(no subject)

[assassino]

[All written, a little too carefully; he's deliberated on this for a few days, after all.]

----- Stephanie -----
Are you home?


----- Molotov -----
He said you'd met already.


----- Cassandra -----
[He'll dictate just for her, sounding plenty sober and moody:]

Come keep me company tonight, I am lonely.


----- Friends -----
My father, Giovanni Auditore, is here. It has been eighteen years since I last saw him, so I would appreciate being given time to get to know him again. While I do not mind if you introduce yourselves to him, please mind what you tell him about me.


----- Assassins (excluding Giovanni) -----
The Assassin Giovanni Auditore is here. Be on your best behaviour or I will kick the shit out of you.

Comments

4ever

[assassino]

Tell Tim to take a walk [or a flying fuck at the moon.] I need to speak with you.

[secondchances]

Ezio, what's wrong? Look, I'll go over to your place, just give me a few.

[assassino]

[A sigh.]

I am already in the city and I am in no mood to debate over this. Just meet me at Lana's house, then.

[secondchances]

Alright. There soon.

[She can't imagine what could be wrong, and that just makes her rush more than she already was. Her hair is a mess as she reaches the door.]

Ezio?

[assassino]

[Ezio is already inside, the door unlocked and just ajar off the catch. The lights have been off in Lana's house for months and all the surfaces are coated in a thin layer of dust, and Ezio himself is a little deeper into the house, sitting on the living room couch.

And when she comes in, he'll just turn to look at her with a horribly broody-miserable expression.]

[secondchances]

[Talk about setting the mood. Stephanie is careful as she enters, quietly heading to where he is and speaking softly, rounding the couch to sit next to him.]

Hey. I'm here. What's up?

[assassino]

[Ezio pauses, and then comes out with it:]

My father is here.

[secondchances]

Oh my god. You--you talked to him? How did it go?

[She reaches for his hands. No wonder.]

[assassino]

[He lets her take his hands :'(

Ugh, it was too emotional for his liking. He liked being through with grieving, he liked having had the chance to "move on" by focusing on the Borgia and the task at hand. Looking forward, not looking back.

But now he's entirely at the mercy of his past.]

Yes, he found me. It was...

[Tense? Awkward? Confusing?]

... merciful, I suppose. I always wondered if my father died believing I'd neglected my duty to my family.

[secondchances]

He didn't, right? Everything is going to be alright. [She squeezes his hands. Seeing his dead father--god. Poor Ezio.]

[assassino]

No, no, he did not, thank God.

[That doesn't mean it's not uncomfortable as fuck, though.]

[secondchances]

[Yeah, he doesn't seem very happy. Steph rubs her thumbs in slow circles over his hands.]

Good. Your dad is going to have a chance to see how great of a person you are. It'll be okay, Ezio.

[assassino]

[A great person. Ezio pauses, feeling a little doubtful. Time in Paradisa has eaten away at his motivation, taken him from his purpose, and rendered him a man occupied largely by drink and women.

And it's been such an agonizing crawl out of that pit, too.]

I do not know if there is much to take pride in. Eighteen years, what the fuck have I done to avenge him and my brothers? Rodrigo Borgia is fat and happy on the Papal Throne and while I may have killed dozens of his co-conspirators, the most grievous thing I have done to him personally is slept with his daughter.

[secondchances]

.... Oh.

[Uh. Yeah, that's... good timing, Ezio. Stephanie is actually speechless. Give her a moment.

Ugh. Anyway. Moving on.]

I hope he doesn't measure you by the lives you've taken. [She puts a hand over his heart.] This is what matters. Cheesy as it is. You're a son to be proud of. Rodrigo dies. You win.

[assassino]

I'm sorry. It is a long story.

[Sort of. Ezio puts his hand over hers. It's not cheesy for his time, okay :'(]

Claudia said the opposite, when she was here. She has said it at home, as well. As much as I want to believe it is enough, even when my father has said it, the rest of my family does not think so.

[secondchances]

I bet.

[But for now, she lets it go. Steph knows she doesn't have it in her to get upset at him when he's like this.]

Look. Your whole life has been about avenging your family. Generally? Stuff like that doesn't leave you as a very good person. But you've held it together while carrying out your father's work. You've done all you can. That has to be enough.

[Fuck you, Claudia.]

And I know this place really fucked up your plans, but that's not your fault. You don't need to be ashamed.

[assassino]

[Ezio breathes a long sigh, and he leans his shoulder against hers.]

I hope you're right. And I hope no one decides to tell him just how much I like to enjoy myself here.

[secondchances]

[She turns so she can wrap her arms around him.]

It'll be okay. I'll save that stuff until he's more comfortable here, hmm?

[assassino]

[He nods, and then glances at her. Look at those Sad Eyes.]

Mmhmm. Then you can ask all of the embarrassing questions.

[secondchances]

[Oh, honey. Steph squeezes him.]

I'll go easy on him. But right now my main concern is you.

[assassino]

Mmhmm.

[He squeezes her back.]

[secondchances]

You're gonna be okay. It just... needs to sink in.

[assassino]

I suppose it will be a few rough days, then.

[secondchances]

Juuuuust a bit. But if you need anything, you'll let me know, hmm?

[Baby, stop being so miserable! It makes her sad.]

[assassino]

Of course, of course.

[Ezio gives her a genuinely appreciative look and then shifts in his seat to wrap his arms around her.]

You are always too good to me.