Work Text:
Girolamo,
Nico sends his regards. He said if you dare to send him back, toss him off like this ever again he’d incise your skin from the back of your hand, one layer at a time. He won’t explain to me what he means so I just quoted the exact words. What did you do to him on the Basilisk? Given his attitudes towards you I had expected something… far more friendly.
Zo says hello too. It’s the last you’ll get from Florence, he said. Which is not true, since I believe Nico would be in touch despite his weird wish to skin you. I would have spared you of whatever else he said, but he is literally watching me write this. Count and Captain General, he said, we are leaving this paradise for sodomites, and I hope you rot in your luxury tomb.
There, he is satisfied. Somehow, he minds that sodomite case more than I do. Not that I’m perfectly OK with it, though. Who in Hell’s name accuses people of that? When we meet again I’d definitely have you answer for that. Mark my words.
Anyway, we are leaving for Milan. I wish I could see you again… before I arrive in somewhere totally strange. How are things going in Rome? I hear rumors about you making a negotiation with the church. Take the throne. If you really hate it so much, find someone in your family. That nephew of yours, who doesn’t know your true identity. He is attached to you and will put your benefit above all. Do NOT compromise. Don’t you dare compromise. The church may offer more money than you can imagine but you of all people should know what they are capable of, not to mention the Architect. Should you take a step away from power, he would smash you without second thought.
How I wish I were by your side. You who have been so pious all your life, and yet never came across another man of faith. None except us, in a ‘damned’ city of heresies. I’ve been thinking about our first letter and have now come to the conclusion that the problem lies not with Christianity but with people. How in Lord’s name can the people of Vatican, led by a non-believer false pope, possible have faith? It’s the same way around in Florence: when you find the man in charge so determined to become a tyrant, you’d lose passion for change anything.
But you, you are different. I have no idea how you did it, but your belief in God has nothing to do with your bastard father. In the new world you mentioned hearing directly from Him, but it’s only recently that I come to believe it. Vanessa told me about your speech that saved you from the gallows. I must be the most unfortunate soul to miss the show. In my studio I said you were compromised long ago, but see? You are mending. You are no longer hiding in your nightmares but facing it, eyes wide open. I’ve healed your body as I promised, and you know what? You took it over from there. You are healing your soul. I know this won’t be an easy path to take, so know that I’m always by your side, even when I’m not physically.
Till we meet,
Leo
Dreamer of Compromising Behavior