xxxv λ musing

[assassino]

[All things considered, Ezio has had a busy day, but now he's out and about. He's hit up a dozen or so stores in town, mostly for painting frames and books, and perhaps you've see him running errands.


Later, however, he will be sitting down at his desk to scrawl out:]

I seldom write in this journal. I think that is funny; for every boy who knows how to write, three sit without education, and here I squander my gifts and ignore books. My sister does more writing than I do, and her talent is a rarity amongst women!

It has been more than a year since I have arrived –– closer, still, to thirteen months -- and each day I learn new things about the future, history, science, and even the human body. I do not think many days have passed in the past four hundred that saw me sitting idle and failing to learn!

Yet still, when I spoke to a young woman the other week, she was hard-pressed to believe that I would return to my time, forsaking the knowledge and science and hygiene of the future. I prefer the conventions of my time, and my culture, and I have work to do. So, I wonder, then...

How many of you would go home with another, to their time instead of yours?

I'm going to miss plumbing. I think that is what you call it –– "plumbing." Even after all this time, sometimes it is fun to turn on the "tap" simply to marvel at its convenience. It is a wonder there is so much water about without the streets being flooded like the canals of Venezia.

And I have such good memories of the miracles of showers, with thanks to some of the beautiful women in this castle.

E. Auditore.

Comments

[assassino]

Yes, because I'm a good man.

[secondchances]

It's okay to be a little conceited about being a good man.

[assassino]

Good! Because I do not intend to stop that.

[secondchances]

Good. You'd better always be a good man [especially when it comes to dealing with Tim, oh god] or else.

[assassino]

Or else what?

[secondchances]

What's the worst I could do to you?

[assassino]

Stop being my friend, likely.

[secondchances]

It'd take something really terrible for that to happen. [Like, oh, murder...]

I'll just have to go with threats of bodily harm, huh?

[assassino]

Bodily harm is acceptable as a threat, I think.

[secondchances]

It's a promise. So keep behaving. Or else!

[assassino]

I will, I will. I would even without a threat!

[secondchances]

Right. Because I really can't stress how important it is that a certain someone not see you as a danger.

[assassino]

What would he do if he did?

[secondchances]

I don't know. It would probably not be so good for me and him working as a team, here.

It would make my life a lot more difficult at the very least.

[assassino]

So your friendship with him is at stake.

[secondchances]

More or less. [Working relationship, friendship, whatever. One goes to hell and the other will follow.]

[assassino]

I will safeguard it best I can, Stephanie.

[secondchances]

That's all I can ask.

[assassino]

[He squeezes her arm with his, gently.]

You will be patient with any initial conflict, though, yes?

[secondchances]

As best I can, sure. He's going to be wary of you. And Lucrezia. And seeing as that sort of sums up my best friends here, he probably feels more than justified.

[It is understandable, but she's hoping he really does give her choice in friends the benefit of the doubt.]

[assassino]

Well, plenty of people from your time assume that my people are immoral and uneducated. I would not be surprised if he did the same, especially if you tell him that I am an Assassin.

[He smiles at her.]

Just be sure to tell him that the Assassins are a political organization, rather than common murderers.

[secondchances]

I'm not using the word "Assassin" with him. Not too long ago he and I were fighting assassins at home, so it won't make him think about nice things.

[assassino]

I suppose. Your people do not really understand what an Assassin is...

[secondchances]

It's different from your kind. Like I said, we have this whole League of Assassins thing, and this crazy guy who just doesn't die--and given what I know about Desmond, I don't think yours evolved into mine over time. I think they're separate.

[assassino]

Yes, granted, but because of this supposed "League of Assassins", the definition of "Assassin" in your time has been perverted. We are noble people.