Ludo Baresi

“Only until you can kick me again.” Sandro replied, laughing as he did so. “I promise only when we are alone though. Otherwise it is rude.” He agreed with a nod. Then his smile faded and he nodded, “I worry a bit that she thinks me a bit weak given she had to save me … not much of a Dominant really.” He replied softly as he took a seat opposite his friend. “I am glad you are going to be fully recovered in no time.”

Ludo hummed in response, pleased that he at least knew his boundaries. But then his smile faded and she shook her head gently. “First of all, there is nothing wrong with a Dominant showing weakness and a Submissive showing strength. Remember that.” The blonde started with a soft, yet stern voice. “Besides that, you had your hands full with me. You’re strong and you’re brave, Sandro, but you’re not Superman. You did what you could, and so did she. Try not to read into it so much.” She paused, making sure she had his gaze before saying, “She’s lucky she has a Dominant like you.”

Megan sat down at the table, placing her slice of chocolate cake down beside her and looked down at it with a sigh, memories of last year’s birthday still so fresh in her mind, days before it all went wrong.  “Another fabulous birthday,” she murmured to herself with a frown as she cut off a piece with her fork.

“Not to intrude, but I can’t help but feel that’s not at all true.” The blonde offered a sympathetic smile as she paused by the woman’s table, only hovering to see the response she’d receive. If the other wished for company, Ludo would be happy to give it. 

Mateo was, admittedly, a little jumpy. This was the first event in which he’d taken over as head of security, the first time he’d be judged. That his team would be judged. So if he was quick to snap, could anyone really blame him?

And he was truly ready to snap when he spotted a guest leaving the party area and sneaking through the doors just outside of it. He quickly radioed a member of his team, but opted to respond himself when his security responded they were on a bathroom break. “I swear to fucking God…” Mateo murmured as he pushed through the crowd, following after the errant guest.

“Hey, you really can’t be back here,” Mateo said after he slipped past the doors after them. “C’mon, I’ll escort you back to the party.”

Ludo couldn’t help herself. She knew it was wrong; she hadn’t even really been invited to the party. Her parents had been, she was sure of it, the famous celebrities they were. Not that she spoke to them to know. No, she’d heard about the event and heard that all nobles had been invited. And she knew enough of them to get away with arriving and being greeted as a guest. That was really her only intention, to mingle, to get to know more about the Romanos. 

But the story behind their move to Verona was suspicious, full of holes. She wasn’t sure she was ready to believe they were just here for their agriculture business. And so she snuck away, just wanting to see if she came across anyone or anything she could consider. Unfortunately, though she was dressed as Catwoman, she wasn’t quite so stealthy. “Oh really?” Ludo turned, a look of surprise and embarrassment on her face, “I’m so sorry, I was just trying to get some fresh air and got a bit turned around.” 

Freddie sighed. A masquerade was just the sort of stuffy event that he had tried to escape from by moving away from Verona. Of course it would find him within a month of his return. “I guess that I will have to go as Bruce Wayne then. But slipping away sounds far more like me. Are you going to the thing?”

“You’ll look wonderful, regardless which version of Batman you go as.” Ludo assured before nodding, “I am. Events like this one are great opportunities to meet new people, or to catch up with people you already know.” She smiled then and added, “I do hope I see you there.”

“As much as I would like to stay home and give out candy, I doubt that my family will let me be so antisocial.” He chuckled, having no idea what his Halloween plans were going to be. He knew that he could always fake a stomach ache to go home early, but it seemed so childish.

“Well there is that Masquerade event I heard about. Perhaps not quite the place to show off your legs in a sexy batman outfit, but certainly a place to socialise. You could make an appearance there, make your family proud, and then slip away once no one is really paying attention anymore.”

“As you should, Hobbles.” He teased with a soft laugh. “As I expected from you.” He nodded at her reply, “You were pretty mushed under that crowd. I still have a bit of a nightmare about it. I feel like we were both on the verge of getting swept under before she arrived. I was very worried about that wound on your head. So I was very relieved you were a-ok.” 

“Will this ‘Hobbles’ nonsense stick?” Ludo asked exasperatedly, though in fairness, she did find it rather endearing. The only nickname she’d ever allowed was, well, Ludo. “I do too. I dream about what would have happened if you hadn’t been there. Or if Ariella hadn’t come to help us.” She shook her head carefully, moving to take a seat on her couch; ankle aching from standing so long. “I’m alright, thank you. It could have been much worse, but it wasn’t.”

Freddie cleared his throat, blushing a bit. He hadn’t been called sexy for a long time. “Um, thank you.” He looked back at the costumes, not able to meet her eyes. “So you are saying sexy Batman then? With the short shorts?” 

Ah, a blush. Ludo’s smile brightened a bit as he seemed taken aback by her compliment. “Well if you’re going for the short shorts, I’m going to have to ask where it is you’ll be on Halloween. Not sure I can miss out on seeing you in that costume.”

The image of the woman standing next to her poking the box of cereal down from the shelf was amusing to her. It was difficult enough needing her to help get it down off the shelf, asking someone else to come and assist them was even more difficult. A mischievous smile appeared on her face, “I say that we use the crutch and I’ll do my best to catch it as it falls.”

Ludo smirked; even before the other spoke, she could tell by that smile how this was going to go. “Point out which exact box you want and I’ll do my best.” It wasn’t much like her to do something like this, but then the other woman looked like she could use something to make her day a bit brighter.

Alex: I heard once that long drives made for great second dates. I still hope your father doesn't murder me though.

Alex: I'm going to take a drive to look at the leaves.

Alex: Want to join me?

At the sound of a voice, Emery turned in the direction it had come from, only to see the woman limping towards her. “We’ve both certainly gone through quite an ordeal, that’s for sure.” She was right, however, and Emery was counting her lucky stars that she hadn’t managed to take any damage to her hip and leg in addition to everything else she did on the right side. Her broken collarbone, ribs, and lung were quite enough as far as she was concerned. “I feel like I should’ve thought to bring someone tall along with me so that I wouldn’t have this problem.” She didn’t want to mention that she wouldn’t ask for help from anyone even if her doctor might have suggested she take it easy.

“Depending on what it is you’re wanting, I could gently tap it off with my crutch.” Ludo offered, a playful smile on her lips. “Or I do suppose we could ask someone for help... but where’s the fun in that?”

“I never thought of him as sexy, but I guess that you are right. I’m thinking more the Dark Knight version.” Freddie was more concerned with being able to use the excuse, because I’m Batman. Not that he was going anywhere special. He was mainly going to stay outside and hand out candy to the kids. 

“Hm.. well I suppose what’s sexy or not is quite subjective. To be blunt, I do believe you’d be sexy regardless of your costume.” Ludo pointed out, her lips curling into a small smile, curious of his reaction. Would he balk at her honesty or accept it?

“I brought pastries and some very nice coffee beans to make up for my cruel ways.” Sandro teased with a laugh, “You are already looking better. I’m sure if you stay on the physio, you’ll be kicking ass and taking names as the Americans say in no time.” He shrugged lightly, “What are friends for? Of course I would always help you. Plus, to be honest, Ariella saved both of us with her mean right hook.”

“Well in that case I suppose I can forgive you.” Ludo replied with a smile, genuinely touched that he’d brought anything at all. “Don’t worry, I’m doing my exercises and attending all my appointments like a good girl. And please, Sandro, I do that anyways.” The blonde teased before shaking her head, “Did she really? I wish I could remember that; I’m afraid everything from me falling to you and- who was - ah, Georgie Romano - helping me into the bank is a bit of a blur.”