And this is what it said:
Loyalty is forged through the desire to serve an An ideal is born when the rest of the world becomes so dull and mundane... that you need something worth believing in. Mamma mia! Behold the very essence of grace! Lady - Gentle Smile of Early Spring, - and Mistress - Sex- on- the- Beach, - incarnate! — Lorenzo gasped.
Without the sex, but hey — still got the — Campus snickered. Camillo, my dearest, do say that Lady Flora tonight is as radiant as the budding bloom of a wisteria in full springtime glory? Wisteria is Rey Mysterio. Right. — Camillo muttered dryly.
Nooo, silly! Rey Mysterio is not a flower!! Oh, you glorious brick of a man. — Lorenzo burst out laughing and kissed the hands of every lady present, dropping deep, theatrical bows that felt hilariously outdated — which, of course, made Flora love them even more. She was a sucker for vintage charm. — Camillo nodded to the room, saying more with one grunt than most people did with essays. Words weren't extracted from him with pliers — you'd need, like... hydraulic tools or a divine intervention. But let's not invent new metaphors — that are exhausting.
After a round of sweaty handshakes, nods, bows, and even a few awkward curtseys, everyone had gotten to know each other. Lorenzo then turned to Flora and asked:
Peach, mango, or any other fruit of my adoration — I'm simply dying to know which roles you've prepared for us in this cinematic masterpiece. I don't want to be a pesky little flea, though part of me does want to bounce with joy at the mere sight of you... Oh, you little Just like when you were a kid — unstoppable. — Evelyn smiled sweetly, casually showing off a fist that could've cracked coconuts. Ceasing all movement! I freeze in reverence! — Lorenzo pressed a finger to his own .. then to his silent husband's. — But before total shutdown, I must know — what roles await us in your soon- to- be- legendary film? You haven't forgotten your cari amici, vero?
CUTSCENE – commercial for a new fragrance: My Gentle Gentleness
Voice- over (this is Manu trying his best, either reading from a crumpled note or from a message Flora texted him five minutes ago):
On the ocean's edge, new waves are born, and though the tides are ruled by the moon, something deeper, something grand and noble...
Each of you has dreamed this dream at least once: to run barefoot across warm sand, hand in hand with the one you love, hearing nothing but two hearts beating, breath hitching, and the wind, gently cooling your flushed cheeks, drunk on happiness and the moment itself.
Under these tranquil words, two beautiful young men run along the beach, while even ancient statues seem to ogle them with their horny marble eyeballs, seething with envy at their grace and beauty.
(Ahem. Miss Flora. Are you sure we should keep that line?)
Once, Aphrodite herself rose from sea foam upon a colossal pearlescent shell... now the ocean watches in awe at her descendants!
The wind, the waves, and the waves again — and that perfectly warm- cool breeze that's just on the edge of becoming a typhoon, full of the passion storming inside our heroes. Let it carry you, friends! Let it guide your way!
In the final shot, the two boys stop abruptly, smiling at each other — choosing to stay in that moment forever.
CUT!
——————
Beautiful work, Boys. — Flora flashed an - okay- sign with her Even the ever- sullen Costume gave a nod — or at least his fabric folded in a way that looked vaguely like one. We've shown you two in the softest, most touching light Now this segment's ready for
any perfume brand that wants to partner with us. Evelyn stared at her with skyrocketing respect:
Look at my little girl — growing up right in front of me, finally ditching her diapers of naïveté! Copy chimed in too, of course: These kinds of segments fit perfectly into the current discourse and will absolutely please a socially conscious, democracy- driven audience.
That earned her a sharp glare from Flora, who hated two things: Copy's smug tone and — more importantly — her lies.
She didn't film this to fit some - discourse. - She filmed it to include the guys because she loved them with all her heart. Because she wanted to show love the way she sees it.
So she stuck her tongue out at the smug, successful director- clone and turned away, proud of her little rebellious moment.
No one was pressuring her anymore. She felt ready to talk next steps…
…until, one second later, a whole storm of confusion and gentle reproach landed on her head. Only two people were heading toward her — but oh, what people.