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]

You seem unsettled, at the least.

[secondchances]

It's unsettling, seeing their faces.

[assassino]

I suppose... but I will not have history forget them or the terrible things they have done.

[secondchances]

[She moves back over to the hammers.]

I don't like remembering that you kill, but it's good that I'm reminded. Because when I have to convince people that you're a good person, not some danger to the general public, it's good that I see the whole picture. I think, anyway.

At the very least, I understand.

[She can't condone this or give her support, but she can understand.

... god, Tim would kill her. Bruce would kill her.]

[assassino]

[He nods.]

And you are sure you want Tim to know about this, eventually?

[secondchances]

[She walks back over to him, hands in her pockets.]

Maybe not this exactly. This room is sort of creepy. But what you do and why you do it, I think he might have an easier time swallowing. Eventually.

[Hopefully.]

[assassino]

[He puts a hand on her shoulder.]

We do the same work, but with different means to an end, do we not? And in the absence of your time's law and order, extra work must be done.

[secondchances]

[She nods.]

Exactly.

[assassino]

Tim will understand that we are not so unalike.

[secondchances]

I hope so. He's been able to work with assassins in the past. He and I just have a lot of trust issues to work on, so that might be the bigger factor here. If he has a hard time trusting me and my decisions, he's not going to trust the friends I make.

[assassino]

Well, trusting me was a good decision. I am an ally, not an enemy.

[secondchances]

I know that. I just hope he can see that, too.

[assassino]

He will. I'll irritate him for a bit and he'll come around.

[secondchances]

[There's a smile. She could make a joke about the irritating part, but she decides to let it go.]

You need a plant in here.

[assassino]

It would need sunlight, would it not?

[LOOK, HE KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT SCIENCE.]

[secondchances]

[Now there's a proud mama smile. :') ]

That's true. Maybe a fake one.

[assassino]

You should pick one out for me, then.

[secondchances]

You know what color it's going to end up being.

[A cute purple flowery thing in this room of death. Fun.]

[assassino]

I would not have offered you the choice if I did not imagine what the result might be!

[secondchances]

I might be a little predictable.

[assassino]

We all are in some senses, no?

[secondchances]

I guess. And the better you know a person, the more predictable they are, huh?

[assassino]

Of course! That is part of friendship.

[secondchances]

One of the best parts, I'd say. Predictable isn't bad.

[assassino]

I rather enjoy it.

[He squeezes her shoulder, briefly. His smile feels a little sad -- with what's been going on with Lucrezia, especially with the threat of Lucrezia speaking about their tryst, he's been tempted to come clean to her... but she has enough on her plate right now, with Tim and all, without him adding another. No, it was his mistake, and now it's his mistake to bear.]

And it goes without saying, I think... once you are properly trained in swordsmanship, you may borrow anything in here, if you ever have need for it.