Take your time and don't rush! I have a book and plenty of patience.
Kidding. I'll see you soon.
[ instead of waiting at the italy car itself, he waits at the train station - it's a shorter walk. (obligatory fit check with his little bird brooch sash thing on over top)
when taair spots fidelio from where he's standing, fiddling absently with his phone, his face lights up, and he immediately trots across the distance to close it, tucking his phone in his pocket and smiling down at him. ]
Ah, Fidelio...! I decided I couldn't wait that long after all - a walk shared is better than one made alone.
the flush almost, almost goes unnoticed - the warmth does not. it's a bit of a relief to see him smile back, soothes any lingering concern especially considering the events of the afternoon...and early evening... and before he's even really thinking about it, taair holds out his hand ]
We won't go very far - we will have to save the hiking for when you're back in top form. But it is a lovely sight, and I promise, one that does not involve any more open graves.
[ lightly, teasing on his own foolishness and their past adventures. if fidelio's willing to take his hand, then he'll lead the way onto the car itself, and - for as ridiculous as it feels, straight off into another city in doing so. Just Italy is big and beautiful - the sky overhead opens up to evening stars, and the air takes on sea-salt and brine, fresh breezes and warm air. even just stepping off to the actual city gets him to take a big inhale and just take it all in for a moment, nearly brimming with his happiness to be able to walk through a door and straight into another world. ]
I don't know how much you've been able to explore here, yet - but I do think it is one of the most wonderful places I've ever been. I thought we could visit one of the sights I came to on my own adventures - it'll have something silly, and something sweet. How does that sound?
there's some fondness and a little nostalgia watching taair's expression as he savours this place. it reminds him again of the first time he and basilio ever went to brilehaven and saw the sea — this seemingly endless expanse out in front of them that made the world feel so much more open than it had before, even if most of those possibilities would never be an option for people like them.
he's been there so many times since and seen so much of its darker sides that he never feels that awe anymore, and the smell of the sea breeze doesn't fill him with excitement and hope like it did once. but once in a while, in the right circumstances, he can feel at least some faint echo of what he felt back then, if only for a moment. ]
Sounds nice. I was here with Bas and Marcoh earlier, but we definitely didn't see everything.
[ this was before marcoh was his hated rival, obviously. ]
he, wisely, does not say anything about fidelio's prior rivalry with marcoh- in hindsight, it feels very silly, but he also wasn't experiencing it. there's a very brief twitch to the smile on his face though, a hint of a twinkle in his eye, but he keeps it to himself as they make their way down through the streets. it was very cute, is the thing, and... well. it reminded him a little of something basilio said yesterday, though he keeps that to himself, too.
he can picture the three of them bounding through this place, a city that seems like it should be so lively with no one in it, bringing life to every step. it makes taair huff a laugh, fond. ]
Marcoh is an excellent guide - far better than I am! Apparently it's very similar to his home. But, I have been studying, so I will do my very best not to lead us astray.
[ because of course he has been studying. dork.
it's not a very far walk, as they make their way down a small, cobblestone hill, past arches and canals, and down another hill, rounding a corner. taair takes a slow, easy pace, mindful of fidelio's healing injuries, and just enjoying his company, enjoying the scenery. in the near distance, there is a very large... some kind of structure starting to rise over the buildings, and distantly, the sound of running water. thankfully there is no plumbing. (?) ]
This place nearly breathes with the amount of history in it - every step that I take, I feel like I'll find something new to look at. Despite the fact that there's no one here, you can almost feel the heartbeat of a city. I used to dream of being able to visit places like this....ah!
Here, right here. [ in realization, taair tugs on his hand - there's a joy to his movements, as he pulls fidelio over to a little food stand that smells like baking sugar, like fresh-fried pastries and melted chocolate. leaning into the window, he peers at the offerings, scanning over the menu. ] Two of these...yes, this is the right one!
Earlier when I was wondering around, I got a bit lost and found a stand selling these little donuts. I thought they'd be a bit too much, but - they're delicious, and they made me think of you.
[ picking up a little bag of zeppole, somehow hot and fresh from the fryer. ]
Many a woe can be solved with something sweet. Don't you agree?
[ it's a pleasant walk, despite his foot's best attempt to make it otherwise. fidelio hasn't done a bit of studying on this place, but it does feel just from looking at the monuments along the way that whatever history this place has is a lot richer than anything in euchronia.
the aroma from this bakery stand reach his sharp nose before he even sees it, so he's pleased to see that this was their destination. he's pickier about desserts than he used to be because he's been too spoiled by basilio's baking, but everything here really does smell amazing. while he wasn't particularly hungry before they left, it feels like he's suddenly got plenty of room for sampling this place's offerings.
he peeks at the donuts in the bag and his tail gives an excited little swish. they look simple, but he finds things like that tend to be much better than the stuff at the cafe back in the neighbourhood that focus so much on style at the expense of substance. ]
Well, I certainly don't disagree.
[ glancing over as he looks for a place for them to sit. ]
Mm. [ once the donuts are in hand, he tucks the bag under his arm, pleased, and gives a gentle tug to pull fidelio around the corner and towards that big structure. and he has a simple answer, in the end, gaze flicking to the side to meet his: ] You have a sweet tooth.
[ little things like that rarely escape taair's notice. it's the benefit of having spent his entire life observing others from a distance - up close, some things are even easier to see. in his time here, he's come to learn many of his companions, come to try to understand their perspectives, their likes, their dislikes. the things that matter to them, the things they want, the things they know. and fidelio, someone he admires greatly, someone he enjoys the company of - observing him is easy. preserving these little facts is the modus operandi of his life, and how rare, how pleasant, to be able to commit those little details to memory because of time incredibly well spent. to make someone else happy. to help them understand that you care. ]
It won't be as good as anything Basilio makes, I am sure, but... I thought you might enjoy them, too. Or, well - we could enjoy them together. [ ... ] The taste is light and sweet, but they're a little messy, so we'll have to be careful.
[ thankfully, a distraction comes before he flusters too much more! the destination of this short walk is now clearly unmissable: frankly massive fountain.
taair holds out the hand holding the donut bag in a sort of "ta da" gesture as they reach the fountain of trevi. lit up at night, the fountain burbles softly through the empty streets, casting a soft glow on the plaza it rests in, all golden-lit street lamps and silver stars overhead. the pretty architecture and statues is not so much the point as the fountain itself is - the atmosphere of this plaza feels like it must normally be so lively, but there's something a little intimate, about such a space, all alone.
in the space of history and companionship, things start to feel a lot like paradise. taair turns a little to look at him again, to fully explain. ]
I read up on the story of this place when I first found it - it's truly fascinating. And, when I came back, I thought experiencing it, sitting by the water and enjoying these snacks, I... thought I'd rather be enjoying it with you instead of alone, is all.
[ a little self conscious of his observation - is that odd? he turns a little pink and ducks his head, flustering some in the face of that fluttery little feeling from earlier in the week. ]
[ ah. well. guilty as charged on the sweet tooth thing, as evidenced by his sheepishly running a hand through his hair.
arriving at this fountain, though... damn. it's definitely the first time he's seen this, and the first time he's been in this city after dark on top of that. all of it together — the sheer size of the thing, the detail in the statues, the warmth of the lights, and the night sky — it really is pretty breathtaking.
he imagines taair probably would have said something much more poetic the first time he saw it, but fidelio's own immediate reaction is simply: ]
Shite. Proper mint, that is.
[ he listens to the explanation, to the fact that taair specifically wanted to come back to this place he'd already seen and share it with him, and... it's nice. kind of hard to wrap his head around, this idea that someone would want to go out of their way to experience something with him specifically, so maybe it does seem a little odd to him, but. nice.
turning a little pink again himself, he smiles and gives a nod. ]
Yeah. Let's.
[ gives his hand a little squeeze as they approach the fountain. ]
[ it doesn't have to be poetic - it's perfect the way it is, actually. unconstrained by high court etiquette or politeness, brash and open and lively.
there are parts of this city car that remind taair of lightgloam city - a place he would be hard pressed to call 'home', but a place where he lives. the architecture, the food, the austere nature of many of the buildings call to mind similar structures of noble bearings, elegant, untouched towers and structures, lived in by aristocracy, with gleaming marble floors and towering, echoing ceilings: even the actual construction of the fountain in front of them. lightgloam city, for its elegance, was cold. gilded cage wrapped around a city of nobles outcast from their perches of power, vultures that smiled politely to your face and plotted your downfall with a knife behind their back.
but in this moment, standing in this little plaza hand in hand with someone dear, the cobblestone streets are as warm as the sea breeze that ruffles their hair. forget propriety. the unfiltered reaction of awe is a reminder of exactly how far away that gilded cage truly is.
(and maybe it's okay to forget. let yourself have things.)
he returns the squeeze - there's a heart-thudding familiarity to it - and finds himself smiling back before he even really thinks about it, then leads the way over to sit by the water, on the rim of the fountain. it takes a bit to fiddle around, adjusting to put the bag of sweets down within reaching distance for them both, sitting close - hesitant to let go of his hand. close feels far easier than it used to be, far more natural to sit so their knees brush.
by now, fidelio can probably tell when taair is going to shift into storytelling mode, and this is no exception as he turns his upper body just slightly, eyes drawn upwards. wonder and poignancy settles into the slow ease of his voice - a true storyteller, beginning to end. ]
What makes this fountain interesting is that it is not just an astounding work of art, but a work of preservation. Apparently, a fountain of some sort existed here for thousands and thousands of years, and it served as a hub for aqueducts, which brought running water all through the city - the best tasting and softest water in all of the nation. The technology itself was a marvel for its time, but the fountain wasn't very beautiful - merely functional.
The leader of the Church at the time wanted to make it more magnificent to symbolize its importance as a place at the center of three roads - "tre vie" - and a heartbeat of the city it existed in. He searched the entire country to find the best architect in the land, and the young man who was chosen built the new recreation over a span of thirty years. The project was abandoned when one church leader passed, then picked back up, until it was finally completed. The statues within it of the god Oceanus, Abundance, and Health are symbols of the city's old religion, a pagan one long lost in favor of the larger Church.
The fountain was built with local stone, by the people's hands. And, what could have been papered over by the smothering hand of a powerful church was instead a dedicated monument to the past - a preserved icon of the history of the people.
[ perseverance of the people. perseverance of history. both topics so precious and important to taair that he can't help but talk about it in adoration. ]
And - supposedly, there's a legend, too, that tossing coins in it can grant wishes! That's a bit sillier, but still.
[ thousands of years... he wasn't wrong about this place having a lot more history than his own world, then. damn.
he bristles a little at the initial mention of the church; of course a church wanted to claim something as theirs and build it up in their own image. outside of eupha's island, any large-scale work of art he can think of in euchronia was commissioned by the church. nothing but garbage propaganda in his eyes, no matter how shallowly beautiful they might be.
but this is a much better ending than that. and of course it is, because taair knows well how he feels about the church and its abuses. he wouldn't have been so eager to show him this place and tell him about it if he didn't think it would have some meaning for him too.
he turns his head to look down at the pool of water, where some coins are indeed glinting under the lights in the dark (not that he has any coins of his own to toss in)... and then looks up, back over his shoulder at the sculptures, with more appreciation this time for both them and the work that went into them. thirty years... (more than half majima's life, he thinks with a little nostalgia back to a past exchange.) pretty remarkable dedication to a single project. ]
Bloody impressive. Was the church on board with that, or was the sculptor just doin' his own thing?
[ the bristling doesn't surprise him at all: more than anything, taair appreciates the way he eases, the patience for the end of the tale more than he could ever really say.
his gaze flicks to fidelio's profile as he's looking at the coins, finally tearing himself away from the majesty of the statues, then back to the water itself, to the coins and the lights and the lovely sight of the fountain itself as he lets the story percolate between them, over the soft smell of fine baked goods nad sea breezes, the soft bubbling of the water. it's a swirl of feelings, nostalgic for something he's never known, impassioned by the wonder and joy of a work of the soul, by a piece of breathing history to be shared with another person, who not only listens but asks questions. who wants to know.
the question is a good one, in fact, and he hums in response. ]
Mn - they were on board. Surprising, isn't it...? I couldn't believe it, either.
[ the church in rodinia is no better than the one in euchronia, and taair has lived under its thumb for so long that it's a sentiment that they share, in many ways. the papal states would be a far kinder place if they chose to think this way - while he knows it didn't last, one little monument of peace, of togetherness, of cultural unity, means something.
absently, taair reaches his free hand down, to skim his fingertips over the surface of the water. ]
The wishes became so popular that apparently, in the true version of this place, the coins in the fountain are taken out daily, and donated to charities to feed the poor and hungry around the city itself.
[ their perspective on it is small, in the grand scheme of- it could be (and is) just as terrible as the crown theocracy. as the light of sanctuary. but right here, in this moment, it’s a little slice of what ought to be. ]
…It is truly wonderful to think what can be achieved, with a leader who dreams not of self-gain, but of peace.
[ there’s something reflective as he says it, quiet - but he won’t let himself linger on it, and he turns his head to Fidelio, and there’s a twinkle in his eye, not too dissimilar to one two seconds that came before he was peering into a grave. His hand is still in the water. ]
You don’t think they would mind terribly if we borrowed a coin or two to not line our own pockets, but perhaps… to toss back in?
Well said! And, surely, it is going to a good cause.
[ a very silly cause, but a good cause nonetheless. pleased taair pulls his sleeve back and fearlessly dunks his hand into the water plucking out a few coins, and holding them carefully in his cupped hand. let's see... ]
The legend I read said the trick is to face away from the fountain, and then toss the coin over your right shoulder, using your right hand - if it lands in the water, you make a wish that you will return to the city once again. A first coin for safe travels. And then, a second coin for...
[ there's
a pause, and the pink that had finally faded on his face starts to return in full force. ]
[ embarrassing, yes, but - well, he still smiles, as he hands two coins to fidelio. the legend is three, technically, but he's forgotten about it entirely in the face of both getting embarrassed and in how very fast his heart is beating, as he turns to face away from the fountain and closes his eyes. ]
On the count of three - the first one, for a happy return. One... two...
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
historicals) wrote2025-02-17 06:17 pm
week 5, tuesday
Fidelio...? How are you feeling?
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Well - if it helps, I thought all of your gestures were very sweet, if obviously quite cursed...
Perhaps I can help you take your mind off of it? If you're feeling up to it.
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Yeah sounds good
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Will you come meet me at the Italy car?
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Twice as long as however long it should take I guess
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I have a book and plenty of patience.
Kidding. I'll see you soon.
[ instead of waiting at the italy car itself, he waits at the train station - it's a shorter walk. (obligatory fit check with his little bird brooch sash thing on over top)
when taair spots fidelio from where he's standing, fiddling absently with his phone, his face lights up, and he immediately trots across the distance to close it, tucking his phone in his pocket and smiling down at him. ]
Ah, Fidelio...! I decided I couldn't wait that long after all - a walk shared is better than one made alone.
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anyway! he also brightens upon seeing taair there (and gets the faintest tint of pink in his face at the "couldn't wait that long" part). ]
Oh! Well. Won't complain about that.
[ let's go then! ]
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the flush almost, almost goes unnoticed - the warmth does not. it's a bit of a relief to see him smile back, soothes any lingering concern especially considering the events of the afternoon...and early evening... and before he's even really thinking about it, taair holds out his hand ]
We won't go very far - we will have to save the hiking for when you're back in top form. But it is a lovely sight, and I promise, one that does not involve any more open graves.
[ lightly, teasing on his own foolishness and their past adventures. if fidelio's willing to take his hand, then he'll lead the way onto the car itself, and - for as ridiculous as it feels, straight off into another city in doing so. Just Italy is big and beautiful - the sky overhead opens up to evening stars, and the air takes on sea-salt and brine, fresh breezes and warm air. even just stepping off to the actual city gets him to take a big inhale and just take it all in for a moment, nearly brimming with his happiness to be able to walk through a door and straight into another world. ]
I don't know how much you've been able to explore here, yet - but I do think it is one of the most wonderful places I've ever been. I thought we could visit one of the sights I came to on my own adventures - it'll have something silly, and something sweet. How does that sound?
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there's some fondness and a little nostalgia watching taair's expression as he savours this place. it reminds him again of the first time he and basilio ever went to brilehaven and saw the sea — this seemingly endless expanse out in front of them that made the world feel so much more open than it had before, even if most of those possibilities would never be an option for people like them.
he's been there so many times since and seen so much of its darker sides that he never feels that awe anymore, and the smell of the sea breeze doesn't fill him with excitement and hope like it did once. but once in a while, in the right circumstances, he can feel at least some faint echo of what he felt back then, if only for a moment. ]
Sounds nice. I was here with Bas and Marcoh earlier, but we definitely didn't see everything.
[ this was before marcoh was his hated rival, obviously. ]
Happy to have you as a tour guide.
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he, wisely, does not say anything about fidelio's prior rivalry with marcoh- in hindsight, it feels very silly, but he also wasn't experiencing it. there's a very brief twitch to the smile on his face though, a hint of a twinkle in his eye, but he keeps it to himself as they make their way down through the streets. it was very cute, is the thing, and... well. it reminded him a little of something basilio said yesterday, though he keeps that to himself, too.
he can picture the three of them bounding through this place, a city that seems like it should be so lively with no one in it, bringing life to every step. it makes taair huff a laugh, fond. ]
Marcoh is an excellent guide - far better than I am! Apparently it's very similar to his home. But, I have been studying, so I will do my very best not to lead us astray.
[ because of course he has been studying. dork.
it's not a very far walk, as they make their way down a small, cobblestone hill, past arches and canals, and down another hill, rounding a corner. taair takes a slow, easy pace, mindful of fidelio's healing injuries, and just enjoying his company, enjoying the scenery. in the near distance, there is a very large... some kind of structure starting to rise over the buildings, and distantly, the sound of running water. thankfully there is no plumbing. (?) ]
This place nearly breathes with the amount of history in it - every step that I take, I feel like I'll find something new to look at. Despite the fact that there's no one here, you can almost feel the heartbeat of a city. I used to dream of being able to visit places like this....ah!
Here, right here. [ in realization, taair tugs on his hand - there's a joy to his movements, as he pulls fidelio over to a little food stand that smells like baking sugar, like fresh-fried pastries and melted chocolate. leaning into the window, he peers at the offerings, scanning over the menu. ] Two of these...yes, this is the right one!
Earlier when I was wondering around, I got a bit lost and found a stand selling these little donuts. I thought they'd be a bit too much, but - they're delicious, and they made me think of you.
[ picking up a little bag of zeppole, somehow hot and fresh from the fryer. ]
Many a woe can be solved with something sweet. Don't you agree?
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the aroma from this bakery stand reach his sharp nose before he even sees it, so he's pleased to see that this was their destination. he's pickier about desserts than he used to be because he's been too spoiled by basilio's baking, but everything here really does smell amazing. while he wasn't particularly hungry before they left, it feels like he's suddenly got plenty of room for sampling this place's offerings.
he peeks at the donuts in the bag and his tail gives an excited little swish. they look simple, but he finds things like that tend to be much better than the stuff at the cafe back in the neighbourhood that focus so much on style at the expense of substance. ]
Well, I certainly don't disagree.
[ glancing over as he looks for a place for them to sit. ]
Made you think of me, huh?
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[ little things like that rarely escape taair's notice. it's the benefit of having spent his entire life observing others from a distance - up close, some things are even easier to see. in his time here, he's come to learn many of his companions, come to try to understand their perspectives, their likes, their dislikes. the things that matter to them, the things they want, the things they know. and fidelio, someone he admires greatly, someone he enjoys the company of - observing him is easy. preserving these little facts is the modus operandi of his life, and how rare, how pleasant, to be able to commit those little details to memory because of time incredibly well spent. to make someone else happy. to help them understand that you care. ]
It won't be as good as anything Basilio makes, I am sure, but... I thought you might enjoy them, too. Or, well - we could enjoy them together. [ ... ] The taste is light and sweet, but they're a little messy, so we'll have to be careful.
[ thankfully, a distraction comes before he flusters too much more! the destination of this short walk is now clearly unmissable: frankly massive fountain.
taair holds out the hand holding the donut bag in a sort of "ta da" gesture as they reach the fountain of trevi. lit up at night, the fountain burbles softly through the empty streets, casting a soft glow on the plaza it rests in, all golden-lit street lamps and silver stars overhead. the pretty architecture and statues is not so much the point as the fountain itself is - the atmosphere of this plaza feels like it must normally be so lively, but there's something a little intimate, about such a space, all alone.
in the space of history and companionship, things start to feel a lot like paradise. taair turns a little to look at him again, to fully explain. ]
I read up on the story of this place when I first found it - it's truly fascinating. And, when I came back, I thought experiencing it, sitting by the water and enjoying these snacks, I... thought I'd rather be enjoying it with you instead of alone, is all.
[ a little self conscious of his observation - is that odd? he turns a little pink and ducks his head, flustering some in the face of that fluttery little feeling from earlier in the week. ]
Well! Shall we?
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arriving at this fountain, though... damn. it's definitely the first time he's seen this, and the first time he's been in this city after dark on top of that. all of it together — the sheer size of the thing, the detail in the statues, the warmth of the lights, and the night sky — it really is pretty breathtaking.
he imagines taair probably would have said something much more poetic the first time he saw it, but fidelio's own immediate reaction is simply: ]
Shite. Proper mint, that is.
[ he listens to the explanation, to the fact that taair specifically wanted to come back to this place he'd already seen and share it with him, and... it's nice. kind of hard to wrap his head around, this idea that someone would want to go out of their way to experience something with him specifically, so maybe it does seem a little odd to him, but. nice.
turning a little pink again himself, he smiles and gives a nod. ]
Yeah. Let's.
[ gives his hand a little squeeze as they approach the fountain. ]
Lookin' forward to hearing about it.
no subject
there are parts of this city car that remind taair of lightgloam city - a place he would be hard pressed to call 'home', but a place where he lives. the architecture, the food, the austere nature of many of the buildings call to mind similar structures of noble bearings, elegant, untouched towers and structures, lived in by aristocracy, with gleaming marble floors and towering, echoing ceilings: even the actual construction of the fountain in front of them. lightgloam city, for its elegance, was cold. gilded cage wrapped around a city of nobles outcast from their perches of power, vultures that smiled politely to your face and plotted your downfall with a knife behind their back.
but in this moment, standing in this little plaza hand in hand with someone dear, the cobblestone streets are as warm as the sea breeze that ruffles their hair. forget propriety. the unfiltered reaction of awe is a reminder of exactly how far away that gilded cage truly is.
(and maybe it's okay to forget. let yourself have things.)
he returns the squeeze - there's a heart-thudding familiarity to it - and finds himself smiling back before he even really thinks about it, then leads the way over to sit by the water, on the rim of the fountain. it takes a bit to fiddle around, adjusting to put the bag of sweets down within reaching distance for them both, sitting close - hesitant to let go of his hand. close feels far easier than it used to be, far more natural to sit so their knees brush.
by now, fidelio can probably tell when taair is going to shift into storytelling mode, and this is no exception as he turns his upper body just slightly, eyes drawn upwards. wonder and poignancy settles into the slow ease of his voice - a true storyteller, beginning to end. ]
What makes this fountain interesting is that it is not just an astounding work of art, but a work of preservation. Apparently, a fountain of some sort existed here for thousands and thousands of years, and it served as a hub for aqueducts, which brought running water all through the city - the best tasting and softest water in all of the nation. The technology itself was a marvel for its time, but the fountain wasn't very beautiful - merely functional.
The leader of the Church at the time wanted to make it more magnificent to symbolize its importance as a place at the center of three roads - "tre vie" - and a heartbeat of the city it existed in. He searched the entire country to find the best architect in the land, and the young man who was chosen built the new recreation over a span of thirty years. The project was abandoned when one church leader passed, then picked back up, until it was finally completed. The statues within it of the god Oceanus, Abundance, and Health are symbols of the city's old religion, a pagan one long lost in favor of the larger Church.
The fountain was built with local stone, by the people's hands. And, what could have been papered over by the smothering hand of a powerful church was instead a dedicated monument to the past - a preserved icon of the history of the people.
[ perseverance of the people. perseverance of history. both topics so precious and important to taair that he can't help but talk about it in adoration. ]
And - supposedly, there's a legend, too, that tossing coins in it can grant wishes! That's a bit sillier, but still.
no subject
he bristles a little at the initial mention of the church; of course a church wanted to claim something as theirs and build it up in their own image. outside of eupha's island, any large-scale work of art he can think of in euchronia was commissioned by the church. nothing but garbage propaganda in his eyes, no matter how shallowly beautiful they might be.
but this is a much better ending than that. and of course it is, because taair knows well how he feels about the church and its abuses. he wouldn't have been so eager to show him this place and tell him about it if he didn't think it would have some meaning for him too.
he turns his head to look down at the pool of water, where some coins are indeed glinting under the lights in the dark (not that he has any coins of his own to toss in)... and then looks up, back over his shoulder at the sculptures, with more appreciation this time for both them and the work that went into them. thirty years... (more than half majima's life, he thinks with a little nostalgia back to a past exchange.) pretty remarkable dedication to a single project. ]
Bloody impressive. Was the church on board with that, or was the sculptor just doin' his own thing?
no subject
his gaze flicks to fidelio's profile as he's looking at the coins, finally tearing himself away from the majesty of the statues, then back to the water itself, to the coins and the lights and the lovely sight of the fountain itself as he lets the story percolate between them, over the soft smell of fine baked goods nad sea breezes, the soft bubbling of the water. it's a swirl of feelings, nostalgic for something he's never known, impassioned by the wonder and joy of a work of the soul, by a piece of breathing history to be shared with another person, who not only listens but asks questions. who wants to know.
the question is a good one, in fact, and he hums in response. ]
Mn - they were on board. Surprising, isn't it...? I couldn't believe it, either.
[ the church in rodinia is no better than the one in euchronia, and taair has lived under its thumb for so long that it's a sentiment that they share, in many ways. the papal states would be a far kinder place if they chose to think this way - while he knows it didn't last, one little monument of peace, of togetherness, of cultural unity, means something.
absently, taair reaches his free hand down, to skim his fingertips over the surface of the water. ]
The wishes became so popular that apparently, in the true version of this place, the coins in the fountain are taken out daily, and donated to charities to feed the poor and hungry around the city itself.
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Sounds a hell of a lot better than the churches in other worlds.
[ like the kind of church rella would have wanted theirs to be, he thinks. ]
Can't imagine the Crown Theocracy wouldn't just use everyone's wishes to line its own pockets.
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[ their perspective on it is small, in the grand scheme of- it could be (and is) just as terrible as the crown theocracy. as the light of sanctuary. but right here, in this moment, it’s a little slice of what ought to be. ]
…It is truly wonderful to think what can be achieved, with a leader who dreams not of self-gain, but of peace.
[ there’s something reflective as he says it, quiet - but he won’t let himself linger on it, and he turns his head to Fidelio, and there’s a twinkle in his eye, not too dissimilar to one two seconds that came before he was peering into a grave. His hand is still in the water. ]
You don’t think they would mind terribly if we borrowed a coin or two to not line our own pockets, but perhaps… to toss back in?
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Well, it's not goin' to feed anybody here. And it ain't the axolotl god's religion, so I doubt there's anyone who'd strike us down for it.
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[ a very silly cause, but a good cause nonetheless. pleased taair pulls his sleeve back and fearlessly dunks his hand into the water plucking out a few coins, and holding them carefully in his cupped hand. let's see... ]
The legend I read said the trick is to face away from the fountain, and then toss the coin over your right shoulder, using your right hand - if it lands in the water, you make a wish that you will return to the city once again. A first coin for safe travels. And then, a second coin for...
[ there's
a pause, and the pink that had finally faded on his face starts to return in full force. ]
...ah...
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looks over ]
For...?
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... The second coin is for love. Romance.
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I mean, it doesn't hurt to throw it, yeah?
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... no, it doesn't at all. Two coins, then.
[ embarrassing, yes, but - well, he still smiles, as he hands two coins to fidelio. the legend is three, technically, but he's forgotten about it entirely in the face of both getting embarrassed and in how very fast his heart is beating, as he turns to face away from the fountain and closes his eyes. ]
On the count of three - the first one, for a happy return. One... two...
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