bonnevivnt - Tumblr blog

[bonnevivnt]

melanchqlia​:

       is  it  really  alright  that  i’m  going  ?        (    daisy  asked  her  son  one  very  last  time,    breath  held  still  on  her  throat,    knuckles  growing  white  as  her  fingers  interwhined  in  front  of  her  stomach.    why  did  she  feel  that  way,    again?    oh,    right.    it  must  be  the  infinite  amount  of  time  she’s  been  denying  herself  the  right  to  have  those  moments  for  herself.    she  grew  out  of  practice.    )

      romeo :      no  ,      (      the  boy  replied  rather  dumbly,    staring  into  his  mother  with  their  pet  turtle,    guido,    in  his  hands.    )      i  actually  think  we  might  die  while  you’re  gone  ,    mom  .

her  features,    once  hesitating  and  stressed,    melted  into  the  closest  to  annoyance  she  could  physically  embody.    granted,    it’s  not  much,    but  enough  to  steal  from  her  boy  a  heartfelt  laugh.    she  got  the  message  alright;    it  was  about  time.    she  thanked  the  teenager,    as  well  as  the  faithful  reptile,    and  shushed  them  off  to  the  living  room.    tried  not  to  seem  so  obvious  about  it,    but  struggled  to  find  the  perfect  outfit  for  the  occasion    –    what  were  the  odds  of  a  disaster  should  she  decide  to  ride  a  motorcycle  in  one  of  her  classic  flowy  skirts?    too  much  of  a  risk,    she  thought.    flowy  pants  should  do  it  instead.    and  then  the  makeup.    she  couldn’t  look  like  she  put  too  much  effort  into  it    –    after  all  ,    natasha’s  thing  was  precisely  how  effortlessly  cool  she  was.

now,    allora  laughs  at  herself  as  she  tries  to  find  the  perfect  shade  of  lipstick.    it’s  not  like  any  of  it  mattered;    it’s  not  like  she  had  felt  anything  but  safe  and  sound  in  the  woman’s  presence  ever  since  the  beginning.    for  someone  who  had  quite  literally  retired  that  good  ol’  getting  into  someone  muscle,    daisy  was  pretty  recklessly  allowing  herself  to  nosedive  into  their  thing.    she  should  be  careful,    should  be  keeping  in  mind  that  whatever  this  was,    it  was  destined  to  a  sudden  ending.    anytime  now,    that  brilliant  woman  would  float  her  way  out  of  daisy’s  life  just  as  easily  as  she  slipped  into  it,    and  she  would  be  there  still.    she  should  be  so  careful,    but…

     daisy :       natasha!      (    and  steps  onto  the  sidewalk,    )      oh,    that  bambino  ?    (    and  nods  upwards,    towards  the  figure  of  a  young  man  that  curiously  watched  them  from  the  window.    )    could  barely  pretend  to  mind  my  absence  .    you’re  growing  on  him  quite  easily  ,    you  know  .    easiest  way  to  his  heart  is  setting  him  free  from  his  poor  loving  mother  for  a  day  .    (    and  with  a  dramatic  flare  waves  towards  her  son,    that  can  only  roll  his  eyes  at  the  scene,    only  at  last  giving  in  and  waving  back  at  the  two  with  a  smile.    )

     daisy :       pasta  and  a  great  time  are  secured  on  our  bucket  list  for  the  day  ,    don’t  worry  .    but  you  can’t  come  to  venice  and  miss  some  of  the  places  i’m  showing  you  anyway  .    only  they’ll  be  a  surprise  .    i’m  guiding  you  as  we  go  .    (    and  with  mischievous  eyes  glares  at  the  vespa  behind  the  woman,      )      ‘s  that  our  ride  ?

natasha feels like the proper main character of a movie: katherine hepburn straight out of summertime, audrey hepburn roaming around rome in roman holiday, though she is definitely a bit more of a leading man type. exploring venice in her vespa, getting to enjoy herself all the time, the most alive she has felt in years -- it’s hard to imagine how much sweet life could be anywhere else.

but she doesn’t have to, she doesn’t want to and she won’t: today is a day to feel nice, and daisy makes it easier, looking at her like nothing could harm theiri time together. “you think he’d like it even more if i let him ride this beauty? they say it’s healthy for a boy to get to explore,” she purposefully raises her voice to make sure romeo will be able to listen, incapable of hiding the huge grin on her face. finally, she gives in, waving to him before focusing on daisy again, laughing with her surprise. “oh, i can’t believe it... you think i don’t know my way around?” she tries to look angry, not taking long to start giving daisy heart eyes. “martina here has been with me through everything since the beginning, shaky roads and all! couldn’t trust anyone else.”

she caresses the handlebars, chuckling after realizing how carefully she did it. though she made a point of getting her license as soon as she turned 18, she never cared about driving back at home -- what was the point of making that effort in new york? now she is already attached to the beautiful green vespa she rented for the time, to the point of giving it a great italian name to match and that the renter told her it would probably better to just buy it anyway.

she almost did it. but buying would require some commitment, and so natasha stepped away. 

“so, let’s do it. join the carriage, ma’am,” she offers her hand for daisy to hold and use as a support, smiling.

[bonnevivnt]

every day, natasha starts her lack of non-routine, earlier than what could be expected from a traveller. first, she packs her bags. she’s not going anywhere soon, don’t be fooled. her act is done simply for the feeling she gets when she finishes it, taking one step back and realizing what that could mean. the room is empty, all of her few important possessions are protected. if she wanted, she could leave and get to a whole new place without contacting anyone. that simple, no major complications besides buying a ticket and leaving involved. she could pull the root and start again, far away. she imagines herself calling her friends to tell the news and already knows how much they are going to laugh at the phone, at the same time they nod their heads and search for some headache pills to ease the blow. oh, tash, you did it again! yes, she did. will you ever stay still anywhere again? she doesn’t know.

but the most important part of the ritual is not that she is going to leave. the answer is that she will be able to, if she wants. but she doesn’t. it’s just out of necessity, to remind herself that, every day, she has a choice to make, and that is staying in venice. she collects her belongings, takes a much desired cold shower, spends what feels like an hour going from one place to another, tasting various breakfast dishes, and from there everything can happen. the general rule is to relax and have fun, something natasha does quite well, especially in venice. copenhagem lasted one month, paris lasted six, but she has been in venice for a considerable time at this point, and with no intention of putting an end to it. maybe it’s because of the beautiful scenaries, maybe it’s because the mediterranean countries simply seem to fit her better, but no place has treated her better.

some would say it’s because of a person. they wouldn’t be wrong. it is because of daisy today, or bella allora, like she’d rave when she felt like it, that she does things with surgical precision, spends a few minutes more trying to choose which shirt she’ll wear later. not that she is ready to admit it yet, but it’s true: venice is better because of daisy, local artist and natasha’s usual company of choice for the day. she wonder how she will survive when they finally depart, how it will be their days together become mere and distant memories...

and then she puts the thought away very quickly. what matters is that they can be together right now! the lovely green vespa is shining bright, natasha has her sunglasses, daisy is as beautiful as always, she can feel that, after all the preparations, they are off to a great day. “are you sure that everything is alright with the bambino?” she timidly points to the door, patiently waiting on the sidewalk. “we don’t have to go too far. besides your bubble, i haven’t visited much of venice yet, believe it or not,” she laughs along, a little bit at herself. “and i’m sure there is no better guide around. just show me your moves! or we can stay right here. you know i have nothing against pasta and a great time.”