The Dross and the Gold

One would think after years and years of living with her twin sister, Giulia would be used to the random ‘schedules’ that Sophia elected to keep. The calendar in Sophie’s mind was fluid, Giulia had concluded. Her twin had no real concept of time like the rest of the household and most of the time, Giulia did not mind. A little variety, after all, never hurt anyone and it had led to a number of fascinating experiences. However, that was going to be a bit more difficult now that they were in Bordelaix.

Bordelaix, it seemed, preferred to work like a well-maintained clock. The Court was held at certain times, nobles were gather at specific hours of the day, and most of the city kept to a schedule that had been in place for what felt like generations. While the city did have some random elements to it, Giulia had quickly realized that while this city was beautiful to behold, it was very much kept in order. The woman couldn’t necessarily blame the Deverauxs for managing it thus.

Nonetheless, Giulia had learned to be more or less prepared for Sophie’s random excursions. The result of which was that Giulia was not a late riser in the morning. Indeed, she was frequently up before most of the household, conducting her personal business, eating, bathing and dressing. Unlike her sweet twin, Giuliana’s appearance was more orderly. The wavy blonde hair was regularly brushed and placed into some design of either a braid or captured by a bandeau (today it was the former). A nice dress of gentle teal was selected for the day, as well, and she most certainly was wearing her shoes!

“Ah ah ah!” The voice called out as she ventured down the hallway at a somewhat quick pace. “Do you have everything you need for today’s outing?” This was asked in that same casual and warm voice that she seemed to always have. Every time before going out, she would ask this question of Sophie, making sure she had her bag and, probably more importantly, her shoes. For once, she refrained from fussing over Sophie’s hair.

Sophia Tesoro, @santinotesoro

Sophie unrepentantly lived in her own world where few people were allowed to influence her. She listened to Benedicto mostly, but only Giulia and Santino wielded any true sway over her. Fortunately for the eccentric jeweler, both were inexhaustibly patient with her. Looking up at her twin, she offered an angel-sweet smile, then impudently lifted her hem to reveal two shoes, one on each foot. Hopefully it didn't matter that they were different colors; at least they were the same style and they were on her feet.

When it came to jewels, she had no difficulty telling colors apart and often sharply corrected those who could not differentiate between garnets and rubies, or citrine and amber. Clothing, however, was utterly unimportant to Sophie. She wore it to keep from getting cold, from burning herself or to prevent scandal as she'd done once when twelve, appearing before company in little more than her shift and her hair. Giulia had firmly impressed upon her the need for proper dresses when not in her work-room or bedroom, thankfully preventing further incidents of that nature.

Seeing her cousin, she was up and bounded over, smearing the paint off his cheek. "Silly Santino. Paint goes on the clay, not on the Santino!" She was about to wipe it off on her skirt, then held up a finger before her twin could issue a protest. Fishing out a handkerchief from her sash, she used it on her paint-smeared fingers. "Now we are ready. We go find inspirations today."

Depositing the soiled linen in Santino's hand, she took his arm and reached for Giulia's. She had a dress on, she had shoes on, she had her sister and her cousin. What else could she possibly need?



@santinotesoro, Giuliana Tesoro

He found Sophia was ready to greet him the second he came in. He was about to say something when he heard the comment Giuliana say. Lucky for him they had noticed and helped him in that regard. Sophia already had his face wiped off and had hands too. He took the cloth from her and pocketed it for now. He could replace or return it later after cleaning although he wasn't sure paint would come out of that.

"Yes, I am going to war today. I must protect my cousins from the male population while we are out and about. Can't let them think you lovely ladies are for more than looking at," he said teasing her some. He hoped he did a good job with that. He wasn't always good with his words.

"What inspirations are you looking for? Might be able to help you find them if I know," he said hoping they would hear the answer. He hoped it would be easy to fulfill too.


Sophia Tesoro, Giuliana Tesoro

Giulia merely smirked in amusement at Santino’s words. “The male population, hm? And are you properly armed for such, my dear cousin?” The question was turned back on the young man, even though Giuliana was clearly just teasing him. The woman had little interest in such flirtations, in actuality. Men tended to be brutish pigs that cared little more than sowing their wild oats, so to speak. Yes, she fully accepted that she might have to marry one day, but that would not alter her opinion of the uglier sex.

The gaze shifted toward her sister, her eyebrows raising slightly. “Flowers in this late in summer?” She queried this. Then, it dawned on her. “Ah, you are hoping to hold on to the days of summer, hm? Fall is fast approaching, after all.” And the woman was looking forward to it. It was entirely too hot for her liking, clearly looking forward to the cooler days and settling around the fire place in the dead of knight.

@santinotesoro, Sophia Tesoro

Playfully, she turned to Santino and curled her fingers into claws at him and let out a growl, then prowled closer to him. He started it, so Sophie was honor-bound to finish it! "I will not hurt myself," she declared firmly, "but others should take care that I do not hurt them." A toss of her head sent long, blond tendrils flying like a lion's mane before she impetuously pounced her cousin in a hug.

Thank the Triune that her twin and her cousin were accustomed to her random acts of affection!

Her nose wrinkled pertly at the idea of wildlife. Humans were wildlife enough for Sophie and she could barely handle them. She shuddered to imagine what she might be like if she were left to her own devices in the middle of the woods or the lands surrounding Pistoia. No, that would be dreadful, and precisely why Sophie was seldom, if ever, allowed out alone no matter where she was. "Shopping? No no. I want to look so I can craft and sell, not buy. Silly Santino."

A finger tapped his nose chidingly before she skipped ahead to the door, leaving his arm free for Giulia.


@santinotesoro, Giuliana Tesoro

Giulia remained quietly amused as she watched her sister go through her usual antics. This meant that Sophie was in a good mood which was just fine by her twin sister. They both had their good days and bad days, but Sophie’s trended toward the extreme. That she was feeling playful and frisky meant she was excited. They would need to get moving soon else she would become very restless and cross. “Come along, you two, we have a walk ahead of us.” In some ways, she was the mother hen guiding them along.

With Sophie at one arm and Santino on the other, she cast Santino an amused expression. “I think you’re misunderstanding her, Santino. We are going to the market, but she is just going to look at the various wares. She wants inspiration for her next project, and to get inspiration, sometimes it’s good to see new and different things. So, … sightseeing in the markets, but not shopping.” Hopefully that cleared up the man’s confusion on the matter.

“How are your own projects coming along, by the way?” She asked him lightly.

@santinotesoro, Sophia Tesoro

Sophie was not a patient girl. Impetuous, spontaneous and impulsive to a fault, but also easily distracted. In that regard, she was rather like a feral cat, one that instinctively shied away from humans yet behaved for the most part as she was supposed to. Relieved that they would be going after all, she tamped down her native impatience and resisted the desire to physically tug Santino along.

Hearing him, she stuck her tongue out at him but laughed. "You were, but I gave promise to Giulia that I would be good and not be that Sophie today." That Sophie, as she called one of her more extreme sides, was dangerous and reckless, likely to injure not only herself but other people if she was not swiftly contained. On those days, they mutually agreed that she should be kept confined for the safety of all. But today was not that day, fortunately.

"Ooooh, you sold some?" Brightening with pride and excitement, Sophie gave his hand a squeeze. "You must show us!"



Giuliana Tesoro, @santinotesoro