Il Divino
Prologue
Rated G
By Shana
Author's Notes:
Hello.
No author's notes.
Yeah right!
That was a nice try! I saw you smile. What? Don't you want to
talk to me? You don't think there is *something* wrong with me,
do you? DO you? Well? Uh-huh. I thought so.
Well, try as I might, I couldn't stop myself. I did it. I am
*so* bad…
I started another fanfic before even finishing my other one.
What did *you* think I was talking about?
You have a dirty mind.
Okay, so, now seriously. This fanfic is loosely based on the
movie The Red Violin, but the idea is all messed around with. If
you haven't seen the movie…you should. It is wonderful.
The prologue and first few chapters also draws ideas from the
artist Michelangelo's life. A lot of the information on
Michelangelo is considered fictional or myth, but regardless I am
still using it. The first few chapters deal with Serena and
Darien. It is a first season-alternate reality fic. I am using
the characters but none of the stuff we love so much about them in
the Manga/Anime. This might upset some people, but only the first
few chapters deal with the Serena/Darien relationship. The other
chapters deal with the Senshi and only the last few chapters go
back to Serena and Darien. Oh, I know A LOT on the literature,
philosophy, theology, and art of the Renaissance period but
NOTHING on the social conditions. So please bear with me. If you
know something I don't, instead of sending me *hate* mail and
calling me stupid, correct me (politely…I am a college kid…I think
I know everything) and I will write the correction in my next
chapter and thank you for your help. Well, that is it for now.
Phew.
Thanks to Sake-channie- Aya is MINE! Well, I guess we *could*
share. I think I am having heart pains!
April- Happy 17th Birthday!!! Everyone wish April a belated
birthday at Startear42@aol.com. This one is for you!
E-Mail E-Mail E-Mail
C'mon people, I need feedback!
Oh, and Naoko still hasn't sold Sailor Moon to me…it WILL happen
one day. The Red Violin is owned by whoever owns it.
Michelangelo. He is incredible. I hope he forgives me.
******************************************************************
Il Divino
Prologue
(Darien's view)
1491
Florence, Italy
On my twelfth birthday I left the orphanage to apprentice under
Francesco Granacci, a painter associated with the Ghirandaio
Studio.
For three years I preformed menial tasks and painted copies of my
master's works.
After night fell, in the security of my small room in the attic, I
would sit by the window and paint under the light of the moon and
the stars.
A fortuneteller once told me that my eyes would forever mirror the
dark sky and that my painting, my heart would always be connected
to the moon.
She was just a crazy old witch.
After four years of apprenticing Granacci decreed that I had
potential to be one of the greats: Giotto, Massacio, Raphael. You
know. The greats. I obtained a position at the Medici "Academy"
in Florence. The other painters and I spent our days in the
gardens of the Medici Palazzo near the San Marco Monastery.
Drawing, painting, sculpting.
There was camaraderie between us boys but a deep competition
rippled in the dark folds our minds.
Only the best would survive.
One boy, Torrigiani, was exiled to Spain for breaking the nose of
Lorenzo de'Medici's favorite-Michelangelo.
Michelangelo stayed mostly to himself. Already some were calling
him Il Divino. I was intrigued, awed and intimidated by him.
Yet, regardless of all the social and political intrigue I was
enjoying myself. Sometimes I missed the other kids from the
orphanage though four years had passed. But, then, I had always
walked a different path. Alone.
Until the day I met *her*.
******************************************************************
(Serena's view)
2nd, April 1491
Medici Household
Florence, Italy
Serena de'Medici, the youngest child of Giuliano de'Medici,
brother of Lorenzo the Magnificent, walked swiftly down the silent
stairs of the Medici Palazzo. Her pale blue brocade gown swept
the floor as her slippered feet moved gracefully towards her goal.
The front door.
At the towering wooden doorway she glanced furtively around her,
nervously anticipating capture.
When she caught no sign of her mother or governess she opened the
door to freedom. She stood in the light of the morning breathing
in the fresh smell of escape. Closing the door behind her
quietly, she ran down the cobbled pathway towards the gardens.
Hidden behind the deep shrubbery Serena gazed longingly at the
young men, boys really, painting and sculpting.
How she wished she could be an artist.
But her uncle and guardian, the man who called her daughter,
forbid it.
The Duke of Florence, Lorenzo de'Medici was ostracized by the very
idea.
"A woman painter," he had scoffed, "Preposterous!"
He had had a good laugh over that idea.
Until he realized that Serena was seriously intent on the concept.
Then he had forbidden her.
'It is so not fair,' she thought, 'He adores his artists. Why he
even allows young Michelangelo a seat by his side at all meals.
No, it is only because he believes it is a woman of high birth's
duty to be concerned merely with the affairs of home. A wife? ME?
That very idea is outrageous. I have yet to find the passion that
the classics speak of. But no, does it even matter to *him*? He
will only sell me to the highest bidder.'
Serena's slim shoulders hunched at that offensive notion.
'I am a piece of chattel,' she glumly thought.
She grumbled to herself and flicked irritably at the bothersome
branches poking into her side.
She got up and slowly, as to not bring notice to herself; she
quietly retraced her steps to the pathway. Looking to her left
she saw a dense forestry area and the promise of solitude. Serena
walked in that direction humming quietly. She entered the forest
warily, taking small baby steps in the semi-darkness. The tree
branches formed a roof, so closely were they situated. Only small
bursts of light were able to force their way through the barrier.
Nervously continuing, Serena wondered at the intelligence of her
foray into the wild and unknown.
She was contemplating the benefits of turning around and heading
back to safety when she heard a noise.
'An animal?'
'The wind?'
However, as she moved closer she saw a small opening and standing
in the center, with his back to her, was a man. She stepped
though the thick trunks of two trees and gasped in surprise. She
was in some sort of secret cove. Here, the trees did not grow so
close, so that it was bright and full of morning sunlight. The
grass was an emerald color, even brighter where the sun hit.
Flowers grew in abundance carpeting the ground with their silk
petals and filling the air with their sweet smell. Splashes of
red, blue, yellow, lavender and pink lay indulgently across the
mossy floor.
The man, however, heard not a sound.
He was busy concentrating on something that she could not see past
his wide back.
"Does anyone else know of this place?" she asked in her high,
sweet voice.
The man whirled around in surprise. And then he just stared.
But then, so did she.
******************************************************************
(Darien's view)
I was busy concentrating on my painting of the Holy Family when a
sweet voice called out. Thinking I was alone, I whirled around in
shock. No, actually, I whirled around in surprise. What I saw
before me, well, that shocked me.
Standing before me, me a mere painter, was an angel.
Her blue eyes stared straight into mine. I saw a heavenly sparkle
in her eyes before they too registered shock.
******************************************************************
(Serena's view)
Oh.
What a handsome man.
He was the most alive and vivid person I had ever seen. His eyes
were like pieces of the night sky. And they were staring right
into mine.
However, lessons, instructions and breeding came back to me. I
was still standing there staring at him, bemused.
And he was still looking at me.
I got annoyed. Or at least, I tried to act it.
"Excuse me. I asked you a question. You aren't simple minded,
are you?"
That last thought frightened me.
'Please, oh, please. Don't let him be beautiful but dumb.'
(AN… It is a stupid misconception that we, well, maybe just me,
like beautiful but dumb boys. How long can you stare at something
before getting bored? Hmmm, you could probally care less about
what I think though, huh?)
******************************************************************
(Darien's view)
My angel had a temper.
Maybe she was real.
I smiled at her.
She smiled back.
I pride myself on my smile.
"Hello," I said simply.
******************************************************************
(Serena's view)
He smiled at me.
I think I might have started drooling.
What an endearing smile.
And then he spoke.
"Hello," he said.
So simple. And yet, so much.
"Hello," I answered back.
******************************************************************
(Both)
That simple word.
My path would forever be changed. And so, too, would the paths of
many who would follow us…centuries and centuries to come.
******************************************************************
Okay Okay I realize that it is kind of confusing and slow. It WILL get better. I PROMISE.
But you have to EMAIL me first!!!!!
RayondeLune77@aol.com
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