xliv λ homeward bound

[assassino]

---- Friends and Companions; Connor, Stephanie, Cassandra, Tim, Maladict, Robb, Crowley, House, Aradia, Spike, South, Utena, Brock, Molotov ----

[Handwritten. How unusual! It's more practiced, anyhow, as if Ezio's actually been using and applying his literacy.]

My dearest friends and companions;

          As of Brock Samson's assault on me, I have visited my own time for roughly four years. For those who did not know, I attempted to seduce Molotov when we were teenagers at the magic school, and chose to mock Samson for having "lost" when she accepted… even though it was her idea. As foolish as it was, given I have received a trip home in return, I am not convinced it was in error!

          As I do not fancy explaining myself several times, I am writing this account to tell you all what I have been up to. Stephanie, on the occasion that you see her before I do, if you would please read this to Cassandra, it would be much appreciated. Or have Tim do it, he may read this.

          After being formally inducted as a Master Assassin and acquiring Borgia's artefact, I returned to Monteriggioni to investigate some important matters and examine what I had taken from Borgia, accompanied by many of the Assassins who trained me, as well as Niccolò Machiavelli, who I had only recently met. It was made clear to us that the matters would need better protection — even Leonardo could not make sense of it — and so we turned to Forlì for assistance. I accompanied Machiavelli as his escort, where I met the Lady Caterina Sforza. We had met prior, as it was her who secured my passage to Venezia as a favour, but this time we were properly introduced. She's an incredible woman — a contessa without even a husband, which is extremely uncommon for our time. I had never met a woman who manages the affairs of a state before, and given how well we got along, I imagine I would like to meet more. It is a tragedy that I likely never will, given the state of the Italian peninsula (and much of Europa beyond her.)

          However, mere weeks after our arrival, we encountered some Borgia allies — Checco and Ludovico Orsi. They laid siege to the city and castle. We were fortunate enough to break through their defenses and fend them off, but the kidnapping of the duchess' children required I venture out. I personally rescued them and slayed their kidnappers, the Orsi brothers. Unfortunately, I was wounded in the altercation and fell a few miles short of the fortress, and Lady Caterina's men were sent out to retrieve me. I would have died if she hadn't sent for me. A good woman, hmm? It took eight months to heal before I was prepared to depart, but I was very fortunate that in my time in Forlì I was granted Lady Caterina's personal care. Without her dedication, I am sure I would still be suffering — largely from boredom, I suppose, but there was a certain peace in that life. It was certainly strange to live in a noble household again, with none of the unpleasantness of vagrancy, and Caterina kept a fine estate. She is a remarkable woman; I am looking forward to seeing her again, though I will have to be satisfied with only letters for at least a few more years yet. I don't imagine any of you could comprehend that, but such is life in my time. (And generally I would not even bother with such a topic, but given a number of you care more about my love life than my political pursuits, there it is.)

          I had intended to return to Firenze, but after months of tracking Borgia's allies I received summons from Venezia, from Antonio; he told me that a man named Luis de Santángel had more work for me. I was not interested until I learned that his partner, Christoffa Corombo, had ties to Rodrigo Borgia. So, you see, the bastard has fingers everywhere; I cannot throw a fucking rock without finding some place his influence has spread, but I suppose the influence of a Pope easily reaches every crevice in the land. Assassins in the region were being captured and tortured as a part of an Inquisition by Tomás de Torquemada, their names given to them by Borgia himself. And then I thought, it has been fourteen years of hunting Borgia and the old shit hasn't rolled over and died in his sleep. He could perhaps wait another year or two while I helped reform the Brotherhood in Spain, so I immediately set about rescuing the poor bastards and removing Templar influences from the city.

          And Borgia's influences went deep, at that; their capture of King Muhammad XII of Granada required I not only liberate him but also convince him to surrender to Spain, ending the war that the Templars hoped to prolong. You see, by continuing the war, they prevented Queen Isabella from having the finances to fund Corombo's journey, and they hoped to take the New World for themselves. So, in doing that, I ensured his passage to the new world and prevented Templars from taking their influence overseas. (You are welcome, Connor.)

          I also advised my Assassin brothers to see if Queen Isabella can be influenced in our favour, but it is in their hands now. I do not have time to linger, so now I return to Italia, towards Firenze, in hopes that I can resume the work I left off some years ago. Years! I will see what has become of my birth city in my absence; the journey there may take as long as six months, if the roads are poor, and with any luck Paola will be able to offer me a bit of space on the floor until I can find accommodations. That, of course, concludes my story: dreams of a nice bed like I had at Caterina's, and the satisfaction that I will have one again in Paradisa.

          Now that I am in Paradisa again, I am going to indulge in a well-deserved bath to celebrate having such luxurious plumbing and shaving razors once more. After, I would be glad to go out for drinks with any number of you. Bring others, if you'd like, I am simply glad for company. (And food, I think; I have not enjoyed the food in Spain.)

          Connor, Aradia, Utena; I should like to see you soon, so that we can refocus your training. Being in Spain has given me plenty of time to think of a new direction.

          Connor; I feel as though we not have connected as brothers, which is a terrible shame, given that we are the only two here. I would like to take you out to the city sometime, so that we might both get to know each other better and celebrate my victories in Spain. What do you say, quiet one?

          And with that, I will see you all soon!

---- Lucrezia ----

[Dictated in Spanish :')]

I have been home, but more recently venturing through Barcelona, Zaragoza, Granada, Alhambra... I thought you would be interested in news from Spain, even if you linger in my future still.

I also thought we could perhaps see one another to speak, later this week.

Comments

[hellofist]

[THAT SURE WAS A LOT TO LISTEN TO POOR STEPH AND/OR TIM.]

So... four years, huh? And you're okay?

[assassino]

Four years, but it feels like instant ago and yet not.

I am fine, dolcezza. My apologies for how I behaved towards you at the magic school.

[hellofist]

Don't have to. People were... different, there. Not exactly themselves.

Ezio

[i_got_this]

[...]

[...]

[...]

You expect me to read all that?

[This is South caring. Also she may be a little miffed you were hitting on Molotov when she thought you were hitting on her, teenage hormones notwithstanding now.]

South

[assassino]

[He laughs]

It's not necessary, no.

[Sorry baby :'( He was seventeen and a fool.]

Ezio

[secondchances]

... that was a lot.

[She has to process just about everything, give her a few moments. Ezio went home? No good. Ezio came back, without forgetting anyone or too much trauma? Good.]

Stephanie

[assassino]

It is very short, for four years worth of news. I did not even bother to mention that Claudia is married and has a baby boy!

[He's going for cool and relaxed, here, but who is he kidding? He can't help but sound excited. He's overjoyed to hear Stephanie's voice.]

Not here.

[dorkwonder]

[Tim is noticing a distinct lack of Batgirls in the Bathaus, after Ezio's journal entry goes up. Even if he wasn't trained by the World's Greatest Detective, he could figure out where they went.]

Also not here.

[assassino]

[Girls be lovin' on their favourite terrorist B) Aww yeah.]

[molotov]

[Molotov doesn't even bother with responding to the extremely long letter, although she has read it multiple times, probably more than anyone else does.

Instead, she just shows up at his door with bottles of alcohol. And by "at his door", I really mean that she goes ahead and lets herself in.]

[assassino]

[He leans out the open bathroom door to glance her way, a few stray bits of shaving cream on his otherwise freshly shaved face. Good thing he bothered to put pants on. And when he sees who it is, well, he can't help but grin.]

Molotov!

[samson]

[Brock does not understand what half of that even meant. Just saying.]

So I guess time travel fixes broken bones, huh?

[assassino]

Fortunately.

I'm afraid I will have to get revenge in the future, though.

Ezio; written

[eaglet]

["quiet one," fuck yooooouuu]

I do not think this city holds anything of interest to me, but yes. This is fine. Achilles has taught me some of what you had done in Spain, but I imagine many details were lost to time. I would like to hear it.

I do not know many of these people you have included in this missive. Is it safe to reveal yourself to them? [and also you just outed Connor too, thanks a ton, it's not like he was trying to keep this a tactical secret or anything]

Connor

[assassino]

[CONNOR CAN WRITE :') Ezio feels a weird random moment of pride as he remembers this.

Also, there are no tactical secrets here, Connor, calm yourself.]

Oh, nonsense, it is just a place to amuse ourselves within, and I am sure I can find something that'll catch your interest.

As for the people included, yes. They all know. I would not tell people who would react so adversely to such a thing.

Ezio

[onlyanapple]

Look at you having some fun in history. You are aware we have a Borgia in the castle, right? Don't quote me on it, but I'm fairly certain she won't like that information. Might be an idea to makes sure she doesn't find out.

Crowley

[assassino]

I kept it from her for a year and a half, Crowley, I am not concerned about things changing now... I have merely decided that it is important to be realistic about where we stand.

Ezio

[mal_addict]

...Wait, are you saying you slept with Molotov?

[That's pretty much all she's going to pay attention to. What would she cares about Earth history, so long as the charming ass is still breathing]

Maladict

[assassino]

[HE LAUGHS...]

God, no. I suppose we have different meanings for the word, hmm? To seduce is to lure a woman away from her man, it is not necessarily sleeping together.

Do not give Brock that idea, or he'll snap my neck.

Filter;

[gottaknockhard]

[Friendly guy, if he's already lumped Spike in with his dearest companions. With how little he got out of Lucrezia, this is actually... a lot that he'll need to revisit. In retrospect, it may have gone on a lot easier if he'd tried the direct route.]

Sounds like a nice vacation.

Filter;

[assassino]

[Ezio Auditore: Friendly Guy.]

It was not so much a vacation as it was plenty of work, but I can appreciate the thought.

holy mother of cow is this in SPANISH; Ezio

[lucre]

[ Lucrezia takes a long time to respond, having flipped her journal open and closed for the last few hours trying to decide if this is a trick. But for all her suspicion, Ezio has been unerringly earnest in most things. Her reply comes in Spanish too, heavily accented. She is Catalan first of all. ]

I remember nothing of Spain.

YES IT IS; Lucrezia

[assassino]

[His own accent is accented, forever the Florentine, but when hasn't it been? Roman, Venetian, Florentine...

Still in Spanish:]

I said from Spain, not of Spain, did I not?

[princelyspirit]

Wait, what do you mean, he punched you-[sighs] You know what? Nevermind. I'm on my way, okay?

[Worried? Her? Maybe a little. But there's too much new, and strange, information in his post to focus on just one mind blowing detail (that said, if someone punches you hard enough to fling you back home for four years, that must be a hell of a punch! How do these things work in Paradisa, anyway?). Besides:

1) He seems to have gotten out of it okay, or at least, as okay as Ezio gets out of anything.

2) Does she really want to hear more about Ezio's dramatic, tumultuous love life than she has to? Probably not

3) As curious as she is about his trip back home, and trips back home in general, this might be the kind of conversation to have in person - after he tells her his plans for training. SO OFF SHE GOES]

[assassino]

[He laughs.]

Of course, of course. I am in my room.

[And if she doesn't know where that is, well, she's one of his novices. She can figure it out.]