paradisa | (no subject)

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ezio auditore da firenze

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[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.

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

My father is here.

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

[She reaches for his hands. No wonder.]

[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.

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

No, no, he did not, thank God.

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

[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.

[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.

.... 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.

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.

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.

[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.

[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?

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

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

[Oh, honey. Steph squeezes him.]

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

Mmhmm.

[He squeezes her back.]

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

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

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

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

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.

Not even close. [She scoots in, slinging her legs over his lap for maximum comfort. If Steph's learned anything about his cuddling habits, it's that he likes to hold people.] I can't wait to tell your dad about how you've been a good friend to me [despite the BIG FUCKING OMISSIONS holy shit he slept with Lucrezia] and how I can rely on you for anything I need. I have way more of that stuff than the stuff that will embarrass you.

And, you know. I'll take care of your dad, too. Make sure crazy future things don't overwhelm him.

[He puts a hand on her thigh momentarily, as if to confirm she's there, and then he leans his cheek against the top of her head –– he likes to cuddle, but positioning himself so she can't look at his face is a perk. His jaw feels tight.]

I know you do. You are perhaps the most dedicated friend I have ever had.

[Which probably cannot be said about himself, sitting in Lana's abandoned house and on the verge of weeping for the second goddamn time in a day, which he figures is just about the most pathetic moment in his life. He has friends like her and his father is back from the dead and he still manages to be conflicted.]

Christ, I have much to improve on. Things I should have improved on long before now, without my father lingering over my shoulder.

[Sitting in here is pretty creepy, but thankfully Steph is no stranger to abandoned buildings.]

Ezio, I doubt your father is going to be looking for your flaws right away. I'm sure he's more interested in spending time with you and getting to know you again. [Sometimes it takes her a moment to remember that most people put their fathers on pedestals. Especially the dead ones.] You have nothing to worry. You're a good son, and... you know what, he's probably just grateful you're alive. That's all that matters. You took care of your sister and your mother, and you're alive and doing his work.

[As much as some of those things are true...]

I took on his work before he could even tell me what his work was, Stephanie. I took on my Uncle's work, or what he presumed was my father's work. It's been eighteen years and I still do not know why they were killed, what Rodrigo Borgia's business with my father was –– in chasing the conspirators I've uncovered other crimes and plots but nothing to explain what any of it was for. What the fuck have I accomplished for him if I cannot even answer that?

Do you really think that he'll hold that against you? Overlook all your hard work and struggles and just focus on that one thing? [Quickly:] Which, I know, is a big thing for you and your family. I understand that.

[She fiddles with one of his hands.] I think you need to just back up and look at what's in front of you. Your father is alive. You can ask him all the questions you want, gets answers to things you never had the chance to ask before. That's great. And you know how this place works. It can all be gone in the blink of an eye. I don't want you to be focusing so much on worrying about things you didn't accomplish and then realize you didn't get all you could out of this opportunity.

[Ezio's quiet for a moment, thinking, trying to put together an answer that doesn't sound ridiculous –– he's not sure what compels him to argue in the first place, other than the fact that this is a thought he's clung to his entire adult life, it's something he's struggled to overcome even with everything he's accomplished. He talks a lot of shit about how great he is, but how often has he admitted to what he's fucked up?

He lets out a long breath, almost ragged. Over-emotional.]

That sounds too easy. Nothing is ever that simple.