xli λ bambini

[assassino]

[Ezio has been hiding himself away for a variety of reasons.

Perhaps it's because his schedule has been thrown. There are no more late mornings with Lana, pressed up against her despite the warmth and cajoling her to stay just a little bit longer, just five more minutes. There are no more late lunches, no more dinners snuck in between sittings at the restaurant. No more riding out to the fields to picnic and joke and carouse, no more wine in pretty baskets, no more flowers just-because, or any of the other hallmarks of a man starting to get really invested in a woman.

That is because there is no more Lana. She's gone, as if the castle had forgotten how much she was loved –– even with Wesley and Fred and all of those others passing on from this world, Ezio liked to think that he enjoyed Lana enough for her to always matter to the castle.

She'd always been so bothered by the fact that they'd someday leave and forget each other, but she'd always acted like she would be the one to remember while he drifted away. And now here he is, the one left waiting.

But there are only so many weeks he could hide out in Stephanie and Cassandra's apartment, thinly "tolerating" Tim's presence and straddling the line between being heartbroken and maintaining a stoic manliness. With the babies everywhere, it is somewhat easier –– distractions, and all –– but he still needs to get out. There are only so many ways you can stave off loneliness.

So here he is, tentatively dipping his feet back in the world of women. Has it really been six months since he seriously chased another skirt?]

---- Horny Ladies, 18+ ----

[And there's that thick Italian accent, suave as always, but maybe a bit stiffer than he'd usually be.]

Salute.

I'd be much obliged to take you out for dinner and drinks, for whatever pleases you –– whether it is to spirit you away from a nagging infant for an evening, or merely amuse you for a few hours. If you are bold enough to ask, then I am bold enough to satisfy!

- Ezio Auditore

---- Public ----


[And then there's Ezio, whiling away some time in the garden. He's got a thick leather glove on one hand and a colourful eagle-like bird perched at his wrist; that bird is currently wearing a hood, patiently waiting in darkness for Ezio to unhood him for some time in flight.

Come bother a dude and his bird.]

Comments

[assassino]

I know. I have a great many friends here.

But friends are not the same as lovers.

[hellofist]

Pretty sure, won't have problem... finding those. If you want them.

[assassino]

I know. There are women who went after me despite knowing Lana, when we were together...

[hellofist]

[She's not really sure if those are the kind of women that she'd tell him to go for, not if they were the type to not care he was in a relationship.]

Just... promise something? Not in my bed? Would be weird, to... walk in on.

[assassino]

[He chuckles, despite himself.]

Cassandra... if I were to tumble a woman in another's bed, it would most certainly be in Tim's.

[hellofist]

[That's two laughs close together, she's awarding herself points for this.]

Probably shouldn't. Steph's bed, too. And mine, sometimes.

[assassino]

[He ruffles her hair. Teasing... maybe.]

I am sure Stephanie would be in it at the time.

[hellofist]

Don't know. Had how long, for that?

[Teasing definitely.]

[assassino]

Believe me, it was not for a lack of trying! Her only defense was that she did not want to share me.

[hellofist]

Guess things change, between... your time, and ours.

[assassino]

Many things, yes.

[hellofist]

It's sad, for you. Third in line, since I'm here now. Tim, then me. Then you.

[assassino]

[He's not sure what she means by that, but his initial thought is "ouch." Not that he put much thought into where he fell on Stephanie's list of priorities, but now that she's said it, joking or not...]

A sobering thought.

[hellofist]

[Well, so much for trying to cheer him up. She feels terrible now, makes a mental note to leave the jokes to someone that's been doing it longer.]

Probably not true, though. You've been here... for her, way longer. Definitely ahead of me.

[assassino]

[He waves a hand dismissively.]

No, no. You are her best friend, a sister from the same world. You need not cut yourself down.

[hellofist]

[She makes a face.]

Don't say sister.

[She's pretty sure you're not supposed to want to kiss your sister on the mouth.]

[assassino]

No?

[He's not sure why she wouldn't think that at all.]

[hellofist]

Not related. Only friends, don't have... any sisters. Or brothers.

[assassino]

[He shrugs.]

We refer to women and men close to us as our brothers and sisters, in my time.

[hellofist]

[And now she's curious.]

Would you call Stephanie sister?

[assassino]

[And a shake of his head.]

It is different when you would bed them. The only "sisters" I bed are nuns.

[hellofist]

[She considers clarifying that that's how she's looking at it too, but her feelings for Stephanie are something she's kept to herself for so long she doesn't even know where to start. It's easier to just focus on the not-having-sex-with-Steph part of this conversation.]

What's nuns?

[assassino]

They're... well, they are nuns. Sisters of the church. Brides of Christ.

[hellofist]

Aren't they... off limits? Since, bride of someone else?

[assassino]

Christ is God. It is figurative, to say they have chosen God over earthly pleasures.

Not that it stops many of them. Not all sisters go to the convent willingly or by choice.