#muse {lucrezia borgia}

[sorceress-queen]

I rewatched this scene, and it gave me feels.

[sci-firenegade]

Article about Lucrezia Borgia, dir. by Richard Oswald, on Diário de Lisboa, 2 June 1925

Some more mispelling yay...

The translation is clunky because so is the origin text.

Translation:

The greatest tragedies

Lucrecia Borgia

Not many historical tragedies have achieved so much popularity and such publicity as the tragic and nefarious story of Borgias' Crimes, a family marked by the stigma of fatality and crime that bloodied the history of Renaissance Rome with the most terrible crimes, the result of their paranoia, putting the abominable Cesare Borgia alongside classical tyranical figures, Nero, Caligula and Elagabalus. The cinematographic transposition of this time period was done by Richard Oswald, who tried to rehabilitate "Lucrecia Borgia" from the stains that some investigators had cast on her, scratches the sublime. The staging is of an opulence and marvellousness never exceeded and the artists are geniuses and phycially adequate for their roles. The premiere of this "super-film" at the Cinema Condes is going to be one of the biggest sensations of beauty. The names of Conrad Veidt and Liane Haid, their performers, are safe guarantee.

[earlgodwin]

Just wanted to say that all your posts about Juan and insight has made me appreciate his character more. I haven’t watched The Borgias in a while and while I never hated Juan I didn’t think of him as more than like a plot device or foil to Cesare. But now I see him in a new light and I’m planning on a rewatch soon with the nuance to his character and the deeper sibling dynamic. Thank you for your analysis, it definitely makes the show more intriguing than it already is!

thank you ahsjsjswh i felt like it was time for someone to bring something new to the table because, despite him being one of the main characters in the show, he was never discussed in depth in the fandom (and to be fair, most of the characters excluding our main couple have never been discussed properly, but juan is my priority besides my renaissance it girl so...)

i'm honestly a little bit ??? at people never noticing how absolutely weird and invasive towards both lucrezia and cesare and making sexual comments like for quick example him being psychosexually obsessed with lucrezia and her purity, or when he went full-on drunk and getting way too close to cesare and making him uncomfortable, trying to elicit some sort of admission/expression of brotherly love from him...the fixation on his siblings was too serious for him!!

i don't think he was ever a plot device, as he had his own storylines and scenes where we see him alone, and we see what he's been thinking/up to as an individual. it's just giving main boyism tbh, but he's only been overlooked by some of the audience lol. despite him having such insane ego and cockiness, it all goes back to masking his own self-hatred and insecurity over his own birth status, not only being a bastard but even a rumored peasant (with vanozza's first husband)

also you're not entirely wrong!! he has been indeed used as a foil to cesare by their own father (or as a grinding stone so to speak), and if you read the script, he's been introduced as cesare's brother specifically. it's almost like a foreshadowing that cesare would be the one who decides his fate. and after cesare murdered him, he still haunted the narrative till the show's finale, with the important aspect that his murder was indeed what made cesare 'the perfect prince' to quote machiavelli (and a reference to his book the prince and cesare being the muse), so like yeah, people like it or not, juan borgia is indeed a main and key character in cesare's journey, and his death changed the family forever.

but to some point in s2, neil jordan feared the audience would stop sympathizing with cesare since he was deliberately backstabbing juan over the siege of forli and maneuvering his way to seize juan's position in the most envious way possible, and juan was already started to get the audience's attention and sympathy, specifically after the knife scene where he felt helpless and threatened to kill himself in front of rodrigo. therefore, neil flipped his character in the final episode and propped cesare up at juan's expense in a sense that everything cesare does would seem 'justifiable', or to quote david oakes' rightfully bitter statement about cesare's writing, "he has always had the writing on his side while they had to make my character a dweeb." and don't get me wrong, cesare borgia is an absolutely fascinating antagonist, i just wish the show was a little bit brave about making him "unlikeable" (as if the girlies were gonna dislike cesare anyway like asfsrfs)

personally, i've always thought it was super disingenuous and completely to cater to the cesarewives who deeply hated juan's character and were even attacking the actor on twitter

i love the show so much obviously (duuh) but that doesn't make it immune to criticizing it. like catering to fans has always been a bizarre move, considering how ursula's character received the poorest treatment and she became nothing but a plot device for a man's pain (after cesare himself attacked her for cutting her hair aka not looking like his sister anymore), and ended up being mutilated and raped and the fans were happy with that which was as disturbing as its incredibly misogynistic

honestly i admire david's fearlessness and how he stood by his character through and through despite how unfair the writing was to him so he'll always have a fan in me (both actor and character)

[luckhissoul]

ROLEPLAY HISTORY!

The rules are simple! Post characters you’d like to roleplay as, have roleplayed as, and might bring back. Then tag ten people to do the same (if you can’t think of ten, just write down however many you can and tag that number of people). Please repost, don’t reblog!

CURRENT MUSE(S): (canon muses)

mat cauthon ( the wheel of time )

quinn blackwood ( the vampire chronicles)

michael curry ( the mayfair witches )

adolin kholin ( stormlight archive )

jasnah kholin ( stormlight archive )

syl ( stormlight archive )

vin venture ( mistborn )

ivar the boneless ( vikings )

bellamy blake ( the 100 )

francis de valois ( reign )

cahir ( the witcher saga )

aviendha ( the wheel of time )

min farshaw ( the wheel of time )

paul atredies ( dune )

alia atredies ( dune )

carl grimes ( the walking dead )

aramis ( the three musketeers )

john silver ( black sails )

seth gecko ( from dusk til dawn : the series )

will graham ( hannibal )

rodrigo borgia ( the borgias )

lucrezia borgia ( the borgias )

michael grey ( peaky blinders )

marcel gerard ( the orignals )

anakin skywalker ( star wars )

louis xiv ( versailles )

moiraine damodred ( the wheel of time )

lan mandragoran ( the wheel of time )

and four ocs !

WANT TO WRITE: (maybe i will write them someday, maybe not)

like idk right now? probably none. i considered adding marius from the vampire chronicles but decided against it lol

HAVE WRITTEN:

peter petrelli ( heroes )

jaime lannister ( asoiaf )

theon greyjoy ( asoiaf )

sam "falcon" wilson ( mcu )

raven / mystique ( mcu )

elijah mikaelson ( the the originals )

caroline forbes ( the vampire diaries )

enzo st. john ( the vampire diaries )

elle bishop ( heroes )

arthur petrelli ( heroes )

genevieve ( the orginals )

aurora ( the originals )

matt parkman ( heroes )

kaz brekker ( six of crows )

the darkling ( shadow and bone )

fergus fraser ( outlander )

sarah manning ( orphan black )

james patrick march ( ahs )

tate langdon ( ahs )

jimmy darling ( ahs )

kit walker ( ahs )

ethan chandler ( penny dreadful )

lazlo kreizler ( the alienist )

marcus isaacson ( the alienist )

lucius vorenus ( rome )

dwight enys ( poldark )

nell crain ( the haunting of hill house )

charles xavier ( mcu )

elizabeth of york

gendry ( asoiaf )

dinah madani ( the punisher )

freya mikaelson ( the originals )

carolina villanueva ( high seas )

nicolas sala ( high seas )

WOULD WRITE AGAIN:

not sure who i would ? write again ? sometimes i'm like hey maybe but then i'm like nah i don't want to lol

Tagged by: @stcrforged tagging : @caracarnn - @xhideyourfires - @adversitybloomed - @wstfl - @honorhearted - @godresembled - @bas0rexias - @indigodreames and anyone else?

[teecupangel]

College is so stressful but anyway what if Desmond wears eyeliner or kohl and wear feminine and masculine clothes depending his mood because he seems androgynous to me and when he timetravels and just go "fuck gender roles" and kills templars while he grows his hair and wears jewellery and lace

I hope you get some time to relax soon! And the awesome thing about Desmond is that he changes face in every game that we can call him androgynous if we feel like it. Dude doesn’t really have a canon face anyway. And even if he doesn’t, this involves time traveling so we can just chalk the sudden androgynous look to some kind of Isu BS XD

Desmond will definitely be the bisexual awakening of a lot of people with his time hopping. Altaïr alone would be more confused than he was when he found out Maria was pretending to be Robert. If anything could be considered sorcery, it would be Desmond’s ability to confuse the hell out of people. They meet him wearing masculine clothes and think “Oh, he’s a dude” and then their next meeting with him, he’d be wearing feminine clothes and be like “??????” and BSOD.

Altaïr would try to push any confusion he might have and focus on gaining the information he needs from Desmond (who may or may not have killed someone to get the information, the Brotherhood can’t be sure) but, goddamn it, that’s hard to do when he’s just standing nearby, watching Desmond put on kohl on his eyes and painting his lips red just because he was ‘feeling pretty’ today, whatever the hell that means and he’s just draped in silk bedsheets because he hasn’t thought of what clothes he should wear today and Altaïr is pretty sure Desmond is doing this on purpose because there’s no fucking way that bedsheet coincidentally just slipped enough that Altaïr could see his collarbone. Then Desmond tells him to check his chest and pick a dress for him and holy shit, there are undergarments there that Altaïr had never seen before and his brain just gives up on him that way and all blood flowed downward after that.

Ezio would know Desmond as Leonardo’s favorite muse and he’d flirt with him, thinking he’s a woman at first. Ezio and Desmond would definitely have some fun and Ezio’s just going to be ‘oh, cool’ with anything Desmond does. Seeing Desmond assassinate someone will always be hot regardless of what clothes he decided to wear during that time. (The Borgias will definitely have a boner for him and it’s half hot-person-yummy and half he-can’t-be-more-beautiful/handsome-than-us, especially from Lucrezia). Ezio and Desmond definitely posed for one of Leonardo’s works (that doesn’t exist in the OG timeline) and it’s the steamiest painting Leonardo had ever done.

Haytham’s prudeness will definitely make him annoyed, both at Desmond himself and at his own attraction to seeing Desmond wearing those infuriating scandalous clothes. Ratonhnhaké:ton, on the other hand, would just think “white people weirdness” when he first sees Desmond. When he learns that other white people think Desmond is weird, at that point, Ratonhnhaké:ton wouldn’t even care anymore as he liked Desmond as a person and he likes seeing Desmond smiles. Desmond is also Ratonhnhaké:ton’s plus one for Myriam and Norris even though Ratonhnhaké:ton told him that he doesn’t understand what a ‘plus one’ even means. Ratonhnhaké:ton wouldn’t say it outloud but he thought Desmond outshone Myriam on her own wedding day.

Shay’s definitely going to be tongue-tied whenever he sees Desmond. Also, Desmond got a few fashion tips from Hope and he looks so good in female Assassin robes that he definitely outshines Hope. Liam likes to tease him about it but even he’s not immune to Desmond’s charm, especially when Desmond stares at him. Even when Shay defected, he could never raise his hand against Desmond and… maybe a part of him enjoyed being stepped on by Desmond’s heels, he’s trying not to think too deeply about it considering he can already see Haytham’s disapproving face.

Arno… Arno would find him strange, sure, and he’s definitely going to ignore his attraction to him because he’s in love with Élise, damn it. But it is becoming too hard to ignore it when Élise always finds ways to leave him behind while he will always see Desmond in the cafe, smiling at him as he welcomed him back. He doesn’t even know where he stands with Élise anymore and Desmond… Desmond confuses him so much but, at the same time, Desmond is the only person who makes so much sense right now that… fuck, Arno’s going to get drunk and just let his drunk self do whatever. He’ll deal with the consequences later.

It’s Jacob who sees Desmond first. Flirts with him ‘cause he thought he was a woman. Evie sees him next while he’s wearing masculine clothes… but Evie can’t be sure. There’s something about the way he moved and the way he looked that just makes Evie unable to fully conclude that she is seeing a man. Jacob and Evie never see him at the same time. Every time they see him, they see him as a woman for Jacob and a man for Evie. Then they finally see him together, wearing formless clothes that could worn by anyone and he’s talking to Ned and they’re both “ooooohhhhh” but they don’t really get it, they just think they do.

[elderbloodcarrier]

Lara Dorren || Genetic Emancipation

Here’s a video I made on my girl! Does anyone else make videos on their muse? 

Lara Dorren is an obscure and only mentioned to character in the books & games of the Witcher. However, I deeply love this character and wanted to make her a tribute fitting to her character since there is so little on her (hence, me using Holliday Grainger as Lucrezia Borgia for Lara & Francois Arnaud as Ceasre Borgia for Cregennan of Lod.) I got audio on Lara from the first Witcher game where Yaevinn tells Geralt about Lara.   I think I made my message loud and clear with Lara. This made me cry editing it, so I hope you love it too. Further details in the video.

[ashedrose]

i love going through borgias gif sets for musings because cesare and lucrezia give me butterflies and then i remember they're siblings and i'm literally flabbergasted every damn time 😂 my brain will not let that stick

[radiantrpshadow]

Muses Of The Radiant Shadow

Name: Aleksander Morozova/Kirigan, The Darkling Age: 2150 (a rough estimate based on the show) Family: Mother, Baghra (alive), Father (deceased), Half Sister, Ulla (alive)

Character Fandom Origins: Shadow & Bone Multiverse Muse: Yes Face Claim: Ben Barnes

Name: Alina Starkov Age: 19 Family: Mother (deceased), Father (deceased,

Character Fandom Origins: Shadow & Bone Multiverse Muse: Yes Face Claim: Jessie Mei Li

Name: Ezio Auditore da Firenze Age: 17-45 Family: Mother, Maria (alive), Father, Giovanni (deceased), Older Brother, Federico (deceased), Younger Sister, Claudia (alive), Younger Brother, Petruccio (deceased), Uncle, Mario (alive)

Character Fandom Origins: Assassin's Creed Multiverse Muse: Yes Face Claim: In-Game footage from AC:II and AC:B

Name: Bianca Listretti Nickname: Viper Age: 24 Family: Father (deceased), Mother (deceased), Twin Brother, Luca (alive), Half Brother, Adrian (alive) Defining facial features: scar over the left side of her lips and a scar along her right cheek Other defining features: burn scar on the right side of her lower back, arrow scars littered over her shoulders.

Character Fandom Origins: Assassin's Creed Multiverse Muse: Yes Face Claim: Madelyn Cline

Name: Elliot Astor Nickname: El, Leo Age: 26 Family: Father (alive), Mother (alive), Older sister, Lydia (alive), younger brother, August (alive), younger sister, Serafina (alive) Defining facial features: sharp jaw line, dimples on both sides of his mouth Other defining features: arms littered with freckles mostly visible in summer, two birthmarks one on the right side of his chest one on the lower side of his torso

Character Fandom Origins: Shadow & Bone Multiverse Muse: No Face Claim: Luke Pasqualino

Name: Ignis Redwood Nickname: Iggy Age: 20 Family: Father (alive), Mother (deceased) Defining facial feature: Freckles over her entire face, a small scar under her right ear Other defining features: two moles on the her left hand under her thumb

Character Fandom Origins: Shadow & Bone Multiverse Muse: Yes Face Claim: Erin Kellyman

Name: Dorotea Tiberio Age: 26 Family: Father (deceased), Mother (deceased), Uncle (alive), Bother, Cassio (alive), Half brother, Cesare Borgia, (alive), Half sister, Lucrezia Borgia (alive) Defining facial features: Light scar on her right cheek, summer freckles spread over her nose Other defining features: ragged scar over her right side over her ribs, veering off over her side

Character Fandom Orgins: Assassin's Creed Multiverse Muse: No Face Claim: Bruna Marquezine

Name: Miguel Torres Nickname: Mick, Micky, Age: 21 Family: Father (deceased), Father (alive), Mother (alive), Sister, Aela (alive), Sister, Nina (alive), Brother, Diego (deceased) Defining facial features: Slightly sunken eyes, high cheekbones, dimples, Other defining features: Burn scar on his right upper thigh, moles freckled over his lower left arm,

Character Fandom Orgins: None Multiverse Muse: Yes Face Claim: Jack Champion

Name: Chase Hernann Age: 27 Family: Father (deceased), Mother (deceased), Twin Sister, Lila (alive), Half Brother, Nico (deceased), Younger Brother, Mino (alive) Defining facial features: deep set, brown eyes, sharp cheekbones Other defining features: body littered in gunshot scars

Character Fandom Origins: none Multiverse Muse: Yes Face Claim: Charlie Cox

Multiverse Muse: a muse who can be used in different universes, but will always remain the same in terms of the characteristics listed above and a few other attributes that are central to the universe they came from. The stories they appear in do not have to be connected to one another and they will not be aware of their multiversal traveling unless it is happening specifically to the story they parttake in.

[studentessamatta]

Thanks to L'istituto italiano cultura of San Francisco for inviting me to talk about “Dreaming Sophia” my novel set in Florence Italy. “Dreaming Sophia” is set in Florence. It is about a painter from California who at first rejects the idea of Italy (for several reasons, namely a tragedy and the death of her parents). But through her imaginative daydreams, she is visited by muses — the giants of Italian culture and they give her advice and the keys to go on. Sophia also “speaks” with Sophia Loren, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, Garibaldi, Marcello, Lucrezia Borgia to name a few more. It is a novel that always seeks to understand what is creativity and where it comes from… it is about believing in something so clearly that dreams do become reality. Available on Amazon in print, ePub and audio. Details in bio #dreamingsophia #florence #melissamuldoon #indieauthor (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj66CZzLPML/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[all-is-fair-in-love-and-war]

New Muse!

Juan Borgia

Son of Rome

Duke of Gandia

[theleafpile]

I haven't read the s4 script so I know Cesare's end scene but not the dialogue, and I can't get out of my head this scenario:

--

Bodies of the dead and dying are strewn across the battlefield while war rages on elsewhere. The camera follows Micheletto, pierced by a number of arrows (reminiscent of Saint Sebastian) as he struggles, army-crawling to: Cesare, who lays on his back nearby, mortally wounded.

Micheletto reaches Cesare. They have a brief exchange, a quip about how well the battle is going perhaps, but this is what follows:

Cesare, dying: Do you think what we've done will live on? All our accomplishments, our strife? All us Borgia bastards who took over their precious Italy?

Cesare coughs blood, splattering it on his face. Micheletto is an inch from death, but holds onto his master with a fierce devotion.

Cesare: Do you think they will remember us, Micheletto?

Micheletto: They will remember you, Cesare Borgia.

Micheletto dies. Cesare realizes this. He looks up into a patch of clear blue sky. Heavenly. Celestial.

Cesare: They will.

But he is not convinced. A stray cloud of gunpowder floats overhead, briefly obscuring the blue.

Cesare, more forcibly, convincing himself: They must.

He dies. The camera pans up into the blue, then follows it down into:

Somewhere in Naples, Lucrezia is reading a letter at a window. A breeze passes into the room, and, with it, the echoes of war.

Lucrezia looks startled, then a realization hits.

It is a cruel thing, to be a Borgia alone in the world.

The letter falls.

--

[rednecked]

tag drop!!

[idiosynchronics]

            “cosimo.” his name still sounds foreign when she says it to beckon him to enter the rooms given to her in the palazzo. the hour is early but he is, as ever, ready and impeccable and clad in dark clothes matching the ever so grave expression which never leaves him. “we missed you at supper.” the word was that he was still tending to banking matters. did she believe it then? does she believe it now? husbands owe their wives nothing but a roof and the occasional visit to a cold marital in order to ensure a descendance so it isn’t explanations lucrezia is after. the truth is that she herself is still uncertain about him, about to navigate those waters. “are you already leaving?” 

@iilvecchio

[silvysartfulness]

Omg I saw that you used to write for the assassin’s creed fandom and honestly what a throwback 😭 are they on livejournal?

Aahhh, this is the part where I have to admit, I don't think I ever put any of those drabbles online! It was more a fun thing me and wife used to do, writing very very short 5 minute one-shots based on single word-prompts.

Oh, wait! Apparently I actually still have them, in an old folder of mine! Will post under a cut. These are AC 1-3-brotherhood, primarily focused on the latter.

La Volpe/Cesare post the fall of the Borgia was my main rarepair ship in that fandom, so that's the main (if occasionally only implied) focus for a lot of these. (CW some dubcon/non-con under the cut, so be warned.) 😊

1 Unwillingness

It goes against everything he is, a greater challenge than any battlefield taken on. Snarling, eyes blazing his defiance, Cesare submits for now.

2 Memento

”Something to remember me by,” murmurs Volpe softly against the sensitive skin of his neck, and it's all Cesare can do not to yelp as those vicious teeth leave a bleeding gash in his ear.

3 Baseline

He still doesn't trust Machiavelli, Volpe muses, and it's equally clear Machiavelli doesn't trust him. Perhaps their shared love of secrecy is the one dependent thing about their relationship.

4 Sniper

He has shot guards from rooftops, towers, horseback, beams and the treacherous crumbling tops of ancient stone pillars. So why was it, muses Ezio afterward, that he hadn't even thought of pulling crossbow or gun out as his sworn enemies held their short council in the courtyard a few measly yards below his feet?

5 Birthplace

It is in Masyaf the order of Assassins was born into what it is now. Searching for answers Ezio sets out on the longest journey of his life, back to the beginning of all.

6 Denunciation

It is hard to remember what it was like to have faith, Cesare thinks, but easy to remember when it was lost. What God could ever work through the instrument that was Alexander VI, his father?

7 Distaste

”Volpe, you didn't!” Ezio exclaims, his face a mask of distaste. Volpe smirks.

”Oh, it was not at all bad. Cesare is well trained.”

Ezio shudders. ”That is exactly what bothers me!”

8 Elimination

Constantly, frustratingly one step behind, it is little Cesare can do as his allies are meticulously taken out by the Assassins one by one. And yet it is not until the last of those on his side willingly turn their backs on him that he realizes this battle is lost.

9 Bluntness

”You can do as I say,” says the master thief matter-of-factly, turning the vial of antidote over in his spindly fingers, ”or you can spend the night dying slowly while vomiting your innards all over the floor. The choice is yours.”

Pale with fury Cesare chooses to live.

10 Turf

The Assassins had been myth, legend, bed-time stories to frighten a young boy already afraid of the dark. But as they dealt an all but deadly blow to his father inside the Vatican itself, Cesare grimly declares war. Roma is his city, and all who oppose his rule must be swiftly and mercilessly dealt with.

11 Assassination

He burns for the ideals, fights the fight with passion and utter devotion. But when Shaun's shaking hands lower the suddenly impossibly heavy gun he knows something he'dnever even thought about (Innocence? Compassion? Humanity?) has perished as surely as that very first body at his feet.

12 Apprentice

He remembers a gangly youth skidding across slippery roof tiles, trying so hard to keep up and even harder to hide his inability to do so. La Volpe silently studies Il Mentore and considers he's no longer sure who would lead the way across the rooftops.

13 Debris

Ezio swears as the ceiling collapses over the bed he shared with Caterina until moments ago – his armor and weapons are buried in the rubble and will be hard to replace. He does not yet know they will be the least of his losses this day.

14 Scolding

Altaïr has never been one to accept blame or criticism for his actions, but something about the way Malik's not-there left arm twitches as to shake a not-there fist in his face as the man speaks makes him look away in hidden shame.

15 Torrent

The rain pours down over the city, making roofs and cobblestones alike wet and slippery. Volpe tugs his collar tighter around his shoulders against the biting cold and idly contemplates if a trip to the Castello would be worth the trouble.

16 Anchor

He cheats and steals and tells honeyed lies with the ease of a snake. But his eyes can be oceans and his touch velvet – sometimes Ezio wonders if his always restless, inspiration-ridden friend keeps Salai around just to remember what it's like to be human.

17 Truce

”It would be nice,” says Machiavelli evenly, ”if you would not so readily name yourself judge, jury and executioner the next time you fall victim to unfounded suspicion.”

”Fine,” mutters Volpe, frowning. ”It would be niceif you were not so secretive. And stop trying to steal my spies. Get your own.”

”Fine,” Machiavelli replies with a minute smirk.

Fellowship is knowing just when your brother-in-arms is lying.

18 Nook

There are many unknown and unseen hiding places among the rooftops of Florence. On his back, hair plastered against his face and hot breath against his ear, Giovanni concludes it's very handy that La Volpe always knows to find one when you need it.

19 Orgy

These parties are more to his father's tastes than his his, Cesare firmly tells himself, perhaps letting his eyes linger thoughtfully on the multitude of courtesans a moment longer than intended. Then a familiar slender hand grazes his thigh and he is reminded that the only person even close to matching his own schemes, cunning and skill is the woman on the throne next to his.

20 Scoff

”I spend all my time in the Animus,” Desmond frowns, ”Lucy's keeping an eye on Abstergo and Rebecca... hacks and stuff. What do youdo, really? Anyone could use, what, Google and Wikipedia?”

Shaun grins or at least bares his teeth.

”You mean Templar Central One and Two? No, it's called obtaining knowledge, Desmond - sifted like little gold nuggets of fact from the vast sands of ignorance you're so fond of burying your head in. Google can't help you there, I'm afraid.”

21 Scolding

At the time, Ezio always figured Giovanni's constant nagging and pleading with him to stay out of trouble was only the worrying of an overprotective father. Only later was he taught discretion was part of the ancient Assassin's creed. He never got very good at it, even so.

22 Bonfire

No-one is entirely sure why Julius II has tempered justice with mercy for now and opted for his enemy's imprisonment rather than death sentence. As far as la Volpe is concerned, the way Cesare goes pale whenever the topic is brought up is at least good for entertainment.

23 Nakedness

Being exposed holds no particular shame for him, but the walls and floor are freezing to the touch, draining precious warmth from his aching body. Now would be a prudent time for an accursed thief to show up with a blanket to bargain for.

24 Arbiter

It was funny, Machiavelli drily noted in his notebook, how God and Divine Justice so often were on the side of the biggest army with the sharpest swords.

25 Purgatory

The land burns, smoke choking the sky and tinting the sun a sickly shade of blood. It is with a cold and unfamiliar sense of foreboding Cesare hurries through the flames toward the towering walls of the fortress to escape this hell on earth – one way or another.

26 Fingernail

Ezio has more than his fair share of scars adorning his hardened body, some remembered more fondly than others. He would never dream to ask Caterina to trim her nails, or use them just a touch more carefully.

27 Slavery

The Creed dictates freedom of thought, and in his reckless youth Altaïr would use it as justification for any rash impulse. But the older he grows, the more he comes to realize freedom and all its crushing responsibility can be the harshest master of all.

28 Carnivore

When confronted on his nasty habit of biting, Volpe only grins and quips something about foxes and their nature. Cesare is tempted to snap he's often seen dirty foxes prowling the back streets for garbage, but can see where Volpe would go with that, and so holds his tongue.

29 Bluntness

Ezio is too flustered after his mother's blunt request he find other outlets than vaginas to realize the enthusiastic young artist at his side seems more than eager to offer a few suggestions on the particular subject.

30 Vow

He will live, Cesare vows. He will live, he will regain his freedom, his power and his army. At any cost. And then they will. All. Pay.

31 Blending

It was simply not fair, thought Machiavelli, that no matter how solid your acting, no matter how meticulousyour disguise, Volpe would immediately spot you in a crowd and grin at you. Clearly spying on the sly old fox called for more cunning means, he conceded as he made his way to the Rosa to shamelessly bribe Claudia for information.

32 Misconduct

“Not that we are in any particular hurry to the Castello,” Orsini says, the knuckles of his war-gauntlet quite pleasantly buried in Cesare's face, “but things would just be easier all around if you would stop squirming and came quietly.”

33 Ultimatum

“If you don't stop hogging my mp3-player,” Rebecca whispers softly in Shaun's ear, “I'll tell Lucy exactly whatyou and Desmond used her yoghurts for last night.”

34 Takeover

“Stop!” Lucrezia commands as the soldiers feed the paintings to the fire – already the image of a swan is crackling and fading to black amongst the flames. Such a waste of beauty. She hasn't even realized Cesare is standing behind her, fierce and bloodied after the battle, until he speaks.

“You like them?”

She nods, and he touches her cheek with a smile, careful not to stain her hair.

“Then they are yours. A memento of the day the Assassini fell.”

35 Afterlife

“I blame you for this,” says Cesare flatly as the imps re-heat the lake of boiling tar. Again. “There is no God, you said. No heaven and no hell, you said. Stupid old bastard.”

Rodrigo mutters something about Hell being other people, but will have to concede that in this trifling matter, yes, he was mistaken.

36 Distaste

He would rather be hated than forgotten, Cesare sullenly thinks, rubbing his stiff hands for warmth. Bony, filthy, with the matted long hair of a hermit falling into his face, he has to settle for the guards' contempt. At least it's better than pity.

37 Slavery

He isn't really paid, Leonardo thinks, merely kept alive, yes. Not really compensated as such. And so the construction of the intricate war-machines is really on the consciences of his masters, not his. Sting of guilt quenched he returns to the blueprints with renewed fevered enthusiasm.

38 Probation

“What's the catch”, asks Cesare with deepest suspicion.

“No catch,” Volpe assures, looking innocent. “Just a reward for your recent good behaviour. Keep it up and there may a meal and a hot bath in it for you, too.”

Cesare does not for a moment believe they are just going out 'to stretch their legs', but a meal does sound inviting. He follows.

39 Adversity

Ezio strongly disapproved of the idea of his little sister taking over the Rosa in Fiore, and he frankly can't say whether he is more disappointed or proud when it flourishes under her care.

40 Bluntness

“You are a thief,” Machiavelli growls, piqued into a rare display of anger. “A liar and a cheat and an honourless thief!”

Volpe grins.

“All those things. And I'm still better than you.”

41 Scheming

Ezio gave the Apple to Mario, who had it stolen by Cesare, who gave it to Leonardo, who found it plucked out of his helpless hands by the Pope and his daughter. He ponders life was easier when he was just a painter. The Apple is a thing of awe, but the intrigues in its wake make his head hurt.

42 Favorite

It wasn't that Cesare particularly hated his older brother. It was just that while he no longer childishly sought his father's approval, the position as the Pope's favorite son came with several practical perks. Unfortunately for Juan, that meant he simply had to go.

43 Truce

When things are civilized, they can be bearable, almost even pleasant. The food is good, the wine plentiful, and Volpe's skilled fingers all but gentle. An unspoken truce, no matter how temporary. But neither man ever forgets the truth, which is war.

44 Scour

They answer to no-one, self-proclaimed executioners beyond all law. Too much blood on their hands now. Just before sunrise Cesare gives the command to attack. The cleansing of Monteriggioni has begun.

45 Extrovert

To hold his own council and play his cards close to his heart has always been his way, and he knowshe is a master at his game. And yet, Machiavelli can grudgingly admit to himself, it isn't until the boisterous chaos in human guise that is Ezio bursts in on the Roman scene that he begins to see how they will win this war.

46 Protagonist

“I will avenge the cowardly, treacherous plot against my father,” he thinks. “I will root out all those involved, every single one, and I will kill them and all they stand for.”

No-one ever sets out to be a hero, only to do what is right.

For Cesare, the path ahead is clear.

47 Willpower

It is never easy. Every time Altaïr visits his (his!) bureau in Jerusalem, Malik has to struggle with himself not to slay the man in his sleep. On many a moonlit night, only a lifetime of discipline stays the blade in his white-knuckled hand.

But strangely, it does get easier over time.

48 Esacalation

At first it had been mere proof of his ability to go anywhere in Roma as well he pleased, the taunting and impotent rage in response a given bonus. After some time, forced still-furious intimacy gained through blackmail had appeared a logical step. Then force turned out redundant. As Cesare clings to him, nails biting into his arms and teeth bared with need, Volpe admits to himself he would never have suspected the caged Borgia would so willingly use him to sate his desires – nor the other way around.

49 Torrent

Raw grief fades over time, a broken heart healed into a dull ache. The thing that keeps Claudia from sleeping at night is not all she has lost, but her screaming frustration at not being able to take her fate, and that of those responsible, into her own hands.

50 Danger

The peaceful life he had envisioned just the evening before will have to wait, Ezio grimly decides, pressing a hand to his wounded shoulder and focusing on not falling off his horse. And despite the shock, grief and pain, it somehow feels right. He has lived this life so long, he isn't sure he remembers how not to.

51 Splattering

Leonardo likes to buy birds at the market and set them free, watching with dreaming eyes as they take to the endless sky. Once, Ezio surprises his friend with twenty white doves. Much belatedly he wishes he'd remembered that stressed pigeons prefer to lighten their load before taking off.

52 Ramification

“It is time you take responsibility for your actions,” Rodrigo snarls, and Cesare struggles with the impulse to scream, childishly, “But father, younever did!”

53 Concession

“I'm not sure we should...”

Lover and Thief, silhouettes in the dark, alone. A light touch.

“Come now. It will be good, I promise.”

“But, what if...”

“Ssh. Are we not both Assassins? Everything is permitted.”

His honed thief's nerves tingling with foreboding warnings, La Volpe allows Claudia to persuade him in the end, knowing Ezio will probably kill him, and that it will no doubt be worth it.

54 Leer

You can't even seehis face in the shadows beneath the cowl. And yet, Volpe just standing there outside the bars, nonchalantly leaning one hand against the wall, makes Cesare want to scream. Or punch him hard. Preferably both.

55 Whisper

Ezio reflects that there are few other voices he would instantly recognize by just a short, urgent uttering of his name. His hesitation to turn around stems not from uncertainty, but the childish wish to postpone the trial of his oldest friend's rumored treason just a few moments longer.

56 Absurdity

At first Ezio had felt confused, then worried and finally terrified. But as they've fled Florence and the man introducing himself as uncle Mario tells him that his family belongs to an ancient clan of legendary assassins, relief washes over him. Finally is clear it has all been an insane dream. He can't wait to wake up.

57 Experimentation

Leonardo da Vinci is a true genius, his brilliant mind always seeing the world through a lens of wonder. Nothing escapes his never-sated curiosity – but that a small poseable wooden mannequin could be used like that? Cesare is a man not easily impressed, but will have to admit the artist rarely fails to amaze.

58 Farewell

It is with uncharacteristic kindness Volpe kisses him, between shared gasps for air after their final tryst. A last goodbye before the approaching dawn will see Cesare on his way to exile in Spain.

”Growing sentimental, old fox?” the younger man scoffs at him. ”No need. I shall return soon enough, and repaint the walls of Roma with Assassin blood.”

Volpe just smiles. He has already helped Ezio prepare his own journey and knows with certainty that Cesare will never again return to Rome.

59 Turf

”Maybe Giovanni could get away with doing paperwork all day over in Florence,” Mario says, and his tone clearly states what he thinks about his brother's choice. ”But arround here we train Assassins, not accountants or delivery boys.”

Ezio's body has never ached as much in his life as it does after his first day of training with his uncle.

60 Smoothness

When she smiles her deep red lips are like tantalizing rose petals, framed by sun-ray golden hair. She is smooth, flawless, perfect. But every rose has its thorns, and Lucrezia's are laden with poison.

61 Kneeling

Every fiber of Ezio's body strains desperately to regain control as he jerks like a puppet on golden strings of light.

”You are lucky,” breathes Rodrigo in a low, husky growls, leaning hard on the staff after the battle, ”So verylucky, little Assassin, that I am in a hurry.”

As the dagger sinks into his guts, Ezio briefly thinks that indeed, it could have been so much worse.

62 Purgatory

The imps don't know whether to feel amused or put out that the screaming, flailing argument between father and son has by now escalated to the point they don't even seem to register the lake of boiling tar anymore. A bit of respect for good solid workmanship, is that too much to ask?

63 Lick

It has to be said in favour of Machiavelli's assassin reflexes that the unexpected lick at his ear out of the dark earns Volpe neither a jump or a shriek but a rapid fist to the nose.

Only half an hour later, safely home in his bedroom, does Niccolo allow himself to contemplate what might have otherwise transpired.

64 Bonfire

It is a sad thing, reflects Ezio in hindsight, older, wiser, that compared to all the priceless art and knowledge fed to fire during Savonarola's mad reign of Florence, the mere loss of a human life that ended it is remembered with little sense of loss or revulsion.

65 Last

After Mario's death, Ezio has felt the weight of being the last Auditore Assassin ever heavier on his shoulders. But as he watches Claudia fearlessly take her leap of faith, he wonders how he could ever have been blind enough to think himself alone.

66 Well

The guards in hot pursuit yell and stab at wells, haystacks and dark alleyways. From his perch on a rooftop Ezio smiles. He always did prefer to take to the sky.

67 Wrongdoer

As his support falters and the opposition grows ever bolder, Cesare becomes increasingly frustrated with their attacks and accusations. He would prefer to answer only for his own sins, not those of his dead father.

68 Deliberate

It really is getting unnerving, decides Machiavelli, the way Volpe has taken up the habit of commenting on his every observation with a frosty ”Indeed” or ”Yes, quitethe coincidence”. He wishes he could believe the man isn't doing it on purpose.

69 Counter

When he first arrives in Jerusalem, Altaïr can't quite shake the feeling that the only thing between him and certain death is a rather narrow, map-strewn desk.

70 Bribe

Cesare has always been good at striking a profitable bargain. Unfortunately Borgia as a currency is bitterly deflated, and these days he often have to sell himself too cheap for comfort. Even though it isa warm, snug blanket.

71 Chess

Cesare knows he is a brilliant strategist – not so much because of the expected praise from his subordinates as from the satisfactory number of pins currently adorning his map of Italy. He would like to believe himself modest in this, careful not allow hubris to cheat him of a victory. And yet he never knows whether to frown or laugh helplessly as the absent-minded artist all but appologetically check-mates his king time and time and time again.

72 Feel

Leonardo never knows how to feel when Cesare enters the room. At first he is apprehensive, but as weeks turn into months and he realizes he's not only allowed but encouraged to dream up grander designs than ever before he is thrilled.

In the end, seeing the Assassins' plans put into motion long before Cesare even knows the final battle has begun, he can only avert his eyes in regret.

73 Mister

”Outside the kingdom of God is the realm of men,” Salai says, leaning just an inch too close. ”You worship there, Messere?”

Only years of training his clueless look on Leonardo helps Ezio keep a straight face as he blankly waves for the boy to follow him.

74 Fine

There are simply too many guards around for a discreet kill, so Ezio grudlingly counts the florins and hands them over. How was heto know he wasn't allowed to park his horse there? Time to liberate another stable from its Borgia-tower shadow, he decides. Burning them all down is easier than keeping track of territories anyway.

75 Dog

If La Volpe is the fox and Ezio the bird of prey, Pantasilea ponders, then Bartolomeo reminds her of a large, lumbering dog. Faithful and loyal unto death, but with a booming bark and a vicious bite for those who threaten those dear to him.

76 Forgotten

When Volpe appears he is the first person Cesare has seen in days. He greets the thief with his usual brazen curses, careful not to let any trace of relief shine through. Of all things he is most afraid to be left alone to die; not slain out of hatred or need, but simply ignored and forgotten.

77 Changed

Had Ezio been the kind of man to think upon such things, he might have noticed the Cesare facing him atop the towering walls is not the self-assured young general he met a handful years previous in Roma. Tired-looking and hunched over he looks defeated even before the battle has begun. But Ezio is here for one single purpose alone, and has never been the kind of man to think of such things anyway.

78 Gondola

Antonio assures Leonardo that only from an extensive tour with his private gondola will the artist truly get to know his new home town. As it happens, a rocky two-hour boat ride later, Leonardo still hasn't really seen much of the city. But that's quite alright, as he happily agrees to repeat the endeavour soon again.

79 Casino

It never hurts to try to win Fortuna's favour when gambling is one of your favorite pastimes, Salai knows, but in this particular case divine intervention is quite a bit closer at hand. As long as you have La Volpe's favor, the dice at the Sleeping Fox will never let you down.

80 Soup

The first bowl of watery gruel ends up thrown in the guard's face with enough force to break his nose. The next morning the second splinters against the wall. Nearly a week passes before he forces himself to eat the fifth, to preserve his strength.

Cesare closes his eyes as he quickly raises the bowl to his face to wolf down the hundredth, before the reflection in the dull surface can show him what he has become.

81 Carrot

”Tell you what,” murmurs Volpe in the starving prisoner's ear, dangling the vegetable in front of his face, ”If you give me a good enough show I'll even let you keep it for supper when you're done.”

82 Madame

Volpe has to admit himself impressed – Claudia is shrewd, ruthless and horrifyingly practical, and stillmanages to be praised a good businesswoman rather than cursed a thief.

83 Kilt

Yes, Ezio decides as he flexes his body inside the unfamiliar weight of Romulus' armour, there is definitely a draft around his nether regions. Whatever the old Romans may have thought, a skirt of leather belts does notconstitute proper clothing.

After some swearing and creative arranging of his spare cloak he considers it may well look even moreof a skirt, but at least this cut preserves his manly dignity when he jumps.

84 Theft

He has stolen valuables, information, people and lives. La Volpe draws in a deep breath as he surveys Roma in the first light of morning, then exhales in satisfaction. She is the greatest city in the world, and she is all his for the taking.

[bidefecht-a]

im still feeling rough so im going to spend my evening curled up with books. you know the drill, reply with a moon, i’ll go through your memes and try to send some from the muses you picked ♥ 

(bios here)

🌑 anastasia romanov  🌒 clotho  🌓 elaina trevelyan 🌔 morrigan 🌕 sigyn 🌖 élise de la serre 🌗 guinevere 🌘 lucrezia borgia