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Yes. I went to-

[ He's going to say he went to the Aegis party and the one for his job, but of course Lucina's problem appears to be more pressing. He's not good at small talk, anyway.

He holds his hands out, but doesn't approach her yet. ]

Do you want help?

Yes, yes please. This clasp is confounding me. [but it's a lobster clasp, so that's no shock.

she holds her wrist out to him, still pinching both ends together until he takes the lead.]

You were saying something, though? Went somewhere?

[ Well, if she'll allow it. He has to squint- he should have considered it could be a little difficult for him, too- so he fusses with it as he speaks, trying not to touch her too much. ]

Um- yes. I was at the party for Aegis Force. And- there was one for my job, that one of the others around our age organized...

[ Does she know Reggie? Who knows. ]

[for her part, Lucina is still and unflinching; this is no bother for her.]

That's quite a lot of mingling and eating, isn't it? I hope it didn't wear you out too much.

It went well. And...nothing happened.

[ Something he feels the need to emphasize, the way this world is. Who knows what could happen.

After a moment- thank god she isn't bothered- he gets the clasp of the bracelet on. ] There.

[ He's a bit nervous to know if it fits right, just in case she has to adjust it. ]

Ah! [she lifts her hand up, watching the bracelet tilt and dangle down her forearm, brightening.] There! It's perfect. Thank you again, Fortunato; I'll wear it often!

[ Fortunato's expression softens. He's still far from smiling, but there's a tenderness to his voice. ]

I will wear the scarf, as well.

Um- and thank you, for coming to church with me. [ He valued that, too. He's wondering if she enjoyed it...or understood it. ]

Thank you for inviting me! Both you and Jaime. [her expression softens.] The building was so lovely, and so was the music. I can see the appeal.

It is more than that.

[ He doesn't really say that in a scolding way; he gets why that would be what she remembered, considering her background. Really, it's just not what he comes for. He's almost sentimental in tone. He didn't invite her for her to be convinced of anything- that wasn't the point- but he supposes she wouldn't have gotten a complete understanding from one visit, would she. ]

I...hope it was not overwhelming.

[she shakes her head.]

No, not at all. I admit I don't utterly understand it? But I thought the talk of good will and charity to be very favorable.

[ Well, she's got the center of it, at least. Well, the center for most people- Fortunato's view on his religion is, he considers, fairly unique. He doesn't mean to be special in that way; it's a consequence of his circumstances. It'd be nice to see the world the way others do.

He just can't do that. ]

Do you want to? Understand it. Or- have it explained.

If you'd like. [her smile tugs more the shape of a smirk. see, she can redirect things so he has to show a preference, too, you know!] If it's important to you, then I'd think it very good to know of it. That's part of what it means to be friends, right?

Well- it isn't-

[ It isn't easy to begin, is it. He's known what he means when he thinks of God for most of his life, and he suspects his perspective is a rare one. There's no one place to start, really. ]

...What confused you? [ Maybe he can start with what she wants to know. A lot simpler. ]

Hmm...

[she shifts in place, folding her arms. what was confusing?

well, much of the imagery. an emaciated man nailed to wood is...quite a morbid thing to have on display everywhere, isn't it? especially amid all the flowers and lights and happy songs.

but more than that...]

Well, there was mention of eating someone, wasn't there? [her eyes wince. she realizes, speaking it aloud, it sounds absurd to even assume.] Or did I mix that up with other talk?

[ Oh. That takes him a moment.

But- that would be confusing, wouldn't it. Hm. This is...hard to explain. He takes a moment where he's clearly trying to find the right way to put this. ]

It- yes? But it isn't- it is not a bad thing. It is to...in the memory of something that occurred. Um...

[ Yeah, he's not good at this. He stops for a second, and then...okay, you know what. He's just going to pick up his Bible and find a passage at this point. He picks it out of the drawer next to his bed- there's also some comic books there, for some reason? ]

Edited 2019-01-20 20:51 (UTC)

[not a bad thing...um. well?? it. it's hard to say. she doesn't have the context! but she'd like to imagine since there were a whole lot of people partaking, then...it's...fine??? maybe?

she scratches sheepishly at her cheek as he fishes out said context, pursing her lips together to keep thoughts to herself.]

[ Eventually Fortunato finds a suitable passage- Luke 22, less for any bias toward that particular book and more because it's the first one he got to quickly browsing. He'd picked up that Lucina isn't usually the quiet type, and he felt kind of embarrassed. Maybe he shouldn't have asked if she needed to know anything...he'd rather her not look down on him. ]

Um- here. This is what happened, the first time.

[ Although as he hands the Bible over to her, he realizes she has no context. Whoops... ]

Oh-- goodness... [she's a split-second too late to hide a sudden grimace. this is not unlike accidentally expressing interest in a subject Laurent was researching...only to find herself up to her knees in tomes as a response!

gods, the lettering is so tiny, too...but this...matters a great deal to him, right?]

I'll...I'll take this home and peruse it then, huh? From what page to what, now...? [please don't say cover to cover, she's only so generous.]

[ Oh, he'd worried about her being confused, but he didn't realize she'd react that way. Whoops. He stammers a little. ]

No, I- I mean- you can just read this part. [ He gestures to the pages the Bible is open to. ] And...I can explain anything else.

[ He pauses again. Now he feels like he's pushing this on her... ] You do not have to do it.

Oh! Ha! Whew! I was worried I was in for a lot of reading! [she laughs, relieved, but cuts that out after a breath, reaching over and putting a hand on Fortunato's shoulder.]

Listen. This is something important to you, isn't it? Even if I don't fully get it, it'll be my pleasure to try and learn a little. That's what friends do.

Now-- [she walks around the foot of the bed and plops down on the middle, crossing her legs with the book in her lap, beaming over her shoulder at him.]

Come over here and tutor me a bit! It won't be much trouble, right?

[ It's a good thing Lucina stopped laughing, because Fortunato felt genuine shame for a moment, and genuine relief when she turned out to not be laughing him off. He...may associate being put down for his faith with potentially being hurt, still. But he shouldn't think that way about Lucina. She wouldn't do that.

(He hopes.)

And now she's just- jumping on his freshly made bed. Okay. He's not going to stop her. He sits on the side, much more delicately. ]

I am- I am not sure where you want me to begin.

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