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]

[Ezio shakes his head, almost helplessly.]

You'll find the rest of the word cares very much about innovation. Adaptation, hmm? It is as important to culture as it is to warfare. That is why the Italians have the greatest armies in Europa right now; we strive for excellence in the art of war.

[He absently pets Bianca's hip with the arm that is around her, and she starts running a hand along his waistband.

Maria, on the other hand, is just going to offer Connor beer.]

[eaglet]

[He leans forward angrily, automatically taking the beer from Maria.] My people depend greatly on our culture. It is what drives us and defines our actions. If we 'adapt' and take on the cultures of your people, we will no longer be ourselves.

[He pauses to absently take an !!angry!! swig of beer.]

As for warfare, there is nothing in this world more fearsome than a Kanien'k -- [WOW, BEER TASTES TERRIBLE, as it turns out. Now he's distracted, and deflates as he continues, eying the glass warily.] Ugh... my people are warriors.

[assassino]

Do you think we Italians are the same as we were a hundred years ago? Fifty? My father lived in a time very different than my own. Each generation draws the map of the world a bit broader. I will bring revolutions to cities across Italia, changing life. And by Stephanie's time, Italy will be a quiet culture, long diminished from its prime. You are not immune to change, Connor, you should embrace what is good.

[Ezio fondles Bianca's boob, because. he. can.]

[eaglet]

I will not embrace it if it means my people will be removed from our land or enslaved.

[This is an extremely touchy subject and he's just pissed off now, to the point where Ezio feeling up a girl while they're having this conversation is too much to bear. How can he be so casual about it...]

What are you even doing?

[assassino]

I am not telling you to embrace slavery or ejection, I am telling you that you should be open to change. That is one of the foundations of being an Assassin –– our principles are that men should be allowed to develop and innovate and discover, free from those who would impede them.

[Ezio lets go of Bianca in favour of reaching for his beer.]

Come, now, Connor, why are you getting so upset?

[eaglet]

No -- we are to question everything and not allow men to dictate what would be "good" for us. Our goal is to allow freedom, not to force things on people who do not want them.

[He gestures broadly with his arm, too caught up in this to notice he almost whacked Maria in the face. Sorry, lady.]

You are being too casual about this. You are sipping this beer and fondling this woman as if you were only discussing politics and philosophy. We are discussing my people! It is not hypothetical to me. My mother was nearly a slave to the British, captured before I was born. That is how real this is to me, Ezio.

[assassino]

[There are a lot of things he could say to that –– like how rejecting everything from Europe sounds close-minded, not like freedom –– but what's the point? He sets down his beer again with a sigh.]

Be careful, you almost hit Maria.

[Who is moving out of the way :'|]

Connor, this evening is supposed to be calm. Relax. I am not the one hurting your people, nor do I have any interest in hurting your people. I am just saying that though some men may be conquerors, there are others who will bring things of interest to your people. That is all.

[eaglet]

[Maria... I just nearly hit a girl in the face named Maria...

Connor just looks extremely sour about this entire business; he wants Ezio to stop trying to diffuse the situation, to keep arguing the point, to stop being so calm. He wants an excuse to get mad (even more mad) and fight, which is hard to do when faced with this sort of reaction.]

You do not understand.

[But FINE. WHATEVER. He slumps down petulantly because he is still a dumb teenager despite his very grown up rage.]

[assassino]

[Ezio heaves a sigh.]

I will only ever understand if you properly explain it without growing enraged and tossing things about.

[But no matter. Ezio takes a deep swig of his beer and settles back against the couch, Bianca shifting right back into his lap.]

We should be talking about pleasant things, anyhow.

[eaglet]

[Connor shoots him a look that pretty much translates to 'you started it,' then picks up a card and idly toys with the corner.]

You were to tell me about what you had done in Spain.

[assassino]

And you still want to hear, instead of arguing?

[eaglet]

[DON'T BE SMUG, EZIO...... Connor gives him another pointed look, frowning.]

Yes.

[assassino]

[A flippant wave with his free hand. The other is on Bianca's lap.]

Well, then, get comfortable, it is a long story.

[eaglet]

[This face very clearly indicates that Ezio should maybe scale back on his own level of comfort. Stop... canoodling...]

I am fine. How long have you said it has been? Four years?

[assassino]

[He nods, noting Connor's expression. He slides his hand back up towards Bianca's knee.]

Four years, yes. It is 1492.

[eaglet]

[Thank... you......

Anyway, 1492 is still really far in the past, as far as Connor is concerned. Nearly three hundred years ago...]

And this is when the Templars first tried to secure a foothold in the Americas.

[assassino]

Yes. There is a navigator named Cristoforo Corombo, who was seeking funds from the Queen of Spain so that he might travel to the New World. Not all believe it exists in my time, but even so, with what he is taking aboard in the way of sustenance, it is good that he will find your land.

But anyhow, my enemy –– Rodrigo Borgia –– attempted to fund the journey, so that he might be able to establish control over the region. That is who I stopped.

[eaglet]

The Templars of your time are much different than those in mine... in my time, they are more concerned with influencing those in power rather than being in power themselves. What did you do to stop him?

[assassino]

I liberated the Assassins held by Borgia's Inquisitors, assassinated those involved in the imprisonments, and freed Spain from a war that was preventing it from putting its funds into Corombo's journey.

And of course they are, in your time. In my time, I am murdering them all. I'm sure that's enough to make most men fear being in power. [Teasing, on that last bit.]

[eaglet]

[WOW, SCEPTICISM...] You did all that by yourself.

[assassino]

I did not do it alone, but I revived the Brotherhood. I will take my credit where it is due.

[eaglet]

I suppose it is not my place to lecture you on modesty.

[assassino]

Of course not.

[Bianca pours them more beer, cleavage in full view as she leans over the table to do it.]

You can do a great deal of work with only a few well-trained Assassins at your command, you know. You do not need armies.

[eaglet]

[WOW okay, Connor... averts his eyes. Hello ceiling, you are very interesting.]

And you... this is why you are training novices?

[assassino]

[Yeah, that's some nipple! She passes Connor his beer.]

Of course. Why else?