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Post by TruBellezzan on Apr 12, 2006 16:45:40 GMT -1
*********** Cesare scowled as he looked out of his carriage window - this wasn't right! He should be taking the journey on horseback, not trapped by the four sides of the carriage, just sitting, letting someone else do all the work for him. Why on earth couldn't Bellezza have stables? It was outrageous. Simply barbaric. He couldn't help but grin as he thought of his train of thought - he sounded like a crotchety old man! "Shut up, Cesare," he told himself sternly, startling Paolo. Cesare knew he had no reason to be sad - he'd won the Stellata, he was going to his best friend's wedding, the stable's were flourishing, Merla loved him as much as ever. The carriage drew up outside the palace of the Bellezzan Duchessa - and soon it would be the home of the Duke too. He smiled - they'd spent so long about it, Luciano and Arianna, and everyone else could see that each loved the other, apart from Arianna and Luciano themselves. Always trying new things to get the other to admit their love, always shying away at the last minute. Ah well. They were together now. Cesare shook himself back into the real world, and he and Paolo strode towards the doors of the palace. Servants waved them in, and footmen carried their belongings, making Cesare feel guilty - why should someone else carry his things? Did Luciano and Arianna live like this? Did they take all their servants for granted? They were taken to their rooms by a maid, and left there, being told that the Duchessa and her consort were unavailable at the current time, and that they would be greeted in the morning. Cesare growned and dropped down onto his bed. Sleep would come, and then the excitement and formality of the next day would follow.
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Post by [giulietta-off dreaming] on Apr 14, 2006 0:17:04 GMT -1
Giuditta nudged Sandro. "We're here."
Sandro nodded. "Come on, Fratello." He put his little dog on the ground outside, where Fratello ran around in circles and barked excitedly.
Giuditta was lifting their belongings out of the carriage. "Yes, I can handle it, no, I don't need your help," she was telling the footmen. "It would be nice if you just showed us to where we are staying. No, Sandro is not my son. Alright, if you don't have room, we can sleep in the same room. No, it will not kill us."
"Calm down Fratello," Sandro told his dog. "Let's go." The boy frowned when one of the servants told him the dog would not be allowed inside. "Fratello is well behaved. He won't cause trouble. And I won't go in without him."
Giuditta sighed. Here for less than five minutes, and already, there was trouble.
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Post by Gabriella di Talia on Apr 17, 2006 20:47:25 GMT -1
Luciano smiled at Arianna and nodded, "I'm just as excited. It will be a marvalous day when we are married. He smiled, about to pull her close to kiss her when a maid entered and informed the Duchessa that several guests had arrived.
The maid looked down with respect as not to see Arianna's face without her mask before she was married.
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Post by Duchessa_Arianna on Apr 18, 2006 10:23:49 GMT -1
Arianna nodded rather regretably as a maid entered and she sighed slightly. 'Why did it have to be in precisely the wrong moment?' She put a smile on her face nevertheless and quickly picked up her mask and re-tied it.
"Thank you..." She said to the maid and then turned to Luciano, "Wish to come and greet my guests? Well...our guests?" She suggested with a smile. Regardless of his decision she began to move towards the door, but she paused for just a moment and with a smile quickly went back to Luciano and kissed him briefly.
She laughed softly and the Duchessa pulled away, and this time she did go out of the room, and down the stairs towards the entrance of the palace.
Arianna caught sight of a small dog running around excitedly and she smiled softly and walked forward to greet the new guests. "Ah, welcome to Bellezza. I am glad you accepted the invitation. I trust you are well?" She asked Giuditta with a smile, glancing down at the boy with the dog too.
((Sorry that was kinda rubbish. I'm not feeling my best today. *shrugs* ))
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Post by Gabriella di Talia on Apr 18, 2006 19:25:22 GMT -1
Luciano waited a few minutes after she left. He glanced at himself in the mirror. He ran a hand through his black curly hair. It was about time for a hair cut... he'd have to get that done before the wedding.
He shrugged and turned to go down the stairs to find Arianna. He was also curious to know who these guests were. He was hoping it was Ceasare. He had not heard of his arrival to Bellezza yet and he was very keen on seeing his friend again.
He walked to the entrance and stood next to Arianna, grinning slightly at Sandro. He nodded to him and leaned down, patting the dog on the head.
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Post by [giulietta-off dreaming] on Apr 18, 2006 23:41:53 GMT -1
Giuditta nodded, and bowed. "Thank you. Did you meet Sandro in Giglia?" she indicated the boy standing next to her.
Sandro bowed too, then looked up. "Your errr... Grace? May I bring Fratello into the palace?" he asked timidly.
{arrrgh, shortness... +sigh+ I'm not feeling very intelligent today. XD}
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Post by Duchessa_Arianna on Apr 19, 2006 10:33:48 GMT -1
Arianna saw Luciano come down the stairs and stand beside her, also greeting their guest.
"We never got to meet each other properly at all." She smiled kindly at the boy, "I think Luciano, you went with Brother Tino and Sandro to search for medicine?" She inquired and nodded.
The Duchessa looked at him for a moment and smiled, "Well...I think the staff should be able to make an exception for you, Sandro. I shall get them to make sure both you *and* Fratello are comfortable and at home." She finished, "Now come... I suppose we should get you to your rooms."
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Post by [giulietta-off dreaming] on Apr 20, 2006 0:31:11 GMT -1
Giuditta nodded, nearly sighing with relief. "Thank you, Your Grace," she said. "Come, on Sandro."
The two of them followed the Duchessa
{Assuming, of course, that you're moving. And I know it's short. bleh. uggh. I don't know.}
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Post by Princess of Fishes on Apr 20, 2006 6:40:17 GMT -1
"My Lady and Lord", Barbara inclined her head in acknolledgement of Luciano, "begging your pardon for calling you away again but other guests have arrived. A Cesare and Paolo they have been told that you will not see them until tomorrow but if you are free now I will take you to their room."
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Post by Duchessa_Arianna on Apr 20, 2006 20:04:16 GMT -1
Arianna had crossed towards the door, only to find Barbara walking towards them.
"My Lady and Lord, begging your pardon for calling you away again but other guests have arrived. A Cesare and Paolo they have been told that you will not see them until tomorrow but if you are free now I will take you to their room."
The Duchessa looked to Barbara and back to Sandro and Guilietta, "Thank you for informing me Barbara. Well it appears that Cesare is here after all!" She smiled at Luciano, "I know you wanted him to come! Perhaps you would like to go and greet our other guests while I show Sandro and Signora Miele to their room?" She suggested before smiling at the little boy and walking towards the hallway.
((Sorry I have to go now. And I keep forgetting to write for Leonora, I promise I will in my next post, but I keep forgetting what happened with her after COF.))
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Post by [giulietta-off dreaming] on Apr 20, 2006 23:31:08 GMT -1
{^^ I'm not very good at posting long posts. I'll try.}
Giuditta smiled at the mention of Paolo. Smart, she thought. To invite Stravagante. Very smart.
Sandro had not the slightest notion who Cesare and Paolo were, but he gathered that Giuditta knew at least one of them. He made a mental note to ask her about them later. He was currently absorbed in calming a very excited Fratello.
Giuditta waited patiently, but she felt like her arms were going to fall off.
{Sandro's so absorbed with his dog XDXD}
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Post by Princess of Fishes on Apr 25, 2006 11:52:52 GMT -1
"Her Grace the Duchessa Arianna and her ...consort ...his Grace Luciano", Barbara announced them. She still hesitated over luciano and was still unsure of what to call him. However it seemed to have been sufficient for both men in the room rose and bowed.
Babara inspected them closely from behind her mask. These must be the people from Remora, she looked to the man, Paolo, she had been told and he was a stravagante. Now her attention turned to the other man. He was younger, Paolo's son apparently he had brown hair and gorgeous brown eyes. He was quite handsome she thought, but she knew better than to let herself linger over such thoughts, she hoped through determination to avoid admiring someone, hoping that this would stop her from having to relive what she had gone through with her former fiance.
At that moment his eyes swiveled to meet her lingering for a second. She blushed from under her mask and felt her face getting hot. Then the pain returned searing, splitting her in half, It had as she had feared been getting worse but nothing like this. She tried and completely failed to keep the excrutiating pain from her face and gasping she excused herself, attempting a slight curtsy to Arianna she left the chamber. No, she thought no one would ever love her again, this pain was a constant reminder of that. In time she hoped she would learn how to control her heart and obey her mind.
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Post by TruBellezzan on Apr 25, 2006 12:01:39 GMT -1
Cesare watched Barbara leave the room, obviously in pain and trying to hide it. He turned to Luciano and Arianna, who were approaching them. Luciano hadn't noticed, happy to see Cesare and Paolo again, but Arianna's eyes had flicked towards the maid, biting her lip. Cesare decided to put her out of mind, but her pale face stuck in his mind, and he decided to ask Arianna about her. After the intial greetings, Cesare fidgeted, wondering what was the right moment to bring the girl up, but knew that the pair would be thinking about the wedding. Would it seem rude to ask so soon? But as he opened his mouth, Arianna commented: "I'm worried about Barbara." "Barbara?" Cesare inquired. "My maid. She announced us, though that is not usually her job. She..." Arianna paused, considering her words. "took a dagger for me. She saved my life, but the wound still causes her pain. It worries me to see her face twist in pain." "The maid that was here just now?" Cesare asked. "Yes." Cesare once again abandoned his thoughts of her, but decided to look out for her in the future... he'd liked the look of her face, or what he could see of it that wasn't behind the mask.
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Post by Gabriella di Talia on Apr 25, 2006 20:26:20 GMT -1
Luciano went wherever he was instructed, just following and not thinking about it too much. everything was so flowing and he hardly had to think. He walked quickly and now walked over to see Cesare. he was polite and quiet while Arianna and Cesare spoke but he was anxious to get to talk with Cesare about the wedding and all that was going on in Remora.
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Post by TruBellezzan on Apr 26, 2006 6:26:00 GMT -1
Cesare looked up with a smile as Luciano approached. It had been a long time since he had last seen his friend... not since Arianna had been proposed to by Gaetano. Not since that Stellata, and Falco. He really was waiting for someone to enlighten him, Paolo had given him a condensed version, but he knew Luciano would tell him all. But for now the wedding. "Hello," he said with a grin. "About time you talked to me properly!"
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Post by Gabriella di Talia on Apr 26, 2006 16:35:07 GMT -1
Luciano grinned at Cesare, "I could say the same to you! It's not like you've dropped by for a visit." He was always joking, of course; they were both busy people.
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Post by TruBellezzan on Apr 26, 2006 18:14:27 GMT -1
"Well, I have.... Married! you!" Cesare stared at Luciano, his friend, now grinning sort of sheepishly. "I can't believe it! What happened to the lovesick boy pining after the beautiful Duchessa?"
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Post by Duchessa_Arianna on Apr 27, 2006 20:23:08 GMT -1
Adriana smiled to herself when she heard Cesare's surprise. "Well not quite married..." She said, turning towards them with a broad grin on her own face, "Pining? Lovesick? Was it really that obvious in Luciano?..." She asked, knowing full well the answer was yes, "I suppose everyone else realised that we loved each other, except for ourselves!" She remarked to Luciano. "Still...I can't believe myself that this is happening!" She said, trying to hide her excitement. She coughed slightly and said more formally, "So... signor," She turned to Paolo, "How was your journey? I trust it was well?" She asked. ~x~~x~ OOC: Seriously what happened to Leonora? Oh well...hopefully this shouldn't go anything in the book because I can't quite recall it fully. Also, this may be a bit off, I'm not feeling in the writting mind today. BIC: Leonora sat outside on her terrace, finishing off a line of stitching as she repaired a cushion. She sighed and bit the cotton, tying it off neatly and then looking at her work. Yes, it looked fine... she placed the cushion back on the chair to which it belonged and then stood up, brushing out her dress. She wondered whether her husband was... probably about the city somewhere, no doubt with the young lad. The woman smiled as she thought about her neice and her new love's upcoming marriage. It seemed to happen all so fast, after the return from Giglia, though it took the couple a while before then to realise their feelings. She smiled... sometimes love really is blind. Still, she wished her neice to be happy, and she knew that Arianna would be with Luciano. He was a fine young man, and would make a loving husband and...Duke. Leonora still remembered when Luciano first was seen in Bellezza. It was when Arianna was in deep trouble, and had to stay with her on the mainland. Signor Rodolfo had came in the market one day and asked her if it would be allright for his apprentice to be shown around the city by Arianna. And she had said yes, how could she say no to such a man as Senator Rodolfo? Especially after what he had done for her previous husband. "Hmmm...I wonder where he has got to." She thought, thinking about Dethridge. "Well no matter...wherever he is I'm sure its fine." She mused outloud, going back inside as the warm sunshine beamed down onto the terrace.
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Post by Gabriella di Talia on Apr 27, 2006 21:26:07 GMT -1
Luciano grinned as Arianna spoke. He didn't comment on the lovesick and pining part... he prefered not to. He smirked over at Cesare, "Want to take a walk or something so we can have a 'private' talk?" Of course this was so he could tell Cesare all about the marriage and such.
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Post by Princess of Fishes on Apr 28, 2006 6:40:59 GMT -1
Barbara lay on her bed writhing in pain, where as before it had been just a slight twinge now and again it had become a relentless torture. Since she had left the chamber and Arianna it had been steadily increasing until it was all she could do to reach the tiny room she had along the landing from Arianna's. It had occured to her that she should seek out help but she wanted to cause the least possible trouble and besides it had to end soon it was just a old hurt. She struggled to a sitting position screaming as the movement brought another wave of unthinkable pain. Her scream brought running feet but she was beyond conciousness, she was beyond caring. The door flew open and someone screamed but Barbara couldn't tell if it was her or the other person. A haze of exhaustion hovered infront of her eyes and the pain continued to pulse over her in waves.
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