Ezio's still here (da_firenze) wrote in angellogs, @ 2019-06-13 21:10:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, desmond miles, ezio auditore da firenze, shaun hastings, tony stark (iron man) |
Who: Tony Stark, Ezio, Shaun, Desmond
When: Current
Where: Thrift store and Tony's apartment above it, Angel Grove
What: Tony's offered to help with repairs for the assassin brotherhood. Shaun, Desmond and Ezio go to meet with, and check out a new ally.
Rating/Warnings: None really. References to weapons and weaponsmaking, but nothing over the top or violent here.
Status: Closed, finished
It's Saturday, and Tony got the dining set (gorgeous, but it's for 15 and in walnut) out of the store to get auctioned off, and thankfully it waited to rain until after they got that done. It promptly cleared off and heated back up again like it'd never rained.
So, he's more than ready to take a break. He's making some iced tea right now, and watching to see if replacing the bearings worked in the fan he was working on (seemed to). He's planning on locking up the store and making a pressed sandwich or munching on a mountain of dips and stuff from the fridge, depending on if he felt like facing a griddle. The neighbor up the road stopped by to pick up some big vases for the cafe, and offered to bring over lunch if he put an order in, since apparently it was pretty quiet over there.
Shaun’s got Ezio and Desmond in tow, since they’re around today and Tulio’s off with Aedan, Emmett and Thea at some kind of ‘informal information acquisition exercise’. The translation being that Aedan’s teaching them to be better pickpockets, but since Tulio admits his partner, Miguel, was a lot better at that sort of thing, and Thea really needs to learn those basics, he’s letting it slide. They found a willing enough set of statues of armor to try and silently steal from, somewhere up at the castle, so, good for Aedan for taking that initiative. Shaun’s also noticed Desmond’s been WEIRD around Ezio, so better to get them in the same room for longer periods. He figures it could cut down on the instances of bleeding Ezio that Desmond has, and that would be a good start for helping him with that.
They’re heading over to the shop now, having arrived a little early and gone for ice cream to kill a few minutes. They picked up a gift card for Tony, since he invited them around and they weren’t sure what he’d like, but they’re on the way now.
“So, honestly.” Desmond is saying, “You should seriously consider taking Enjolras yourself, instead of just giving him to Molloy, Shaun. Em’s not even MINE yet, but it’s changed me.” He’s pushing open the shop door with his right shoulder. “It’s a good experience.”
“AND apprentices are useful.” Ezio’s laughing, trailing behind. “I enjoy sending Tulio to do the little things. There’s something to be said for getting started on research while he’s fetching the coffee.”
“I’ll think about it.” Shaun’s glancing around the shop, switching to Eagle Vision to scan for anything like a trap. “The place checks out to me. You two see anything?”
The shop is closed, officially, but the doors are open to let in some air. A very avocado curvy fan is moving some air around, and there's a box of records on top of a Mid Century modern table. Farther back, there's some bookshelves, and a bin of paintings. Tony's visible with a glass with iced tea in it, or iced coffee or something like that, cleaning some dusty china that he's sorting through.
“It looks fine to me.” Ezio does a quick check. “Nothing to be concerned about, I think.” He leans against the counter now, at least a little. “Is your new friend here?”
“Em’s new friend, actually.” Shaun moves a little closer in. “Hello? We’re not invading are we?”
Tony looks up, holding a very very yellow bowl, and grins before he sets it aside and heads over. "Hello. The shop's not open, but you're not invading."
“Oh good.” Shaun gives him half of a wave. “You know how it is, when you’re told your culture tends to DO that a lot.”
“Apparently he’s colonizing this antique shop.” Desmond rolls his eyes. “I feel like I’m supposed to be all protective big brother at you since I’m going to train Emmett next year, but in lieu of it, I’m Desmond.”
"I've got some horrifying cabbage rose paintings, if you'd like. Sadly I think the frames are worth something." Tony smiles and leans on the counter. "So - shall I shut the door up and we can talk?" He offers his hand. "Tony. I was trying - he just seemed worried."
Desmond takes the hand with his left one, shifting a little so his right shoulder’s a little hidden from view. The angle’s kind of odd to work with when he goes places he’s never been before. “You’re fine, trust me. It’s good Em’s got people outside of us. He’s a little too serious and isolated for his own good, I think. Reminds me of how I was and it was...not a great way to grow up. So anything we can get him to is good.”
Tony shakes his hand. "So I'm guessing - Desmond - Fawkes? And - you're too old to be Emmett, even assuming the online pictures stuff can be faked."
“Ezio Auditore da Firenze.” Ezio offers a hand as well. “From, well, a very long time ago.” he laughs, tossing his hair a bit. “And perhaps too Italian to pass for British but these things do NOT always translate well online.” If you look at him and Desmond, there’s definitely a resemblance in their jaw and, weirdly, they share a scar for some reason. It’d be really strange if Altair were to suddenly show up. Connor, too, to a large degree, but Connor is the one who looks like Desmond, and not like the others. Different side of the family, so to speak.
“Ezio’s my ancestor.” Desmond supplies. “It’s...a bit confusing, in actual details.”
"I've sort of accepted it will be odd." Tony reaches to shake Ezio's hand. "There's tea, and a kettle. We can talk?"
“That sounds like a good idea.” Ezio nods. “There are, well. Many things that we COULD tell you about, in the way of what we may be bringing. And…” He looks to Shaun. “I think it’s only fair, as much as I could not have imagined saying this once…”
“Haytham?” Shaun nods. “I nearly asked him along too.” He looks back to Tony. “We’ve...the leader of our direct competition is here too. Emmett told you a little, that we’re friendlier here. In the interest of keeping you non partisian, if you meet and like him, well, he may ask you to do work. If this goes well, I’d like to bring him around sometime.”
“As someone who’s been in his head.” Desmond raises his hand. “I can’t think Haytham would mind sharing. He’s another ancestor.” he tells Tony. “On my dad’s side, this time. Ezio’s on my mom’s. We have a machine at home that let me see their memories.”
"I've got a vague idea. I read a bunch of the backscroll when I couldn't sleep." Tony's moving to get some mugs and snags his iced tea. "Ice is in the little freezer, if you want it. Uh - premade cold tea, kettle and tea bags. Mind if I spread out some snacks back here in the back room? Or we could move upstairs. And I'm - I'm all right with spirit of cooperation jobs. I just - thought I should offer."
The back room has the replacement for Steve's favorite couch, a tiny tv, and a small card table. Upstairs it'll be more roomy. Tony's just guessing that they're a little uncertain so - let them figure it out?
“Wherever you’re comfortable’s fine.” Desmond says, giving Tony a nod. “Uh basically if you’re really curious, we’re in games. Basic info’s outlined there. And that’s appreciated. Seriously. We break a LOT of stuff.”
"And I do like this kind of thing." Tony's moving to shut the door and flicks the security lock over. "Let me lay out some food. I should eat something, and it'll help me not fidget as much. I'm - uh - in comics? I guess? It's still weird for me to consider that." He's digging out some bread and some nibbles. Almonds, olives, some cheese in oil, and some dips. Should keep them busy. "Let's have a seat and we can talk?"
“Comics. Films. The last big one about that version just dropped two months ago now. Well, about six weeks.” Shaun says. “Which is probably nothing like your world. You don’t look like the actor very much so I’d imagine your life’s a bit different too. Clint’s life seems to be different. We were watching him for a while.” He adds. “And that sounds good. And if it’s not imposing at this stage…”
He nods toward Ezio, who is slipping something from his wrist and setting it down. “The blade here is meant to retract smoothly. It’s been jamming quite a bit lately. The material is old but I was wondering if you might have some ideas for replacing some of the joints. But...later. You don’t need to rush it. “ He grins a bit. “And if you like inventions as much as you say, you may be interested to know who made it.”
Tony leans to look at it. "Huh. So there's a - Anything you're supposed to clean this with? I think I should get a towel to put this on. The levers are fascinating. Custom casting, I think."
“We do have a few things that we use.” Ezio pulls out a little tin. “This is something we mix but the components are pretty simple things you could get from most stores. It may take two or three, because home depot is one and the craft shops are others, but...it is not especially proprietary anymore.”
"I'm just curious if the problem is grit or just slipping parts." Tony's spreading out an older towel (with some very loud pink flowers on it) and leaning to look at it. "Can you show me the blade? I don't want to accidentally cut myself. It looks like there's leather discs, here, under these bits. I could see them wearing out over time. It looks like it's to - muffle vibration? Quiet? Who did make this?"
“Ah, well. I can give you a demonstration. It felt a bit like catching, to me...something in the part itself if I were to take a guess. Rust, perhaps?” Ezio slips the blade back on again. “Everyone step back a little. See, the latch fits here, in between my fingers, and when I engage it with this trigger..” He goes to flick it, after making sure no one’s in close enough range to be stabbed. “It slips through here, like a finger, but it’s usually faster…”
Tony nods. "I see what you mean. Can I see it again? I'm curious to see how the trigger works. I'm guessing it might be something with the blade, rust as you said, or perhaps the trigger's a little bent and not activating as soon as you expect." He's using his hands automatically to try to show how that might happen.
“Ah certainly.” Ezio moves it slowly and then takes the blade off so Tony can see it up close himself. “I think that, oddly enough, the schematics are probably around the internet here, given the game. It’s a bit worrying, but no one who plays believes any of what we do is real I do not think.”
"Huh. Now that'd be neat to look at." Tony's leaning to look at the lever. "I'd guess try cleaning the bits, and - maybe I'll try a slight adjustment here, and see if that helps? Might make it feel too fast." He's wrapping the towel carefully in case if the blade decides to jump out despite how it should be sitting. "You usually - is it a stabbing motion or an upward thrust? A slash?" Tony's gesturing. "Just checking what forces would hit this."
“I think I could find them.” Desmond says. “They’d be with Altair’s stuff, right? There’s a fandom wiki...it’s weird seeing them talk about me there, considering. And well, I’ve got one too, so it...depends.” he looks to Ezio. “you’re flashier than Altair or Haytham or Connor. More like a spin and stab?”
“Ideally a quick stab in the back or neck or throat.” Ezio says.Then he pauses. “I am not selling this well. Thankfully, this day and age it is not so necessary as it was then. If it gives you contextual help, Master Tony, the modifications for my blade in particular were done by Leonardo. I am told I hardly need to include the rest of his name in that.”
"No need to add a master on." Tony grins. "And wow. It's hard to imagine - there's the time scale thing hitting me again." He's carefully grabbing a couple of pliers to adjust something, and then sliding a bit of fine sandpaper through another area. "Okay, this won't be perfect, at all. I don't have proper testing equipment." He steps back. "But try this again?"
Ezio laughs. “It gets that way for me as well. There is a member of our brotherhood here who is from Egypt...he is our founding member, actually. Not quite the first, but the one who started us on our journey to becoming a family. His wife was the first..ex wife, I suppose. And Emmett grew up with Jack the Ripper as his adopted brother, I’m told that is certainly infamous…” He’s reaching to slip the blade on and try and… “Ah that is MUCH smoother.”
“Bearing in mind, Ezio’s apprentice is a man from around the time of Cortez. He’s from another place entirely and we found him here.” Shaun says. “But the brotherhood does stretch rather across the bounds of time and place.”
Tony leans back in his seat and finally remembers there's food. Right. "Exactly. Which is why I thought my limited stuff might still be handy. Thank you for trusting me with your - uh - what's the right term? Blade?"
“Hidden blade.” Ezio nods. “Thank you. This is much easier to work with now. And I think that you are QUITE handy for us. If there is one thing that we need, it is strong allies now.”
Tony laughs. "I'd be strong if I was better, but - I'm trying at least. Emmett was saying that there were a couple of things I might be able to help with. And - as I said - as long as it's not making weapons, I'm in."
“We can avoid those.” Shaun nods, “I can promise you that. We won’t ask you for that sort of thing.” He imagines if this Tony’s history is close to the other Tony Stark’s, the one he’s seen play out in media for years that he certainly has good reason for avoiding that.
"I just - I'm good at it, and it's tempting, but I've seen it abused. So - I just don't want to get too near it again." Tony scrubs his face. "So - that's why." He's not sure it should be this easy to pick up the general workings of a (admittedly very old) knife.
“That’s perfectly fair.” Shaun says, leaning in seriously. “The truth is, anyone can abuse something on that level, or anything that allows access to power. The company that our...competition works for, at home, the ones here are from before a time it existed and disgusted by it as well, are using similar tactics to take over the world. They produce...nearly everything anyone needs at home. In places like this one, weapons manufacturing seems like a great way to go about taking things over, and people can be used for it against their wills. I won’t lie, I’ve got an associate who can and has made bombs, several of them, but he does it when he feels it necessary, not because he feels compelled by politics anymore.” He studies Tony a moment.
“He’s said that when he does it, he wants to be sure it’s on his own terms. I can see protecting yourself by not starting or by putting the violence out there. My man still fights for his cause, but he’s put down the sword for that and uses politics to bring what he wants now. He still works for US, but…”
“He’s Irish.” Desmond puts in. “It’s crazy complicated.”
"It - sounds kind of not too weird to me." Tony's munching on a bit of bread. "Don't mind me. I skipped lunch a bit, so I should snack. And - I believe you, Fawkes. I mean, I take it the movie me kind of made some scary stuff. So - that's there. Movie stuff hadn't happened yet for me, and I'm not the same guy."
“Well, a few mistakes that got manipulated into scary but overall a lot of things that saved the world.” Shaun says, nodding. “But, you definitely aren’t. I understand that part of things. We’ve got someone who is considered a film villain with us, and that’s not something we look at either.” He’s sipping some tea. “Besides, even if you were, that changes for those who join us. I should think our allies would get the same courtesy. We’ve learned the hard way what can happen when it doesn’t work like that. Some of us were...a little kneejerk when we got here.”
Tony tilts his head. "I literally had a guy tell me his best friend murdered my parents as soon as I met him. So - I can imagine. I handled it pretty okay? But I could see that going badly. How do you guys want this to work? People come by with things, I do what I can?"
At which point, Ezio glances at Desmond, and coughs a little as Shaun glances down a second.
“We, ah...have two of those, actually.” Ezio explains. “Well. Different points in time and the actual murderer is on the other side, but those two are together now, oddly enough. Timelines are...strange.” He nods. “And that seems like the most reasonable way to ME.”
“That works.” Shaun nods. “Probably easiest. We can do it as a sort of referral?”
Tony nods. "I'm usually taking in stuff or getting big things dropped off on days like this. And well - you've got the schedule." He hesitates. "Do you guys want to look around? See if there's something you love in the store? Or we could talk a bit, if you've got the time."
“We could do that. A bit of both?” Ezio grins. “Books, for me, mostly if you’ve gotten in anything interesting.”
"Can't promise they're interesting, but we've got a big pile of art books, and there's some history ones that look mostly dated." Tony shrugs. "Paperbacks are on the shelves? I may be borrowing the interesting ones to read before they get on the shelves."
“Sounds like as good a way of doing things as any.” Desmond grins, and damn, it looks a LOT like Ezio’s grin in that moment. It would be eerie without the context, almost. He’s getting up too, to poke around at things. “Oh wow, typewriters. We had a couple at The Farm...uh where I grew up. It was...kind of cult like and not so up to date.”
"There's usually a couple of English majors of the poetic type picking them up. Or retro fans." Tony grins. "I repair them. Royal's a nice brand."
“If we get anyone who might be more familiar, that could be fun,” Shaun laughs a little. “Do a lot come in?”
"We got some from a typing school." Tony gestures at the bank of identical ones. "I've got about six more under that table, but I'm calling around to see if anyone want some." He's nibbling some cheese, remembering the food. "Uh - there is a couple of books in Italian, actually. Want me to grab them? Two spy stories, and I think a collection of classic poetry."
“I would love that, actually.” Ezio grins. “It’s hard to find and there IS a sort of translation happening but…”
“But it’s odd.” Desmond nods. “And not always exact. A little….literal.”
The spy stories seem to be of the "busty lady in unbuttoned shirt and a pistol" sort of thing, and Tony fishes around a bit to find the poetry. "Spy stories were basically worthless online. The book of poetry was going for ten or so, and we're asking five for it." He did skim the books, and they were musty enough he read them at the counter with the windows open. Very slangy Italian, probably a dialect, lots of manfully bandaging up injuries.
“I can do this,” Ezio smiles. “It’ll give me an idea of what I’ve managed to miss as well. It’s hard to cover everything at once, and I”ve not been around here THAT long.”