presents...
|
Love and Madness
Game Date: 06/30/06
Voltadi, Quintus 22: Mondavi's Ball before the Duel Francesca had quite a time, gossipping with the courtesans (who continually mistook her for Celestina) and dancing with the men who also mistook her for a courtesan, prompting Marco to intervene at several points. And Renato had some sweet things to say to the Lady Donati, but her player couldn't make it so Tune In Next Week for the final scene from this ball. Father Donati contented himself with observing Pietra and Oreste Mondavi conversing. They were both alike in being quiet, scheming sorts, and they seemed happy to sit together for most of the ball, people-watching and making comments. After the Duel Still "disguised" in her red dress and mask, Francesca jumped at Marco's suggestion that they go out into Chiarisa to see some of the sights that she wouldn't be able to take in as a respectable wife. They started out on the higher levels of the city, visiting posh restaurants (just for a quick drink and to hear a song or two) and gaming halls. As the night wore on, they went downward into rougher neighborhoods. It was exciting at first for Francesca, but as it got closer to dawn, she began to think that the places down by the water couldn't be all that interesting anyway and besides, they needed to get back to their rooms. Marco, who had been hoping to get down to the gondolas, reluctantly had to agree that it was time to go home. Pretty Much the Next Week Marco and Francesca looked for - and found - more reasons to go off alone together. Father Donati was preoccupied with his mission to the drunk and Gianina found herself in much demand among the strega. The duel and its aftermath was the talking point of the day, and her readings of her family members (and the former family member) were sought out. Gallisus after all had been friends with Gianfranco; now, Gallisus (as governor) would be Salvador's superior. What would this mean for the mainland? For the island? Baronessa Lavinia scrupulously refused to answer questions about her older brother's strands, but others close to Gallisus could be cajoled into giving their interpretations of his strands. Gianina's readings on Salvador (and her impressions of Angelo) were good currency for getting that information, and she found herself caught up in the currents of intrigues among the strega - because Antonio would need to know about all of this! Of course Francesca wasn't comfortable around the strega and the will-less vedova, so she left her sister to her own devices... Pietra stayed mostly with Gianina (it was clear now that she needed to learn about the Mondavi court a lot more than she needed to attend the drunkards) and Renato uneasily held his peace. During That Week: Amordi, Quintus 25 Countess Odessa Blanchard Walked to her token and, finding herself in Mondavi's travel room, asked to be taken to the Donati. She was, where Angelo had the fun of informing her that her paramour had, in fact, attained his viscounty but was as a result no longer a Donati. She was surprised and a little bemused. She was certainly amused when the good priest asked for a quick, discreet ride back to Monfalcone with the news. More than happy to assist a clergyman in the act of committing a mortal, sorcerous sin, she Walked him back to Antonio's office. It was empty, but Cristoforo was just outside the door. His news was sparse: Tigran had left, and Antonio and Zola had had a loud quarrel, and she hadn't been seen for over a week. That said, he went to get Antonio. Lord Donati hurried down, uncertain of what this unexpected visit portended. The news was mixed. Pietra's impending marriage (and Anna's unengagement) was of course wonderful, expect that any and all news touching on Pietra made Antonio uneasy. Salvador's victory and its conditions surprised him, but he took the news equitably. The real question would be how Salvador would act as viscount - whether or not this "disowning" would impact family business. (Family business was, incidentally, getting along, but the prince's edicts were difficult to work with.) He asked the countess if she had anything to do with this plan, and she insisted that she did not. Antonio asked after his wives and was told that they were well. Angelo inquired after Zola; Antonio admitted that they had fought - over Pietra. Why was "Angelo's" by-blow acknowledged, but Marco wasn't? Antonio seemed resolved that family business was business and his fight with Zola was personal. Angelo just hinted (or threatened) that Zola had better not seek to take any measures against Pietra. Angelo also asked after Bernardo, who had been sent for: "doing strangely well" was the answer. Oh, and yes Ellen was doing well and the garden shed (and its basement) were well along to being converted for her use. And her father was here. Bernardo and Ellen both stopped in to see Angelo. Bernardo - now carrying a sword and exuding more confidence than ever - admitted that Lucia was expecting a boy. Ellen was doing well, although her father was greatly annoyed over the new restrictions on trade. But she thought the news of Pietra's imminent engagement would improve his mood. Upon returning to Chiarisa, the countess excused herself to go see how the viscount was doing. She stayed largely out of the way for the remainder of the week (and often returning to Montaigne for this or that) but, even at her most discreet, engendered quite a bit of talk while she was there. Feast of Charity, Quartus 30 Amid the celebration of the Feast of Charity, Lady Donati had a few quiet words with her brother-in-law. It had gotten back to her that her sister, far from spending her days walking in the palace gardens or even throwing knives with the palace guards, was going out for walks and trips with no one but her chaperone. Not so bad anywhere else in Theah, but here, every strega could see Marco's strand to Francesca, many could see her strand going back, and they could also see them growing at an alarming rate. People were talking. She didn't want to aggravate the situation by calling undue attention to it, but was there anything Angelo could do? Angelo spoke to Renato. Why yes, yes it was a good idea for Marco to perform some acts of physical charity. An excellent complement to his other training, in fact. Renato would absolutely approve of Marco going with Father Donati down to the hospital to minister to the sick and infirm. Starting tomorrow, after church, in fact. Soldi, Sextus 1 It was midafternoon in the palace gardens, when Francesca, missing Marco, noticed the poor man who was following the Donati, very agitated. Curious, she motioned for him to approach, which he did with many gestures of thanks. He wasn't dirty, although he and his clothes were very worn and tattered. He knew Father Donati from his work at the hosptial, he said. Turned his life around, he said. And he had seen the father just today, but as he was leaving to get some food with the young man he'd brought - footpads or brigands or some sort of bandit overpowered the pair and dragged them off! He had followed them, followed them to the very mouth of the catacombs that underlay Chiarisa but would not go into that foul place alone, and so came to find the family of the priest to tell them what had happened! Continue to next game.
|