first bull ( video )

[pontificus]

[When first brought here, she would swear it all a dream. All that they said and all that they have her on the feast could only be a parting gift from the gods, Bacchus' treats, Ceres' grief of losing a daughter, Diana's farewell for losing a maiden soon enough. But she wakes in her bed, rises and dresses. There is no man that lies with her, there is no parting.

So here she stays alone, save for those she's had the good fortune of meeting. One certain knight she least hopes to see again, though the dream has broken and with it holds the reality, her reality.]

It seems we are in no dream, for I have pinched myself enough to believe it real. I am Lucrezia Borgia of Rome, a place I have found little have heard of. Nor even of my name who I once held with Pope Alexander VI before he was called to be the Shepherd of all men's souls. [She still cannot call herself Sforza. That taste is too bitter in her mouth.]

I address this-- locket [Yes, it is even strange to her, and she must back up a little to see better now.] as a means of addressing this war. I know little on the matter of strategy and battle. My brothers have been taught the skill of the sword, and yet here I am in their place.

A friend-- [For she would consider all those kind to her the night of the feast a friend.] --relayed the thought that perhaps those like I are here for morale, but truly this many ladies?

I shan't sit around. [Lucrezia may not be the Harold of charities she will become, but idleness here does her little.] I wish to make myself of use, though for what I am unsure.

I do truly hope to meet you all, and already call myself fortunate in those I have met. Good day.

Comments

[chiot]

Madame!

[ ooh ooh ooh oh oh oh! Listen, listen listen! The locket is recording but Gavroche still outstretches his hand wide and waves it, desperately afraid her attention is going to go elsewhere. ]

Madame! 'Ey, 'ey! I know it!

I know Rome.

[pontificus]

[Of course she cannot take his eyes off him. She has a little brother, too. Though the little one is French and she is wary of the French, he seems so proud to know her home.]

I am glad I am not the only one who does. And if I were to guess, I would say you are French?

[chiot]

Uh-huh. Born an' raised in Paris. An' I ain't known any of what Rome speaks, but I can talk to you, huh? That's what I like about here--'cause I ain't gotta know summin' to talk it.

[ And then, proudly: ] I saw a map of it, once. Rome. I wanted to memorize it but there wasn't any time.

[pontificus]

Italian, but I know Latin, speak Catalan with my family, and any lady worth her weight in good can speak the fine language of France.

[She's already enamored with him, smiling back cheerfully.]

Though I must admit we may soon be at war with France, we are never at war with Paris.

[chiot]

Why you bein' at war with France? [ In his timeline, it doesn't make sense. For the most part, at least--but Gavroche is unconcerned with what he views as trivial, and world events are high up on that list. ]

[pontificus]

France threatens to invade. None would like their homes destroyed, lords killed, and crowns usurped. [But it is clear she does not think he is involved. He is just a child, and a commoner from the looks, but she does not judge him on that either.]

[chiot]

That ain't my France. My france is fightin' here, with each other. Rich an' poor, huh? Your France is strange.