first // OPEN

[seventeenth]

[Desmond thinks he's getting the hang of the castle. On and off, all day, he's been alternating between lounging around the living area and badgering people to come explore the castle with him -- not very far, of course, but just enough to get a proper feel for the place. He wants to go back to the tower. He wants to check the sarcophagus room to see if anyone else showed up. He wants to see what's waiting on the other side of the dorms. He wants to climb all over ancient, crumbling architecture for the hell of it.]

[It'll probably get annoying for everyone else, after a while, but for now Desmond is enjoying himself.]

(ooc: An open 'get bugged by Desmond' post. I can come up with a reason for hm to approach and chatter at literally anyone! If there's a specific area you want your character to go to just say so in the subject line/an ooc note, or write the tag with them already in that part of the castle.)

Comments

[enthusiast]

[Without books, without maps, without paper, without all of those important things, Sofia doesn't have much to do. Her shoes aren't made for running or climbing, her dress isn't made for athletics, and she has always been more of an indoor girl than an explorer.

Ezio has done much to pull her out of her books, but Sofia still doesn't think of herself as someone who plays a big role in adventures.

So, as a result, she is sitting in the living area, lost in thought. Until, of course, Desmond walks by and breaks her concentration.]

Desmond! [She waves him down with a warm smile, despite everything.] You look like you're in a good mood. I wish we could all share your cheer.

[seventeenth]

Huh-- oh, hey Sofia. [Desmond grins and diverts from his path to approach the redhead. He lifts his hand to wave.] I guess I'm just easily amused, is all.

[enthusiast]

Then it's a good trait to have, in such circumstances. It'll keep people from thinking too bleakly.

[She gestures at the space next to her on the bench.]

Come, sit. If you have time, I'd like to hear more about 2012.

[seventeenth]

I've got all the time in the world, in this place. [It's not like he's got an Animus session to attend to or chores to do. He moves to take a seat next to Sofia, sprawling easily next to her.]

Anything in particular you're curious about?

[enthusiast]

[She laughs.]

My mind is spinning at the prospect of how much there must be, how much must have changed... libraries, schools, universities. How much of the map has been filled in by explorers, means of travel, communication... earlier, I spoke with a man over a little machine entirely for conversation over distances.

[She produces the smartphone from her pocket and shows it to him.]

If people have these, is there any need for writing letters anymore?

[seventeenth]

[Ahh, the smartphones. Desmond produces his own and wiggles it a little.] These are pretty popular in 2012. I don't know many people over the age of 12 that don't have one. [Maybe not specifically a smartphone, but he decides it's probably best to not try to explain the differences between phones.]

But some people still write letters, especially on holidays and birthdays. And... [He trails off, briefly, to mess with his phone.] It's possible to write a letter to someone and have it get there a few seconds later.

[And speaking of instant letters, Desmond has just send Sofia a simple text message that reads:] hello :)

[enthusiast]

[She flips open her phone when it buzzes, and laughs.]

Incredibile! I did not think such a thing was possible... and everyone must be wealthy, to be able to afford these inventions.

[She turns the phone to him and points at the smilie face.]

What does this mean? How does the message go from one to the other?

[seventeenth]

Some of them are pretty expensive. [He gestures with the phone.] This would would be pretty pricey, but there are less complicated one's that don't cost as much.

[And now Sofia is asking him more complicated questions. Very honestly:] I'm not actually sure how the phones are working here. You usually have to have big towers for the messages to get from one place to another.

But that symbol is called smiley face. You can use it to show that you're happy, or joking. Uh... [He goes back to his phone and quickly sends Sofia another message: :(] That one is for it you're upset.

[enthusiast]

[Nod.]

Perhaps there is a tower here that we haven't found yet.

[She fiddles with her phone, figuring it will take her a long time before she learns to use it properly. She's not even sure how :) and :( came to mean those things, but she supposes it's like pictorial hearts not looking anything like human hearts.]

It must make life easier, to keep in contact with others. Though, I must admit, if we had these in our time, I would bother people with it constantly, asking questions and making sure my loved ones are safe. Then again, I imagine that is what I'll be using it for here, as well.

[seventeenth]

Maybe. [It seems as likely to Desmond as anything. He resolves to keep an eye out, just in case.]

Heh, that's what they get used for where I'm from, too. It's actually gotten so bad that some places don't let you use them at all.

[enthusiast]

[She ponders that for a moment.]

People suppressing communication and knowledge... that, at least, is familiar to my time.

[seventeenth]

[Huh, that does sound kinda Templarish, doesn't it? Desmond laughs a little.] Well, it's not like the entire city has them banned. But when you're trying to watch a mov-- er, a play, or if you're at a courthouse, your phone is gonna distract a lot of people if it rings suddenly.

[enthusiast]

Ah, it would make sense as a courtesy, then.

[But don't think she missed that, kiddo.]

A mov?

[seventeenth]

[He should have known better.] A movie. It's like play, but... [Wow, this is harder than he thought.] Well, you know how printing presses made books a lot easier to copy?

[enthusiast]

[Books, her favourite subject in the worllllllllddddd.]

Si, certo.

[seventeenth]

[Yeah, that doesn't surprise him.] Right, well, in the 1800's someone invented something called a camera, which worked the same way for pictures and paintings. You could use a camera to take a picture of something, then use that to print new copies of the image. Like a printing press for paintings, right?

[enthusiast]

[Eyebrows up.]

And people "take pictures" of plays to publish?

[seventeenth]

Sort of like that. [He runs a hand over the back of his head, thinking of how to explain it.] That's the easiest way to put it, at least.

[enthusiast]

That's incredible. I did not think such a thing possible! The painters must all be out of work.

[She shifts in her seat to better face him, tilting her head slightly.]

You know, your face has been stuck in my mind since we met. There is just something familiar about it, and I cannot place it... but I could not possibly know you, with so many years dividing us. Isn't that strange?

[seventeenth]

Well, it depends on what they're painting. All the old paintings like Leonardo's stuff are still really valuable.

[Ahh, but his face again. It makes him a little uncertain every time she mentions it.]

Well, there's another guy that doesn't look too different from me running around this place, too.

[enthusiast]

I suspect he would be pleased to hear that. I'm told he's in Rome right now... I haven't met him, but perhaps I will have that opportunity sometime in the new year... [pause] If we can escape from here, of course.

[That tidbit is endlessly intriguing to her, but his uncertainty worries her.]

I'm sorry, Desmond, am I making you uncomfortable? I shouldn't have brought it up again, nor should I pry.

[seventeenth]

He's a pretty interesting guy. [Beat.] From what I've heard. He's the best-known painter in the entire world by the 20th century. [Wow this is hard.]

You don't need to apologize. [Desmond flips a hand dismissively.] It's just... [How to put it.] Well, last time someone told me I was familiar looking my life got kinda interesting, and not in the best sort of way. [Which isn't near the truth, but isn't really a lie, either.]

[enthusiast]

Well, I've said it, and now you're here with us in an interesting world. [She touches his arm, comfortingly.] I owe you an apology regardless, even if I couldn't have known. Tell me the name of this other man, and I will barrage him with all my questions about faces and leave you in peace.

[seventeenth]

[Desmond smiles again. It's just getting easier and easier to like Sofia, and it's also easy to forget to keep his guard up around her -- more than he does anyway, at least.]

It's a good thing he won't mind being bothered [by a pretty lady, that is], or else I'd feel bad about this; his name is Ezio Auditore.

[enthusiast]

Ezio?

[She looks confused for a moment, and then she reaches over to gently tip his face more in her direction. Now that he mentions it, she can see it -- there's a good twenty to thirty years' difference, and she's never seen her man with a clean-shaven face, or without years of the sun and wind on his skin. A big smile blossoms on her face. She has no idea what it means, but surely this is a good thing.]

Come to think of it, you do... though so much younger. I can't imagine him any different than I have known him... but no wonder I took such a liking to you! What an incredible coincidence.