10793/Italy on Five Lira a Day

Italy on Five Lira a Day
Date of Scene:	19 January 2020
Location:	Rome, Italy
Synopsis:	Cindy and Indy set out on an Italian road trip.
Cast of Characters:	Indiana Jones, Silk

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Indiana Jones has posed:
The night had been unremarkable. They had signed in, gotten their double room with the two gift baskets, and had met Belloq for dinner. God, how THAT had sounded in his mind. Apparently, Rene had been the black sheep of the family, and it had taken a long time for the specter of the Nazis to fade. He seemed earnest enough. Maybe he should cut the kid some slack.

He didn't know how Cindy had slept, having a separate bed for propriety, but he had left a wake-up call for Cindy to meet him downstairs for the complimentary breakfast.

Silk has posed:
The night had been unremarkable. Cindy had dinner with Indy and Belloq, before retiring to her room. She spent most of the night on the roof of the hotel, keeping watch. She remembered what happened last time she had a whirlwind adventure with Indy, and she is less than fond of the surprises that they found. Or rather, the surprises who found /them/.

She is dressed and ready when her wakeup call comes, and she heads down for breakfast, clad in a long, stylish black flowing skirt with large red poppies printed on the fabric, along with a crisp white blouse and a red silk neck scarf tied at the throat. Her shoes, as always, are sensible: simple red flats. The red suit she wears beneath will keep her warm.

She spots Indy and waves, before joining him at his table. "Morning!" she chirps. "Sleep well?"

Indiana Jones has posed:
Indy nods. "Like the proverbial brick." He grabbed a plate and started going along the sumptuous buffet line. "How about you? Did you get enough rest?"

Silk has posed:
"Oh, enough, for sure," Cindy replies, taking a plate and following Indy's lead. She has no idea how many eggs are in the pile that she heaps onto her plate, and she doesn't think twice before piling the sausage on just as high. "Seems quiet here. I had a look for...well, most of the night. It's pretty nice."

Indiana Jones has posed:
Indy pours himself some coffee, then sits down at the table. He glances once to the mountain of eggs topped with heavy sausage-fall. "I'm going to get used to seeing that...eventually." He starts in on his own meager-by-comparison breakfast. "We will be heading southeast, towards Naples and Florence."

Silk has posed:
By now, Cindy has filled a second plate with fruit, cheese, and bread. She joins Indy, nodding slightly and pours herself a cup of coffee, as well. "Bet it'll be beautiful. I've been looking forward to this since you mentioned it."

Indiana Jones has posed:
Indy looked around. "I'll give you more details when we're on the road. Pack for a day trip. The usual tourist stuff. No tools. It won't be like China, no checkpoints, but always best to play the tourist angle." He sips his coffee, then begins eating. "...And keep an eye out for the Brethren. I'm sure they are watching us."

Silk has posed:
"I'm certain they are. I can't shake that. But if they decide to move, you'll know pretty much before /they/ know." Cindy is eating with gusto, enjoying the delicious offerings of free breakfastage. "I'll be prepared, tools or no. Nothing to worry about," she says with a wink and a smile, before shoveling in more eggs.

Indiana Jones has posed:
Indy smiles and nods. "It's going to be interesting, that's for sure."

Twenty minutes later, the two of them step out of the foyer and spot a robin's-egg-blue Fiat 500 sitting there, the valet holding the keys. Indy tipped him $10 USD, then tossed his day bag in the trunk. He patted his shirt pocket, smiling to Cindy. "The valet probably thinks I'm your sugar daddy, Cindy."

Silk has posed:
Cindy cuts her eyes toward the valet for a moment at Indy's suggestion. "I can't imagine. Such a scandalous idea!" She kisses Indy's cheek and winks at the valet before sliding into her seat in the car.

Indiana Jones has posed:
Indy rolls his eyes and gets in the driver's seat, handing a map to Cindy.

As they head past the Vatican, Indy says, "All right...I have a line on the convent. It's actually still in operation, so there are some nuns there. I wonder if they have stories about the Mother Superior in the 15th century." He pauses, looking to Cindy. "How are you with the Catholic Church? Had much experience with them?"

Silk has posed:
"Umm..." Cindy glances at the map and sets it on her lap. "I mean, they're human, right? I'm good with humans. I'm really good with humans. And I should like, be on my best behavior. And...no cracking dumb jokes? What else do I need to know?"

Indiana Jones has posed:
Indy nods. "Just be careful of the ones with rulers." He looks to the buildings thinning out as they move to the countryside. "Italy is Catholic Central. Hell, we just passed the Vatican not too long ago. Expect them to be insular. We need a cover story. I doubt they will be familiar with me like the convention-goers know. What do you think could be a good cover story for us, Cindy?"

This was half-test, half-curiosity. This line of work meant thinking on your feet in more than one way...

Silk has posed:
"I think you're a brilliant up and coming writer," Cindy says, without hesitation. "Historic fiction. Or scholarly interest, even! And you're interested in the history of a place like this. I, however, am your adoring paramour, doting over your every word. Your muse," she adds with a grin.

Indiana Jones has posed:
"My *muse,* eh? Do you have a long, flowing Grecian gown and gold sandals?" He thinks for a moment. "That could work, actually. That would work very well. Only...you're my assistant, but you confess to wanting more if drawn into confession?"

Silk has posed:
Cindy crinkles her nose. "Why am /I/ the one who wants more in confession? Is my muse not good enough for your writer?" She laughs, then nods. "Your assistant. I think I could pull that off. It'll be a stretch..."

Indiana Jones has posed:
Indy slows down as a flock of sheep block the country road. "It looks better than me keeping you around to salve my ego. We don't want to get off on the wrong foot with them, or they'll turn to stone so fast you'd think Medusa was wearing a habit. But a young girl in an official role with a secret to share...that would come across as something to gossip about after we leave."

Silk has posed:
"Well...you aren't wrong," Cindy finally concludes. "Seems fair. I'll be your doting assistant, and you can be the serious-minded, but oblivious writer. It sounds like the perfect cover, to me!"

Indiana Jones has posed:
Indy edges the Fiat past the flock as they move to the right. "All right. You think quickly on your feet. That's a useful skill." He is silent for a moment. "Philipe bothers me. He seems like he's on the up-and-up. He talks a good game. But he's Rene's descendant, and that's not a point in his favor. And I find it odd for Belloq to meet up at the same time we are on the hunt."

Silk has posed:
"I got a little tingle just before you greeted him. I feel like there's something going on there. He seems nice. And sincere. But there are no coincidences in this game. And with the line of business he's in? No way that he isn't looking for the same thing you are. Or at very least trying to find out exactly what you're looking for so he can 'recover' it." Cindy waves at a sheep that has stopped to watch them pass. "That's why I was on the roof all night."

Indiana Jones has posed:
Indy looked to her. "All night? You didn't sleep at all?" He sounded concerned. If she was going to nod off, he needed to let her get some shuteye.

Silk has posed:
"I don't need as much sleep as you do," she replies reassuringly to Indy. "I got a couple of hours at one point. Another hour, later on. I have a lot more stamina than your typical assistant."

Indiana Jones has posed:
"You have a lot more stamina than my typical *anything,* Cindy Moon." Indy nods, looking back to the road. "Do you get...worn out, after a lot of what you do? Do you have times where you just collapse?"

Silk has posed:
"I have...before. But it's part of why I eat like I do, and sleep whenever I can, if there's a chance of something that might stretch into a lengthy ordeal." Cindy gazes out the passenger side, over the countryside. "It's as much to protect my ability to perform as it is to ensure your mission. Because if I fall, that leaves you in quite a lurch." She turns back to Indy and smiles. "But it's nothing to worry about for now. Right now, we just have a lovely drive, a beautiful landscape, and herds of sheep, and ruler-wielding penguins."

Indiana Jones has posed:
Indy nods. "There is something both amazing and scary about you, Cindy Moon. I can't imagine having that kind of power, Cindy. It must be difficult in ways I will never understand."

Silk has posed:
"Having the power is easy!" Cindy looks back at Indy with a partially amused, and partially concerned expression. "It's just that it sometimes takes a lot of thinking fast, and planning ahead. It was a new normal for a few years. Now it's just....normal."

Indiana Jones has posed:
Indy nods and looks to the front again. He can understand "the new normal." It's just...strange, sometimes.