Beautiful People #10 // Besina and Bartolomeo

Well lookie here! I finally am doing more Beautiful People posts! And because I missed the June and July ones I thought I'd go back and fill those out first. (So prepare yourself for three BP posts in a row!)

And I've also decided to return to work on my VeniceNovel (also called, for now, Masked Souls, but that might change). It is the only novel that my heart really wants at this point, and I'm working on revamping the whole plot and making it beautiful.

Today we're talking about June's Beautiful People theme - parents. Specifically, Zaneta's parents. I do not yet have any pictures of them. Oh well.

1. Do they know both their biological parents? Why/why not?

Yes. Zaneta has two awesome parents - Besina and Bartolomeo. (In the original version of this story, Bartolomeo dies early on. That's not happening anymore - yay! - though he does get abducted and is thus not present for most of the story anyway.)


2. Have they inherited any physical resemblances from their parents?

Zaneta inherited her mother's petite facial features and willowy stature, though she is taller than her mom. She also has a hint of her father's deep and twinkling eyes, though hers are very green and his are blue-green. She has a robustness about her that can only come from her father, too.

3. What's their parental figure(s) dress style? Add pictures if you like!

Both of Zaneta's parents dress in working class outfits of the Venetian 17th century (ish). Besina wears airy blouses, thick skirts, and an apron over it all. Bartolomeo often wears his maskmaking smock, but only when he's at work. He would never leave the house with it on.


4. Do they share any personality traits with their parental figures? And which do they take after most?

Zaneta takes more after her father than her mother, in terms of personality. They are both vivacious, hot tempered, and quick to laugh (loudly). However, Besina has a certain tranquil mystery about her that Zaneta shares, though more in the sly mystery aspect than in the tranquil aspect.


5. Do they get on with their parental figure(s) or do they clash?

Overall, it's a pretty happy family. Zaneta argues with her parents as much as any teenager might, but she really relies on them both for advice (though in different matters) and loves them very much (and knows it).


6. If they had to describe their parental figure(s) in one word, what would it be?

Zaneta would probably describe them both as artists, though in different senses of the word. Bartolomeo is the best maskmaker in Venice, with extremely dexterous hands, despite his large size.
Besina is an artist of life. She somehow makes everything beautiful.

7. How has their parental figure(s) helped them most in their life?

Bartolomeo has taught Zaneta maskmaking - and so, indirectly, an appreciation for beauty, magic, and mystery.
Besina has taught Zaneta how to see that beauty, magic, and mystery in everyday life.

8. What was their biggest fight with their parental figure(s)?

Zaneta has had many, many fights with both her parents, though they were petty, short, and easily resolved. The biggest fight probably happens near the beginning of the novel, and basically involves Zaneta being stupid on a Carnivale night and not coming home until the next morning. Obviously her parents are going to be angry.

9. Tracing back the family tree, what nationalities are in their ancestry?

The Soranzi are Venetian through and through, and proud of it! (There might have been a Turk somewhere a long time ago, but they don't talk about that.)


10. What's their favorite memory with their parental figure(s)?

Oh, this is kind of impossible, because Zaneta's had such a splendid life with her parents. Her favorite memories are kind of mixtures of a bunch of different times. Her favorite memory of her father would probably be a conglomeration of all the times she's spent sitting on her father's workbench watching him put the finishing touches on a mask.
Her favorite memory of her mother is the way her mother plays with her hair when they're cuddling on a bed or couch.

What do you think of Besina and Bartolomeo? And if you could describe YOUR parents in one word (each) what would they be?

Read the rest of my Beautiful People posts here!