ąųdįţǫŗę (mentori) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-05-18 19:13:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, ezio auditore da firenze, wanda maximoff (scarlet witch) |
Who: Wanda & Ezio
What: Having dinner after visiting art galleries at the Laguna Beach museum
When: Early May
Where: A restaurant with delish tacos
Rating/Warnings: Nope!
Status: Complete
In a strange twist of events, Ezio had actually taken someone to a restaurant that did not feature Italian food. Though granted, it was not too surprising. He was very in touch with his heritage, the customs and the recipes, but he did not eat, breathe, and sleep Italian cuisine. He did not shit ravioli. In fact, he enjoyed other types of cuisines as well - namely, Mexican. California was a good place for it, being so close to the actual country of origin. After taking in an art exhibit at the Laguna Beach museum (not only the Japanese woodblocking techniques, but there was a whole gallery devoted to contemporary art - sculpture, bronze, decorative glass and he had plenty to say), he took Wanda to a restaurant he had been meaning to try. In Trabuco Canyon, it almost felt and looked like a secret spot nestled there - like you’d stumbled into some hacienda in the foothills of Mexico. One of the funniest parts was that if you had a horse, there was a legitimate hitching post outside. He’d requested a table on the patio, with a view of oak trees and the sounds of nature all around them - merda, he was looking forward to the food, though. House-made tortillas, muy caliente ghost peppers, traditional recipes and of course sangria. His Spanish was decent, since it was so similar to Italian. He could get by. “I hope I did not talk too much at the gallery, bella,” he grinned crookedly (after ordering a whole pitcher of sangria - considering the way things had been going lately, he wouldn’t mind getting stupid drunk for once even if he knew he actually wouldn’t). “I did not want to bore you.” Wanda had very much enjoyed her time in the gallery with Ezio. He was incredibly knowledgable and she had enjoyed getting out of the house for a few hours. “You did not bore me at all, Professor, I liked listening to all you had to say. Like I said, I have not been to a gallery before so I am very grateful to tick that off my bucket list,” she laughed. “Thank you for letting me come with you,” she told him genuinely, reaching out to play with some cutlery on the table. “It was on your bucket list? Really?” Ezio chuckled a little, finding that hard to believe - but then again, people had all sorts of things on their ‘to do before I die’ lists. He thought it was important to accomplish as many of those as you could. “And it was no trouble, signorina, I promise you. I believe exquisite art should be shared - the beauty and the history of it.” Also important. Art History, after all, said so much about society and was a very telling ‘sign of the times’ for whatever period you were happening to be studying. “What else is on your bucket list?” he asked Wanda, pouring them both sangria. He was not concerned. In Italy, children went out with their parents and had wine with dinner. Sangria was mostly wine anyway, and it was wonderful. Wanda shrugged and looked down bashfully, continuing to play with the cutlery as she explained quietly. “My brother and I grew up in Russia, our parents were not well off but tried very hard to give us the best they could. When they died…” she took a steadying breath to collect herself. She didn’t talk about her parents or their deaths with anyone by Pietro really. “When they died, we were on our own in foster care where we had even less opportunities. Once we were free of that place, Pietro and I made our way to London where we found our sponsor for university here. We spent all our time working so we did not have much free time,” she told him. “I would see adverts for exhibitions but not have the time to go. Art has always fascinated me, how the brain in some people can create such wonderful pieces and others can hardly draw a stick-man,” she laughed, believing herself to be one of the latter category. “I would love to travel more! Places like Barcelona, Athens, Rome,” Wanda grinned at him, sitting up in her seat as he poured their drinks. She raised her glass to toast with his, it was the custom wasn’t it? “Cheers?” Ezio clinked his glass against hers. “Salute,” he toasted Wanda, and then took a generous sip - ah, yes, that went down quite easily. No complaints. “You have been through much in your life, bella. Be proud of all you accomplished - and no doubt you will be able to cross off more on your bucket list very soon.” He’d been to all of the places she mentioned; it was relatively easy to travel to and fro in Europe when you were a young university student, and it was rather inexpensive as well. Ezio had his days of backpacking everywhere, staying in cheap hostels, and sowing wild oats. It was all a part of the experience known as life. “I would be here forever if I recommended wonders of the world to see,” he laughed. “The good thing is, it’s a relatively small world and simple enough to get around.” “Thank you Ezio, but first I think I must get a better paying job,” Wanda smiled, taking a sip for herself. “As simple as it is to physically get to these amazing places, unfortunately the monetary challenge is still very much a problem,” she sighed. She wasn’t sad about the prospect, she would love to have a better paying job, she was a hard worker, but she often wondered if this was the place for her. If the...skills she had acquired here could be of any use, any help to the outside world. “Right now though, I am enjoying the time I have here and now. Especially when spent with good friends,” she gestured to Ezio and smiled across the table at him. “What about you? We have not spoken much about you,” she pointed out with a bright smile. “How is my favourite professor?” “Airfare can be a little pricy,” he nodded. “Once you get there though, it should not be too bad. I can always give you recommendations too, best value and all this.” Plus, Wanda was still young - once she settled into a career, doing what she loved, then she could start saving for things to splurge on. It was just that, in school, every penny counted (must be why so many university students ate terrible food - salty noodles, ergh). Closing his menu once his order was placed to the waiter, Ezio returned the smile, amused at how the tables had turned. Oh, so they were focusing on him now! “Flattered to be your favorite,” he noted; it made him laugh. “But bene, bella, I am well. I actually might take a trip myself during the summer, to visit my family. I have not seen them since I moved overseas.” “I will keep that in mind if I ever get around to travelling more, thank you, I appreciate the offer greatly,” Wanda smiled at him brightly. “Well of course you are my favourite! I do not go out having lunch with just any old professor,” she joked, taking a sip of her sangria while he spoke, her eyebrows raising as he mentioned the possibility of a trip. “A summer trip to Italy? That sounds perfect,” she said dreamily, imagining what that must be like. “I imagine your family will be very happy to see you. I do not know how they let you go in the first place, are you sure they will let you come back?” she joked with a wink. Ah, she was quite charming, wasn’t she? Ezio’s eyes twinkled with mirth. “Just the opposite, they were glad to get rid of me,” he quipped in return. “But no, they just knew this was something I wanted to do. It is my first teaching job after I received my degree and I needed the experience.” Besides, there was also the allure of moving to the States to live and work (so soon after the election results though, one might ask just what in the hell Ezio was thinking - but of course he did not regret his decision). “I will be sure to bring you back plenty of gifts, bella. Just let me know what you are most interested in.” He would bring back gifts for others as well, the friends he’d made here. Wanda might appreciate unique jewelry from one of the best markets in Florence. He knew of one with wonderful handmade gifts, like beeswax candles and accessories from materials you would never guess you could wear. Alcohol for Dan. Always alcohol for him - and most everyone else, come to think of it. “I cannot believe they were glad to be rid of you,” Wanda smiled and shook her head. “But I am glad they let you go, and I am glad to have you as my friend,” she told him genuinely. Wanda didn't have many friends in the city, but those she did have, she valued highly. Quality not quantity was what Pietro had said. “Gifts?” she asked, slightly stunned that someone would consider bringing her a gift from abroad. “Oh, you do not need to do that,” she shook her head, ducking her head in embarrassment. “Certamente, I will, do not even think of it,” Ezio insisted, waving off protests, lifting his glass of sangria to sip from it. He was almost done and would need a refill but it was so delicioso. “It would be selfish of me to go and then not bring back besides boring stories for when I talk your ear off,” he winked. Now he would focus on Wanda for a little while, since he didn’t want to talk her ear off this time, about himself. That would also be rude. “You are doing well though, bella?” he wanted to know. “Is it getting at least a little easier, being so far apart from your brother?” Nothing would really fix the distance between them (short of moving again) but Ezio hoped it was somewhat bearable. “You are possibly the kindest man I have ever met Ezio, thank you,” Wanda smiled and clinked her glass with his playfully. “I like your stories very much, but if you insist, I will accept your gift, thank you,” she told him before dropping her gaze to look at her hand on the glass. Wanda wasn't keen on talking about herself, wasn't used to being vulnerable with people and it didn't come naturally. Probably something to do with her Russian background. “I am...doing ok. It is still not easy and there is only so much I can do to distract myself with work and study,” she shrugged and glanced up at him, feeling her cheeks heat in embarrassment somewhat. “I do not have many friends here, I think it is the Russian accent that makes people uncomfortable. Especially these days,” she said, a fleeting smile crossing her lips as if she was making light of the situation. “Que?” Ezio lifted an eyebrow, because he personally did not understand why people would be uncomfortable in Wanda’s presence. She was a warm, caring person - she radiated a certain light. Many people would realize how lovely she was, if she put herself out there more and more. “If they let something like accents put them off - “ He shook his head. “Then they are foolish anyway.” He thought about introducing her to friends of his, maybe she and some lucky man would hit it off. Kol, perhaps? Hm...no. Ezio was not sure if he would advocate for that love connection. He adored Elijah, but the man’s siblings were their own brand of interesting. “You are quite the bella donna, is what I mean to say. I will help you with socializing, if I must,” he grinned teasingly. “Thank you Ezio, and you are quite the Красивый герой,” Wanda grinned at him charmingly, feeling a blush heating her cheeks. “I...I...would appreciate meeting new people. I need more things to keep me out of the house and falling asleep on my books,” Wanda laughed, taking his teasing good naturedly. “Russian is something you must teach me, that is one I do not know,” Ezio said - though he’d always wanted to learn. He spoke a couple other languages, mainly Turkish and Greek and could get by in Spanish and Portuguese (they were similar to Italian, after all), but there were so many he wished he could speak fluently. He just hadn’t gotten around to really studying - or he hadn’t found a teacher either. Their food arrived then, and he moved some glasses and the sangria pitcher out of the way to make room. Now this looked good. “For now, bella, just eat up. If you fall asleep in a food coma, I will not judge you.” “I certainly will,” Wanda promised and grinned across the table at him. Spending time with Ezio was always a good thing and teaching and learning was one of her favourite things to do. Coming the two was always a good thing in her mind. |