12-04-2019, 02:41 PM
A Little Night Music Ch. 13
"I'm your only friend.
I'm not your only friend.
But I'm a little glowing friend.
But really, I'm not actually your friend.
But I am."
-They Might Be Giants, "Birdhouse in Your Soul"
Contessa-In-Reggenza Maria Louisa Francesca de San Finzione stood in the secure meeting room in Castle Finzione. Night had fallen, the lockdown lifted, and tourists released two hours previously.
Stavro had been unable to contact his parents during the lockdown, due to a signal jammer being activated to prevent any unauthorized transmissions in or out of the castle. He didn't want to leave Maria, but he needed to look in on them; and he would not be able to stay with her for the top-level meeting in any event.
He promised to return as soon as he made certain they were all right. Stavro refused the offered limousine home and back; as he didn't care to take advantage of Maria's status for himself. When Capitan Ortega and Sgt. Pappas; the Ultimado who'd tried to grab Stavro before linking up to form Maria's human shield with him, offered to take him in apology and gratitude for his assistance in the park, he accepted.
A pair of Ultimados flanked either door as the older men and women came filing in. Each of them approached La Contessa, shook or kissed her hand, and muttered assurances of prayers. Maria would nod, and then they'd go to the pitcher, pour themselves a glass of water, and hold it while they talked amongst each other. Maria might have thought it the world's most boring cocktail party if the group of people weren't supposed to be her top advisers. Her mind played over the words on the video that her Great-Grandmama had left her.
"If you haven't had your first official meeting with your advisers yet, call it now." Helena took a long drag of her cigarette before continuing. "They're going to underestimate you. They underestimated me. The ones who didn't see me as Vincenzo's trophy wife, a gold digger, or a genetically engineered CIA Sex Assassin; check that one out sometime, there's still conspiracy sites about it; saw a 23-year-old girl whose strings they thought they could pull.
"Some might show you disrespect. One guy even told me to my face that I was 'just there until a true San Finzione heir is crowned.' You've met Salvatore; the old fellow who works in the castle gift shop, putting the little plastic replicas of the tiara on the little girls' heads. I like the way he grumbles when I come in and bend down and ask the little girls if they're the true San Finzione heir. He's a far better tiara-fitter than he ever was Minister of Natural Resources, anyway. Smack that shit down with no hesitation." Another long inhale of her cigarette before continuing.
"Now, unless I've taught you The Thing already, I'm afraid it's going to be worse for you. They just thought I was a whore, but to them, you're Little Maria! You're the baby girl they remember toddling around the castle; the one who came up to them and sat on their knees. The one whose Great-Grandpapa would give her piggy-back rides in the garden." She sniffed a little. "Who looked so cute and so brave saluting your parents' coffins as they rolled through the marketplace." Helen leaned forward and held her head in her hands before saying the next part.
"The one rumored to be the young personal maid who engaged in secret rendezvous with La Contessa. That won't help matters at all, and it's my fucking fault, and watch disc 3 for my apology in full.
"This means that gaining their respect will be an uphill battle. I bet at least three of them will make empty offers of 'If there's anything I can do.'"
Maria had heard the offer seven times already.
"Here's what I'd do if I couldn't do The Thing, but not if it's Ramirez; HE wouldn't be late without a damn good reason, and I'm pretty sure he'll be your biggest ally in there. Trust your own judgment, Dearest One, but here's what Orson Welles would do on the first day of a new movie so everyone knew not to fuck with him from Day One..."
Maria looked around the room at the men and women in suits. La Contessa's advisors, and now hers. Generalissimo Ramirez and the Prefect of La Policia entered together.
"Who is not yet here?" Maria asked loudly enough to get everyone's attention. The conversation took a moment to die down as everyone looked around the room. "It does not matter."
She turned to the Ultimados at the door.
"Seal the room," Maria told them. "I called this meeting forty-seven minutes ago. Anyone not yet here is fired!"
The room stopped and turned around. Even the Ultimados were stunned by the words that all of them were hearing in the voice of dear, sweet Lady Maria. Some wanted to tell her that it would be a big mistake. Her mouth opened again before anyone else spoke.
"Did your Contessa say 'please?'"
Ramirez immediately stood to attention and saluted.
"No, Contessa. Nor do you have to." He turned to the Ultimados with a stern look while pointing to Maria. "You answer to myself and to La Contessa de San Finzione. Your Contessa has just given you an order. Must I do so as well?"
"I'm your only friend.
I'm not your only friend.
But I'm a little glowing friend.
But really, I'm not actually your friend.
But I am."
-They Might Be Giants, "Birdhouse in Your Soul"
Contessa-In-Reggenza Maria Louisa Francesca de San Finzione stood in the secure meeting room in Castle Finzione. Night had fallen, the lockdown lifted, and tourists released two hours previously.
Stavro had been unable to contact his parents during the lockdown, due to a signal jammer being activated to prevent any unauthorized transmissions in or out of the castle. He didn't want to leave Maria, but he needed to look in on them; and he would not be able to stay with her for the top-level meeting in any event.
He promised to return as soon as he made certain they were all right. Stavro refused the offered limousine home and back; as he didn't care to take advantage of Maria's status for himself. When Capitan Ortega and Sgt. Pappas; the Ultimado who'd tried to grab Stavro before linking up to form Maria's human shield with him, offered to take him in apology and gratitude for his assistance in the park, he accepted.
A pair of Ultimados flanked either door as the older men and women came filing in. Each of them approached La Contessa, shook or kissed her hand, and muttered assurances of prayers. Maria would nod, and then they'd go to the pitcher, pour themselves a glass of water, and hold it while they talked amongst each other. Maria might have thought it the world's most boring cocktail party if the group of people weren't supposed to be her top advisers. Her mind played over the words on the video that her Great-Grandmama had left her.
"If you haven't had your first official meeting with your advisers yet, call it now." Helena took a long drag of her cigarette before continuing. "They're going to underestimate you. They underestimated me. The ones who didn't see me as Vincenzo's trophy wife, a gold digger, or a genetically engineered CIA Sex Assassin; check that one out sometime, there's still conspiracy sites about it; saw a 23-year-old girl whose strings they thought they could pull.
"Some might show you disrespect. One guy even told me to my face that I was 'just there until a true San Finzione heir is crowned.' You've met Salvatore; the old fellow who works in the castle gift shop, putting the little plastic replicas of the tiara on the little girls' heads. I like the way he grumbles when I come in and bend down and ask the little girls if they're the true San Finzione heir. He's a far better tiara-fitter than he ever was Minister of Natural Resources, anyway. Smack that shit down with no hesitation." Another long inhale of her cigarette before continuing.
"Now, unless I've taught you The Thing already, I'm afraid it's going to be worse for you. They just thought I was a whore, but to them, you're Little Maria! You're the baby girl they remember toddling around the castle; the one who came up to them and sat on their knees. The one whose Great-Grandpapa would give her piggy-back rides in the garden." She sniffed a little. "Who looked so cute and so brave saluting your parents' coffins as they rolled through the marketplace." Helen leaned forward and held her head in her hands before saying the next part.
"The one rumored to be the young personal maid who engaged in secret rendezvous with La Contessa. That won't help matters at all, and it's my fucking fault, and watch disc 3 for my apology in full.
"This means that gaining their respect will be an uphill battle. I bet at least three of them will make empty offers of 'If there's anything I can do.'"
Maria had heard the offer seven times already.
"Here's what I'd do if I couldn't do The Thing, but not if it's Ramirez; HE wouldn't be late without a damn good reason, and I'm pretty sure he'll be your biggest ally in there. Trust your own judgment, Dearest One, but here's what Orson Welles would do on the first day of a new movie so everyone knew not to fuck with him from Day One..."
Maria looked around the room at the men and women in suits. La Contessa's advisors, and now hers. Generalissimo Ramirez and the Prefect of La Policia entered together.
"Who is not yet here?" Maria asked loudly enough to get everyone's attention. The conversation took a moment to die down as everyone looked around the room. "It does not matter."
She turned to the Ultimados at the door.
"Seal the room," Maria told them. "I called this meeting forty-seven minutes ago. Anyone not yet here is fired!"
The room stopped and turned around. Even the Ultimados were stunned by the words that all of them were hearing in the voice of dear, sweet Lady Maria. Some wanted to tell her that it would be a big mistake. Her mouth opened again before anyone else spoke.
"Did your Contessa say 'please?'"
Ramirez immediately stood to attention and saluted.
"No, Contessa. Nor do you have to." He turned to the Ultimados with a stern look while pointing to Maria. "You answer to myself and to La Contessa de San Finzione. Your Contessa has just given you an order. Must I do so as well?"
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