i. arrival

[borgiararity]

[ There is a lady in flowing renaissance garb wandering down your hallways, Paradisa.

Lucrezia is peeking through doors left ajar and knocking on closed ones. She has stowed her device in her coat pocket and it turns on to catch her muttering timidly through the open doors. ]Pardon me, I have been searching for the--master of this house. Only to

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[blue_sniper]

[Whose door should she knock on but Bucky's? He answers it, curious because nobody knocks on doors in this castle.] Hey, are you all right?

[borgiararity]

[ She takes an abrupt step back, since this is the first door that has opened for her. ]

I--I believe I am. Only, I do not know how, and why, I am here.

[blue_sniper]

Oh, you're new here. [Time for the new person speech.]

You're in Paradisa. It's basically a magic, living castle. It took you from...wherever you were before and brought you here. And now you can't escape, unless the Castle lets you.

[borgiararity]

[ Her face lights up at the word 'magic' though it dims at the prospect of never escaping. ]

So, the master of this house is--the house itself. Why has it chosen to take us and not the rest?

[inafadingcrown]

[One such door is opened by a very tall lady, dressed in a white medieval-esque gown. And she can't help but be mildly amused at what she hears.]

To thank him, of course. [She truly doubts that.] When first I arrived I sought him for a confrontation and to make demands, but requesting to give thanks is more likely to gain an audience. Still, you will have no more luck than I.

[But the amusement shifts into compassion quickly enough.] You have just arrived, I gather.

[borgiararity]

[ A very tall and beautiful lady who makes the memory of Giulia Farnese pales in comparison. The awe is clear on Lucrezia's face before she offers a meek smile and an insistent nod. ]

Yes, to thank him. He has saved me, I believe, and been so generous as to offer me one of his rooms.

[ She lowers her gaze to salvage what is left of her self-esteem. ]

And yes, I arrived only yesterday.

[inafadingcrown]

Saved you, child? [The concern comes through in her voice. She can't help it; it's in her nature to nurture and this girl seems so lost and so in need of it. But at her last sentence, Galadriel gives a little nod and what she hopes is a comforting smile.]

Then explanations as well as introductions are in order. Mayhaps we should be seated. [And she'll step aside and gesture for Lucrezia to enter. It's hardly hospitable to leave a guest standing in the hallway, after all.]

[borgiararity]

Yes, from a fate worse than-- [ No, she shouldn't be so ungrateful.

She shakes the thought away and nods as she steps inside the room, her eyes wide with wonder. With a grin on her face, she twirls around to face the lady and gesture to herself. ]

I am Lucrezia. Borgia.

[madetothwart]

[Behind one of the doors, there is a rather plump gentleman in some very fashionable corduroy trousers and a sweater-vest. He blinks out at her in the manner of a mole seeing sunlight for the first time in years, before smiling warmly.]

Good afternoon, miss.

[borgiararity]

[ Lucrezia finds him friendly-looking, this fashionable and plump gentleman, and safe. She smiles brightly in return. ]

Good afternoon, good sir. Forgive my intrusion but I seem to have lost my way.

[madetothwart]

Nonsense, there's no need to apologise. Now, where are you trying to find?

[He has assumed, erroneously so, that she is attempting to find the library or kitchen.]

[borgiararity]

You are most kind. [ She beams at him. ] I was searching for the master of the house before I learned that the house is its own master. Now I am searching for the way back to my room.

[optimystically]

[aaaaaaaaaand Maya comes to answer her door when she hears a knock! and she's surprised to find.... such a pretty young woman, haha, and she's dressed so fancy]

Hi! Did... you need something?

[borgiararity]

[ The people in this castle do dress strangely but the fashion does seem easier to move in, though perhaps none too modest. ]

Yes, if you would be so kind as to introduce me to the master of this house?

[optimystically]

Oh... sorry, no master to be found!

[there's a pause before she just decides to start a good old fashioned explanation] Um, this is going to all sounds really weird, but I promise I'm not lying to you, okay?

[borgiararity]

But-- who owns this castle then?

[ She nods slowly at that disclaimer. ] I trust you.

[cricketycricket]

[when Five opens his door, if Lucrezia peers over his shoulder to the room beyond, she might see that it resembles an indoor jungle: plants have overgrown all the furniture and crept up the walls. the only sign that it may once have been a furnished room is the hint of carpeting and wallpaper.

oh and uh, there are two identical boxy blue structures with windows that look a bit like standing wardrobes.

the Doctor, however, doffs his hat and smiles]

Hello...!

[borgiararity]

[ Her gaze is quickly drawn toward the lush greenery, though she turns back to him to be polite and even curtsies a little. ]

Hello, good sir. I am sorry to have distracted you from... your business.

I wish to know about this place and perhaps you could help me.

[cricketycricket]

Oh, that's quite alright. Around here, my business usually is being distracted. [he smiles, and bows a bit in response to her curtsy. a quick glance at her clothes lets him assess that she's certainly nobility of some stripe, as well as the general time period and location. perks of being a Time Lord]

Firstly, my lady, might I introduce myself? I'm the Doctor, and it's a pleasure to meet you. I'd be more than happy to assist you, though I must warn you: I'm quite sorry, but this is going to be a far cry from fifteenth-century Rome. You may want to come in and sit down...

[borgiararity]

[ She grins with some glee, holding back a chuckle at his retort even as she offers him a hand. She hazards he would know what to do with it, judging from his bow. ]

Doctor, my name is Lucrezia Borgia.

It does seem--different from Rome, and the people seem foreign to me, if it polite to call them so.