paradisa | (no subject)

It's nothing personal, it's just your... practices, that's all.

And we're so not having this conversation right now.

You have seen them then, Stephanie? [ Because she is so curious. ]

And what is it do you practice, Ezio?

I dare not speak of my practices to a girl who has never taken a lover, Lucrezia.

[Asshole husband doesn't count.]

Ask a woman.

Oh! Look! It's my room! Let's go! [Using one hand to hold her skirt, Steph grabs Lucrezia to pull her over to the door and then into the room. Keep up, Ezio.]

[ She scoffs indignantly. ]

What makes you think-- [ Oh, there goes Stephanie fleeing the conversation, so she runs along. ]

[That prompts him to raise his eyebrows, surprised -- really? -- but then they're headed into Steph's room. He follows. Topic change, he supposes. He'll ask later.]

So, about this admission...

[Phew. Steph taps her chin.]

Modern clothing. It's only fair, since Lucrezia's wearing some. It's an educational experience.

But what to make you wear? That's the question.

[ And she does a little twirl to show off her outfit, to little effect since there are no flowing skirts. Hm. ]

I have seen men wear these same trousers.

Men and women's clothing seems remarkably similar in Stephanie's time.

Gotta love those trousers.

So, a pair of jeans, and... white shirt? Red? Green? [No shirt? Ha...]

[ She does a few kicks. How does one exhibit trousers again? ]

White. White might suit you, Ezio.

[He glances at Lucrezia, keeping a straight face. He could never admit to it, but those coincidental lines make him so nervous -- a feeling he seldom gets, especially not with women. What if she knows?

But ah, well.]

White would be fine.

A while t-shirt and jeans in Ezio sizes, please. [Thank you, castle. Stephanie hands the clothing over to Ezio, then remembers something.

Sigh.]

Ah--right, one last thing. What did you do for underwear in Paris? Boxers, briefs...

[ And Lucrezia only beams at her own obvious aptitude for dressing people up. ]

You mustn't forget the bra, Stephanie.

[He takes them. He didn't wear jeans in Paris -- he wore dressier pants, because he's a classy douchebag.

He raises an eyebrow at both girls.]

I don't know what any of that is, because I didn't wear any.

[She's about to correct Lucrezia, but... oh. Yeah, she thought that might be the case with Ezio.]

You went commando, then. I guess we'll go with boxer briefs. [Incoming: one pair of undies. Steph hands them over, and is sure the ghosts are judging her. Weird girl asking for men's underwear.]

These go on under the jeans. And while I'm really tempted to give you a bra to try to figure out, I have a feeling you'd realize what's up given your... research here. Sorry, Lucrezia. Girls only.

Edited 2012-01-26 03:53 (UTC)

[ Oh, of course it's girls only. She tries to suppress the blush. ]

What are the advantages of going commando?

You know me well. But the advantages? Well, if commando means what I think it does...

["Easier access."]

We Italians do it all the time.

[He heads for the bathroom, biting back a grin.]

Ha. Ha.

[Steph sits on her bed to wait, patting the spot next to her. Let's be a good audience, Lucrezia.]

Why did we invite him again?

[Joking. Mostly.]

[ Lucrezia will be staring after Ezio. This thing that Italians do all the time seems to disagree with Stephanie somewhat. She takes a seat beside her and folds her hands on her lap. ]

Because he will amuse us with his indomitable charm.

[Ezio closes the bathroom door behind him and unfolds the clothes just to make sure the castle gave him something reasonable. T-shirt, jeans, underwear. Fine.

It takes longer to get out of his clothing than it does to put the new ones on, due to all the lacing and buckles, but he manages it quickly. The underwear is bizarre but useful considering the zipper on the jeans (as well as the thick seams), the jeans are stiff but workable, and the t-shirt is fitted tighter than he'd like, but at least it's all comfortable.

And, with the t-shirt on, he remembers why he didn't wear t-shirts in Paris, despite owning a number of them: they left his wrists bare.

He ponders what to do about that for a moment. He doesn't expect combat -- he hasn't really had any in the past month -- but he never goes without his hidden blade. Save sleeping and bathing, it hasn't left his wrist since he got it ten years ago, and when it's off, it's in arm's length. Sleeves generally go a long way to hide it, mask it as just any other vambrace.

He holds it up to his arm, just to see how it looks with the rest, and it's a little too obvious. Frustrating, as he doesn't want to go without it, but Lucrezia and Steph will surely notice. Eventually, he caves and puts it back on, buckling the vambrace a little tighter to hide the blade underneath. As long as he doesn't go flashing his wrist, they won't see the mechanism strapped to its underside, mostly hidden, the blade completely concealed inside of it. If they ask, he'll dismiss its significance. It's very common for men of his time to be armed, so Lucrezia hopefully will pay it no concern, but Stephanie will likely know what it is for.

He'll worry about that if it happens. He'd rather explain than feel vulnerable.

Ezio folds up his normal clothes and tucks them under one arm, pausing to take one last look at himself in the mirror. He flicks his necklace out from under the collar of his shirt, just so it's not caught awkwardly underneath, and pivots on the spot to see how it looks from the back.

Strange, but doable.

He lets himself out, putting on a grin.]

What do you think, ladies?

Ah, right.

[Steph expects Ezio to look good, but this is ridiculous. She does notice the thing on his wrist--it stands out--but for the moment, her brain is stalled on the thought that damn, he's attractive.

It takes her a few moments to realize her mouth is open in an "o" shape. She shuts it, then claps her hands. Thank you, castle. Thank you for this gift and for the fitted shirt.]

This lady approves. Ten out of ten. I... yes, very nice.

[ Lucrezia pays only the minutest attention to the vambrace on his wrist, only as much as it contributes to his whole look. Familial loyalty requires her to say her brother is more attractive still but he is a close contender, a very close contender. She giggles and claps as well. ]

Bello! [ Then turning to whisper in Stephanie's ear. ] This is why we invited him.

Edited 2012-01-27 02:10 (UTC)

[He'll make a show of it, walking forward a few steps with that usual effortless swagger and then bowing.]

Why, grazie, madonne! I'm glad I meet your standards.

[He sets his clothing down on Steph's desk.]

[Amen to that, Lucrezia. Steph laughs.]

You have to do a twirl.