1: Voice

[canmakemore]

[There is some muttered Italian as Caterina pokes at the hologram screen, not sure how to use it. It's very rude Italian. Not family friendly. Then...]

Ah! Pezzo di merda! Is it working? Obviously something is happening, but I have never seen anything like this before. How... no, that is not important right now.

What is important is that I am told I am here to bring color to this city. Perché? Is the color you have not good enough for you? It looks acceptable to me. And if you are expecting me to thank you for freeing me from the Borgia stronzi, you'll get no such thanks from me. Abduction is abduction, no matter who is doing it.

So then. Who is in charge here and how do I go about explaining this gross misunderstanding to him?


((OOC: I apologize if I murder the Italian language at any point in time. I'm working from Google Translate, I don't know a lick of Italian personally.))

Comments

[canmakemore]

[Oh.

Wow. That's surprising.]

Is the boy not an appropriate ally?

[sicarius]

To them, he is a civilian. But he has fought alongside me in battle and is very skilled- I would call him much more than just a normal boy.

[To put it simply, he reminds Ezio of himself, when he was that age.]

[canmakemore]

[That sounds completely reasonable to her. She's getting confused.]

So... what is the problem, precisely?

[sicarius]

[He sighs.]

There is a Creed. And in having the boy know of my existence as an assassin, it breaks one of them. "Never compromise the Brotherhood."

[He hasn't had to deal with this before because there's been no courtesans, thieves, or mercenaries around to work with. Another thing he's sure Altaïr and most definitely Malik would have a fit in knowing.]

[canmakemore]

[She can't help but smile a little at the irony of it.]

I take it you have not told them about your circumstances in Italy, then.

[sicarius]

[And he chuckles, surprisingly.]

I have tried. Unfortunately, they are very stubborn.

[canmakemore]

[She raises an eyebrow. The chuckling is good, but the implication of what he's saying is not.]

They cannot see past their own circumstances? [She rolls her eyes.] Tipico.

[sicarius]

They are from the Crusades, Caterina. Everything here is different for them.

[He shrugs. By talking to her at least, he's getting this out of his system.]

I have met people who are even further than we are in time- who are familiar with the devices and machines here.

[canmakemore]

Everything here is different for us, as well. Unless there are people who are frequently abducted by beings calling themselves gods, then I doubt that anyone feels truly comfortable here. Traditions aid us in many ways, but clinging to them for the sake of security will be their downfall.

Unless this boy told every person he met of the existence of assassini, then I fail to see how you did anything wrong.

[You got her on a roll, Ezio. Watch out.]

[sicarius]

[NO PLEASE CONTINUE he needs to be reminded.]

The only person he asked was Altaïr himself. He did not believe me when I told him, and he was curious. [But he understands what she means.] They are the ones in charge, however, not I.

[canmakemore]

[She throws her hands up in the air in frustration.]

Then they are idioti. Idioti to believe that three men can fight without allies and be victorious. These are not the Crusades, this is not Italy, and therefore things will not and cannot be the same.

And if you follow them blindly, then you are an idiota as well, Ezio.

[sicarius]

[And just like that, she snaps him out of his hurt pride funk. It's her last statement that changes his mind about the whole situation- that different times and a different scenario call for different tactics than before.

Sometimes he really loves her for her wits and her sharp tongue, moreso than usual. This would definitely be one of those times. With his mind now suddenly out of the gloomy haze of disappointment, there's that grin of his that's much more characteristic of the maestro of old.]

And if I were to be said idiota, you of all people would know, wouldn't you, Caterina?

[canmakemore]

[Caterina grins and raises her eyebrow at him.]

Of course.

[She pats him on the cheek, a teasing expression of affection.]

I wouldn't want my clever assassino to lose his wits to some other man's stupidità.

[sicarius]

Lose my wits? You must be mistaken, bella. I would never do so.

[Is that sarcasm you hear from him? And that pat is responded to in kind with a quick peck to her forehead, him teasing her right back.]

Now, let's get you to Freya, and at least find you something decent to wear, si?

[canmakemore]

Oh sí, per favore. That would be wonderful.

[sicarius]

[Well, by all means! Ezio offers out an arm to lead the way, so she can easily make it through the gray crowds in the city.]

[canmakemore]

[And she takes it with a smile, following along and watching her surroundings with a close eye.]

So what do you do here, Ezio?

[sicarius]

Before or after my exile? [It's said as a joke, the wounds already beginning to heal.]

Other than travel to the rooftops, I worked as a courier in a local business. And when the time calls for it, I fight, as well as I am able to.

[canmakemore]

Is that all? It sounds to me like you need something to do.

[sicarius]

È così? Are you offering me something for my time?

[canmakemore]

Perhaps. It depends on how bored I become.

[sicarius]

Oh, believe me, bella. You should know I am anything but boring.

The question becomes how long you can last.

[canmakemore]

Is that a challenge, Ezio?

[sicarius]

If you believe it to be one.

[canmakemore]

Hmm. We shall see.