@flownintothesun continued from here
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐂𝐘 for Lucienne seems like a plot twist in a book — the one before the great adventure, where the hero is looking over the terrain and realizing just how big the world is, and how far they’ll have to travel in order to succeed. Of course, her definition of success is different from maman’s in that she doesn’t know just what she wants yet — but she knows what she doesn’t. For all of her life, everything has operated under the guise of a well-oiled machine — and even her studies have been so. Things that looked impressive, things that would educate her to take over the world one day in one sense or another. She doesn’t even know how to put her own interests into use because she’s been too busy furthering maman’s. It also makes her a bit awkward around a pretty girl — living in stories are one thing — but realizing that she could live her own in the real world another entirely.
Of course, that’s only an illusion as well. These trips are meant to culture her to the world surrounding her — they aren’t a permanent escape — but they are the only place that she can go to escape the Mafia. Well, mostly. She does have a security team that discreetly follows alongside her — usually two men, just in case she finds trouble. Luci finds that often men themselves are the trouble — though she wouldn’t dare speak that to maman after what had happened last time. Besides, she’s well into her adulthood now — she scarcely needs to tell her mother everything.
“Lucienne,” she says gently, extending a soft hand manicured with french tips that are black instead of white. Her accent about half-matches her name — every bit the bastard of both Italian and French as the girl herself. “Or, mostly they call me Luci.” Mostly because they find the pronunciation of her very-French name more trouble than it’s worth back in Florence, where she grew up. “It’s nice to meet you, Alanna,” her lips curve into a smile. The other woman’s hand is soft in hers — and despite herself, Luci’s heart gives a sharp pound for it. Back in Uni, and in her private school before that — it had been easy enough for her to get into trouble. But since coming back to Florence, she’s been under her mother’s scrutiny. Probably, maman wouldn’t care if it didn’t mean dooming the family line, and all of the other dramatics Caterina Agosti can come up with.
“Unfortunately I’m only visiting,” she responds with a genuine apologetic tone, letting go of Alanna’s hand to absently twirl one of her own long curls, “Are you free this weekend?” she asks with far more confidence than she actually feels. She doesn’t know how it works outside — she’s at a disadvantage. “It’s just,” she says, pausing in the right places with thoughtful consideration, “Adventures are more fun when someone is showing you the places they love. I think it’s a great way to explore a new city — it’s one of my favorite things about people,” she says with her eyes shining, “To see and understand what they’re passionate about. It’s a little like looking at a painting and understanding what the artist meant, rather than trying to decipher it on your own.”
Alanna senses some nervousness from the other woman. She hopes she hadn't said anything wrong. The stranger seems perfectly nice. So Alanna wouldn't want to upset her. She does know that she can be strange sometimes. Even her cousins sometimes don't understand her. But luckily they support her anyway. She's the type who would rather be writing and/or drawing than almost anything. However, Alanna doesn't know any other way to live. She absolutely adores creativity in all its forms. She always has.
Sometimes, she wonders what her father would think of her now. Sure, she doesn't need his negativity in her life. He hadn't accepted her sexuality and she doesn't need that. However, a part of her will probably always miss him. As much as she adores and appreciates her mother and her side of the family. Alanna does wish she could show her father her success sometimes. Just to show him how wrong he had been to not accept her. But Alanna knows that's probably just wishful thinking. Her father is not going to understand and accept her for who she actually is. So she'd rather things stay the way they are.
Alanna takes the other woman's hand and shakes it gently. "Nice to meet you, Lucienne. What a beautiful name." It truly is. In Alanna's opinion it's straight out of a novel. And a beautiful one too. "I love your nails." Alanna had never seen the tips black like that. It's unique, which makes her love it even more.
"Thank you. Glad you're happy to meet me too." Of course, it could just be politeness. But Alanna has a funny feeling that she's met a kindred spirit. Perhaps she's reading into it too much. But she hopes not. It would be nice to make a new friend. At the very least. One can never have too many friends, in Alanna's point of view.
"Ah, I see. Where are you visiting from?" She can't help but ask, intensely curious to hear where Lucienne is from. She had noticed an accent but hadn't been able to place it. Perhaps it's a combination of things. Some people have many ethnicities after all. Including Alanna herself. Her mother is Indian, while her father is English. Though she no longer has anything to do with her father or his side of the family, she understands about being a blend of cultures. Since Alanna herself is one as well.
"Oh, yes." She replies when asked if she's free that weekend. Alanna nods along to Lucienne's words. "I agree. It's great to see what places people enjoy. Though I will warn you, mine aren't exactly touristy for the most part." Alanna tends to frequent bookstores and cafes and sometimes a place that's both of the above. She will try to think of some interesting sights for them to see together, though. The last thing she'd want is to bore Lucienne.
"I tend to like things that are off the beaten path. Bookstores, cafes, museums, that sort of thing. I will try to find some interesting ones for you, though. Do you like to read, by the way?" If not, the two of them can skip the bookstores, though it would hurt Alanna's soul a bit. Especially ever since she got her book published, she's loved reading. She always had, but publishing a work of her own had only increased her love for it. And she thinks that makes sense. Now she feels a part of something she had only been observing from the outside. Her current work in progress is a graphic novel. So she's been reading quite a few of those, to see what she wants to borrow and what she'd like to change about the genre with her foray into it.
