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

video.

[steeledskin]

Your friend and I are of a mind, my lady.

[ soft. uncertain. she cares very little for these lockets and their enchantments, but she relishes the opportunity to speak to lucrezia once again. ]

[oursavinggrace]

I've heard of Rome, if that makes you feel any better.

["heard of" is kind of putting it lightly. "nearly died there two or three times just a few weeks ago" is a bit more accurate.

by the way you talk, though, he gets a feeling she probably wasn't around at the time.]

What year was it before you were brought here?

[happilyevermore]

My lady Borgia.

[Guess who is french, catholic and from just from a few years down the line? This girl. Her surprise shows on her face.]

Forgive me, you seem...younger than I would have imagined.

Video

[mildly]

I have wondered these same things, Lady Borgia. But I've found that in war there are always the wounded and the orphaned and the hungry. Perhaps it is our duty to ease their suffering however we can.

video;

[parallels]

There are plenty of things to do beyond fighting and... morale.

[Clearly that's not something she's too concerned with. Though she supposes for someone out of time and space, this whole situation must be even weirder than it is for the rest.]

Strategy, looking after the wounded. Definitely things a lady can do.

( video )

[tsarcasm]

People haven't heard of Rome? Have they been living under a rock or something?

Video

[unclebob]

Women can be taught to kill just as effectively as men.

[He's had enough firsthand experience watching Sarah Connor to know not to underestimate the so-called "fairer sex."]

[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.

video;

[jaywalks]

[ blonde hair is such a new concept to mako, it's definitely part of the reason he decided to respond; it's an easy marker for people from definitely different places than him, and part of him is truly curious. ]

There's always resource management and stuff; there's plenty of decent fighers who suck at the supplies end of things. But I guess most of the suggestions like that've already been said.

[ but plenty of other people have suggested alternatives and argued her talk about war skills, but he's interested in talking about thinking it's a dream. ]

Or you can just sit it out until you know for sure if this is legit, wouldn't fault you for that.

[ that's what he plans to do, at least. ]

video.

[torc]

( Guinevere knows Rome. She knows it as the driving seat of force behind the suffering of her people - she knows it as power unjustly wielded; as action without compassion. The Emperor and his Pope sent swathes of swords to ravage her home, each one intended to drive back her people and claim the land of the Britons for the Empire. )

I have heard tales of Rome.

( She lifts her chin, dark eyes bright with the burn of rebellion. )

The poisonous heart Empire so vast it crushes all it does not swallow, built on the blood of the men and women who died fighting for their freedom. The blood of my people.

( Her voice is clear and cool. After all, it was a Roman aristocrat who held her hostage; who tortured her and caged her for her beliefs in the name of an absent God. A humourless chuckle follows. )

If only life were so simple that such wrongs could be made right with a mere pinch.

video

[courtly]

Sheperd of all men's souls? I trust you don't mean this in the literal sense, my lady.