Eternity was in our lips and eyes

Mama and Papa have learned to keep their mouth shut about things, at least if they want me to take over the family business. Being a Montague is damn easy.

Ah. So you’re one of those. Okay, solid. It’ll get you far enough for a while, I guess, until there’s no one to cover you. Just ask Tryphaena Philous. Hm, I guess it must be easy when you don’t have to handle problems. Are you and your crew passing around product tonight, or are you just here for fun?

“Ah, well that explains it, then,” she snorted, “I’m afraid that’s not in my repertoire. But that sounds like an excellent idea. I completely agree; we all need a break. And don’t even worry- you need alcohol, I’ve got alcohol. I’ll willingly volunteer The Golden Cat’s stores just for this. Don’t bother buying any more.”

“It’s not in most people’s,” Cleo smirked, shrugging her shoulders, “but that’s never stopped you. Right?!?!” She couldn’t help but let her smirk curl up into a grin. “Capulet’s been making me deal with his nephew instead of him for the last month while he works on some big project. Between that and human rights issues, it’s exhausting. I had a feeling you’d be on board - seriously, thank you, Mina. Objectively, you’ve got the best shit on this side of town.” 

Woman? Were you trying to insult me? (laughs loudly) I’d insult you by calling you a man, but look at you. You’re just a boy who causes trouble for your family. Disgraceful. I think that a call to your...uncle? Stepfather? Is long overdue. Claudius is a great drinking buddy, and when he hears you’ve been blowing smoke in a diplomat’s son’s face... Well. I can have him on the phone in a minute, if you’d like.

Poise? Me? Honey, have you seen me try to walk ever?

It’s not all about walking in heels on cobblestones, you know. You stand up for yourself and you’re not an ass about it. If half the kids in this town could do that, maybe I wouldn’t be so impressed. But you’re not half-bad.

I served under the right honourable Don Pedro. 

Oh, you’re Aragonese? I’ve heard Don Pedro’s a great man to serve under. Must be weird to leave such a close group of brothers.

If one more person tells me I look like Justin Bieber I’m going to lose my fucking mind.

Please, that asshole wishes he could rock a suit. You’ve got more poise - that’s something to be proud of.

“Who told you that? oh, wait, let me guess. His name starts with a ‘T’ and ends in ‘ybalt’, doesn’t it? You shouldn’t listen to him, he has no idea what he’s talking about half the time. I’m practising a lot because I might become the lead, Madame Rousso was talking about it. How crazy would that be? I just— I have to impress them, hence the constant dancing.”

“He may have been muttering about it under his breath earlier,” Cleo admitted. “I...ran into him at Mina’s bar, and he sounded more bitter than usual.” Cleo grinned, letting out a loud shout of joy. “That’s fantastic, J! I’m so happy for you and you have every reason to be proud of that. It’s good to work for something big. And who knows, maybe you’ll become the next big ballerina out of Italy!” She left it unsaid that, of course, it was good for Juliet to build fame outside her family. No one needed to say it out loud.

Coat’s on, out the door… Now what to do with my day? 

Oh, surely you can’t be bored already! There’s so much to do in Verona. You just have to ask the locals what’s best - it’s easy to miss things the first time around. I wouldn’t have found the best coffee shops or gardens when I first moved here without talking to more people. If you don’t mind my asking, whose service are you in?

“Okay look, I wasn’t specifically following you or anything. I was just heading the same way as you. ”

“Oh!  Slicha, I didn’t see you there. It’s no trouble on my end, Mr. North,” Cleo said, her smile genuine as she placed a hand on her hip. It was never a bad thing to run into the filmmaker - sometimes she got so bored of speaking Italian, among other things. She continued in Hebrew, “I didn’t realize you had business at the embassy today. Nothing bad, I hope?”

I was curious as to whether you’ve seen all the fucks I give about this conversation? Because, I suppose I’ve lost them somewhere along the way.

You’re the one who decided to smoke on the steps of my office while my son was playing there. If you’re out of fucks to give, I can just make a couple quick calls and maybe you’ll start caring. 

She was cutting the stems of the flowers to later arrange them into bouquets when she noticed the other undoing her work from that morning. With a light sigh, she approached them as a smile lit up her features. “Hey, I’m sorry, would you mind not taking the flowers apart from their bouquets? There’s a reason they’re arranged that way.”

Cleo was playing with a gorgeous tulip when she heard Allegra’s voice behind her. “Sorry, Allegra, I wasn’t thinking,” she said, quickly taking out a few euros and extending her hand to her old friend. “But I need a bouquet for a meeting in Venice, and you have black tulips. They’re really rare, you know? Only grown in Holland and Turkey, which I’m sure you must know. I just couldn’t resist.” She let out a sheepish grin, still admiring the bouquet out of the corner of her eye. 

Okay, gross.

“Lord Almighty, that’s almost as disgusting as the cigarette fog in Alexandria,” Cleo sighed, turning up her nose a bit. “You’d think your patrons would have a little more respect for the good shit.” She extended a hand daintily to Robin. “The bar was full, so I figured I’d wait to order my dirty martini. How’s business, love?”

The sun is down and I’m not completely hammered. This, ladies and germs, is a surprising first.

You’ve been hammered since you were in the womb? Your mama and papa must be so proud of their little lieutenant. Darling, I don’t even have a track record like that!

“Yeah, I have no idea what that says. Is this a memo? A ransom note? A shopping list? I haven’t the slightest clue.”

“Unless you’re fluent in Egyptian Arabic, you’re not going to figure it out, dear,” Cleo said in a teasing tone. “I’ll spare you the guesswork: I’m trying to put together a girls’ night at my villa. We need something fun to hold us over until the August holiday. But I’m all out of white wine, unfortunately.” She smirked, knowing that Mina knew her alcohol just as well as Cleo herself did. “Is it worth the trouble to get more?”

“Who knew that listening to Britney Spears in your dressing room would help with pre-performance nerves? Works like a charm.”

In case you don’t realize how adorable that is, I’m here to tell you: that’s adorable. But I’ve heard around town you’ve been doing nothing but practice nonstop - what on earth do you have to worry about, my darling?