like lightning

   * /   CHIARA DE LA VOLTA; open

wandering through the cobblestoned street, her slight heels clacking with each stride, she a copy of dante’s divine comedy slipped into her bag, rumour came from london that a manuscript had been sold of alighieri’s near century old work, and chiara had actively sought out a copy from one of the library to read over it.   as she rounded a corner, her bag was caught on bush of wild roses, and as she yanked it in attempt to free it - the copy went nearly flying from her bag and skidded at the feet of another person not more than half a dozen yards away from her.

“ oh, scusì !    thats mine, my apologies, ”  chiara called, freeing her bag though it cost her a few scrapes of the thorns, and hurrying over to the other,   “ i was caught by the roses and my book escaped, so it would seem. ”

Eiravati bent to retrieve the book with a flourish, taking a moment to study it’s cover before passing it back to the younger woman. “Dante,” she noted. “How are you finding it? I did not care for it much as a girl, but I think perhaps now I would have a better understanding of it.” Although Eiravati’s husband and children had all been raised Catholic, her own mother had been a Hindu. Much of the most beloved Italian art, including Dante’s Divine Comedy, had gone over her head in her youth. She had read the Bible through several times since then though, and she’d attended Church with her husband ever since their marriage was first announced. Her own faith was confined to a small shrine within the walls of their home.

Gianna smiled at Signora de’ Pazzi her eyes on the the elaborate birdcage. A small gasp escaped her as she looked at the small light blue bird that hoped from end to end on it perch, “ Oh how beautiful,” she cooed opening the cage door. Slowly, Gianna reached her hand in, clicking her tongue at the small creature until she hopped on to her finger. Smiling at her successful getting the bird to find her perch on her finger. She slowly pulled her hand out of the cage and gently petting the small creature.

Approaching Eiravati now, she kissed both of her cheeks in greeting. Motioning with her free hand where they could place the cage. On a small table near the window. “ My dear Signora you honor me with such a beautiful present, grazie Signora de’ Pazzi…. please sit.’ she said leading her towards the sitting area. It was always good to welcome a friend into her home. She had been hoping to see the woman when she arrived back in the city. It would do her good to catch up with her. 

Signaling too for their wine to be poured. Gianna continued to coo, ow and aw at the songbird that happily hoped about on her finger. His head twitching from side to side as she whispered to it. Gianna loved animals and so the gift was a fitting one for her. Once they were given the glasses, Gianna looked over to her guest. “ You must tell me news of your family, is all well?”

Eiravati watched on with a small smile as Gianna fussed over the bird. She prided herself on giving exquisite gifts, and the other woman’s reaction only served to boost her ego in that regard. 

Sitting down, ankles crossed, she waited for Gianna to take the first sip of the wine before lifting her own glass to her lips. It was always polite to let one’s host take the first bite of food, the first taste of a newly poured drink. It showed respect. And Eiravati respected Gianna de’ Salviati, at the very least.

She sighed. “My family are well. My Amaya remains spirited as ever. I do worry for her marriage prospects, though. She’s so smart and so beautiful, she just...” Swirling her wine, Eiravati searched for the right words. “She will intimidate suitors, I fear.” She took another sip of her wine. “But what of your family, Signora de’ Salviati? I hear your eldest has returned from Venice?”

Gianna was a patient woman. She found that often times, it was required to wait, to watch. To learn all that you could in order to get the desired out come. Whether it be in business or in life, there was a time to act and there was a time to sit back and allow other to make the wrong moves first. Gianna was in the observation faze, with her husband away on business. She kept her ear to the ground. People had a tendency to share things with you when they didn’t see you as a threat… needless to say people shared a great deal to her. 

So as she sat at her desk she wrote down what little bit of information that had been gathered and dispatched to her. Her notebook was filled with secrets she had collected over the years… locked away in her home where even her husband or closest friends would be unable to find. Hearing the knock on her door, followed by the announcement of who had come to call, Gianna closed the book placing in off to the side as she stood to greet the person who now entered into her and her husband’s study. “ Well this is a treat,” she began her demeanor pleasant enough as she made her way from behind the desk to greet her guest. “ - taking time out of your busy day. To what do I owe the pleasure of this bout of spontinaity ?

There were few things that showed one’s commitment to another more than gifts, and visits in person. With her husband out of town for the moment, there was nobody to talk Eiravati out of doing both; not that she would have been easily swayed in the first place.

Turning, she motioned for the servant she had brought with her to enter the room. “Signora de’ Salviati,” she said. “In honour of the alliance between our two families, I brought you this gift. I hope it finds you well.” Reaching forward, she removed the cover from the object in her servant’s arms, revealing a golden cage. Within it sat a songbird. 

“He sings quite sweetly.” With a small smirk, she added, “Why, he was singing the whole way here.” She’d asked for a bird that was pretty but quiet. She could work with what she had, though. Her father could sell anything, and Eiravati liked to imagine she’d inherited that skill.

(RANI MUKERJI, SHE/HER, CIS-WOMAN) Have you heard EIRAVATI DE’ PAZZI has arrived in Florence? The FORTY-FIVE year old WIFE to the Head of House PAZZI is known for being both POISED and UNREADABLE, but would not want anyone to know SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF A COMMON MERCHANT.

“I just saw the a very sweet and quite comical scene some minutes ago,  while I was touring around the city. There was this small child who looked to be about 3 or 4 years of age, who had just stumbled over and was just about to bawl his heart out, as most young ones do when they fall over..And then out of nowhere, his older sister if I’m not mistaken, who looked to be about a girl of 7 or 8, immediately rushed over to pick him up. After gently holding his chubby little face in her hands a moment later, she then immediately begin giving him a long list of reasons why he shouldn’t cry, with such earnesty and seriousness in her facial expressions, that the baby that was about to cry, then instead changed his look to one of perplexed curiosity as he listened to his sister’s energetic chatter….And earlier this morning, as I tickled a babe’s nose a few times, she emitted out the most glorious sound of laughter I’ve ever heard in months!”he gabbed on, his face shining ever so brightly as he regaled the other with his tale.” My heart just went …ughh,.. I don’t know how to describe it,” he gushed, his facial expression melting into one of adoring rapture, while at the same time, putting a hand over his heart as he replayed the memory vividly, at the front of his mind. “Children really are the most precious and the most charming gifts ever to bless mankind, are they not?” he sighed happily. 

Eiravati smiled knowingly, listening to the man’s story with interest. “Why, signor,” she exclaimed. “I think you might have a touch of- ah, what is the medical term for it? Baby fever.” She shook her head, still smiling. “Children are indeed precious treasures. Have you any of your own?”