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Description
For a few days Christina will be free from that strange man she'd met. Vieri's threatening words don't slow her pace, in fact, they seem to have no effect whatsoever. Through out the week Fiameta meticulously attempts to train Christina in the ways of being a lady. Her lessons will go in one ear and out the other. No matter how Christina tries to retain them, she just doesn't understand the importance of her actions. It is especially imperative for the up coming dinner party, even Miss Agnella is a little nervous for it, after all, it is the prestigious Medici family.
~
Thrusday, May 21st, 1470

For hours Giada has primped and plucked at her appearance. Each strand of hair is carefully combed and braided, every ribbon on her dress is tightly fastened to make her figure the perfect shape. No one will mess up her chance with a Medici, not her sister especially. Her concentrated expression seems so empty. She finally considers herself perfect for viewing and makes her way down the stairs to the sitting room. As usual her easily excited, eager to please sister has her nose in a book with a dull glimmer in her unusual green eyes. With a sigh, Giada announces her presence. Giada must pull the book from Christina's hands to impede her engrossed studying; finally Christina looks up at her.

"Hello Giada. I didn't see you there." That irritatingly soft tone pricks at one's ears.

"I've been standing here for some time you tart. Of course, you are always so busy with such a useless activity, you wouldn't even notice if someone came to kill you." Giada spitefully snarks.

You can almost see the wheels turning under the pale skin and golden hair; it shines in the light, blinding, and annoying.

"You know what I think is sad..." The dark haired girl lilts with her tone, catching Christina's curiosity,

"What is sad, Giada?" Predictably she replies.

Glittering in the sun, Giada's dark brown eyes fixate in her performance,

"No one will ever love you... oh, but its okay Christina, because I know a way they will like you." She grins as her sister's expression falls dim for a second, and perks up as she believes Giada's every word.

"I do it all the time, and it takes practice to be very good at it..."

"Please tell me. I'd like people to like me." Christina coos longingly.

Ever so gently Giada takes her sister's tiny hands and speaks with a whisper,

"You must be cruel to them of course. Be as rude as possible. It peaks their curiosity, and they will want to know more about you."

As every word strings from her painted lips like a silk thread, the green eyed child smiles wider and nods in understanding. To make doubly sure, Giada continues,

"As you know, father is meeting a good friend that is very important in the city. There will be plenty of new people for you to meet, and be friends with. Now, I want you to be on your best behavior and be rude and mean to them. I'm sure they'll all like you very much."

Gullible indeed, and hopelessly stupid at that; Christina leaves the room with her hands to her heart with determination. Again, for a trap so successful, Giada's eyes appear as empty as the room she stands in. Finally, after some time is spent preparing for the meeting, Antonio calls his girls into the front hall with his sisters, nephew, and wife. Within no time they are standing in front of the foreboding estate of the most important man in Firenze. Nervously Agnella grabs Christina's hand and mutters,

"Are you ready Christina? Its like we're meeting royalty."

The empty headed little girl nods, some how reassuring the normally very stern servant. Like the gates of a castle, the doors open and Antonio enters first. Almost immediately he is greeted with an excited shout and embraced by Lorenzo de Medici. His younger brother follows closely behind and everyone is introduced. Giada smiles with perfect grace at young Giuliano, he humbly bows to her and kisses her hand; clearly he is enchanted by her. However, when he sets eyes on the preoccupied Christina, he looks as if he's fallen ill. Shyly he approaches her and waves to get her attention. Her retarded, blank expression angers Giada so much that she growls,

"Christina, what do you think you're doing you fool? Introduce yourself... as you have been taught."

Immediately Giuliano notices Christina's lack of eye contact and smiles. He leans a close to her, slowly,

"Miss Christina... it's a great pleasure to meet you."

From her brainless pondering Christina seems to wriggle within herself. From the wrinkles in her nose you can almost see her slow thought process. Giada glares, hoping Christina will remember what her sister told her earlier. It seems all she wants to do is spite her older, smarter sister, naively the little girl mutters,

"It's... good to meet you as well."

Giuliano laughs with pity as they are suddenly herded to the tea room of the massive mansion. Within no time everyone has a place to stand or sit, and someone to talk to. Giada of course does her best to help Christina in her conversation with the young Medici,

"Ser Medici, how interesting that you seem to take a liking in one of my father's servants."

"Uh... servant? Isn't she your sister?" Giuliano smiles very eagerly at the clueless Christina.

He attempts to ask her something, but is stopped when Giada interjects,

"I'm afraid you're mistaken about her being my sister. She is not a Calfucci at all."

Giuliano rudely ignores Giada's pressing, and asks the bird brain who is staring at the book case in the room,

"Do you like to read?"

"You say that like its a good thing. Reading is a useless task for a lady, when will she every need it?" Giada promptly interrupts.

"Well, I think someone who is at least trying to become intelligent is better than someone who only pretends to be smart." He sneers, glaring into the nearly vacant dark brown eyes of the flamboyantly dressed Calfucci girl.

Having overheard their conversation, Giannetta steps in and drags Giada to join her in the boring talk between her mother, and Lorenzo's wife Clarice. Fuming, Giada turns to her aunt, trying to subtly resist and force that golden haired moron away from Giuliano. By the time she's spun back toward her stupid sister, Giuliano and Christina are smiling and chatting on the other side of the room. How thoughtless of them to forsake her. She will certainly pay, after all, who could be so stupid? Honestly no one is that oblivious; Christina must be doing this on purpose. Meanwhile that mentally challenged young girl chatters on with the handsome boy,

"My mamma doesn't let me out like this as often... this is the first time. I'm really excited to see so many different things."

"I am glad she has let you be free. It would be shame to keep such beauty away from the world."

"Oh, no, Giada gets to go out all the time. She visits Alessandra de Pazzi whenever she can. They are friends." Christina spills on like an idiot, hopelessly ignorant to what Giuliano meant in saying beauty.

For nearly an hour the guests and hosts talk between themselves, merrily. In the midst of all this talking, another man enters the room. As soon as he walks up to them Christina's eyes lock onto him. Something in her heart feels strange; she is normally so trusting of other people. When Antonio asks for her to stand in front of them, she feels threatened by this man.

"Good evening Uberto. Please make yourself comfortable." Lorenzo speaks warmly.

"Good to see you too Lorenzo. I have a letter delivered from Giovanni's sons, where is your grandfather?" The man kindly smiles, waving a piece of wax-sealed parchment.

Before Lorenzo beckons toward the older man in the corned or the room, he takes that little monster gently by her shoulders and pulls her close to him,

"You've probably never seen her, this is Antonio's daughter Christina. Isn't she lovely-"

"And bright." Giuliano adds in excitement.

Uberto simply bows to her with a cold expression,

"It is nice to meet you little Miss Calfucci."

Reluctantly she bows as the men greet each other more properly, joined by the Duke of Firenze; Cosimo.

Soon enough Christina is taken aside by Giada. Under her breath as much as possible, Giada snarls,

"Who do you think you are? You realize no one likes you now. No one! You're too nice, you've got to be more cruel. Now, watch closely as I will show you exactly how to make friends."

With her usual, childish demeanor, Christina follows Giada to the middle of the room where a young man with a funny hat and a curious expression stands. Reluctantly he smiles at Giada as she approaches him. For a moment she stands in front of him with her arms crossed and her nose in the air. Eventually he realizes what she's demanding from him.

"Eh, hello, Giada. Its been a long time since I've seen you. I've been away at school thanks to your father."

"It would be nicer to see you, Amerigo, if I didn't think you were wasting my father's money with your silly endeavors." She softly places her words.

His teeth flash as he growls in his defense,

"What's more of a waste? Your frivolous frockery or my education in matter of exploration?"

Giada nods for Christina to join in. Of course, the stupid little girl cannot help but stare anxiously at the large man talking so merrily with her father. His energy feels so threatening to her, but she cannot place why. Her thoughts are swiftly misplaced when Giada grabs her arm and drags her in front of their cousin. Amerigo stares at her, Christina stares back at Giada,

"Uh, who is this?" Amerigo asks.

"Introduce yourself stupid! Do it like I told you." Giada hisses in Christina's ear.

"Eh... h-hello?" She sputters, glancing back at her sister, eagerly awaiting her approval.

Instead she's given a terrible glare until Amerigo gently attempts to lead her away from the cruel girl.

"My name is Amerigo. I am Antonio's nephew. You must be the sweet Christina. I've heard so much about you from your father."

Oblivious yet again, that idiot merely smiles and allows herself to be pulled away from the furious Giada. Within no time Giuliano sneaks in with their conversation and attempts to take Christina away with him.

"Now, Christina, it seems to elude me. Your age, how old are you?"

"11, Ser." She shyly mutters.

Swiftly a smile brushes Giuliano's lips,

"You have the mind of someone much younger, but your eyes tell a whole other story." He explains, gently touching her face.

"My eyes?" Christina sputters, moving away fearfully.

Immediately Giuliano apologizes, that is until Antonio interjects, having well seen just what Giuliano was doing. Even if Lorenzo is one of his closest friends, Ser Calfucci is no where near ready to give up his daughters. Hours have been enriched with conversations of conviviality, and of business, but now it is time to return to their residence. It has been such a wonderful time getting to know everyone, especially Christina's new friends, or at least she thinks they are. Giuliano is a good young man, a little frivilous, but sweet. On their way home Christina gets herself more acquainted with her cousin Amerigo. It seems the reason she's never met him before is purely circumstantial. He's been away learning to be a business man just like his uncle. Some day he dreams of sailing to Spain and becoming an explorer of sorts. With a little help from the Medici family he could become very good, but thus far Lorenzo's grandfather is reluctant to take on such risky business. For now all he can do is charm the highly interested Christina with his tales of travel.
Eventually when they arrive home, Giada's wrath makes itself known as Christina is preparing for her bath.

"You're a toad! And absolute eye sore! Giuliano doesn't like you! He doesn't even pity you!" She screams angrily, slapping her sister with all the force her palms can carry.

Helplessly the stupid girl writhes beneath Giada's fury.

"You're nothing. You'll never learn! I hate you! I wish father would just take you back from where you came!"

Suddenly calming herself, Giada pulls Christina into a tight hold around her neck. Begging for air Christina can do nothing but sit there and take the beating. Slithering from her mouth, Giada makes a compromise,

"I won't tell father to send you back if you do as I tell you. Tomorrow I'll teach you. I'll teach you to make friends... I'll teach you to be good." Roughly stroking Christina's hair, Giada finally releases the nearly unconscious Christina who nods faintly.

As loudly as she entered, Giada exits like a passing breeze. On the floor Christina lay with tears in her eyes. Amid her labored breaths she recites,

"I'm a toad... I'm an eye sore... no one likes me... no one pities me... useless little monster... worthless..."

If ever someone can drag her out of this deepening hole, they will have to act quickly, or she might lose her self forever.

Description
For a few days Christina will be free from that strange man she'd met. Vieri's threatening words don't slow her pace, in fact, they seem to have no effect whatsoever. Through out the week Fiameta meticulously attempts to train Christina in the ways of being a lady. Her lessons will go in one ear and out the other. No matter how Christina tries to retain them, she just doesn't understand the importance of her actions. It is especially imperative for the up coming dinner party, even Miss Agnella is a little nervous for it, after all, it is the prestigious Medici family.
~
Thrusday, May 21st, 1470

For hours Giada has primped and plucked at her appearance. Each strand of hair is carefully combed and braided, every ribbon on her dress is tightly fastened to make her figure the perfect shape. No one will mess up her chance with a Medici, not her sister especially. Her concentrated expression seems so empty. She finally considers herself perfect for viewing and makes her way down the stairs to the sitting room. As usual her easily excited, eager to please sister has her nose in a book with a dull glimmer in her unusual green eyes. With a sigh, Giada announces her presence. Giada must pull the book from Christina's hands to impede her engrossed studying; finally Christina looks up at her.

"Hello Giada. I didn't see you there." That irritatingly soft tone pricks at one's ears.

"I've been standing here for some time you tart. Of course, you are always so busy with such a useless activity, you wouldn't even notice if someone came to kill you." Giada spitefully snarks.

You can almost see the wheels turning under the pale skin and golden hair; it shines in the light, blinding, and annoying.

"You know what I think is sad..." The dark haired girl lilts with her tone, catching Christina's curiosity,

"What is sad, Giada?" Predictably she replies.

Glittering in the sun, Giada's dark brown eyes fixate in her performance,

"No one will ever love you... oh, but its okay Christina, because I know a way they will like you." She grins as her sister's expression falls dim for a second, and perks up as she believes Giada's every word.

"I do it all the time, and it takes practice to be very good at it..."

"Please tell me. I'd like people to like me." Christina coos longingly.

Ever so gently Giada takes her sister's tiny hands and speaks with a whisper,

"You must be cruel to them of course. Be as rude as possible. It peaks their curiosity, and they will want to know more about you."

As every word strings from her painted lips like a silk thread, the green eyed child smiles wider and nods in understanding. To make doubly sure, Giada continues,

"As you know, father is meeting a good friend that is very important in the city. There will be plenty of new people for you to meet, and be friends with. Now, I want you to be on your best behavior and be rude and mean to them. I'm sure they'll all like you very much."

Gullible indeed, and hopelessly stupid at that; Christina leaves the room with her hands to her heart with determination. Again, for a trap so successful, Giada's eyes appear as empty as the room she stands in. Finally, after some time is spent preparing for the meeting, Antonio calls his girls into the front hall with his sisters, nephew, and wife. Within no time they are standing in front of the foreboding estate of the most important man in Firenze. Nervously Agnella grabs Christina's hand and mutters,

"Are you ready Christina? Its like we're meeting royalty."

The empty headed little girl nods, some how reassuring the normally very stern servant. Like the gates of a castle, the doors open and Antonio enters first. Almost immediately he is greeted with an excited shout and embraced by Lorenzo de Medici. His younger brother follows closely behind and everyone is introduced. Giada smiles with perfect grace at young Giuliano, he humbly bows to her and kisses her hand; clearly he is enchanted by her. However, when he sets eyes on the preoccupied Christina, he looks as if he's fallen ill. Shyly he approaches her and waves to get her attention. Her retarded, blank expression angers Giada so much that she growls,

"Christina, what do you think you're doing you fool? Introduce yourself... as you have been taught."

Immediately Giuliano notices Christina's lack of eye contact and smiles. He leans a close to her, slowly,

"Miss Christina... it's a great pleasure to meet you."

From her brainless pondering Christina seems to wriggle within herself. From the wrinkles in her nose you can almost see her slow thought process. Giada glares, hoping Christina will remember what her sister told her earlier. It seems all she wants to do is spite her older, smarter sister, naively the little girl mutters,

"It's... good to meet you as well."

Giuliano laughs with pity as they are suddenly herded to the tea room of the massive mansion. Within no time everyone has a place to stand or sit, and someone to talk to. Giada of course does her best to help Christina in her conversation with the young Medici,

"Ser Medici, how interesting that you seem to take a liking in one of my father's servants."

"Uh... servant? Isn't she your sister?" Giuliano smiles very eagerly at the clueless Christina.

He attempts to ask her something, but is stopped when Giada interjects,

"I'm afraid you're mistaken about her being my sister. She is not a Calfucci at all."

Giuliano rudely ignores Giada's pressing, and asks the bird brain who is staring at the book case in the room,

"Do you like to read?"

"You say that like its a good thing. Reading is a useless task for a lady, when will she every need it?" Giada promptly interrupts.

"Well, I think someone who is at least trying to become intelligent is better than someone who only pretends to be smart." He sneers, glaring into the nearly vacant dark brown eyes of the flamboyantly dressed Calfucci girl.

Having overheard their conversation, Giannetta steps in and drags Giada to join her in the boring talk between her mother, and Lorenzo's wife Clarice. Fuming, Giada turns to her aunt, trying to subtly resist and force that golden haired moron away from Giuliano. By the time she's spun back toward her stupid sister, Giuliano and Christina are smiling and chatting on the other side of the room. How thoughtless of them to forsake her. She will certainly pay, after all, who could be so stupid? Honestly no one is that oblivious; Christina must be doing this on purpose. Meanwhile that mentally challenged young girl chatters on with the handsome boy,

"My mamma doesn't let me out like this as often... this is the first time. I'm really excited to see so many different things."

"I am glad she has let you be free. It would be shame to keep such beauty away from the world."

"Oh, no, Giada gets to go out all the time. She visits Alessandra de Pazzi whenever she can. They are friends." Christina spills on like an idiot, hopelessly ignorant to what Giuliano meant in saying beauty.

For nearly an hour the guests and hosts talk between themselves, merrily. In the midst of all this talking, another man enters the room. As soon as he walks up to them Christina's eyes lock onto him. Something in her heart feels strange; she is normally so trusting of other people. When Antonio asks for her to stand in front of them, she feels threatened by this man.

"Good evening Uberto. Please make yourself comfortable." Lorenzo speaks warmly.

"Good to see you too Lorenzo. I have a letter delivered from Giovanni's sons, where is your grandfather?" The man kindly smiles, waving a piece of wax-sealed parchment.

Before Lorenzo beckons toward the older man in the corned or the room, he takes that little monster gently by her shoulders and pulls her close to him,

"You've probably never seen her, this is Antonio's daughter Christina. Isn't she lovely-"

"And bright." Giuliano adds in excitement.

Uberto simply bows to her with a cold expression,

"It is nice to meet you little Miss Calfucci."

Reluctantly she bows as the men greet each other more properly, joined by the Duke of Firenze; Cosimo.

Soon enough Christina is taken aside by Giada. Under her breath as much as possible, Giada snarls,

"Who do you think you are? You realize no one likes you now. No one! You're too nice, you've got to be more cruel. Now, watch closely as I will show you exactly how to make friends."

With her usual, childish demeanor, Christina follows Giada to the middle of the room where a young man with a funny hat and a curious expression stands. Reluctantly he smiles at Giada as she approaches him. For a moment she stands in front of him with her arms crossed and her nose in the air. Eventually he realizes what she's demanding from him.

"Eh, hello, Giada. Its been a long time since I've seen you. I've been away at school thanks to your father."

"It would be nicer to see you, Amerigo, if I didn't think you were wasting my father's money with your silly endeavors." She softly places her words.

His teeth flash as he growls in his defense,

"What's more of a waste? Your frivolous frockery or my education in matter of exploration?"

Giada nods for Christina to join in. Of course, the stupid little girl cannot help but stare anxiously at the large man talking so merrily with her father. His energy feels so threatening to her, but she cannot place why. Her thoughts are swiftly misplaced when Giada grabs her arm and drags her in front of their cousin. Amerigo stares at her, Christina stares back at Giada,

"Uh, who is this?" Amerigo asks.

"Introduce yourself stupid! Do it like I told you." Giada hisses in Christina's ear.

"Eh... h-hello?" She sputters, glancing back at her sister, eagerly awaiting her approval.

Instead she's given a terrible glare until Amerigo gently attempts to lead her away from the cruel girl.

"My name is Amerigo. I am Antonio's nephew. You must be the sweet Christina. I've heard so much about you from your father."

Oblivious yet again, that idiot merely smiles and allows herself to be pulled away from the furious Giada. Within no time Giuliano sneaks in with their conversation and attempts to take Christina away with him.

"Now, Christina, it seems to elude me. Your age, how old are you?"

"11, Ser." She shyly mutters.

Swiftly a smile brushes Giuliano's lips,

"You have the mind of someone much younger, but your eyes tell a whole other story." He explains, gently touching her face.

"My eyes?" Christina sputters, moving away fearfully.

Immediately Giuliano apologizes, that is until Antonio interjects, having well seen just what Giuliano was doing. Even if Lorenzo is one of his closest friends, Ser Calfucci is no where near ready to give up his daughters. Hours have been enriched with conversations of conviviality, and of business, but now it is time to return to their residence. It has been such a wonderful time getting to know everyone, especially Christina's new friends, or at least she thinks they are. Giuliano is a good young man, a little frivilous, but sweet. On their way home Christina gets herself more acquainted with her cousin Amerigo. It seems the reason she's never met him before is purely circumstantial. He's been away learning to be a business man just like his uncle. Some day he dreams of sailing to Spain and becoming an explorer of sorts. With a little help from the Medici family he could become very good, but thus far Lorenzo's grandfather is reluctant to take on such risky business. For now all he can do is charm the highly interested Christina with his tales of travel.
Eventually when they arrive home, Giada's wrath makes itself known as Christina is preparing for her bath.

"You're a toad! And absolute eye sore! Giuliano doesn't like you! He doesn't even pity you!" She screams angrily, slapping her sister with all the force her palms can carry.

Helplessly the stupid girl writhes beneath Giada's fury.

"You're nothing. You'll never learn! I hate you! I wish father would just take you back from where you came!"

Suddenly calming herself, Giada pulls Christina into a tight hold around her neck. Begging for air Christina can do nothing but sit there and take the beating. Slithering from her mouth, Giada makes a compromise,

"I won't tell father to send you back if you do as I tell you. Tomorrow I'll teach you. I'll teach you to make friends... I'll teach you to be good." Roughly stroking Christina's hair, Giada finally releases the nearly unconscious Christina who nods faintly.

As loudly as she entered, Giada exits like a passing breeze. On the floor Christina lay with tears in her eyes. Amid her labored breaths she recites,

"I'm a toad... I'm an eye sore... no one likes me... no one pities me... useless little monster... worthless..."

If ever someone can drag her out of this deepening hole, they will have to act quickly, or she might lose her self forever.