ventiotto || video [NOTE: ALL OF THE MEMORIES ARE SPOKEN IN ITALIAN JUST FYI]

[betrayedblade]

[Giovanni is sitting on top of the school rooftop just outside of the greenhouse. The comm is sitting on the rooftop several feet away indicating either Giovanni purposefully set it away from him to record this or purposefully set it away to not accidentally hit it and turn it on. He looks solemn, face and even his body with the way he has one knee bent upwards and a slumping posture as he leans against the glass. His eyes are the biggest indicator as he stares at a small pile of crystal fragments hanging around next to him.

He touches one and watches the scene unfold. It might be hard to see from the comm's position but the voices are clear enough.

"Our son is watching," whispers a beautiful woman. "I know," responds Giovanni as he tries not to smile in amusement at her reaction. They're close and obviously had been kissing before she interrupted. "You should talk to him," she says. "I will," he responds.

It ends and Giovanni carefully reaches out for another. The scene is of Giovanni when he's younger, much younger, a look of concentration on his face as he spars against a larger set boy who looks similar to Giovanni despite this obvious difference. It ends even more quickly and Giovanni reaches out to another.

"Ezio. Remember, you need to think ahead. Wait for your opponent to move. Anticipate, and surprise him." Giovanni says to his son Ezio who just lost a match of chess to who can only be the boy's elder brother from the looks of it. The two boys stand and move towards their father and Giovanni hugs each of them in turn.

There are a few more memories that Giovanni watches each in turn, always moving carefully and touching the crystals delicately. One involves the Auditore defending a woman who is clearly a courtesan, another a violet-eyed man who just looks mysterious without doing much of anything to convey the aura, and another of the young Auditore saving a small boy from drowning in the Arno river in Florence. This last is one of the most vivid and, besides the first memory with his wife, the one he seems to linger on the longest.

The last memory is not fond and it is clear by the look on Giovanni's face as he watches it unfold, a marring frown deepening further and further on his face as it plays out.

"You have a unique set of skills, Giovanni," says a hooded man in dark robes. "That's your name, isn't it? A set of skills I'd be delighted to have on my side."

"And what side is that?" inquires a none too pleased Giovanni.

"The side that is going to win a war that you don't even know has already begun yet. The world is changing under your feet, Giovanni. Join us, and you may live to see it."

"Borgia. Yes, I know your name, too. And I also know how this is going to end: with your fantasy in ruins, and an assassin's blade in your throat."

The memory ends with Giovanni's menacing threat hanging in the air and then silence reins as the real Giovanni slowly relaxes once more.

He sits there quietly after the last crystal memory plays and then glances up at the darkening sky. His voice is soft.]

...I do miss it, all of it. My family... sicurezza e pace.

Comments

[hamonatrix.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry. I know what it's like to be separated from family.

[betrayedblade.livejournal.com]

Grazie... it is hard but I should be used to it by now. [Except, you know, this is the longest its ever been before. Sigh.]

[hamonatrix.livejournal.com]

After my husband was killed...I was forced to be apart from my son for most of his life. He was nearly a man grown by the time I saw him again.

[betrayedblade.livejournal.com]

...

[hamonatrix.livejournal.com]

It's all right. My son is here with me now. But I will always miss my George. And Caesar...

[crystal-eyed.livejournal.com]

[ Well, you watched his so he'll watch yours. SO THERE.

Eald's...actually kinda smiling at this. Especially that bit with Ezio and his brother. That last one does make him hesitate a little though.

Well...he can TRY to use a concerned tone. ]

...we all miss something from home, aern.

[betrayedblade.livejournal.com]

I know.

I should have known better than to touch them. But...I could not resist. [He smiles wanly, crookedly.]

[crystal-eyed.livejournal.com]

Curiosity killed the coeurl...though I must admit my own intrigue.

At least some of them are fond.

[betrayedblade.livejournal.com]

I am quite fond of them all. [Except maybe the last one but he still likes being reminded? It sets his determination.]

[najawantsgold.livejournal.com]

...you too, huh? Bein' separated from family can be prrretty tough.

'm sorry.

[betrayedblade.livejournal.com]

Grazie. I am fine though. It was interesting to see what memories these things chose...

[najawantsgold.livejournal.com]

Carrreful there, Auditore. Apparently not all of 'em are just memories.

[betrayedblade.livejournal.com]

What do you mean?

[vengefulblades.livejournal.com]

[Lots of this sounds familiar, some of these memories are even Ezio's as well from a different perspective. He can even recognize Uncle Mario despite his young face and lack of scar.

Some however are unclear and Ezio can't help but gawk in surprise when he sees Poala and La Volpe of all people.]

Father...you knew La Volpe?

[betrayedblade.livejournal.com]

[He coughs unexpectedly at this and its clear he's trying to cover up a small chuckle.]

Oh, yes. I did indeed know the wily fox.

[vengefulblades.livejournal.com]

[Just blinks. You were so sneaky Papa.]

Was he as obnoxious then as he was when I met him? [Making me sprint after him and mocking me while I did so.]

And Paola. You...you knew her too?

[betrayedblade.livejournal.com]

[This time he just outright laughs.] Oh, I imagine he wasn't nearly as bad with... [He was going to say "age" but...well, he'll let Ezio continue with the immortal image as Giovanni is sure Volpe did nothing to dispel the numerous rumors surrounding him.] ...time.

[More seriously:] ...I did. She was a spirited young woman in a pinch of trouble when I first met her, well, as you might have noticed. Did you think Anetta was just a coincidence?

[aninsidejob.livejournal.com]

Sounds like it's rough for you too. You all right, cowboy?

[betrayedblade.livejournal.com]

I am fine, grazie.

[...There goes that word that his son didn't understand either, way to go. The next is not said with malice, only curiosity.]

What did you call me?

[aninsidejob.livejournal.com]

So long as you're sure.

Cowboy. It technically is the term used for cattle herders, however in 1920's it became the modern idea of a gunslinger who fought against native Indians to protect people.

[betrayedblade.livejournal.com]

I am. These were actually...quite nice to view.

I like that.

[turneverystone.livejournal.com]

[She can't understand Italian, but she can understand the sentiment]

I'm sorry.

[betrayedblade.livejournal.com]

It is all right. [He smiles softly.]

[turneverystone.livejournal.com]

That's really all we can say, isn't it?

[betrayedblade.livejournal.com]

I suppose. But it is not so bad to remember...