You Should Have Known Better

[justblendin]

WHO: Ezio Auditore
WHERE: Fountain, Around Lucy's House, The Inn & South Village
WHEN: Week of Jan. 18th - 25th
OPEN TO: Arrival Closed To Lucy; all other prompts are OTA!
WARNINGS: Descriptions Of Near Drowning - Will Update If Needed!

---

Arrival; Locked To Lucy

It was wonderous and terrifying just how quickly your life could change in an instant. In a single blink of an eye everything you thought you knew could be completely shattered and pieced back together.

Yet Ezio had felt absolutely no fear as he had lept from the tower, following his fellow assassins down, down, down in the final part of the initiation ritual he had just partaken in, after being trained and groomed for years to take his place in this secret society. How he had never suspected, had never known, had never realized that all this time, this was what his father had been doing. What his uncle had been preparing him for.

There should be an end to the falling, a pile of soft hay to break his landing, leaving him to pop out and continue on with his work. But there isn't. There is no end, only sinking, deeper and deeper, like a stone in a lake with no bottom as an inky blackness encloses around him.

When he wakes it's to the sensation of drowning, mouth opening to grasp for air only to find nothing but water rushing down his throat and into his lungs. For a moment, brief and heart-stopping, where he's certain that this is it, this is how he's going to die. It wouldn't be some templar sword that finally ended him, but an ocean of murky water with no way out.

But there's sun shining from above, and he shoves against something solid, forces his way to the top just before his lungs give out and he's left gasping and coughing up disgusting mouthfuls of water, clinging to the side of the fountain.

Inn; Open To All

After being literally ripped away from his world and dumped unceremoniously into a fountain - and then being hauled out of said fountain by a girl who was literally half his size - Ezio isn't exactly feeling his normal self. Especially considering the fact that everything had been taken from him. His father's robes, his dual hidden blades and all of the attachments that Leonardo had worked so tirelessly to replicate for him.

But he is clean and he is dry, which is a far better state than he had arrived in. He had been told that there was food to be had at the Inn, and so that's where he's currently headed. Once there, he'll indeed find his way into the kitchen and retrieve a bowl of whatever happens to be on the stove, before sitting rather unceremoniously into the nearest chair. He had been told there would be days like this, of course, but he was pretty certain this wasn't what his uncle had meant.

South Village; Open To All

In the days following his arrival, Ezio had spent most of his time either in the Inn, reading the complete history of the village, or in the library, attempting to do as much research as possible. Just because everyone said there wasn't a known and sure-fire way to leave didn't mean he wasn't going to attempt to find one.

Once night fell, however, he would set out on his own, running along the rooftops of the nearby houses, formulating paths in his mind of the best routes to take. To and from the inn, naturally. To and from the library. To and from the outer edges of the village, just in case. It was freezing and the roofs were often slippery, and more than once he lost his footing and slid far more than he would have liked. Especially considering he was unused to the boots and clothing that he had been given. Occasionally, he would stumble upon an abandoned house and poke around it in, with the hopes that he would find something more suitable. Leather gloves for a better grip, or shoes with more flexible soles.

Comments

Schoolhouse/Library

[capturetheworld]

Leonardo has only been here for a few days, but his brain is absolutely burning with information, the majority of it making no sense whatsoever. It was splendid. Being confused was sometimes frustrating, yes, but when he opened his mind more things started to make some kind of sense. A bizarre type of sense. He set up in the North Village forge as it was recommended to him by Malik, planning on making it his temporary workshop. The other one was full, and Leonardo always did better with his own space.

He had several books to return from his initial stack, and he was carrying them all back. It was only once inside that one in the middle dropped, and he leaned over to pick it up, only to drop another and he cursed in Italian under his breath. Naturally it was only a matter of time before his balancing act failed and they tumbled to the floor. Leonardo had some choice words for himself at that point, because the books deserved far better treatment!

He was no longer in violet; as pretty as it was, it didn't suit him well. He'd traded it in for blacks and reds, and always a coat because he never seemed to stop being cold. He was attempting to stack the books up again to put back in their order, unaware of anyone else around.

[justblendin]

Ezio heard the first book fall, the sound of the hardback hitting the floor unmistakable, even from his place near the back. It's only once the sound of the second, followed by the third and fourth comes that he actually bothers to even look up. The string of curses comes next, and he mutters something under his breath about this being a library and people are supposed to be quiet in them.

But it's only once quiet falls back over the room that it sinks in that he knows that voice. Tucking the book carefully beneath his arm, he ducks out from behind the row he had been standing in.

And there he was.

"Are you always this loud in libraries, fraello mio?"

[capturetheworld]

Leonardo straightened up to reply, sighing deeply. "It is not a library, Ezio, and it's not ---" He snapped to it in that moment and his face completely transformed into the kind of joy that can't be expressed, only seen. He ran forward with no hesitation and hugged Ezio, feeling like something tight in his chest that had been tense this whole time unfurled all at once. Things would be fine now. Ezio was there. He would find a way to save them, he always did.

"Ezio!" Leonardo pulled back from the hug to look at him, and then his eyes brightened. "Altair is here. The real one. From the codex pages! I have not seen him, but his friend Malik told me. There are others of your Order here!" He was bursting with information and not certain where to start. "There are people from other planets here. One has horns, and another is fully blue with a tail." Seriously so much to say. He stepped back to wildly wave his hands. "In the future there are giant flying machines that hundreds of people can fly on between countries."

Yep. These were the first things on his mind to share.

[justblendin]

Thankfully, Ezio had gotten used to the fact that hugging was Leonardo's default method of greeting someone. So when he ran forward, his arms opened easily, wrapping around his friend the moment their bodies collided.

Only to have Leonardo open his mouth and begin to babble a mile a minute the moment he pulled away. Ezio listened carefully, taking in the information and thankful that Leonardo was so observant and curious. It would serve them well here. As would his ability to craft things seemingly from nothing.

"It is good to see you too." There was a light tease to his voice when Leonardo finally paused for a breath. "Now, you have said that there are others from the order here. Who? Is it only Altair?"

[capturetheworld]

Leonardo was so happy to see his friend that he thought he might explode with it. He always appreciated that Ezio listened when he babbled, at least to the point where he started talking in circles, which he hadn't hit yet. He was fairly sure everything in this place was so interesting that he'd never have a circle, only more things to be amazed by.

"It is so good to see you. Although I probably should not have wished you here." Leonardo briefly looked concerned. "I hope that I didn't inadvertently make it happen." After all, things would be better with his friend there, but he didn't want to wish him trapped.

"I only got the names of Malik and Altair, but Malik said there were several others. I did not want to out them by asking who was in the Order publicly." He knew that privacy was of the utmost importance, even here. Until instructed otherwise, Leonardo would keep his secrets. "I told Malik I would get to work immediately on the Order's blades. I know how to off the top of my head, of course, but it will take longer to get the materials." He wanted to make certain they were armed in case of trouble.

[justblendin]

"I do not think even you are capable of that." Although even he had to admit that it was slightly strange that both he and Leonardo had both been brought here at relatively the same time. What could that mean? What could whoever had brought them here desire from the two?

"You did well not to." If there was one person that Ezio had always been certain he could trust with anything implicitly, it was Leonardo. After all, the artist was as much a part of his family or of the order as anyone else. "We will find them for you. It can not be that hard." It probably would be.

"You will make mine first, si?"

you know what's up

[retributes]

The sounds are what bring Lucy's full attention back to the fountain, turning to catch glimpse of someone bursting up out of the surface. For a moment she's frozen, this is her first time that she's near for helping someone out of the frigid water. She's reminded of the time Connor had hurried to her aid and hauled her bleeding body out. Connor—! That's her first thought, the relief and concern that he's returned to them, and it's as Lucy rushes forward that she stops when she notices the difference in skin tones of the hand grasping at the stone edging. Not Connor.

It would be a lie to say she's not disappointed, but there's someone new here (or she thinks they're a new arrival) and the weather conditions aren't ideal for a swim. She reaches the edge and shrugs out of her peacoat, wearing her teal scrubs still (why? there are better things to wear), and her arms dunk into the ice cold water without thinking. "I got you," her voice reassures, getting a secure hold that's good enough to haul him out, putting her back into it as she uses all her strength to drag out the man who weighs quite a bit while wearing the soaked clothing (and looking like a drowned rat).

"Easy does it—"

I do bitch, I do indeed

[justblendin]

He's fine.

He's fine and definitely not coughing up more water as she hauls his soggy self up and over the edge of the fountain, leaving him to land in an icy puddle upon the cold hard ground.

It's freezing and he can feel the way his skin raises into hundreds of tiny goose flesh to fight against the sudden drop in temperature. Suddenly the fact that he is not, in fact, wearing his robes - his father's robes - but instead a thin set of - what even were these? They were an awful almost purple color and currently soaked through and sticking uncomfortably to his skin.

As it turns out, he looked exactly like a drowned rat. Pathetic and miserable.

"Grazie." It's said with a slight stutter, his teeth beginning to chatter against his body chills further.

https://youtu.be/Ms607DcMbnw?t=10

[retributes]

"You're welcome," comes her automatic response, glad he doesn't take him down with her. C'mon, everyone at least knows what grazie means. It wasn't like the language was new for her, not when she'd spent countless of hours going over Desmond's animus logs under the Ezio archives.

Lucy ignores the fact that pulling him up and out of the water lands her with some of it soaking through her own scrubs. She reaches for the discarded peacoat to drape around over his shoulders, anything to keep him warm.

"We need to move you out of the cold. My place isn't far. Do you think you can walk?" It's not dawned on her yet who this is.

HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME HEAR THAT WITH MY OWN EARS

[justblendin]

His throat aches and his stomach feels sicks, tossing and turning, filled with all of that disgusting water he'd swallowed on the way up. But there's nothing more to be brought up, his cough now dry and shallow, and his attention turns to more pressing matters.

Like the fact that he is absolutely freezing and even he knows he isn't going to last forever out here in the frigid temperature with nothing to protect him.

Her hand takes his and lifts, and he pushes himself upwards with his free hand, not allowing her to take on too much of the burden of his weight. The coat is warm and he's thankful, wrapping it over his shoulders even though he knows it means she's likely not suffering instead.

All of his muscles feel warm and shaky, but he takes a step forward alright, and then another, and figures if he made it those two steps he can make it however far they need to go.

"Si. I think so."

LOL I PROBABLY SHOULD'VE WARNED TO TURN THE VOLUME DOWN

[retributes]

"We just need to get out of the park and follow the path down and then back up. Should be a cakewalk." Her teeth chatter; she's getting a little chilly now without the extra layer. They need to move.

Lucy moves her hand to tuck under his arm and she's ready in case he goes down, beginning to lead the way. Their wet clothes are going to stiffen with the cold, which is only going to make things worse, but it's to be expected.

"Gotta love—love coming through that fountain, huh?"

South village - "Empty" house (Let me know if this is okay)

[relentlessness]

In truth, Jacob knew he is not alone before he sees the man. He knows when he hears the scrabble of feet on the roof above him. Listening to the creaks of whoever it is, trying to place those steps with someone he's knows.

Frowning though as they move into the house, dark and without much movement or sounds, the only belongings in one corner of one of the bedrooms, mostly hidden in shadows at that time of the evening as the sun sets and shadows begin to fall.

Creeping along, following the sounds so that he can stay close to whoever they are. The figure though, when he sees them, isn't one he knows. Watching for a long moment, leaning against the wall and folding his arms over his chest. Still wearing a hoodie under his peacoat, the hood pulled up and his face in shadows.

"Might I help you with something?"

This is absolutely perfect

[justblendin]

Somewhere along the way Ezio had found an absolutely hideous red and black plaid jacket - but it had a rather large hood that could be pulled down over his face and obscure his features, which honestly was all that really mattered. Paired with the dark colored jeans and the hiking boots that he had been given upon arrival, and he looked much more like some misplaced lumberjack than an assassin sneaking around.

But his footsteps were nearly silently, each movement graceful, his breathing even and unlabored. Honestly, even if someone were inside the dark house they shouldn't have even known he were there.

Unless, of course, that other person is also an assassin.

"You could tell me where you got that." Pointing at the hoodie that Jacob wears as he speaks because even tho it makes him look like a hoodlum, it's still far better than what he's currently wearing.

[relentlessness]

In truth it is the softness of those steps that brought out curiosity more than concern. Also a hope that perhaps that those missing had returned, though the man before him bore neither the shape of Connor, and certainly not that of his sister. There's a bittersweetness then to it all.

Another assassin brought to this place, and yet not finding Evie returned. Not to mention bringing back up those concerns about who was gathering this many assassins, and why.

That why is definitely making him nervous.

He snorts though at that, rolling his shoulders though he doesn't move from where he's "lounging" in the doorway.

"There's a room at the inn where leftover clothes lay about. I found it there." Sounding a bit smug because he really is glad for it. He needs to find a secondary option, but it does what is needed. "You broke in to steal my jacket?" There's definitely a hint of a smile in those tones.

[justblendin]

"I wasn't aware anyone lived here." Not that that had ever stopped him from entering anywhere before. No, if he wanted in somewhere badly enough, it didn't rightly matter if it was occupied or not.

"This clothing is odd. I was trying to find something better suited." He was quickly giving up on finding actual, proper robes. But at this point, he was willing to take anything that didn't leave him looking like he belonged in an early nineties grunge rock band.

[relentlessness]

"Suppose that's fair enough," he says. Given that he barely spends any time there, just long enough to crawl into the bed a few times a week and sleep, and to change his clothes while washing and drying one set for another. "It's more technically storing things here than living."

Jacob looks him over slowly, considering the outfit with narrowed eyes. "It's a bit interesting. Something like a horseman might wear, I suppose," he says, trying to be nice. "Very colorful," he offers. "Did you go through the stores or let another pick for you?"

Inn, Kitchen

[thekittenqueen]

She made a strange sight in the kitchen, dressed elegantly in her winter gown, but laboring over a hot pan of rabbit meat. What would her grandmother think if she saw her now? Sweating and flipping meat with calloused hands, speaking of two years of hard work. It was a thought that managed to make her smile.

The stranger stirred her from her thoughts. He wasn't a face that she recognized, but that meant little now, considering how much the village had grown. He was handsome with the sort of looks that she was used to seeing from Dornishmen. Given how he was rummaging around in the kitchen, she didn't need to guess what he was looking for.

"If you wait a moment, I will have some rabbit to share with you."

[justblendin]

Admittedly, cooking had never been one of Ezio's strongest suits. Certainly, he had learned a few things from his mother when he had been a young child and absolutely attached to her hip. But considering all he had found so far was a pot and what looked like some sort of root vegetable he had never seen before, his prospects weren't looking exceptionally good.

She made a strange sight indeed, dressed far more like a noblewoman than someone who should be toiling around in a hot kitchen. But when she spoke and offered him some of the food she was preparing, he knew he would be absolutely foolish not to accept.

"It is kind of you to offer. Grazie."

[thekittenqueen]

It didn't take long to sear the rest of the rabbit and season it properly. Once plated, she offered it to Ezio first, letting him choose what pieces he wanted. She may not have the same wealth that she enjoyed in Westeros, but her sense of hospitality remained the same.

"You are new to the village?" She knew the answer but asked anyway. She may not have seen him emerge from the fountain, but she knew the look of new arrivals after two years in this world. That look of confusion, that lost feeling that permeated around like a cloud.

"It is a bit to take in, I imagine?"

[justblendin]

When it was finished the meat looked surprisingly good for being as simple as it was. He chose a few smaller pieces, leaving the best ones behind for her, his own sense of politeness still alive and well, even if it had been a rather long time he'd made use of it.

"Si. How could you tell?" Except he probably did look every bit like a deer trapped in the headlights.

[thekittenqueen]

"I have had time to learn how to spot new arrivals." She smiled at him, as though sharing some great secret. "There is a certain look in the eyes. It will last until your first few months pass." If he remained that long. Perhaps he would be fortunate and be allowed to leave?

"So many have come and gone over the years."

South Village - Random Abandoned House

[minus1twin]

It was the middle of the night when Ezio slipped through the window of the seemingly abandoned house. The rooms were dark and musty, while various pieces of furniture littered his path. Only that the house wasn't abandoned tonight.

Wanda hadn't found a place to live after Clint left. She still went 'home' to feed the chickens and see Beverly but she found it difficult to sleep in the house that after two years in the village had become her home. At night she wandered until she was to tired to stand and then took shelter in whatever house was near. Tonight, it was this house.

Arado's ears perked up and he nosed Wanda's side, rousing her from her sleep. She was using her leather jacket as a blanket and beneath that she had a pair of jeans and a tank top. Blades rested at her sides and when she heard the soft scraping of footsteps she rose to her feet, flicking the gleaming metal into her palm. Wanda was used to being quiet but Arado wasn't...

"Who's there?" She called out when she realized that stealth was out of the question.

[justblendin]

If there was one thing Ezio was quickly learning, it was that people in this village weren't great at making it known which houses were occupied and which ones weren't. Even if he had started being far more careful, looking for any signs of life or occupancy before he entered each building to search it, that still didn't mean he was always right.

And without his eagle vision, it wasn't as if he could just look and see whichever color signatures might pop up. It was a pure guessing game.

This particular house seemed empty enough. There had been no candles, no signs of a fire or life taking place within. The window had been unlocked and easy enough to slide up and open, leaving him free to enter. He had gotten all of four or five steps when he heard the movement and knew that he had made the same mistake twice.

Shame on him.

"My apologies. I didn't realize anyone was here." He called back easily, his voice calm and even, hoping that whoever had asked the question would accept the explanation. After all, he hadn't found anything more than a kitchen knife so far in way of weaponry, and he was pretty sure it was too dull to cut fresh bread.

[minus1twin]

Wanda exhaled a long breath and shook her head. "Don't be." She relaxed though there was a lethal practice to her movements that suggested that there wasn't a huge difference between her relaxed state and her tense combat ready state.

"This isn't my home. I haven't settled on a place to live and this pace was closest at the time." She nodded up towards the steps. "I have one room heated and blankets. If you'd like a place to sleep for the night. I'll be gone in the morning if you'd like to stay here permanently."

She had no plan of coming back though Wanda wasn't entirely sure where she was going.

[justblendin]

"Thank you for the offer, but I do not want to intrude." Not to mention he technically had somewhere to go back to - although eventually, he did want to find a place of his own and stop invading Lucy's space.

"Will you be alright?" It felt strange to ask, as if he was intruding even further, but considering the way she stood there as if she was always constantly on her guard, he couldn't not ask.