Late response to "CSI Miami episode titles" (response #3)
Sequel to Deathgrip
Characters: Irina, Renée
Ship: None.
Spoilers: mild spoilers for S3 & S5.
The Innocent
It is not a bad life. Her days are quiet; her pastimes for the most part simple. When she feels energetic she helps in the garden. When she feels lonely, she stretches herself out by Laura’s favorite fountain and daydreams.
But mostly, she studies.
They don’t require her to say prayers, or attend services, but everyday she is expected to rise early, head to the convent’s small library and begin her reading. Midday, one of her three or four tutors (she’s never sure exactly how many are employed at once, they rotate unpredictably) arrives to test her newly acquired knowledge, and then her instruction begins, continuing until late in the afternoon.
Linguistics. Geography. Politics. Mathematics. Cryptography (her personal favorite; she loves the puzzle-element, the game inside her mind). They keep her intellect well stimulated, which keeps her too busy to fully remember…but curious enough not to completely forget. Her education has kept her from being entirely innocent of the ways of the world-she’s quick enough to recognize that a library this small should not be this well supplied. It’s a continual reminder as to the power of her benefactress.
Not that any reminders are necessary. Whenever Laura visits, despite her serene countenance, the gentle way she speaks when they are together, her undeniable loveliness, Renée wastes none of her time in imagining she is an innocent-she is no more angel-like than the faceless figures painted on the chapel walls.
Renée has overheard the commanding undertone in her ‘suggestions’ to others; seen the way the sisters never hesitate in their obedience to whatever she asks of them. Quiet whispers of fate echo in her footsteps-several years ago when Laura visited for her twelfth birthday, she even heard the murmurs of prophecy, once-just that once-followed by the sound of an open palm against flesh. It never even occurred to her to question who delivered the slap; just as she never questioned her decision to studiously ignore the yellow-green bruise Sister Maria unsuccessfully tried to hide for the next two weeks.
Every time she has seen her, Laura has been dressed to blend in with those surrounding her. Yet, although she wears the simple clothing of the region with practiced ease, Renee can see that it is just that-practiced. Not natural. Laura is not who she seems. But if there’s one lesson Renée has learned from her childhood, it’s that some questions are better left unasked. Unanswered.
There would only be one reason for her to violate the peace that has been so carefully crafted for her benefit; one reason for her to embrace the return of the gritty-black nightmares that haunted her for so long. But her father is dead-there is nothing she can do to bring him back.
So she plays along.
Or at least she did until the night someone decided to change the rules.
~TBC~
Characters: Irina, Renée
Ship: None.
Spoilers: mild spoilers for S3 & S5.
The Innocent
It is not a bad life. Her days are quiet; her pastimes for the most part simple. When she feels energetic she helps in the garden. When she feels lonely, she stretches herself out by Laura’s favorite fountain and daydreams.
But mostly, she studies.
They don’t require her to say prayers, or attend services, but everyday she is expected to rise early, head to the convent’s small library and begin her reading. Midday, one of her three or four tutors (she’s never sure exactly how many are employed at once, they rotate unpredictably) arrives to test her newly acquired knowledge, and then her instruction begins, continuing until late in the afternoon.
Linguistics. Geography. Politics. Mathematics. Cryptography (her personal favorite; she loves the puzzle-element, the game inside her mind). They keep her intellect well stimulated, which keeps her too busy to fully remember…but curious enough not to completely forget. Her education has kept her from being entirely innocent of the ways of the world-she’s quick enough to recognize that a library this small should not be this well supplied. It’s a continual reminder as to the power of her benefactress.
Not that any reminders are necessary. Whenever Laura visits, despite her serene countenance, the gentle way she speaks when they are together, her undeniable loveliness, Renée wastes none of her time in imagining she is an innocent-she is no more angel-like than the faceless figures painted on the chapel walls.
Renée has overheard the commanding undertone in her ‘suggestions’ to others; seen the way the sisters never hesitate in their obedience to whatever she asks of them. Quiet whispers of fate echo in her footsteps-several years ago when Laura visited for her twelfth birthday, she even heard the murmurs of prophecy, once-just that once-followed by the sound of an open palm against flesh. It never even occurred to her to question who delivered the slap; just as she never questioned her decision to studiously ignore the yellow-green bruise Sister Maria unsuccessfully tried to hide for the next two weeks.
Every time she has seen her, Laura has been dressed to blend in with those surrounding her. Yet, although she wears the simple clothing of the region with practiced ease, Renee can see that it is just that-practiced. Not natural. Laura is not who she seems. But if there’s one lesson Renée has learned from her childhood, it’s that some questions are better left unasked. Unanswered.
There would only be one reason for her to violate the peace that has been so carefully crafted for her benefit; one reason for her to embrace the return of the gritty-black nightmares that haunted her for so long. But her father is dead-there is nothing she can do to bring him back.
So she plays along.
Or at least she did until the night someone decided to change the rules.
~TBC~