fourth.

[eaglet]

[Ezio.]
[Written -- he doesn't feel like talking into a book while standing in the middle of City Royale, ok. Is this a prank or something, he's about to get mad...]

Did you get distracted by something? I am waiting where you directed, but I do not see you, nor do I see anything nearby that would be of interest. Where are we going?

Comments

[assassino]

And what do you intend to do from Paradisa, exactly? And at home, will you sit by the fireside and stew at night instead of carousing with your allies? Devote every second to warfare? You know better than that, Connor.

[eaglet]

I do not have a choice in the matter of this place. But I cannot just forget what I am to do, no matter the distance.

[As for what he's going to do at home: emphatically yes, all those things. Also play Harvest Moon, but. He doesn't know that.]

[assassino]

Do you think I have?

[eaglet]

[He pauses. Yes. Or, rather, he has the luxury to do so.]

You know the fate of your people. I do not know the fate of mine. It is not the same.

[assassino]

Only because I did research. Don't assume any of that just fell into my lap.

[eaglet]

You researched if your people would lose their land to outsiders? Ezio, there are many Americans here from the future, from Stephanie's time, but I am the only one of my people. Out of all the people here, I am the only one. What do you think that means?

[This has been weighing on him for weeks, even months, and he's just completely stressed out. He pauses to rub at his face again, forcing himself to calm down before he continues.]

I will not research my future; I will change it.

[assassino]

[He sighs and slides a pile of cards across the table towards Connor.]

Come now, Connor, I meant no offense. This is supposed to be time for fun, not serious matters... and even then, there are only one hundred and fifty or so residents here. The castle has hardly attempted to represent mankind as it truly is.

[eaglet]

[He's just mad all the time, he can't help it! It's a real problem.

Connor slouches a little and picks up the cards.]

I have not had time for fun since I left my village. How do we play this game?

[assassino]

Bullshit, you have just been turning it down. [At least that's said lightheartedly enough, before he launches into an explanation. The rules to this fucking game did not survive history.]

[eaglet]

[Later, Connor can explain Fanorona in the same fashion because I don't get it!]

I think I understand. Do we wager? [ACHILLES ALWAYS MAKES HIM WAGER....]

[assassino]

We do! But we can play for small coin, things of little value. At least until you have gotten good at it.

[He glances at the two spare hands, and then at the door.]

Where have our girls gotten themselves to?

[eaglet]

[Connor follows his gaze to the door.]

Oh... are they to play cards with us? Should we wait?

[assassino]

Of course! It is more fun with more people, you know.

[And the ladies will be along soon, coming in with beer mugs and a small keg and the world's most revealing necklines. There are nipples showing, for fuck's sake. But Ezio doesn't seem to notice that part.]

Ah, ladies! There you are. Come, sit with us, pour drinks and we will play cards.

[eaglet]

[Connor, on the other hand, is staring.

He's

not used to

that.]

[assassino]

[Ezio pats the space beside him, and one of the girls sits with him with a giggle, so close that her hip is against his and her hand rests on his thigh. The other sits with Connor, similarly close, though she busies herself with drinks.]

Connor, this is Bianca and Maria.

[eaglet]

[HE'S STILL STARING............

Then he realises he's staring and gets a little flustered, looking down and fidgeting. It's rude to stare, even though they're... really on display there, oh god. What...] H-hello.

[assassino]

[He flashes a grin to Bianca.]

Connor is perhaps a little shy, but that is why we are here for cards, hmm?

[He slides the extra piles of cards towards the girls and picks up his own to ruffle through them.]

And he will play first, because he is my guest.

[eaglet]

[CARDS... right. Okay. He forgot for a second.

He looks at his own cards, then puts some caisos on the table because they're betting, right, that's how betting works.]

[assassino]

[Ezio puts down his own and starts playing.]

So Connor... Tell me more about yourself.

[eaglet]

That is a broad question. What would you like to know?

[assassino]

[A shrug.]

Well, I know you do not like to have fun, so tell me about your friends, your family. Your favorite foods, your culture...

[Maria is leaning very close to Connor...]

[eaglet]

[This lady leaning all up on him, he can't deal..... he's trying to not pay attention to her without outright ignoring her because that's rude but how do you even do that and he possibly forgot they were playing cards again.]

Well... it is not -- we play games, my friends and I, but -- we are... older now, so there is more responsibility... when I left my village, I had not yet joined a... a hunting party, a war party. But that is what I would be doing now, if I had not left, hunting with the, uh, men...

[Language skills are deteriorating...]

[assassino]

[Ezio chuckles, easily ignoring Maria and her hand running along Connor's back, as well as Bianca's hand on his own thigh. That's just a usual part of the evening, really, not worth noticing –– no more unusual to him than the ladies' dusky nipples peeking over their dresses' necklines and their knowing smiles and roving hands and drink-pouring skills.]

So that is what your people do, when they reach adulthood? Start hunting?

[He deals another round and slides around coins, then takes a swig of his beer.]

[eaglet]

[With a start, Connor drops more caisos on the table mechanically, not even looking at his cards; there's a lot going on all at once, and he's trying his best to concentrate on the conversation. If they were actually speaking English and not this Paradisian tongue that comes more naturally than even Kanien'kéha these days, he would probably just be stammering unintelligibly.]

The men, yes... also constructing weapons and tools. The, uh, women... [Awkward glance at Maria...] The women tend to our crops...

[assassino]

That's it? Don't they tend to anything else?

[Oh, Maria. Both ladies share a giggle and Ezio gives a huff of amusement and glances at Connor, raising an eyebrow at his fumbling.]

What about natural philosophy? Literature? Trade? Surely not all of your people are craftsmen and farmers.