asgardmeridiem | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: Caterina Sforza and YOU
What: Free Tea and Hummus at A Needle in a Haystack!
When: Day 298 afternoon (or whichever the spy was caught)
Where: A Needle in a Haystack, in Odin's district
Rating: PG

[There is a sign outside of A Needle in a Haystack. It reads:

TODAY

FREE TEA AND HUMMUS

CELEBRATE CLEAN WATER WITH OUR HIGH QUALITY TEA
AND A PLATE OF HUMMUS AND PITA BREAD

When you enter the shop, you can find a few employees serving the drinks at the tables, a couple other stocking the shelves and helping customers, and Caterina overseeing the whole thing from a table in the corner. She has a cup of tea and is looking quite satisfied and would not be opposed to some company right about now.]

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[She watches him for a moment.]

It bothers you.

That I have a son I've never met? Yes.

I know that it's a matter of time. I haven't missed anything, I just haven't experienced it. Yet...

[He sighs.]

[She nods.]

It is very difficult, coming from different times. For a long time, Ezio and I continued to come from different years, having had different experiences. He wished to be as free of knowledge of the future as much as he could, which made it incredibly difficult at times. Still I am uncertain as to whether that was the best method of coping.

There's some wisdom to such thinking. Leonardo and I agreed it's best that I not learn the specifics of my own writing to come in the Codex.

But that's something very different. And I do want to know this part of my future. But I can't miss him—I can only wish I had the opportunity to miss him.

You will have that opportunity. Someday, you will.

[She's certain of it. After all, she had been permitted to live out the rest of her life, and Ezio had been permitted to live out much of his.]

[He looks at her a few moments longer, caught between uncertainty and dismay, then seems to relax.]

So I must.

[Otherwise there will be no son to wonder about.]

In any case, it's more productive for all of us if I focus my attention on what is here and not there, especially if we do find some suitable recruits.

Indeed. It is important to remember home, but ultimately, here it is a distraction more than anything else. You have seen that yourself in others.

[Alastair specifically, since Ezio's days of distraction were before Altaïr arrived.]

And it would be more than a little hypocritical for me not to take the advice I've given others.

[Maybe a lesson in what not to do, but that's a poor rationalization.]

Yes, just a little.

[She smiles wryly.]

It is more than likely they would remind you of it, too.

No doubt.

[He chuckles, and sits up a little straighter.]

Then I'd better do it.

[She laughs a little and takes a drink of her tea.]

Va bene. I have no doubt you can.

Your faith warms me.

[Still smiling, he drains the rest of his tea and pushes back from the table.]

Thank you for it and for your hospitality, Caterina. But I should see to some work that remains. [Now that the whole spy thing is taken care of.]

[She nods.]

Di niente. You're welcome. Any time I can get you boys off your feet for a few minutes is time well spent.

[They work themselves too hard, she's always thought so. It's why she's elbowed her way into running the shop as much as she has, to try to keep Ezio from doing too much and never getting any rest at all.]

I'll remember that.

[There's so much to do, so matters to look after that it's unlikely she'll be able to accomplish that goal often—but then, he's sure Caterina is aware of that, and even more sure that she has her ways.]

[She raises her eyebrows.]

Be sure you do. I would rather not have to resort to knocking the two of you unconscious when you need rest.

Come now. Maria would be very upset if you did that yourself and left her out.

Ah, è vero. I will be sure to include her in the proceedings.

Please do.

[He chuckles and stands to leave.]

I'll see you later, Caterina.

[She nods to him.]

That you will.

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