Ficlet: I Aurelians (Angelus)
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still_grrrTitle I Aurelians
Author Bruttimabuoni
Rating PG
Word Count 380
Prompt 123 (Rome)
Characters/Pairing (if any) Angelus, reference to James and Elizabeth
A/N: I seem to be writing a Fanged Four series for this month. Will try to keep it up. Warning: if you’re easily troubled by blasphemy, please steer clear – Angelus is feeling mocking.
Angelus’s first epistle to the new Aurelians
Chapter 1 (Greeting): Verse 1
Dear James and Elizabeth. I love a casual blasphemy, don’t you?
Chapter 1: Verse 2
We find ourselves in a bit of trouble and are getting out of the Midi speedily. We are taking ship for Lubeck in hopes of shaking off our pursuer.
Chapter 1: Verse 3
We couldn’t wait for you, so suggest you have some fun alone for a while and we’ll meet again in Vienna in December.
Chapter 2 (Instruction): Verse 1
Meantime, go to Rome. You’ll love it. A fresh young couple like yourselves need to spend some time getting an urban polish.
Chapter 2: Verse 2
And I’m afraid Darla won’t tolerate bumpkins in her entourage much longer. You’ll go to Rome, or you’ll never join us again.
Chapter 2: Verse 3
A warning: Rome is full of churches. You’ll find it an inconvenience, but little more. The city is packed with people; they can’t all find sanctuary at once.
Chapter 2: Verse 4
I recommend hour of the passeggiata, hard by the Colosseum, where they are sluggish with content and easily become disoriented in the broken circles of ancient masonry.
Chapter 2: Verse 5
Better still, if your victims flee for the nearest church from there (and they will), go after. It is perfect. It has a secret weakness; a pagan temple underlies the holy surface.
Chapter 2: Verse 6
You’ll find the crucifix has little power when you’re in the Mithraeum, where novices drowned in bulls’ blood. A little medieval piety hasn’t scoured away such gory ancient power.
Chapter 3 (Edification): Verse 1
Rome has its bonuses too. That aura of holiness doesn’t hide a suppurating corruption and decadence which I think you’ll enjoy. The place has grown old and stale.
Chapter 3: Verse 2
The glory of the ancients is all around, half-buried, burnt for lime in futile efforts to save said glory. The all-conquering city has been conquered since forever ago.
Chapter 3: Verse 3
You can stand on the spot where prating Peter preached and where he died, crucified head-down in agony. Have a drink for me, in his memory.
Chapter 3: Verse 4
The greatness of Rome is interwoven with its failures and losses. The present city lives amid its past. And dies.
Chapter 4 (Temptation): Verse 1
Oh, and Rome is full of nuns. Enough said.
~~~
Author Bruttimabuoni
Rating PG
Word Count 380
Prompt 123 (Rome)
Characters/Pairing (if any) Angelus, reference to James and Elizabeth
A/N: I seem to be writing a Fanged Four series for this month. Will try to keep it up. Warning: if you’re easily troubled by blasphemy, please steer clear – Angelus is feeling mocking.
Angelus’s first epistle to the new Aurelians
Chapter 1 (Greeting): Verse 1
Dear James and Elizabeth. I love a casual blasphemy, don’t you?
Chapter 1: Verse 2
We find ourselves in a bit of trouble and are getting out of the Midi speedily. We are taking ship for Lubeck in hopes of shaking off our pursuer.
Chapter 1: Verse 3
We couldn’t wait for you, so suggest you have some fun alone for a while and we’ll meet again in Vienna in December.
Chapter 2 (Instruction): Verse 1
Meantime, go to Rome. You’ll love it. A fresh young couple like yourselves need to spend some time getting an urban polish.
Chapter 2: Verse 2
And I’m afraid Darla won’t tolerate bumpkins in her entourage much longer. You’ll go to Rome, or you’ll never join us again.
Chapter 2: Verse 3
A warning: Rome is full of churches. You’ll find it an inconvenience, but little more. The city is packed with people; they can’t all find sanctuary at once.
Chapter 2: Verse 4
I recommend hour of the passeggiata, hard by the Colosseum, where they are sluggish with content and easily become disoriented in the broken circles of ancient masonry.
Chapter 2: Verse 5
Better still, if your victims flee for the nearest church from there (and they will), go after. It is perfect. It has a secret weakness; a pagan temple underlies the holy surface.
Chapter 2: Verse 6
You’ll find the crucifix has little power when you’re in the Mithraeum, where novices drowned in bulls’ blood. A little medieval piety hasn’t scoured away such gory ancient power.
Chapter 3 (Edification): Verse 1
Rome has its bonuses too. That aura of holiness doesn’t hide a suppurating corruption and decadence which I think you’ll enjoy. The place has grown old and stale.
Chapter 3: Verse 2
The glory of the ancients is all around, half-buried, burnt for lime in futile efforts to save said glory. The all-conquering city has been conquered since forever ago.
Chapter 3: Verse 3
You can stand on the spot where prating Peter preached and where he died, crucified head-down in agony. Have a drink for me, in his memory.
Chapter 3: Verse 4
The greatness of Rome is interwoven with its failures and losses. The present city lives amid its past. And dies.
Chapter 4 (Temptation): Verse 1
Oh, and Rome is full of nuns. Enough said.
~~~
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Date: 2009-06-22 04:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-22 12:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-22 04:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-22 05:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-22 12:03 pm (UTC)Loved it and the last line absolutely, perfectly Angelus!!
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Date: 2009-06-22 04:56 pm (UTC)Thanks for commeting - really glad you enjoyed it!
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Date: 2009-06-23 06:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-23 08:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-23 07:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-23 08:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-06-23 07:29 pm (UTC)Indeed. I have never seen so many nuns in one place. St Peter's square was awash with them, and that was just two years ago. Clearly, Angelus needed to be more forceful in his teachings.
Of course, James and Elisabeth completely ignored him. *sigh* The young were ever thus.
Excellent ficlet. Amen.
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Date: 2009-06-23 08:27 pm (UTC)