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Cirillo answers in a whispered voice "I think your father meant that she was ... violated. But we'll see soon enough how badly she was hurt as pain is a certainty in that kind of ... activity."

It doesn't take any effort to find that Francesca has been put into one of the downstairs guest bedrooms. You all know Francesca as the household cook. She is a homely woman in her late 20s with rosy cheeks and full figure. Usually Francesca has a loud laugh and enjoys socializing at several local pubs. She often works with Eleanora D'agnolo and is a close friend of hers, even having visited Giorgio's home occasionally.

When you* enter the room you find Francesca seated in bed, wearing a nightgown. Her lip is cut on the left side of her face and her left eye is turning purple and almost swollen shut. A trickle of blood making it's way down from her scalp beads on her forehead. She has bruising around her neck and upper arms. A sullen and despondent expression covers her face.

Another servant is seated on a wooden stool next to the bed. There is a bucket of water on the floor which she is using to soak a cloth and dab against Francesca's broken lip. Francesca's face is wet but it is impossible to tell if it is from tears or the assistant trying to clean the wounds.

She looks up to you as you enter but doesn't make any attempt to speak to you.

[OOC: *Who is entering the room and who is waiting outside, if anyone?]

[Francesca da Firenze]

Marco entered the room alone, asking the others to stay outside.
"Oh, poor girl!" he said when he saw Francesca. "Don't worry, I'm here to help you! And... what is your name, darling?" he asked the servant. "I always forget, I'm sorry. Please, tell Cirillo he is needed here. He's behind the door."

Cirillo waits patiently behind the door until the servant opens the door and asks him to enter. He looks at Marco briefly until focusing on Francesca.

Cirillo takes a small wooden stool, carries it to bedside and sits on it. He studies at the injuries but also the general outlook of Francesca until finally starts to speak with a soft voice.

"Francesca, I have heard what happened to you. I am here to help you. Is it okay with you if I examine your injuries?". Unless she resist Cirillo cleans the wounds as gently as possible all the time speaking softly and soothingly to her. "I know it is hard to talk about but can you tell me who did this to you? Where this happened and how long ago? Do you think there were any witnesses that we could talk to?" If she feels uncomfortable Cirillo changes subject and asks about how she is coping.

After cleaning the wounds Cirillo bandages her scalp and gives her some clean cloth to put to her bleeding lip to prevent further bleeding. "I'm afraid I can't do much for your eye or the bruises but they will heal given time.".

[OOC: Further actions depend on her answers if she gives any]

***WARNING. DIFFICULT READING, SORRY***

The servant replies to Marco "M' names Viena, sir." She bends to perform a curtsy before opening the door for Cirillo and beckoning him inside. She stands by the doorway, nervously touching her dress, unsure whether she should leave or if she will be needed again. When Cirillo asks Francesca if he could examine her injuries she nods but says nothing. She tenses when you touch her but she doesn't move away. You find that her cut lip will need a catgut suture and that she is missing one of her front teeth. The bruising around her neck and upper arms were obviously caused by fingers gripping her very tightly. You suspect a fracture in in the orbital around her eye. All together you would expect a full physical recovering in a few weeks.

When she begins her testimony she doesn't look at Cirillo; she keeps her eyes fixed on the foot of the bed. She speaks softly. "I was 'eading back 'ere for the night from the Crossed Keys Tavern. Drunk, I admit. I was coming over the Saint Antonio bridge and I 'eard someone walking behind me. I didn't think think anything of it then, but 'e was still following me when I got over to Regina Street. I went to turn to look at 'im but 'e grabbed me from behind." She pauses to gather herself before continuing. I was thrown on ground and 'e climbed on my back. 'e took a fist full of my 'air and pounded my face into the cobblestones." She brings a hand up to touch her face. "I remember what it sounded like when 'e knocked out my tooth."

As if predicting what you were going to ask she elaborates. "I yelled out. At least I think I did. Either way, nobody came to 'elp me. Whenever I tried to struggle or scream, he smashed my face back into the street again... I blacked out I think." She swallows hard and picks up a glass of water with a trembling hand before taking a sip. "When I awoke... My skirts were pulled up to my waist. 'e was choking me and 'ad his body weight on my back. I could 'ardly breath let alone yell anymore. I just... it was easier to keep lying still." She sniffs her nose and looks like she might break into tears but she continues. "Only thing 'e said the whole time was 'Now be a good girl or I'll fuck you with my other sword next'... I didn't even realize 'e 'ad a blade until 'e said it."

She looks to Cirillo for the first time. "I didn't see 'is face... Only 'is black cloak and gloves. All I can really say is that 'e wasn't fat or very tall. Thin or medium build. And 'is dagger. 'e held it to my throat most of the time but I saw it when 'e thought I was still unconscious. A Cinquedea with a Lion of Saint Mark stamped on the middle of the blade." She turns back to staring at her feet. "As suddenly as 'e grabbed me, 'e jumped up at ran away. I don't think 'e even stopped to do up 'is belt buckle... I kept laying still for a while... In case 'e came back to 'urt me again. I kind of wished 'e 'ad used that dagger on me, so I could just lay there and die. To let it all be over." She takes a few large gulps of water from her cup, her hands still shaking. "Then I fixed my clothes and came back 'ere. No 'iding what 'appened with my face like this."

[OOC: If you are having trouble figuring out what she is saying, I dropped the "H" off the front of words for her accent. 'e = He. 'im = Him. 'elp = Help etc.]

{OOC: any chance people outside the door could hear any of her talk?}

Alex wrote:{OOC: any chance people outside the door could hear any of her talk?}

Was just going to ask that

Marco leaves the room to speak with the others.
"Viena, did Francesca tell you something more? Or maybe you heard something important? Please, tell me. Than go and help Cirillo, darling."

After this Marco relates Giorgio and Karl the story, if they didn't hear everything,
"So, what do you guys think we should do now? And Giorgio, maybe Eleanora could visit Francesca? Our poor girl should feel better with a friend by her side."

Viena shakes her head in reply to Marco. "No sir, she's hardly spoken a word apart from now."

"I think Giorgio and I should investigate where she was ... raped."

Karl waits a few seconds before speaking again:

"We can ask around, try to find any witness. Also, rapists tend to be cowards and they normally need a few drinks before they act. We can look for taverns or more fancy drinking establishments nearby."

Karl stares at Marco for a few seconds: "You are in charge, but you better take this very seriously."

If everyone agrees, Karl leaves to investigate dressed casually and wearing only a dagger.

Before we leave, Giorgio approaches Francesca and put on my least threatening smile.

"Francesca, I know that this is has been a difficult night for you and it would not do to have you stay by yourself tonight." He offers her his hand. "Know that Eleanora and I would happily have you stay with us for the time being."

Giorgio goes with Karl, though he goes unarmed with only his leather jack for armour.

Walking with Karl, Giorgio looks sideways and whispers (in German if Karl speaks it):

"Do you not think it strange that she was in her nightgown when her story is that she was coming home from the tavern?" Giorgio takes a deep breathe and exhales heavily, "It may be nothing, but I feel that something here does not add up. I will question... Vivianna? Viola?" Giorgio realizes that he has utterly forgotten her name. "That serving girl who's name begins with 'V', I will ask her whether Francesca got changed when she returned from the incident."

Cirillo listens to Francesca's story with with passive face even though he feels bad for her. If he didn't know her at all, Cirillo is certain that he wouldn't feel much as he has seen it all too many times as a mercenary. When Francesca ends her tale, Cirillo forces a small smile to his face and says "It's okay, you are going to be okay." even though he is pretty certain that it won't be the case. "I have to put some stitches to your lip, otherwise it will never heal properly."

Cirillo notices the commotion in the room and hastens to ask "Before I continue, I have to ask you if you are certain that the man who attacked you was alone? Did you notice anything particular in the way he spoke like accent, how deep his voice was? Did you see his hands when you saw the dagger you described? Did he have any rings? Were the hands those of a working man or someone that don't do manual labor?".

After her answer Cirillo tells Marco "Sir, I will have to put some stitches to her lip. Where will I find you after that?".

If Cirillo has all he needs, after all he assumed that he was summoned as a physician, he tells Francesca "Now, I'll give you something that will ease the pain and then I will tend to your lip.". Then Cirillo will give her laudanum or something else for the pain, wait a bit for the effects to kick in and finally do the stitches.

After Giorgio whispers to Karl, Karl stops for a moment. He is truly dumbfounded.
When he is out of earshot of the others, he stumbles:

“Well, to be honest, I never thought about that! I was too angry to think properly. To think someone would hurt such a simple girl!
But if what you imply is true, then our aggressor might very well be someone from the household! I need to clear my head and think about it… Let us walk outside, get some fresh air. We could still check out the possible spot of the… well, crime. We can look for blood, a broken tooth.”

Karl pauses.
“And if we don’t find anything, you are probably right.”

"My thoughts exactly, friend. I have given Francesca the option to stay with Eleanora and I for the time being." Giorgio's moustache twitches with a smirk. "If anyone wants to get to her, they have to go through Ellie, and you know how much of a fireball she can be."

Karl would normally laugh at the comment, but given the circumstances, he only nods and follows Giorgio outside.