return to paradisa

[secondchances]

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[secondchances]

She's not sure about changing, but he's not exactly in a state to be running around, either.

"You need shoes," she says, sounding distracted as she steps closer, resting her chin on his shoulder as she stares at yet another door. Didn't they...?

Abruptly, she pulls back.

"Try asking for them."

[assassino]

Asking for them? It takes him a moment to realize what she's talking about. Right -- being able to conjure things from thin air. He nods, even as she pulls from his arms.

"I do need shoes," he says. He ponders that for a moment, and settles: "I would like a pair of boots, Cair Paradisa."

Nothing.

He frowns, and deeply at that.

"You try."

[secondchances]

"I would like a pair of boots."

Nothing.

"A watering can? Popsicle sticks?"

Still, nothing. She doesn't remember it being any more complicated than that. She gives it another few moments, frowning at Ezio.

"No dice. Guess we go back to your room. Maybe we'll try climbing out the window and into another, while we're there."

[assassino]

Sounds like a good enough plan to him.

"Va bene" he replies, putting a hand to the small of her back and guiding her on, down the hall, towards the stairs. "No gifts for us. Either someone has changed the rules, or we've caught her unawares."

He glances at her. Despite his skull feeling full of cobwebs, his emotions feel in place, and when he looks at her, he doesn't feel so worried about the castle. He and Stephanie have been through a lot together. He imagines that means that if he was meant to be back here, it's only right that it's with her.

He catches a lock of her hair between two fingers and tugs it, gently.

"You're not worried, are you?"

What's there to be so worried about, anyway?

[secondchances]

The tug makes her smile.

"Just confused and feeling like I'm missing something." A lot of somethings, actually. "But I'm glad you're here. I'd be freaking out if you weren't."

Maybe she'll feel better once they're not out on the open, so to speak. Once at the stairs, she pauses before heading up. He came from that way, so it makes sense to go there, but she does slow after a point to let him lead.

"Are you worried?"

[assassino]

He doesn't think he'd be freaking out without her, as he has never been prone to... well, a thought that he knows she's going to call sexist, so he keeps to himself, just smiling. Yes, he's glad she's here. Very glad.

"What is there to worry about? We have bested this place before." He pauses thoughtfully, even as he steps out ahead of her to lead the way. "And we'll best it again... though I may steal you away to Venezia, if you don't mind."

[secondchances]

She's not sure they can call it besting the place if they're here, and if this time, it wasn't a short trip home. That usually meant some sort of new memories--or experiences--and Stephanie can't really sort out the mess in her head. And the castle looks like it hasn't seen a soul in some time. That might be the most unsettling part.

"You know, Ezio, at this point... it's not a bad idea." Impossible? Maybe.

[assassino]

There's a certain grimness to being there, especially in this state, but Ezio is choosing not to think about it in that very moment. They don't have the answers yet. There's room to find out more, and make a decision later.

"You think so?" he asks, and he glances at her with a cheeky grin. "I'd like that. I think you would too, once you got used to the..." What's the word? "Electricity."

[secondchances]

"You do seem to be unable to get rid of me."

Or is it the other way around? Regardless, she's glad. Walking through the halls with him is a comfort, and she's eager to get to his room so she can relax. She's been listening for noise. Footsteps, a voice. Anything.

That there hasn't been just makes her stomach twist.

[assassino]

"Are you suggesting that I would enjoy that?" he asks, and he makes to pinch her bottom, but he lets his hand hover there instead. She's having a tough time, better to leave her be. Let her knock him around a little.

That and it's better to focus on a dear friend than whatever nonsense is ahead of them.

[secondchances]

"I have a weird headache and I don't remember the layout of a place I'm pretty sure I spent four years in, but I do know some stuff. Like that I'm your favorite. So, you'd never get rid of me. That's the joke."

Maybe some sort of cosmic joke, if they're the only two people here. And while she might be listening for things, a near-butt pinch goes entirely unnoticed. She's more looking up at the ceiling--are those cobwebs?--than paying attention to him, anyway.

"... so. What if we're alone here?"

[assassino]

"You are my favourite," he replies, fondly. Okay, hand drifting away in favour of settling on her waist. His gaze follows hers. He thinks to tease her further until he sees those cobwebs, and then some joke about repopulating dies on the tip of his tongue. He's never seen cobwebs in the castle.

Ezio glances over his shoulder, back down the hall. It occurs to him that the lights aren't even on -- daylight streams in from the windows. He wonders if the power is even on.

"We'll deal with that when we know it to be true."

[secondchances]

He puts a hand on her waist, and she steps closer to be against his side as they walk. She's got the heebie jeebies and isn't ashamed to make it known.

"Don't really know how you deal with that, but okay..."

[assassino]

"Dolcezza, we are two of the most resilient people this castle has known," he assures her, scooping her in a little closer. "Have a little faith in us. We will figure something out."

[secondchances]

"Right," she agrees on a breath out. "But first, you need boots."

One thing at a time.

"Did you just run out of your room without them?"

[assassino]

He glances down at his feet. His feet are going to be disgusting after this little walk, and he hopes Stephanie doesn't mind if he stops to stand in the tub for a minute.

"I could have run out here naked, you know."

[secondchances]

"Good thing you didn't know you'd run into me. Pretty sure you would have, then. Right?" Gently, she elbows his side, laughing. Albeit a little forced.

What are the chances of this turning into a two person nudist colony? Nudist... castle?

[assassino]

He grins, taking her elbow in stride.

"If I had known it was you? I would not have a stitch on me. It would only be fitting," he chuckled. He ran a knuckle up her side, teasingly. "I forgot what this skin looked like." Skin? He doesn't remember what it's called. "You may as well be naked, too."

[secondchances]

"Suit," she corrects. "You--" Got used to it, after a time. Right? Maybe. It's another thing that strikes her as strange. She could have seen him yesterday, or she could have seen him much longer ago. It's gnawing at her that she can't remember.

"Nevermind. We'll see if you have something I can borrow so you're less distracted."

[assassino]

"Suit!"

He laughs. He could have not pointed it out at all, and spent the day admiring her, but he isn't going to push it. Ezio respects the friendship line wherever he can –– where his being a man allows, of course. And he could get used to her suit again, given enough time.

"I'm sure I do."

Plenty of ladies leaving things on his floor, after all. He thinks so, anyway. Didn't he have notches here, or something? Perhaps that was his imagination.

[secondchances]

She's thinking along similar lines, and gives him a Look.

"Nothing gross, thanks."

[assassino]

Ah! A mock-wounded hand to his chest.

"Steph... what kind of company do you think I have been keeping?"

[secondchances]

There are a few names on the tip of her tongue, but she stops in the middle of the hall for a moment. Well, that's an unpleasant surge of jealousy that feels remarkably like pulling some stitches.

"I don't know. Or remember. So."

She shrugs and rubs her temple.

"Nevermind. Let's hurry it up."

[assassino]

He, unfortunately, will never forget his own tastes. He stops with her, still with that impish grin plastered on his face, waiting for her to take a dig, but there she goes, dismissing him again. He doesn't mind. He's almost never minded.

Everything may feel confusing, and his memory hazy, but the one thing that hasn't changed is being so drawn to her.

"Bossy," he remarks, but he slips his hand into hers to take her up to his room, which draws ever-closer.

[secondchances]

"Duh," she replies, grip on his hand probably a little tighter than necessary. She's quiet for the rest of the journey, head on a swivel, looking at door after door. Nothing here looks touched.

When they reach his door, she stares at it for a long moment.

"Yeah, I remember this."

She visited a lot.