IC Contact: Exsilium

[mentore]

You have reached Ezio Auditore.

functions: audio // video // text // encryption enabled (if enabled by other party)

Comments

[mentore]

If it were a complete disaster, perhaps it would be called off. Marriages in my time were made mostly for alliances.

[reconnaissance]

Huh. I thought about that once. I reckon my parents would've married me off to my mate Homer, 'cause our farms were next door to each other. We could've had some sort of giant, amazing sheep station.

( #wayselliespendshertime. )

Are you married, then?

( Asked sort of cautiously. He's old, he's probably been married... right? )

[mentore]

[About that...]

No, I am not married.

[reconnaissance]

( Teasing, but there's an odd hesitation in it that almost makes it a bit gentler. )

No one wanted to ally with you?

( Ellie Linton: a jerk, but not always on purpose. )

[mentore]

There were more than alliances to consider.

[His own life as an Assassin, the safety of those around him, the secrecy...

And that's rather final sounding on his part.]

What is it that you wanted to know?

[reconnaissance]

( Thankfully it's voice, because she does wince a bit. Too far, got it. Probably shouldn't be a surprise, the way she kept prodding at him. )

Sorry.

( She likes Ezio. At least she can offer him that. )

Um. it's pretty dumb, honestly. ( And yet, here she is. ) But say you kissed a friend, and then they kissed you, ( she says this very matter of factly, ) are there any-- it is a bad idea?

( Because sometimes you need an adult's perspective and wow she is leaving out a lot of details but it's Ezio and he's from heaps long ago. )

[mentore]

That would depend on the situation, signorina. Do you have a reason to hesitate or do you simply need reassurance?

[reconnaissance]

I don't want to screw it up.

( Basically. )

[mentore]

That is for you to learn how and not for me to tell you.

[reconnaissance]

( She's dragging a hand over her face, so her voice might be just a little muffled. )

Can't you bend the rules on that, this once?

[mentore]

[Ezio sighs lightly.]

What are you afraid of doing that will ruin what could be?

[reconnaissance]

I dunno! Lose my temper?

( Flippant, but there's already been so much patience between them, she doubts that'd be the final straw. )

That's not it. Not be good enough? I mean, not what they want, really-- not that I don't think I'm good enough, it's just that if this doesn't work out then thing'll be all stuffed up, just with us being friends.

I guess everything. ( Ellie Linton, terrorist, war criminal, scared of messing it up. ) Sorry. This is stupid, I'll-- pretend we didn't have this conversation. Pretend that I called and yelled at you about stuff that made no sense for a few minutes and you told me to control my anger. All right?

( Stupid, Ellie. This was stupid. )

[mentore]

Ellie, you are going to make mistakes. That is the only way to learn. You can't know what will and won't work if you simply assume. If this person is truly interested in you, they will not leave you so soon or so easily.

[Yes, he's going to ignore the part where she said to pretend this never happened.]

[reconnaissance]

( Somewhere, in another part of Exsilium, Ellie is resting her head on a desk and regretting the decision to talk to anyone about this ever.

But she's also kind of glad for him saying that. There's a little bit of a pause, before she allows herself to speak. )

It's easier to believe something when someone else says it out loud.

( Which is to say, "thank you." )

[mentore]

[He understands, no need to spell it out.]

Do we need to have a cup of hot chocolate?

[reconnaissance]

That would be good.

[mentore]

In an hour, then?

[reconnaissance]

Yeah. Same place as last time?

[mentore]

Of course. I shall see you then.