Wow. You are so descriptive with your writing! All of the stories you right paint a clear picture... but this? This is amazing! Brilliant job!

Now it's time for a long, good, serious review that I promised. As you already know, I added this story to Favourites which means I like it very much, and now I'm going to explain my opinion in details.

The first interesting thing I noticed when started reading were your descriptions. The words turned into images so easily, like watching the movie. I could see Laura as a little girl, I saw her with Rinaldo in the USA, I saw her lying in her bed at night fighting for sleep, I saw her dancing in her room, humming a tune in the sunrays... and other pictures, everything was like a film.

As others, I was slightly surprised by presence of Roberto Cavalli in your plot. It's rather challenging to include a real figure into a fictional story and to use your imagination for portraying this person (I experienced that myself with Balthus) but it works, I think. Luckily, we write fanfiction and do not make money with it so nobody can accuse us of anything! ;)

The image of Laura you've created is really good, believable. To tell the truth, I've never been thinking too much of this woman, for me she was just "poor wife of that disgusting Pazzi". But you seem to do a lot of thinking of her and that brought you to writing this nice work.
There's only a minor thing that seemed to me a bit far-fetched. What does Laura do in your story? Analyses her life - that's good, realistic. What else? - cares about the money - also understandable. Goes on dates with women - double understandable, after her life with dreadful Pazzi I expect she would never even look at a man. These are important things, but what Laura does every day? Improves some things in her appartment, communicates with her cat and... constantly does/plans shopping! Well, I don't know... For me it's a little bit trite: if you want to picture a woman, make her thinking about shopping! Maybe it's my personal attitude here (I can't stand shopping) but couldn't you really give her another (or at least additional) hobby? Reading books?.. by Thomas Harris? ;)
One more thing connected with it. "Careful not to tear the delicate fabric, not to ruin the designer dress. " Care with a good expensive thing, probably even created by her godfather ;) And then you write about the dress: "It slid down to the floor and she stepped out of it, not looking down so she wouldn't see the dress." Okay, she doesn't feel like being in mourning and wearing a black dress... but why she drops it on the floor and leaves the (expensive good) dress there? For the cat to sleep on? ;)

And, as I started criticising, one more thing. Laura says to Margot that she still has that antique score given her by Dr Lecter. I thought in canon Pazzi gave the papers back to Hannibal during their last meeting. How can Laura have it, then? I suppose Dr Lecter left the score in the library when he made his escape so it should have been in police hands after all.

Okay, enough criticism, now I'd like to point out your references to (book and fim) canon I noticed while reading, they were nice!

Roberto to his goddaughter: "That's my girl" ;)
The taxi driver to Laura: "You can have a good time here, if you know the town." - aren't these Chilton's words, spoken to Clarice in SOTL? :)
"Margot brushed Judy's copious brown hair so gently as she walked by that Judy didn't even notice it." - brings back to the moment with a merry-go-round in "Hannibal" the film.

When you called Laura 'predator" while she was approaching Vittorio and Rachele, it reminded me of Hannibal in "Ten, nine,..." - which of course wasn't written that time ;)

You once mentioned you weren't really satisfied with the Margot twist. I read the story and didn't understand why. Too predictable? Well, but what else could happen?
The conversation between the two women was rather creepy (as you intended I suppose). We know what Margot is capable of!

The last thing I'd point out is that I said to you before: I love the way you use details.
"Laura did not bother to read the sonnet again"
"Having removed the rug from the floor turned out to be a great decision, it was only her cat who didn't agree with her on that."
"He couldn't know she had decided not to tip him for his insolence."
"some orange blossom body lotion" - orange ;)
I just thought... Maybe an orange symbolizes not only a bound between people but also a loss?

And of course I loved the scene from Chapter 4 where Callista seduces Laura ;)

Well-written, beautiful, amusing story, connecting characters of our beloved fictional universe in the most elegant way! At the times like this I'm very grateful that I know English and that I found this site :)

...Margot sighed and walked away with a heavy heart. She wish to stay bitterly but she had to return to Judy now.

Laura closed the door and began to cry. If only Margot knew that the money was not the case and the only reason for mailing to the USA was her, Laura's, wish to meet Mason's sister! Why should life be so hard to me, Laura thought in despair.

Soon later she composed herself and started thinking what to do. It was too late to get Callista back so finally Laura decided to call Rachele...

;)

"Now, Rachele, don't look back, just keep on walking. He does not deserve your pity."

Just let's go to some other place, Laura continued, We don't need all those silly deceiving men. And they don't deserve such gorgeous ladies as we are. Perhaps we don't need them.. at all, - said she and smiled at a sudden thought of Callista ;)

Sorry, I just couldn't refrain from making this little remark. I promise to write a good long serious review after I finish reading but now you can only enjoy my favourite silly jokes!

FW

Were I Clarice, I'd kick my hubby's ass for that 'love letter'! But sad thing is that wives are usually the last (if ever) to know... ;)

Hi, after 'Barney's Blather' I thought I'd check out another of your stories :)

I can safely say that I loved this story! As you noted there isn't many Laura fanfics around and I've never actually read one so this was very interesting. I really like how you've made Laura a strong character and the little twists like Callista and Vittorio made the story very enjoyable. I also loved the inclusion of Margot Verger in this story. She's a cool chick and I love reading about her so that was a bonus :)

And on a finishing note. I like Laura's cat! Haha.

Brilliant story, brilliantly written :)

10/10

Ava xoxo

so I was looking for something to read and I came upon this. Very original ideal, I don't think anyone else had written about her. I hope that I can write as well as you one day.

New Gucci boots, it's alright for some. ]

Loved the setting of the ending, I could really see it.

Such a beautiful ending, you wrote the break up with courtesy and respect similar to Thomas Harris style of writing.

I'm very glad you allowed me to join you for Laura's story.

Lou :)

Hey there!

What is it about the good doctor that brings out the tigress in many of the ladies he encounters? Rachel Duberry, Margot, Clarice (of course), and in this very interesting and plausible scenario, Laura Pazzi, all become stronger and more complex, albeit more morally ambiguous, for having known him, however briefly. You write women well, which is a great compliment to any male author, I think. I enjoyed her psychological growth, as well as her adventures. I'm sure she'll have many, many more. A huntress with means loose in Paris - how deliciously and sinfully fun!

Thanks again for this enjoyable and very original fic. It's very cool to work with some of the less well explored characters, isn't it?

All the best,

D :)

I did worry when she put her hand into her bag. O

But i'm glad everything went well and she has her money. I wonder what her first spend will be on?

Once again a very well written chapter. ]

Well, I have to say, I was pretty nervous for Laura as she sat through her meeting with Margot, a woman capable of cracking walnuts with her hands and skulls with items that she sometimes secrets in her bag . . . they played a fine game of mental chess, and I'm sure the good doctor would have been very entertained by his mischief.

I also wonder if Margot found Laura as luscious as Callista apparently did . . . perhaps that helped spare her as well.

Great chapter! I'm curious to see where Laura goes from here now that she's getting the money.

All the best,

D :)

Ohhhhh! I just loved this chapter! So much going on in plot, in description, and in foreshadowing. I'm excited to see Margot enter the picture. The doctor was right - she is much more interesting and capable than her brother. She's a fascinating character. She's damaged, yet remarkably flexible and pragmatic, as she proved in her dealings with her father, brother, and Dr. Lecter. Her physical presence belies her mental acuity. She's someone you don't want to underestimate . . .

So, now it seems she has even more to lose. I wonder how Laura, another great survivor and pragmatist, will deal with Margot Verger? Will they clash, or find common ground? I can't wait to find out!

All the best,

D :)

P.S. Nice nod to the Classics with Charybdis :)

Whahahaha! You tell that miserable bastard, Laura! That was brilliant. I'm so glad he got his comeuppance!

Once again, you descriptions are wonderful, I swear I could feel the sun on my own face as I was reading :-) I like the fact that you really are taking your time with this. None of it is rushed, everything seems worked out just so and I like that. I don't get the feeling you are racing towards the finishing line with this story. Instead, it's a gentle meandering journey through Laura's past, her present and her character. I envy your ability to pace yourself, it makes for a much better story than I would have been able to produce.

What a scum bag! And that was me using the nicest terminology I could.

I knew he was a good for nothing!

I'm so glad Laura confronted him, I only wish I could be like her for if a similar situation eve arises. She is changing, indeed she does seem to be similar to Clarice.

I'm sure Clarice would have done the same. It reminded me of when she looked at Barneys tax returns and she verbally sort of trapped him into admitting he had the item she wanted.

I really do like this chapter.

And thank you for acknowledging me in this. I am really so glad that I was of help.

] Louisa.

Hey!

What a fabulous scene! It's always nice to see someone who is behaving badly get called out for it :) I think the 'old' Laura might have just walked on by, but I'm pleased that the Laura you've envisioned had the gumption to put the moocher in his place! Nice to see how she's growing and changing. Encounters with the good doctor, even brief ones, appear to do that to people in the Hanniverse and in real life readers, don't they?

Great chapter! Looking forward to more!

D :)

Of course, reading this has given me a craving for coffee - not that it really takes much with my caffeine addiction, but now I must go visit my favorite cafe near work. So good job, you, helping inspire me to stimulate the US economy!