|| Niente è vero. ||

...perhaps I miss the old routine a bit much. This new one, while nice and cozy, makes only for a decent vacation. Yes, even despite the odd happenstances here and there. It is too...boring.

[He pauses. He's complaining. And he realizes he's turned the communicator without much thinking about it. He was past due for an update anyway, before he discovered for himself just what sort of energy the device packed, and had been thinking about it before he started in on the complaints of this place. Ah well.]

Boring. Listen to me--complaining like some sort of youngster who has nothing better than to get into trouble every day. I converse much too often with giovani here and start to reminiscence on my old lifestyle as if I could get away with what I used to.

[He sighs.] I am getting old. When you start saying 'I'm getting too old for this' it is well past time you are too old for...things.

...Ugh. Now I'm using circular arguments and boring unto death those silly enough to listen to these devices.

[...]

Though I can't help but to miss the action back home. Not just the routine... but the purpose. What purpose is there here?

[The only thing that shows up on the video feed is a sigil on a flag of some kind hung up on a wall--it fills the whole screen and the camera is set up purposefully for it does not move the entire time. See icon for exact image of the sigil.]

Today is the Feast of Annunciation.

In Firenze, that also means the beginning of the New Year. I realize that many have already celebrated such an event and I will admit at the time it befuddled me that so many celebrated it during that time, and then again the Eastern tradition was on yet another day altogether. So it was celebrated twice here with such a diversity of peoples. But to me the beginning of the year starts this day. I realize it seems odd to celebrate the new year right in the middle of a month but it is how we've done it for years. Call it a religious fault, if you will, though that may be inaccurate it does fall on the celebration on the Annunciation of Christ--likely on purpose.

Either way... I quite like the tradition.


Ezio, enjoy the grapes and strawberries while they last. I won't be asking for them again anytime soon. And I imagine they are very hard to grow at this time of the year.

Arcivescovo Maxwell, I will be coming to the church to pay my respects. I assume you still celebrate the day despite the chronology differences?

Su Altezza Alessandro, Cardinale Sforza--will you hold true as well? Shall I see the two of you today?

La sicurezza e la pace sulla città ei suoi abitanti. Potrebbe essere il giorno luminoso e felice per tutti. Buon anno.

( translation )

[The video starts with a soft clucking noise from behind the camera which is focused on a plant sitting near the window. The flowers on it are a vibrant red, their bowed heads humble and yet proud if the strong color is anything to go by. The flowers are common in Italy where their owner is from but more common in white rather than the deep red. They are obviously lilies.

A silent moment passes while their owner simply admires them and then Giovanni's voice finally breaks into speech.]

I am glad these turned out well; I feared I would not be good enough at caring for them as my wife is back home. I always admired Maria's natural talent for raising things: whether they be a simple flower in the garden or our beloved children. She loved to work in the garden; she was very good at it. She was always very good at a many simple things that I never could compare to. I miss her. [...] May her and the children be well for however long I am away.

Ezio...

[The view shifts, picked up and carried a bit away towards the main living room of the apartment. Growing up through and upon the floor is small olive tree. Or shrub. It's hard to tell which because of its limited size. But it is obviously of that family and looks as though it should have olives growing on it by now but instead only has a few flowers. Someone dropped their plant, tsk tsk.]

Per la vergogna. [He sighs.] You should have been more careful, mio figlio. This poor thing deserved a better home. ...So strange seeing it grow here on the floor like this... At least help me take care of it since it seems intent upon staying alive, the poor little thing.


[[OOC:Because I just must share my reasoning... Giovanni's flowers are Martagon Lilies. They do grow in Italy. In fact the reason I chose them is because Florence's emblem is a fleur-de-lis, or a 'flower of the lily.' In fact it's actually a red one. Though I chose the red more for his Assassin heritage than that. Also pretend they're brighter than the ones in the picture--more like the vivid bright red of blood when its first spilt.

Ezio's plant was decided upon an olive tree--or shrub in this case--by his mun. Because it's native to Italy, duh! ...Obviously he dropped it while trying to move it outside. Silly boy.]]