presents...
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Montage
Soldi 23
A day of anticipation... glances exchanged during church services, the soft colored light through the windows forgiving their slightly pale faces, still tired from the previous night... Impatient at a Soldi brunch at the palace with too many people watching... A hand resting briefly on a shoulder or waist. Family, all the time family there and looking, especially Pietra with her quiet too-dark eyes... figeting at Salvador's bedside because he seems fine and didn't he disown us anyway and can we leave now only then Gianina has to say what happened to her at the ball last night and that's great, sister, really great but I was going to... go to dinner with the whole family, apparently, where you use a spoon to put the olives on your plate and not your hands and then so, so tired and that blasted girl was there a moment ago anyway and is probably listening so good-night, good-night, a thousand things unsaid.
Veldi 24
Thank Theus people have things to do during the week - "what shall we do," eyelids lowered so it makes him breathe harder. There are sights in the city, fountains and piazzas and vistas from the flying bridges that are not as grand as the mountaintop but you can see some of the buildings to their best advantage here and there and... well, yes, it is very old, a very scenic little ruined chapel and no, nobody really does come by here so it's very good for quiet and a little thinking or back up against the wall, pressed hard and hands tangled in hair and kisses so deep and wild that teeth bump but nobody laughs (although it may be funny later) but right now yes, more, yes... but there is no door, even if it is quiet so maybe not too much more, not here.
Amordi 25
Well-omened, day of Amora, goddess of love... It's not a trip to the islands without a gondola ride. Everyone says so. The gondoliers, they're blind and mute. Everyone says so. Inside the felze it's dark if the windows are closed, and the pillows are silk and soft and the boat rocks so gently. Kisses and touches are silk and soft and gentle, too, insistent like a far-off horn... but there is a gondolier right there just feet away, even if he can't be seen and probably won't hear and certainly won't say but... still. What then, where then, before he dies from wanting her? Somewhere private, somewhere alone... an inn? He has some money; there is an inn - it looks dirty. Is there... is there another place?
There is. Sculling away from the islets of Chiarisa, not far, around the bend of the main island, around the roots of that great mountain, to a still and shining bay and a bustling, stinking fish market. The gondolier will wait for what the inn would have cost. Around the market - dressed like this, here? What will be said? - past the hamlet, up a trail and off the trail and careful not to tear the dress step-sliding down a hillside of leaf litter to a perfect glassy pond, the mountaintop reflected in it. Birds sing. It is private, he says. "You are sure?" And his kiss says yes and the sky echoes yes and the gondolier has a very long time to wait.
Terdi 26
The morning marketplace is very busy and full of wonders. There is even a monkey that does tricks but it is not for sale and would probably make a huge mess anyway. There are fabrics in colors rarely seen at home and thread to match and he thinks she should only ever wear reds. There are foods and treats for sale, ready to eat, and perfumes and dyes and cosmetics and extremely clever little knives. It is so much fun to be out in the sun, immersed in all this, and he smiles to see it.
Guerdi 27
Empty rooms... everyone gone. For hours, even Pietra gone with Gianina to do witchy things. Every tick or click that might be the door gives a little panic but also adds a little more urgency, a little more danger - but thank goodness that nobody really did come home early.
Redi 28
The Montaigne countess, outside of Salvador's room. She smiles like she knows something, but she always smiles like that. Not as if she has much room to make comments. Why does she get to act so openly, so brazenly? Oh... widowed. Bad reputation anyway. But still...
Late Quartus flowers blooming in arbors in the gardens - enough of a screen for a few kisses.
Voltadi 29
A day apart. Gianina was looking with her other eyes and frowned. Renato - where had he been? - hovered. A day apart, so peopel wouldn't talk, to cool the rumors.
Apart - except for three claspings of the hands, a hundred heated looks, and a stolen kiss before bed-time.
Back to Game 18 log.
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