[OPEN] Everyone wants to be like me

[sicarius]

Who: Ezio and YOU
What: With Ygdrassil falling apart, loss of memories aren't the only thing that's being messed with. Alignment switches might just end up happening too.
When: Day 447 onwards
Where: Odin at first, then all around
Rating: PG-13 cause lmao Templar Ezio 8'|

[A. BUREAU The morning starts as it usually does, sun rising over the horizon and a group of hooded figures running over the rooftops of the city. Despite the worrisome problems that have been arising within Asgard, it's important that training continue. If there isn't some semblance of normalcy somewhere, then it will be that much more difficult to keep anything organized.

The morning run goes uninterrupted, though the Italian has a feeling he's forgetting something important as the hours stretch into day. About home. After a shower and quick change, he settles down at the desk to work on papers, writing out schedules and other observations for the day. No sooner does he do this than promptly fall asleep, head to the desk with a light thud, out like a light.

And then wakes up again with a slight jump, eyes blinking almost as if he's entirely uncertain where he is. Which is now partially true.

The man who fell asleep is no longer the man who woke up. Ezio Auditore, the great Italian Mentor and head of the Italian Assassins during Renaissance Italy has now become Ezio Auditore, Grandmaster of the Templars and Ruler of Italy. The way he pauses and looks over the room almost makes it look as if he's seeing it for the first time. He's in the Assassin Bureau, a Templar lodged right into the fray of his enemy's home, and apparently this is... normal? No alarms have been raised, no anger thrown, it's as if he's supposed to be in here.

Ridiculous. Though he supposes it wouldn't hurt to look over things while he's here.

B. SHOP He's kept the illusion that everything's fine, and done what he can to help people. Which is actually pleasant, though perhaps not as close to others as he normally would be. He avoids talking excessively, but will chat if prompted. Ezio's whole demeanor is far more professional and cold, in a sense. It could be contributed to whatever's going on with what everyone else is feeling, but the Italian knows better. Come, keep him company. He's still incredibly good with his words.

C. ELSEWHERE Traveling through the city isn't a new thing for him- nothing's changed that he recalls, he simply seems to be placed in an alternate version of Asgard, somehow. One in which is ruled by Assassins rather than Templars. A shame. Asgard has such potential- and his enemies have already squandered it with the ideals of freedom over order, chaos over lawfulness. He simply walks along with others, sometimes disappearing out of sight, other times choosing to pull away and climb to the rooftops and travel that way.

He needs to find some place to go. One away from Assassin eyes and ears. This charade can only last so long, and he's certain a few of the members of the other order have noticed at least something odd about him.]

Comments

[secondborn]

[Alastair listens. It's... a little disturbing, because he can almost catch glimpses of the things the others have always hinted at in their own stories in Ezio's tale, but Alastair can't help but be curious.]

So you rule now.

[sicarius]

I do. For the first time, Italy is united, and we are safe from potential threats outside our home.

[Not said pompously, but with a slow nod, as if accepting the responsibility fully, understanding the burden. But underneath those words are unspoken lies- how many lives he's broken, people he's stepped on, killed, destroyed- in order to get his way. He is a terror, a menace, an absolute danger to anyone and everyone around him, and he hides all of it under a gentle and calm cold facade.]

[secondborn]

[Unused to needing to listen for the lies in another person's words, Alastair doesn't really catch that, but he knows better than to take Ezio's story at face value.]

And... what did it take to achieve that?

[sicarius]

Curious, are you?

[It's not chastising, it's more or less a tone that just says "I know what you're trying to do." Ezio leans back a little at this, puts his fingers together in a triangular position and smiles a little wider.

Come to him, little flitting bird. The snake's mouth is a perfectly safe place to rest.]

I raised an army, I spoke with others and forged allegiances where there was nothing before. I had the plans from Leonardo, and used those to bring his new inventions to life and stop any threats for my people.

Now- [There is a pause at this.] What exactly do you want to know?

[secondborn]

[The way Ezio phrases all that... stop any threats for my people... it should be a warning. Stop talking to him, Alastair, stop right now, don't listen to this man.

But he can't.

Because the thought of an army marching on the Silver City and taking down Raben Karonis once and for all is just far too satisfying.

He's silent for a long moment, staring at Ezio and considering all of this.]

How did you go about raising an army? Your lands were divided, weren't they?

[Since his are also divided though for... different reasons.]

[sicarius]

They were. I spoke with many of the leaders of each one, and tried to convince them it would be in their best effort to join. Some were more difficult than others.

[Some he broke their wrists, or their fingers, or their arms. Others he killed their families, or broke the leaders until they were worthless puppets. Ezio Auditore was a name that was not just feared, it was a name that struck pure terror into the hearts of men. From Italy to France, from Britain to Constantinople. Everyone knew of him, and the path he razed.]

It took much persuasion, and also a little bribing, but eventually, they settled and agreed. We drove out any invaders and kept the lands safer then they had been in centuries.

[secondborn]

[He considers this.]

I... suspect your methods of persuasion would not be kindly received here?

[They don't talk of Templars much around here, but the vehemence held for them by the others suggests to Alastair that Ezio is holding back far more than he's telling.]

[sicarius]

[He chuckles a little, an eyebrow raising.]

Most would, unless I am mistaken in thinking diplomacy is no longer tolerated within the Assassin ranks. I simply spoke with them, and our conversations discussed many things, including what we believed would happen both with and without that leader's aid.

[There is a pause, and he shifts a little, as if considering what to say next.]

I set examples for others to follow. While your mentors may insist that my words are twisted, I can tell you that they are not. I sent a message to those who stood against Italy, I gave hope to a people who constantly could not agree on anything.

[secondborn]

[He can read between the lines well enough, but that doesn't mean what he's saying is... necessarily at heart a bad idea. Right?

Alastair is quiet for a long time as he thinks about it.]

And what, for instance, would you recommend in a situation to unite a people with nothing against a people with nearly every resource imaginable at their fingertips?

[He shouldn't be asking. He really shouldn't. But he needs to know.]

[sicarius]

[Ezio waits in the silence, perfectly content with nothing being said. It just means that thoughts are being processed, and those thoughts usually mean something is getting through.

When Alastair finally talks again, Ezio pauses, thinking.]

Raben is the largest threat, sì? If you are going to fight, you must show him you do not fear. Fear is what he uses to drive the Imbalance for his people, for his ways. Lead the people by saying what must be done, by proving that fighting back will turn things in your favor. Sitting where they are, simply going day to day and barely surviving is not living, Alastair. You must act.

[secondborn]

[It's good advice, at least from Alastair's point of view. It doesn't make things easier, but it makes it clearer, somewhat.]

Fight fear with confident action?

[He looks down at his hands.]

Easier said than done.

[He's quiet for a moment.]

He's powerful. Very powerful.

[sicarius]

Fight fear with confidence and with wise actions.

[Ezio studies the other at this, watches how he holds himself.]

It will be. But no victory is ever easily achieved. You must show the people that they cannot be run by fear, but must rise to show that they are stronger than the setback.

That Raben should be concerned, because when you find him and march on his city, you will show no mercy.

[That you should act in the ways of a Templar. Through terror, through massacre, through whatever means necessary, in order to reach your end goal.

After all, the ends justify the means.]

[secondborn]

[He looks back up, his gaze hard and cold.]

I never intended to.

[Alastair is convinced, and always has been, that the only thing Raben Karonis deserves is death.]

[pushesgently]

[All right, Altaïr has had it. He leaves Ezio-who-isn't-Ezio alone with Alastair as he takes care of business and discusses options with the others, and this is what he comes back to? He almost wishes he could be surprised that resorting to twisted words is the first option for the man who's been stripped of real weapons.

After all, a real Templar would do the same thing.]

Enough.

[sicarius]

[Altaïr's entrance causes Ezio's head to perk up just a little, brow raising and giving the Assassin a rather innocent look. You may have taken his real weapons, yes, but a barbed tongue is just as dangerous as any sword.]

Enough of what, Altaïr? We were simply talking.

[secondborn]

[...Alastair knows immediately that he's probably in trouble now, and that he should probably leave, but he stays in his seat. He doesn't look at Altaïr, doesn't say anything, just stays where he is, looking vaguely in Ezio's direction.

He wants to stay. He wants to keep talking with Ezio.]

[pushesgently]

[And that is exactly why Altaïr won't allow it.]

I know what you were doing. Alastair, if you want advice that you can trust, ask Ezio when his senses have returned. This is not a man you can trust.

[sicarius]

[You can say all you want, Altaïr- currently Ezio has both claws dug deep into Alastair's mind, and he's not going to let go.]

Is that so? Are you protecting him, or perhaps hiding the truth from something the boy desperately needs to hear?

[secondborn]

[Alastair remains silent, remains seated, but he looks away from Ezio's general direction down at his hands. He knows Altaïr believes that this man can't be trusted, and Alastair doesn't trust him, but only in the way that he doesn't trust someone he doesn't know.

Which is difficult, because even if this isn't the Ezio that Alastair knows, he's still Ezio. And he's an Ezio that knows as much about him as the other.

Besides. He still doesn't think Ezio's advice is bad. Not completely, anyway.

What if he's right? What if Altaïr is hiding...

...no. Of course he isn't. He's just being protective, that's all. Overly protective, maybe, but he wouldn't do something like what Ezio's suggesting.

...would he?]

[pushesgently]

I will not have a debate with you.

[He snaps the words out. Not in front of the children, in any case, though Alastair is already a man—but judging from the worrisome silence and lack of movement he observes now, a man who needs this interruption.]

You are welcome to ask all the questions you wish, Alastair. But not. Now.

[sicarius]

[The snapping simply prompts a small smile from the Templar, already pleased that he's grating on the nerves of the other Grandmaster. His eyes go from Altaïr to Alastair, and he tilts his head in curiosity.]

Of course not, perdonami. I forgot the cowardice the Assassins carry when they are outmatched.

[Ezio Auditore you motherfucking little shit.]

[secondborn]

[Alastair's eyes look up at Ezio at that comment, searching his expression before looking over to Altaïr. He can tell from the tone of voice that he won't be allowed to talk to Ezio anymore.]

Are you dismissing me, sir?

[He says it quietly, calmly. Almost too calmly. He's holding back his emotions again. He doesn't want his disappointment showing.]

[pushesgently]

[It's only because Ezio is well-bound that Altaïr is willing to look away from him and toward Alastair. Even then, though his body is relaxed, it's relaxed in the loose, prepared way of a fighter who is ready for an attack.

But words, as always, present a more difficult fight.]

I am. Thank you for serving your watch here.

[But it was his last watch.]

[sicarius]

[Ezio watches Altaïr, knowing fully well the language his body holds. He simply places his hands together once more, a quirk of a smile on his face, nodding a little to tell Alastair to go.

He'll find a way to speak with him again.

Besides, talking with an Assassin now, one who's core lies within the ridiculousness of their system, is a good way to pass the time. Especially considering how this version of Altaïr already seems far less cruel or proud or destructive in his methods.]

[secondborn]

[Alastair looks between the two men, catching that slight nod from Ezio. He stands, looks at Altaïr, and nods.

He doesn't say anything as he leaves the room, but over his shoulder he looks at Ezio one last time.]