divine wrath.

bahandi maantigu. (bahandi the wise.) thirty-two. bisaya princess.

[bahandi]

ladygianetta:

how  is  it  that  one  moment  she  is  free  to  marry  whomever  she  pleases  and  the  next  she’s  engaged  to  the  giordano.  there’s  a  slight  flush  to  her  cheeks  as  she  walks  down  the  street.  gianetta  could  feel  everyone’s  gaze  on  her  as  she  attempts  to  keep  her  calm,  peaceful  demeanor.  she  is  more  confused  than  anything.  she  certainly  did  not  see  this  coming.  

the  young  woman  is  taken  by  surprise  as  soft  words  hit  her  ears.  she  turns,  adjusting  the  sun  hat  on  her  head.  gianetta  nods  her  head  in  greeting  to  the  other  woman.  “yam  bread?”  gianetta  knew  she  should  politely  decline,  but  the  curiosity  got  the  better  of  her.  “i  have  never  seen  such  a  color,”  she  murmurs.  gianetta  pauses  but  eventually  she  gives  in.  she  was  in  need  of  comfort.  “thank  you,”  she  murmurs,  accepting  the  pastry  with  a  light  smile.

“if you’re astonished by that colour, you should see my skirt,” bahandi jests in response. the tables and chairs blocked the full vibrant glory of her raiment, textiles she owed to her richly endowed homeland. she looks at the other woman and sees the melancholy on her face. she must’ve been the unlucky bride. so bahandi stands up and twirls for her, her vibrantly colorful skirt elegantly fluttering in the air, hoping to lift her mood.

“you must be gianetta,” she finally surmises after her little display. “i’m bahandi. i’m a visitor from near those islands that your neighbours, the iberians, call filipinas. they call us indios, do they not?” she beams at her. “i’ve seen your husband-to-be. he is quite handsome. if i didn’t know what it was like to fight for freedom, i wouldn’t know why you look so glum. but i know personal liberty must be important to you, as it would be to anyone. it doesn’t matter how handsome he is; he was not your choice,” she says softly, in a tone inviting her to release her anxieties. “is that correct?”

[bahandi]

bivnchi:

“I strongly urge you to accept. From my experience it’s as delicious in taste as it looks.” Nadya smiled sweetly, approaching Bahandi and the nobleman she was offering a pastry. He looked as solemn as the many other faces she had seen throughout the day. Evident that some more skeptical of her father’s decree than others, which was to be expected. But all would have to fall in line sooner than later if they didn’t desire to pay for it. As far as she concerned herself Florence would know peace. Her family, the crown and their home depended on it.

When he reluctantly accepted and departed from view, she watched him leave until he was completely out of sight. A moment later turning to broach the familiar woman in thought. “Once the initial shock wears off, their understanding soon will follow.”

Bahandi gives the other woman a grateful smile. “I know plenty of people here are frightened of anything unfamiliar. I’m talking about the bread, of course, but also your family’s decree. Thank you.” Part of her thanks were to keep herself in Nadya’s good graces, to be sure, but luckily, their beliefs also happened to largely align. She was sure Nadya understood. “I hope so. This won’t be easy for Florence, but...

“...I don’t know how the feuds could’ve been easy for its citizens as well. Progress is tough, but a broken society begs to be fixed. I was fortunate enough in that my father never deprived me of chances at leadership; I know its difficulties, and I sympathise with you.”

[bahandi]

bahandi had been busy poring over her tomes. she noticed the saturnine air that pervaded the city, but simply didn’t know what to say about it, wanting to continue with her endless self-education. due to her upbringing, few things daunted her, at least to such extents of gloom. she faced fear with a defiant face. the woman did not wish to alienate the italian locals, however, by acting so visibly unbothered.

to the person passing by, she asked in smooth-flowing italian: “would you like a piece of yam bread?” she wasn’t sure if the other understood what she meant, so she explained, “it tastes gently sweet, like vanilla, but also with a hint of pistachio.” a soothing, kind smile appeared on her face. “a few of my family’s sailors stopped by the port to give me some ingredients from back home.” a hand stretched out, offering the bright purple pastry. “i hope you’ll find this food comforting.”

[bahandi]

⇢ Introducing BAHANDI MAANTIGU, the THIRTY-TWO year old CIS FEMALE, ANAK SA DATU ( princess ) from VISAYAS ( in the philippines ). SHE is known for being RESTLESS, AMBITIOUS, UTOPIAN and INCISIVE. BAHANDI bears an uncanny resemblance to GLAIZA DE CASTRO and has been in Florence for SIXTEEN YEARS.

BIOGRAPHY

Bahandi was born in Sebu, an island that conquistadors would later try to lump in with their colony “the Philippines.” Her father was a datu (chief/sovereign) who fended off Europeans who stepped foot on their land and attempted to subjugate them. Though they were successful at fighting them, Bahandi has always been conscious of the European violence going on in their neighbouring islands.

This is why she persisted in her desire to go to Europe. She does not want to be intimidated by Europeans, many of whom consider a brown islander such as herself to be beneath them. At sixteen, she travelled to Florence, determined to rise up in Italian society and execute her grand ambitions. It hasn’t been easy, but she is not one to give up.

Her birth name was Bahandi, spelled with the characters I have in my sidebar. But she learned to transliterate her name in the Latinate alphabet, as well as gave herself a ‘surname.’ (Bisaya natives do not have surnames.) Her surname derives from her title back home, ‘Maantigu,’ or knowing/intelligent. Her name Bahandi means treasure.

Notes on her faceclaim: European surnames don’t necessarily indicate actual European heritage in Filipinos, which is why I feel comfortable using Glaiza. As far as I know, she’s fully/almost fully native like myself.

WANTED CONNECTIONS

Friends (she’s quite closed-off, however); enemies (she’d probably have a number); lovers? (She’s straight.)

[violaobanion]

The Great (2020–) season one, episode one