Open | Action: What is a sally if not another word for adventure? (literally)

[hildago]

While there had been no flower-borne sickness for Don Quixote, nor another kind of sickness (which really, might have been the death of the old man, what with his missing teeth and chinked ear). So, today, the weather only finds the Knight Errant on the back of his fair, sway-backed steed, Rocinante, the hooves clip-clopping along the streets, in search of adventure.

That there can be no true monsters, or dragons, doesn't occur to him. After all, what is a Knight without adventure? (Besides a crazy old man?)

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[hildago]

The name sounds vaguely familiar, but d'Artagnan is hardly well-read. But a knight? The man hardly seems able to stand upright. He is not a threat; he takes Lucrezia's hand, smiling just a little. "My thanks. She is safe, though, I can assure you." It's a matter of pride, after all.

Lucrezia is too trusting, clearly.

"It is my honor, then," Don Quixote tells him, "to meet you, fair knight, so highly has the fair Lucrezia spoken of you!"

[sempreborgia]

Lucrezia gives her d'Artagnan a full smile. Yes, Don Quixote had just called him fair, it seems. It's obvious that she's grown fond of the old knight and his even older horse.

"d'Artagnan is a great swordsman, Sir Knight. He is a soldier." She explains, moving to stand next to her love with his hand in hers.

[hildago]

"A soldier." Don Quixote nodded sagely. "As valuable to the society as a pimp!"

... what? d'Artagnan exchanges a look with Lucrezia. "... I beg your pardon?" he asks.

"Pimps! They are necessary," the knight tells them. "They bring a kind of order to society, and need to be smart and agile men. If there are no pimps, our society is lesser."

[sempreborgia]

Lucrezia gives the Knight a confused sort of look, needing further explanation before she comes to a conclusion over how to feel about what he had just said.

"But surely a soldier holds more merit than a pimp, good sir." She says. "For a pimp has little honor or chivalry."

[hildago]

"On the contrary!," exclaims the knight. "Pimps are and can be fine men! It is necessary that they are such things, after all, for the betterment of all society."

"... right." d'Artagnan shakes his head. "Well, on that note." He gently pulls Lucrezia a little closer. Time to go, yes?

[sempreborgia]

While allowing d'Artagnan to pull her closer and start to guide her away, she continues to argue her point. "Or perhaps they should allow a woman her own properties and devices to use as she will, rather than play middle man to what is already rightfully hers... or his."

If she seems a bit passionate about this subject, it's because her mother is a courtesan, with no pimp. But she does know of the brothels with their Madames who take some off the top of whatever their employees are earning.

[hildago]

"While women are indeed wise," the hildago splutters, blinking slowly as they start to move away. "Farewell, fair Lucrezia!" He bows, his armor creaking.

"He's clearly out of his wits," d'Artagnan murmurs to Lucrezia, arm securely around her middle.

[sempreborgia]

"He didn't seem quite so only moments before." She tells d'Artagnan with a worried glance behind her to the Knight. He had been eccentric, yes. But certainly not raving as he had just now.

"Do you think he'll be alright?" She asks. "He was kind to me."

[apprenticemusketeer]

Ugh. All right. Lucrezia's kind-heartedness cannot go without being acted-upon.

d'Artagnan kisses her hand. "Go up to your rooms. I'll make sure he's tended to." Heaven forbid the old man wandered into the water or something.

[sempreborgia]

d'Artagnan surprises her by doing something such as this just for her, by helping the Knight in spite of his slip into what is surely madness. She's heard tell of those who can slip so easily from clarity to not. And now she's worried about him.

"I know that you will take care with him. Although not to the detriment of yourself, my love." She leans in to kiss at his cheek. And then hurries to the apartment, upstairs and out of the way to safety.

[apprenticemusketeer]

Somehow, d'Artagnan ends up putting the horse in a stall, making sure the old man doesn't fall over as he gets him back to his rooms.

The old man is mad; it's clear as day. He'd been going on and on about acts of valor.

When he gets to Lucrezia's door, he knocks, calling that he has returned.

[sempreborgia]

Lucrezia has started some water to boil for tea. The act calms her frayed nerves. And frayed they are. Had she really just been in the company of a mad man without even knowing it? How had he hidden it so well? He had just seemed eccentric but kind... until he had seemed not quite right.

And of course this only happened in front of d'Artagnan. He must think her ridiculous.

She goes to the door and meets him just inside, looking at him curiously so that he knows she wants to know what happened with the Knight.

[apprenticemusketeer]

"His horse has been stabled and he's settled in his rooms." No, d'Artagnan doesn't think Lucrezia is ridiculous, just soft-hearted. "You were very kind to him," he says, taking her hands. "And very sweet. Just ... be careful, my love, all right?"

[sempreborgia]

The fact that d'Artagnan had seen to the knight as far as caring for both his horse and the knight his self, makes her love him just a little bit more. She doesn't think Don Quixote had meant any true harm. He had not seemed malicious at all in his intentions.

Holding his hands, she steps closer to him. "Should I keep a distance from him?"

[apprenticemusketeer]

"I don't think he can hurt you," d'Artagnan says. "He's just ... " he draws circles around his temple. A little crazy. "Just ... don't listen to him too closely if you see him again. All right?" He kisses her knuckles. "You are so kind and warm-hearted and he can sense that."

[sempreborgia]

"He seemed so nice ad declared his protection over me." And perhaps she was a bit naive in accepting it, in accepting any kindness for that matter. Itinere had given her so many gifts, kindness one of them.

He kisses her knuckles and she steps in closer to him to lean herself against him with her arms folded in against his chest. A clear invitation to wrap his arms around her. "I fear I am not very world wise beyond what little I have seen of it. There was a time I thought no one would dare harm the daughter of the Pope. I know that not to be truth now."

[apprenticemusketeer]

Arms indeed encircling her, d'Artagnan rests his chin on her head. "I will keep you safe, Lucrezia. None will hurt you here," he promises. Even if the biggest threat thus far does seem to be sickness and the random madman.

"This place is just so very different. We must not take it at its face value. We cannot claim to know all that is going on, yes?"

[sempreborgia]

Lucrezia leans into that embrace, glad that he picked up on the fact that she needed it, that she needed to be held for a moment. Cesare had always been so willing and ready to hold her when she needed it, as had her mother and father. Not Juan as they had never been so close as the rest. She had none of her family here.

d'Artagnan filled the role nicely. "I can't even begin to understand the spectacle of it. Such strange people and things that seem more like magic than anything true and real." She pauses. "You are more true and real than anything else here." Perhaps, because he is from closer to her time. They both marvel at the many unexplained things here.

[apprenticemusketeer]

"I wish to stay that way as well," d'Artagnan tells her, leaning back to kiss her forehead. "I will protect you." It is the very least that he can do. "We'll find our way through. I promise that I shall be by your side."