucrezia's invitation to sit is of less gravity than Cassandra's? So rude.

But she is pleased enough to find him not yet fleeing for the nearest entrance that she lets the matter slide, picking up the other red box to offer to Cass with a bonus kiss on the other cheek. They could play this tag-kissing game all day.

"And you will be the last to leave, which will be a long time from now if you never begin."

It's with a soft, almost shy smile that Cass accepts her gift. She can count the number of these she's gotten, wrapped and everything, on one hand. She's never had anyone who wanted to give her presents just because they could, just to see her happy, and it's the kind of thing she isn't sure she'll ever get used to.

She cradles the present in her lap like it's a precious thing, slipping her own gift into Lucrezia's hand as she turns her head enough to catch Lucrezia's cheek in one more quick kiss. She's too competitive to lose a game that involves giving as much affection as possible, it seems.

"Go on," she says, nodding to Spike to prompt him to get on with it. She wants to read them both when they open their gifts, of course, but there's a new, small part of her that selfishly wants her turn to come as quickly as possible.

He may not have meant to offend Lucrezia so much as he is very aware of how many times she and Cass are kissing cheeks. It's distracting as much as it is telling that they aren't out of the woods yet. Or that they're teasing him again.

Which means he stays standing. A table would have made this all a lot easier, but he can't bring it up when he's the only one who didn't bring gifts.

Taking their threats seriously, he stuffs one package under his arm to quickly unwrap the heavier of the two. After a second of turning one of the bottles over, he makes the connection, shown by how far his eyebrows go up. -- That's actually very touching. To the point where he can't seem to formulate a simple 'thank you' to let her know. He looks back to Cass instead, putting an honest effort into smiling through that awkward moment of sincerity. "For the car?"

But he doesn't want to spend too long in making Lucrezia's gift wait, if only because he honestly thinks he can slip away if he appeases their miraculous generosity. Setting the first gift down, he rips the paper of the smaller gift, but once he sees the front of it he keeps it from view. If he was surprised by the first gift, this one seems to totally blindside him. How in the hell does she know who he is...?

"Wow, this is... really something." Does he even get excited over gifts? He hopes his muted response keeps that mystery going, because this is the kind of antique that he'd have to get framed after he figured out how to play it. If he were the kind of guy who framed stuff like that. Maybe he could start.

For once, the kissing isn't for Spike's benefit (at least not entirely).

Lucrezia cradles the gift Cass hands her just as impatiently, drumming her fingers against the side as she watches Spike and his funny expressions. To think, she thought he would need to pretend to be pleased by them while doing the most terrible job of it. This seems almost genuine. Perhaps it is.

The funny thing was that she doesn't even know what that costume really means or what that box is supposed to be, only that they have something to do with this Bruce Lee. She asked for relics of him but that box doesn't seem to contain and preserved body parts or anything like that. But he seems shocked enough that the gifts must be exceedingly good or terrible, which are better than having him have to pretend.

She grins up at him like a puppy waiting to be petted for a job well done. "Show us what you would do with it!"

It's almost sweet, watching Spike respond like this to two gifts. They're simple things too, picked with care but still nothing that extravagant. And still, his body language blooms into a barely contained excitement and if Cass' pleased grin is any indication, it's because Lucrezia and herself have chosen exceedingly wonderful gifts.

"Do you have, uh..." What were they even called? "DVD player? We have one, can bring it... to mansion, for you." Just in case he doesn't have one, and forgetting there's an entire room for that in the castle or that he could just wish for one right now if he wanted to.

Spike is still staring deeply at Lucrezia's box, only now taking out the costume and realizing what it is. They keep talking though, so he's forced to look back and stop puzzling over the mysterious insight into his interests.

'Show them what he would do with it'... He's not sure he wants to unless they fully appreciated what they were. It's awkward to explain, but it's kind of an important piece of history to visit.

"Yeah, sure." To Cass. "I'll show you another time then." DVD... that sounds familiar. Maybe. It's a good thing that she knows, but he needs to be careful about agreeing to things when he's in a daze like this. At least while he's the center of attention. Better keep this moving. "You've got more to open."

"Can have movie marathon, sometime."

She's trying to move them on since Spike hadn't seemed all that enthusiastic about showing off. To that end, she smiles at Lucrezia and nudges her lightly with an elbow.

"You go next."

A dee-vee-dee, huh? She opened the box to find those round mirrors inside, which are precious on their own, but what do they have to do with this Bruce Lee?

Lucrezia would poke at Spike some more, the way she usually does, if not for Cassandra's eagerness at seeing her own response to the gift. Here goes. She opens the wrapping gingerly, not quite wanting it to tear when it seems so finely made to her eyes, finding the set of pearls first. Strange how lustrous these are compared to the ones she is more accustomed to seeing. Perhaps it comes with such skills earned from inventing fridges and television and microwaves, that men can now create even lovelier pearls. It should be clear that it pleases her more than she says.

The joke, however, takes her a moment to get. A bat? Then she laughs and holds it up for Cass to help her put it on, choosing it over the pearls, at least for the occasion.

"Shall I be batlady?"

He gets what Cass is doing, and appreciates the support even if it doesn't seem natural. Usually he doesn't get let off so easily, and two against one would have been hard to handle. Like he still thought part of the gifts was part of a set up for him.

When he sees the opportunity, he steps back instead of forward, but stays to watch Lucrezia open her gift. At his distance, he wouldn't have even noticed what it was if she hadn't said anything. -- What is it with them and bats?

The question never makes it out beyond a brief glance to Cass. It feels like something he shouldn't draw attention to. Let it be an inside joke between them.

Even if it is just a get together to exchange gifts, Spike's trying to escape isn't really a surprising thing. She wishes he'd quit and sit down and actually enjoy this because it should be fun, but she gets why he's a little flighty about it. Really, she can't blame him.

And Batlady, that just makes Cass laugh as she leans over to fix the necklace around Lucrezia's neck.

"If you want. Sounds kind of funny, though." And now she leans back again, to see how the bat looks on her, and grins. "Looks good, though. Don't you think, Spike?"

Maybe that's mean, asking him questions to keep him from getting away, but it wouldn't be necessary if he'd just sit down with them.

Lucrezia doesn't think it's mean at all. Helpful even. She thinks Spike is simply a shy man frightened by the presence of ladies and that the more she imposes on him, the better he will become.

She can't see the necklace once it's fastened about her neck, but she fingers the pendant to feel the edges of the bat's wings. Batlady. She has had worst names before. "Do I look the part, Spiegel? Or must I wear black too?"

So much for slipping out once he stopped being the center of attention. Maybe he is being too sensitive with the whole threat of magical kissing hanging in the air. It doesn't seem to bother anyone else, so why make such a big fuss over it?

Never mind that it's awkward even without that. More so when Lucrezia seems to be tipped off to the bat-themed costumes that are so popular with the kids nowadays. (Whatever that's really about. He never wanted to know.)

Trying to get away seems to be doing him more harm than good, so he doesn't have much of a choice. With an inward breath, he finally sits down and makes an effort to look comfortable, although still at his carefully planned distance.

"I'm not the one to ask about fashion."

At least he sat at all. It's progress, Cass assumes. Either way, she looks pleased when he's sitting and smiles at his answer because that makes sense. As far as she knows, boys aren't usually the ones to ask about clothes.

"Should I open mine, now?"

She does ask, but she doesn't wait for an answer when she already knows what it will be. Instead she just tears the paper, revealing a book underneath and... nothing else? She turns it over, opens it to a random page in the middle but no, it's a book.

It's not that she doesn't appreciate the gift, but...

"I can't read," she says finally, glancing towards Lucrezia.

"But you are the only man here," which in her opinion gives his opinion enough weight. Emancipation means little or nothing to her and in the end there is a purpose for her taking such time to dress herself so meticulously. Mostly to keep her family proud and for the pleasure of men, which is sometimes offset by her own tastes. The bat necklace is something else together. Something she would wear to please a friend, albeit a girl. She can deal.

But her smile falters at Cass's response to the gift. Someone else from another time said the same once. You know I cannot read. In her memory, those are the last words he ever spoke to her. It is no use hiding anything from the girl but Spike is here and she manages a brave smile if only for his sake, sitting up straighter to complete the illusion.

"Well then you must learn."

Good thing Cass immediately went for the gift, because Spike is too stuck on Lucrezia's comment to come up with a response. Did men dress the women back when she came from? All this time he's spent around people from various moments in history, even seeing it first hand, and he still feels like he only has an elementary understanding of these concepts.

The odd strike passes though, and he's back to watching Cass and her new book. Lucrezia gave Cass a book, and Spike a movie. Kind of awkward to show favoritism when he's sitting right next to them.

That's why he politely looks away, like he's reading titles on a shelf beyond all of them. Pretend he isn't here.

Cass would have preferred a movie, but even a book that she has no hope of ever being able to read is a cherished gift. It's not the thing that matters, it's that Lucrezia cared enough to get her anything at all. And in the interest of keeping Spike engaged in the conversation and less on the outskirts, she hands the book over to him so he can check it out.

"Have been practicing, some." She says, and that's not even a lie. Bruce would be proud. Then, with a glance at Lucrezia, "What's it about?"

Lucrezia would have handmaids to dress her daily but fashion means more than simply choosing something to wear to one's own preference. One's dress signifies the family's standing and their wealth and for ladies, it means seeking to please suitors, which would presumably be men. She doesn't think Spike would be none too pleased to be thought of as such. A suitor. He doesn't need to know.

"Ars Amatoria," she says to Cass instead, lowering her gaze to peek between her lashes for the titillating translation. "The art of love courtesy of the great Ovid. I shall read it for you until you learn."

This would have been a conversation he could have survived being on the outskirts of. It's when he's idly flipping through the pages that Lucrezia explains and his hand freezes. Is this something he should be here for? Or do they think of him as one of the girls now? -- It's hard to tell if he'd be more comfortable with that or Lucrezia's ideas.

Maybe he misunderstood her, but he glances to the page he stopped on to skim just in case. -- Only he doesn't read Latin. Which he can only assume is what Cass meant when she said she couldn't read it either.

"Couldn't start her out on something easier?" A joke, just in case they think he could possibly be feeling awkward. At that, he tosses Cass a sympathetic look and hands it back. It sounds like she's in store for it.

The art of love, huh? Cass is looking a little skeptical as she takes the book back, but she doesn't hold on to it for long. No, she hands it right over to Lucrezia.

"Read some now."

Because there's no way that can go wrong and it's not like the mixed company should deter her. Or maybe it should, maybe it absolutely should, but she's kissed Spike already. Maybe that qualifies him for sticking around to hear Lucrezia explain the art of love.

"Is love so difficult? I should think it is as easy as breathing."

As for Cassandra, her read some now might just be the bossiest thing that Lucrezia has ever heard and obeyed so far in her life. Cass should get an award for it. But she does take that book and scoots a little closer before opening it on her lap and gently flipping through the pages to find her favorite one.

She giggles with even before starting to read it while pointing out the words for Cass: "Infelix, cui torpet hebes locus ille, puella, quo pariter debent femina virque frui. Tantum, cum finges, ne sis manifesta, caveto: effice per motum luminaque ipsa fidem."

The poor girl, whose sluggish place is numb, which man and woman should rightfully enjoy. Only beware when you feign it, lest it shows: make it believable with your movements and your eyes. She's cheating, knowing that Cass would understand more of what the verses mean just be listening to her read it out, but she can't help but sneak a mischievous glance at Spike as if that would help him get in on the joke.

"Would you care to translate for us, Spiegel?"

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