Soaring To Life
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When I came to, the pain had seized. My body no longer had that painfully numbing sensation. I opened my eyes, blinking one or two times to let my vision clear... and I then realized where I was.
The endless white room.
"What the fuck?" I cursed, leaning up from where I laid sprawled out on the floor. Shards of silver glinted passed my eyes creating small rows of boxes across the room. I looked down at my legs, I still wore my favorite faded blue jeans and a black tank top with a blue hoody. Long black combat boots covered my feet and I touched my legs where they had been crumbling away earlier. Everything seemed normal.
Well as normal as being stuck in a weird white room can get.
"BLAKE!" I called out as I got to my feet "BLAKE! HELLO!"
No one answered...
I rested my hands on my hips and sighed, shaking my head "This is his fault, I'm sure." I started walking, not entirely sure where I was going.
It took five minutes for me to get nowhere. Man was this some kind of torture chamber of pure whiteness?
Suddenly, a flash of white erupted through the room, the boxes blended together and became painfully bright. I buried my face into my elbow to avoid going blind.
"Agh!" Suddenly I felt different. Like I had just been thrown out a moving airplane and avoided splattering on the ground by being sucked through a vortex of doom...
Then SLAP!
And not the small pitiful play slap, I mean PIMP SLAP!
"AHG MY EYES! MOTHER FUCKER!"
"Ha così strano!"
"Da dove provengono?"
"Perché lei vestito come un uomo?"
"Oh mio, forse è un nuovo tipo di cortigiana?"
I open my half blinded eyes and glance around...holy fuuuccckkk.
Dresses. So many dress. The streets were filled with women cladded in large slutty otherwise hideous dresses, their hair was tied into tight buns on top of their heads, strange thing is that they were barefoot and I caught sight of small thin blades tucked into a sheath strapped to their exposed thighs.
Men dressed in strange robes and shirts trailed down long cobblestone roads, each taking a second to stare at the woman's boobs before moving on with their lives.
Well then....
"FUUUUUCCCCCCKKKK!!I'M IN THE DAMN VIDEO GAME!" I sprinted around in circles, fuck fuck fuck fuck!
I stopped suddenly when I noticed everyone's eyes on me, especially the people with the really sharp pointy swords. Shit. "Uh sorry." I waved my hands and started to walk quickly away. This is not good, not good at all.
I walked around large groups of people, it seemed I was in the town square, everyone was out doing errands, some even just stood there in the middle of the street chatting away like no tomorrow. I growled and took the back alleys to avoid the crowd.
I passed a-hole-in-the-wall merchant shop where a man was bargaining for a dress for his wife, they paused to look at me. I glared back at them "What the hell are you staring at!?" The man and his wife immediately snapped their head back to the shop keeper and I sighed. Then I looked down at myself and thought 'Oh, I must look strange. I need a dress...ew." I reach into my pockets and pulled out a crumbled up twenty dollar bill that looked like it had been through the wash a few times... I sighed 'Damn, no useful money...'
I clapped my hand together "Ok! Illegal methods time!" I started walking, my eyes darting back and forth between different people.
The sluts?
Nah.
The wives?
Nope.
Guards?
Yeah, let's be stupid today. I walked up to one of the guards and fake a trip, I am sent flailing into him, my hand grasped the pouch on the man's belt, I tugged it and slipped it into my hoody pocket. The man sent a heated glare my way, and I back away, smiling nervously "Sorry sir. I didn't watch where I was stepping."
He nodded curtly and turned back to his group of comrades. I quickly walk away and smirked, pulling the pouch, I took a look inside."...........What. The. Fuck....... Why the hell does he only have four florins!?.... ah well. Money is money, let's see who else can I steal from." I pocketed the money again and started to search for a new target, then I heard.
" THIEF! OVER THERE! THE GIRL IN THE BLACK! GET HER!!!"
"OH SHIT-NIZZLES!" I started to sprint. The guards are fast for someone who is covered in heavy metal armor.
"Shit Shit Shit Shit!!" I leaped through a group of whores, yelling sorry as I regained my footing and took a sharp turn into an alley. Pressing my back to the wall, I halted my labored breathing and watched six guards dash passed the opening to the alleyway.
When they were gone, I sprinted out of the alley and ran the opposite direction that the guards had went. My eyes were so trained on looking over my shoulder, that I didn't noticed a person walking out of a building in front of me. I gasped as I try to detour away but it was too late.
CRASH!
I ran straight into him, knocking both of us to the ground. The box of items that man had been carrying was sent flying high into the air and landed a few feet away, sending the contents across the ground.
"Ouch." I muttered, rubbing the back of my head where I bumped it on the hard ground. That's gonna hurt tomorrow... I heard an equally painful groan and I glance up to see the man rubbing his elbow, he was maybe ten years my senior, with dirty blond hair and grayish blue eyes. He also wore a funny hat.
"Oh sorry dude, let me get that." I began picking up the contents and dropping them into the wooden crate. The man looked at me strangely "English? My dear are you from England?" I paused, an shook my head "I, uh, am from somewhere far far away." He helped me up from the ground.
"Really? Where?" He pressed, his blue eyes widening with the thought of new knowledge. I winced and looked away "I, uh, well, uh--"
"THERE SHE IS! AL LADORO!
"Fuck." I sighed, looking frantically around for any escape, the man looked over at me and then at the group of guards that were working their way through a crowd. He sighed "A female troublemaker..." He motioned for me to follow him, and I nodded. He lead me around the back of the building to a back door. He pulled out a brass ring with about twenty keys dangling from it. He took a few moment finding the correct key, I jumped up and down, looking over my shoulder for any sign of sharp and pointy death.
Finally he let out a "Ah ha!" and slid the key into the hole above the knob, he gave a pull and the door creaked open "Here come inside" he said after he open the door. As I walk in, it was like a artist dream-house there was a variety of paints, charcoal, and brushes that littered any smooth surface in the room. While things such as sketches and paintings were everywhere
The best part was that it was so messy it made my house look like the queens castle. Yay! I follow him to the middle of the room where I collapse in one of the leather seats that sat in front of a roaring fire. The man sat down the opposite chair and I grin "Thank you for saving me back there, I would have been killed if you didn't. How can I ever repay you?"
"Non ti preoccupare, va bene. I have a friend just like you. He's always messing with the guards, you two might become close friends one day." He smiled that cute little boy smile that I had grown used to. Now that I could focus on him, I could see that he looked really familiar... hmm.
"Um yeah! Sure....." I trailed off, unsure of how to continue the conversation, we fell into a half comfortable half awkward silence, and we just settled at just staring at each other, and the longer I stared the more familiar he began to look.
5 minutes....
'I know him...'
6 minutes
'But I cannot remember his name, damn. Wait, it'll come to me'
Seven minutes.
'Light bulb!" "OH MY GOD!! YOUR THAT GUY FROM MY TEXT BOOK!! THE ONE WHO CUT OFF HIS EAR!!!" He's jumped in his seat from my sudden outburst (many people do that when I suddenly yell) a confused expression spread across his face "Textbook? Cutting my ear?"
"No, wait, that was Vincent V...Va... Valentine? Van Goo...Goth? Ah fuck it some depressed deprived artist" I paused and saw that the artist was staring at me in wonder, like I was speaking some other language or something, I quickly covered it up with "What I meant to say, is that your Leonardo Da Vinci correct?"
"Yes, I am, but how do you know of me?"
I scoffed "Everyone knows you silly, you painted the Mona Lisa!"
He blinked. Twice. "... The Mona what?"
I did a mental face-palm 'Of course, I am in the time before Leonardo painted that, stupid!' I smile and shook my head "Never mind, it's just that I'm a big fan of your artwork" yes lets kiss ass, maybe he'll forget that your a psycho.
"Davvero? Where? Not many people have seen my work"
I grinned "Oh but I have and I love it."
Leonardo flushed and quickly looked away, his hands grasping a paint brush as he dipped it in some ink and began to doodle (if thats what you call a genius artist when he draws) on a random parcel of paper. I watched him for a while and then he stated the most random thing
"Well young lady, do you know where your husband is? If so, I can have one of my friends escort you to him..." What the fuck!!
HUSBAND!?
What the hell is he thinking? I'm only 21! I'm not even out of collage yet and he expects me to have a
HUSBAND?!
.
.. Wait just one jolly Santa flipping moment, If I'm in this game then that means I'm in this time period, which means girls in this time get married when their like... 10 to men who are like...45...
AW GROSS! EWWW THAT NASTY!
"NO!!" I screamed, shaking my head of indecent and very very very ungodly thoughts. Leonardo hand paused, ink dripping onto the parcel, he stared over at me like I was going insane and he wanted to study my reactions for some creepy science journal.
"Mi scusi??" I don't know what he just said but I'm pretty sure it was either 'Excuse me' or 'Get the hell out of my house you devil spawn' I blushed "Sorry, I mean, 'No! I do not have a husband....at all!"
Leonardo cocked his head slightly to the side" Why not? You look like such a charming young girl, I do not know any man in his right mind that wouldn't accept you as a wife... I'm sure I have a friend or two that would love to court you..."
My left eye twitched. Twice.
"Sorry Leonardo, but no. I'm good. Where I come from, women get married when they're older....." A lot older, I paused and then added "..... and sometimes we don't marry at all..."
" What a strange place you come from? How do you make money to support yourself..." he stopped an gasped "You couldn't be some foreign courtesan!?"
"Why does everyone think I'm a whore!" I growled and then sighed "No Leonardo, I just have my ways."
"And do these ways involve a place to stay for the night?" he asked. I gasp A place to stay for the night?
' OH SHIT!' I thought to myself, mentally cussing my stupid mind ' SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! WHERE THE HELL AM IM STAYING!! FUCK!!!???'
Leonardo gave me that 'wtf?' look again and I yelled in my head some more ' Hurry! Hurry! Think of a lie!?' ...and BAM! I got one.
"Oh, no I don't. You see I'm a traveler and I just came from..." uhh if I said New York would that be a problem... yeah it would be..."Uh from Ne'yorke, but for some reason I don't have the right money here-"
"Nonsenso! They accept all types of currency here!" he narrowed his eyes suspiciously at me, and I chuckled nervously "Trust me. They won't accept the money I have... which is the reason is stole from the men from earlier."
"Ahh I see. Well, word of advice... you shouldn't steal from the men in the armor" Well no shit Sherlock! I kinda figured that out the ten minutes ago when I was actually playing the video game and not stuck inside of it!!
"Yea I kinda figured that they were rich, but I guess not" I said, shrugging my shoulders. I glance back over and the artist was giving me a strange look, man I've been getting a lot of those today.
"Well then Miss..."
Oh my name, I forgot to tell him my name.
"Alice. My name is Alice" I held out my hand and he shook it "Alchi... what a strange name"
" No...it's A-l-i-c-e" I pronounced my name a bit slower.
"Al-i-chi."
Oh god. I should stop trying, maybe I should give him a nickname to call me or something...or stop trying. "Never mind, you have that accent"
"What accent?"
"You can call me...." My mind flashed back to a long ago memory when I was in high school, my other best friend Adi had told me what my name was in Latin most likely sounded like which I think is close to Italian..
"I got it! Call me Adeliz"
Leonardo nodded "Well then Miss. Adeliz, do you have a place to stay?" BOOYA! He said my name right! Oh yeah I'm so badass!...... but sadly I don't have a place to stay, there goes my ego. "No I don't"
"E allora, dovremo cambiare la situazione! You are more than welcome to stay here for the night!"
When he said that my face lit up from the happiness and joy that came from the bottom of my heart, and if someone ever saw me like this in real life they are asking for a death wish."Oh thank you!! I promise to pay you back once I have a job and if I can get some money"
He waved his hands in dismissal "No! No! You're a guest, it'll be my pleasure". …. WTF! What is wrong with you Greek or Roman people and the 'Welcome that poor traveler into your home so that they can raid you fridge hospitality!' and all that other shit that I learned in high school.
"Ah." I nodded "But I still going to pay you back somehow."
"Buono! You must be tired! There is a guest room above the studio, go and sleep, I'll come and wake you up when dinner is ready" He started to push me in the direction of the stairs and I dug my heels in the floor, enabling him to push me any farther."No I'm fine. I need to go and buy me some clothing, I don't think that I fit in well around here with what I'm wearing" I told him, fingering the hem of my tank top and it was true. I didn't want any more funny/ I'm going to rape you in a video game looks.
"True, your clothes are strange. Here, I'll make a deal, if you go out and buy me some paint supplies, I'll give you some money so you can go and purchase a nice dress"
A dress?
He wants me to buy a dress...?
Yeah right, the day I wear one is the day hell freezes over. ".....Ok, thank you very much"
"No problem" Leonardo reached into one of the many pockets and retrieved a small leather coin purse "Here this should be enough for everything, I just need more paint and a couple of brushes and that will be all"
I took the coin purse "Thanks, I don't know how to repay you, but I promise I will."
" You don't-"
"BYE!!! I'LL COME BACK LATER!!" I yelled as I ran out the door and slammed it shut, I knew that if I stayed any longer, me and him would repeat it over and over again, and I'm paying him god dammit if he likes it or not!
I walked down the many streets of florinze trying to use my shitty memory to remember where the stupid Tailor and Art shop was, but once again my shitty memory wasn't working and I ended up running around the city. TWICE.
After about an hour or so, I found myself back at the main plaza "Ok let's try this again" I told myself.....out loud (which earned me a few strange stares from the crowd). " Keep walking straight and then take a left turn and there should be the art shop"
As I was walking. I had this strange feeling that I was being watched, and not the stares from a random by-passer, but something from the sky. Ah well, I bluntly ignored I and kept walking. I had just gotten myself lost in another alleyway when I heard
" Hello? Alice? You there?".
Oh GREAT !I'm going insane, just what I needed to make my life complete.
"Alice, if you need to go to the Art store just go straight and take a right and the store is on the left, try it" I scrunched my eyebrows together, I know that voice.
"Nazi, is that you?" I said softly, looking up, down, and behind me.
"Good job, you deserve a cookie!"
"OH SHIT-NIZZLES" I screamed, everyone stared at me. I was more embarrassed then I have ever been in my entire life. Avoiding any eyes I mutter under my breath "Look at what you made me do." I followed the directions he gave me and made my way down the streets being careful to stay in the shadows.
"No, that was your fault. You shouldn't have shouted at the entire world." he replied smugly. If he wasn't a synthetic voice in my head, I'd deck him.
"Wait a second, how do I know it's you and not the PS3" I stopped and stared at a wall, pretending it was Blake, its better then talking to the air.
" HOW THE HELL DO YOU THINK THE PS3 IS TALKING TO YOU!?"
"Well I don't know jackass, I was sucked into a video game, at this point I would believe you if you said that unicorns were real and that my red is your green or if Blake is gay pervert who stalks little boys, I believe in to anything now" I took a left turn and low and behold there it was, I knew it was next to the Brothel "HEY LOOK THE ART STORE, THANK YOU WHO EVER YOU ARE!"
I ran up to it and looked around, and oh my god. So many brushes. I bit my lip in agitation, I didn't know what to buy.
All I remember was ' buy me more paint and some brushes' but he didn't tell me what kind. Well then, I guess I'll play the guessing game.
"Alice buy the brushes on the far left and get the colors red, blue, yellow, black and white and with those he can combine them to make what he needs" I grinned and did as I was told "Thanks inner conscience, your the best!"
Well then, I guess you can call me crazy now. I mean I'm talking to a voice inside of my head who could be my PS3 disguising in his voice to keep me calm or he could be Blake. I paid for what I needed and started walking away, my purchase dangling from my arm.
"Ok PS3. Tell me where the tailor shop is so I can buy me some clothes, so I won't look like a whore." I said with a bright smiling face.
"GOD DAMN IT! IT'S ME! BLAKE! NOT THE FUCKING PS3!"
Ow that hurt, maybe I should give it a try.
"Well, if you are Blake then tell me 1) What I call him 2)what I have in the fridge AND told him not to eat and 3) what my other best friends name is" Ha bitch, see if you can answer that.
"Alice I will answers your questions because it's the only way to convince your damn whore mind. The answers are 1) Nazi/anything that is related to the WWII 2) You only have sandwich ingredients and you told me not to eat the last pudding, by the way I owe you a new pudding and finally 4) your other best friend is Adi Johnson."
"BLAKE! IT IS YOU!" I said with so much happiness and joy that I jumped like a crazy person in the middle of the street. I almost cried tears of joy but I couldn't do that, well not here. Not yet.
"Took you long enough, bitch."
"Blake what has happened? Why am I here in this game?" I asked, Blake would know, Blake knows everything. "Sorry Alice, but I can't tell you that, I took me forever just to figure out how to talk to you, I'll try to find out more but this is the best I can do for now."
My face fell. "...does Adi know?" I asked him.
"Yeah she know. She fell asleep when I was hacking the PS3 to hook up the mic."
" Thank you, I wish I was next to you guys" after that I started to slow down "Hey can you tell me where to go, I don't wanna to concentrate on this right now"
"Sure whatever you want, let's see... on the map it says that if you go down this upcoming street and take a left you'll enter the plaza, there should be a tailor shop on the right-hand corner but I don't know what the dresses look like though..."
"In hell I'm wearing one of those! I'm going to buy me some male clothing and edit them to my taste, you know like I did to your favorite pinstripe suit. " I chuckled at the memory, that suit made one awesome clubbing dress (- only time you will ever see me in a dress, when I'm drunk and wanna dance)
" ...and thanks to you, I had to buy another suit, anyway your idea might work, there is only one other girl in this game that wears something that is not a dress." Blake commented dryly.
" Really? Who?" I asked, turning into the plaza.
"Her name is Rosa, you'll met her later on if you follow the storyline"
"Is she nice?"
"She's, like, the hottest girl in the game. Your personalities are very similar..."
" Can't wait." I said as I entered the store.
A sweaty fat shop merchant was staring up at something when I walked in, he didn't look at me as he said "Welcome young--" He glance over and scowled, his eye roaming over my body "Oh a women, I see... where is your husband?" the husband thing again? WHY GOD, WHY!!?!
I glared, crossing my arms over my chest "He's...not here...He had work, and he doesn't need to escort me to purchase some clothing"
" Alice, that was one of the most stupidest lies to ever cross your mouth" Blake muttered in my ear.
'Well its better than your face' I thought, I wanted to reply it out loud but since the stupid fat merchant man already hates me for being a women in his shop, I can't.
"Fine, hurry up! Le donne sono un buono a nulla puttane!"
Blake growled in my ear, I bent over some articles of clothing and whispered "What, what happened?"
"It's what he said, I-I... ugg stupid son of a bitch... wait, I think I can show you, quick, pick a side!"
"Uh? Left?" I said confused, I heard a slight tapping noise and then all of a sudden, my left eye vision went blind.
"OH FUCK!" I screeched, earning a glare and a curse in a Italian from the merchant. "Sorry, wait one second, ok, can you see now"
My eyesight slowly returned but something was different, On the left side of my vision was a see-through map of the city, like in the game, also below that was a little text box, which had translated what the man just said, and it wasn't nice!
'YOU SEXIST PIG!' I cursed mentally.
"See told you"
Really people? Really? What is he going to do now? Charge me more just because I have boobs and a vagina!? Stupid bitch.
I grumbled as I picked out some male pants in the smallest size possible, they were still huge but they'd have to do for now, I walked over to the shirts and picked out a white shirt with long sleeves that frilled out at the ends and a plain black button down shirt, I also grabbed a black corset and a male's vest as well. I stopped by the nightwear and picked up a night gown and robe, I needed something to wear tonight.
When I had everything, I reluctantly made my way up to the sexiest pig and dropped my items at the register .
"Here sir, this is what I'm buying." I said in the politest tone I could manage.
"Wow that's a lot of crap, Alice" Blake whistled.
"The total is f 250" Wow, that's cheap. "Sure" I pull out Leonardo's money bag.
"BUT! Since your HUSBAND is not here and your clothes are for a man. I'll have to charge you f300" The sexiest pig held out his sweaty palm expectantly.
"WHAT!!?" I yelled, slamming my fist on the counter "No way in hell am I paying that!"
"f350."
"BUT!"
"f400"
"HERE JUST TAKE IT!" I shouted desperately as I shoved the coins into his hands. I dashed out the shop hugging all of my purchases to my body. I ran down the street and once I was out of ear shot of the merchant, I started to curse him out "Stupid, cocksucker, dickhead lying son of a bitch of hell itself!! I hope you die trying to -beeep- yourself"
"Wow aren't you so nice."
"In hell I am!" I sighed once my tirade was over. Then I blinked, that little see-through box was still there "Hey Blake, what the hell did you do to my eyes?"
"I hacked into the games mainframe and connected it to my laptop server. Now when people talk, you can understand them. Oh and the maps nice to."
I grinned "Cool! You rock!" I blinked a few more times, getting used to the feeling of it being in my field of vision. Then I noticed the clock in the bottom corner of the box, it was almost 7:00.
"Blake can you tell me where to go, I forgot where Leonardo's house was and I don't wanna think right now." I jumped slightly as a flashing green icon popped up on the map
"The green is you and the yellow is your destination"
" Thank you!" I smiled and began walking, happy that I wore my combat boots instead of sandals today. Speaking of today "Hey how long have I been here? and what is the date and time in the real world?"
" Well you've been in there for at least two days, it's the 20th of march it's a little past four in the morning and yep,that's all!"
"BLAKE! I scream.
"What did I do wrong?" he asked very confused.
" Go to bed! You should get some sleep, it's not like I'm going anywhere."
"but-"
"No buts, beside I'll be here in the morning and with your help I can do anything!" I grinned and did the superman pose. I heard Blake chuckle tiredly before saying "Find, I'll go to sleep once you get to that house"
"Ok, sounds like a deal" I agreed before taking another turn, it had gotten dark so suddenly it was hard to see anything, even with the full moon overhead. After a few minutes of silence I began thinking on how I was going to get out of here.
"Blake how am I going to get out of here?"
"Well Adi and I thought that if you complete the game you can get out of it." I nodded, smart. But then that ever annoying voice popped into my head again "What happens if I die?"
"Well that the bad side to it, we don't know what happens if you do die.. Hell, we don't even know if we should start searching for a new best friend."
"Wow, you guys are so nice to me, why didn't you just lie and say ' YEAH ALICE! We're going to get you out of there as soon possible, and you won't die a horribly painful and most likely bloody death!' with a happy face" I glare at nothing in particular.
"WELL SOR-RY!" Blake mumbled into my head, I huffed and continued on my quest to Leonardo house. Once I got there, I stopped and whirled around, staring at the sky, I'm sure I was facing Blake "Oh look, I'm here, now do what you said and turn off the PS3 and get some sleep!"
" …... You're right, I am kinda tired, so I'll see you in the morning. I'll wake you up in a special way."
I grin, awesome special surprise! " Yeah, I'll be waiting."
" Ok, night." Blake yawned.
"Nighty night, don't let the Nazis bite "
He ignored my last comment and said "Oh and Alice?"
"Yeah?"
" You should try living in this world, it'll be something new and you'll never know if you'll enjoy it or not" I thought about it for a second and then shrugged "You're right, I should" when he said it like that, it made me think that I might actually like living here.
" And if not, you can always be grateful that you didn't get sucked into Pac Man."
"GO TO BED!"
"Yes mom" Blake laughed.
"Good boy." A little ding went off inside my head and I knew that he had logged off, I smiled, at least I can talk to them again, but I might look insane from the talking to air, but who cares!?
I clutched the fancy for knob and pushed the door open "LEO! I'M BACK!"
"Child! Why so loud? I'm not a continent away from you." Leonardo chastised as he appeared out of a back room which I believe was the kitchen. I rubbed my neck "Sorry."
" It's fine" damn you Italian people and your niceness. My mother would off beat my sorry ass for being so loud so late.
"Oh, here's the paints and brushes you asked for and since you didn't tell me what colors to buy. I just bought you the three main bases and black and white. I hope this is good enough for you."
Leonardo examined the paints and nodded "Perfect, these will do."
"Good." I exhaled relieved. Thank you Nazi!
"Adeliz, can you place them over there on that table while I go check on our meal"
"Sure." Leonardo disappeared back into the kitchen and I dropped his paint items where he wanted. I began to walk back towards the kitchen when a stack of white canvases caught my eye, I knelt down and fingered through the stacks of paintings, "Wow, so many" In my world there is only fifteen of his paintings still out there, too see so many is a gift. This game is very detailed, it's like the characters are real.
I wondered if I could... maybe not......well I should ask anyway!
I look through more paintings and sculptures and I start thinking that I should get a job, something to support myself in this world since it looks like I won't be leaving any time soon. Maybe Leonardo has something for me to do...
I stand up and walk to the back door and open it slightly, poking my head through." Leonardo, you here?"
"Si, io sono qui." Thanks too Blake's translator, I understood that, (Yes I'm in here) Awesome!
"I have a request to ask." I said, stepping into a small kitchen. Smells of some kind of soup wafted through the air as I sat down at a small dinner table.
"Yes, what is it?" Leo asked as he turned around to look at me. I shifted in my seat "Can I be your apprentice for a while?"
Leo looked shocked "Well....-"
" Or something else, until I pay you back. Once I have I won't be your apprentice anymore if you dislike it."
"....."
"I'm sorry that was too much, you wouldn't want me since I'm a girl." Damn all the sexist pigs in this game!
"Oh child, no, no, no, it's just that no one have ever asked to be my apprentice before, I'm barely a master myself." Leo explained sitting down next to me, I looked up and smiled nervously."So can I?"
"We'll see, I'll think about it and I'll tell you before bed"
"Sure. Ok."I nod.
"Now, let me show you your room." He stood up from the table and walked over to the door and held it open for me, I walk pass him and he started walking toward the back wooden stairs, I grab my purchases items and follow him up two flights of stairs and down a hall to a door, he stopped and pulled out a key and unlocked the door "Well here we are, you will be staying in this room and my room is two doors down to the right" I pushed the door open and nod to him "Thank you"
"No, its not a problem, I'll call for you once the meal is finish." With that he left me to the room. I took a look inside, it was something simple, nothing to fancy. It consists of a small wrought iron bed on the east wall beneath a large window, on the south wall there was a polished wood desk and a dresser. Some candles sat in a candle holder and they were lit, I guess Leonardo did that before I came.
I walk up to the bed and drop my clothing on the mattress, and then I looked out the window, I smiled as I saw the stars shining brightly above then I noticed something "Well look at that." I said as I saw a small platform right under my window and to my left was one of those random poles that just stuck out for no apparent reason, seriously why do they had those? I open the window and step out onto the platform, it shook a little under my weight but it was otherwise very steady. I stare down at the empty streets, only night guards walked the streets with lanterns in there hands, I throw the finger in the dark, I hate guards.
Suddenly something flickered out of the corner of my eye. I turn my head and saw a shadow race across the roof tops in the distance "Hmm wonder who that was..." I shook my head " Eh. Probably a guard or a squirrel or something..." I rest my hands on my hips for a second, I stare at the buildings, trying to memorize the area. Then I sighed, it was lonely without Blake in my mind.
I look at the buildings and then inside to wear my clothing as left untended "I better finish my outfit, then maybe I could go run a little bit, I haven't trained in a while...." I turn around and slip back into the room. I picked up my shirt and examined it, it was huge..."Shit, I need some sewing material and maybe a mannequin..."
I head back down to the main floor and peak through the door "Hey Leo, do you have any thread or sewing materials?" Leo nodded and disappeared through a second door, he came back and handed me a black box. I thanked him and jogged upstairs. I opened my door and began measuring my figure and making adjustments to the male clothing, I wasn't a great stewardess, but my Grandma taught my enough to fix anything in a pinch. "Grandma...." I murmured as I slid the needle through the white fabric, it reminded me of the summer days I spent with my grandma in north New York. She had this cute little cottage with a beautiful garden. I miss her...
I focused back on my outfit and worked like a madman. When it was done I grinned and undressed and tried it on. It wasn't perfect, it had a sleeves that hung off my shoulders, the neckline had a small V that showed my medium sized chest. I didn't like my chest showing that much so I took my purple tank top and pulled it over my shirt so that it gave me a more modest look. I pulled the corset over my shirt, tightening it enough so that it was not crushing my ribcage but hugging my figure nicely. I rolled the sleeves to my elbow, so that my hands were not constricted by the sleeves. I picked up the gray pair of pants I bought and adjusted the waist line so that it hugged my hips better, the legs were a little too long so I tucked the extra fabric into my combat boots. I picked up my favorite gloves that were to worn out that I had to cut off the finger tips.
I stared at the long mirror handing on the wall in front of the wall beside the desk, I looked pretty good. I grinned and started to undress and put my items of clothing into the dresser drawers. I then grabbed my night gown and male slacks and pulled them on.
Once I was fully dressed, Leonardo came knocking at the door. I grinned and hopped over to the door and pulled it open. Leonardo nodded at my normal clothing and then said "Dinner is ready" I followed him down the stairs an into the dinning room where stainless china plates sat perfectly set under a candle light chandleir
"Wow, fancy" I muttered and Leonardo shrugged "It's the usual" I grinned and sat down, Leonardo took his seat across from me and we had a wonderful light conversation about family and friends and hobbies. Leonardo dropped a few hints through out the meal that questioned where I hailed from but I cleverly avoid the topic by complement his artwork or saying that my home was a lot different then Italy.
Once we were finished and I was happily full, Leonardo said "Adeliz, you know about the question you told me earlier this evening, the one about being my apprentice." He said as he and I began clearing the table and washing the dishes in a sink (or a water basin filled with clean water).
I held my breath "Yeah, I remember, why?"
"I accept, I think you would be a wonderful apprentice, or at least and assistant" he said with a small cute smile.
"Oh thank you!!" I tackled him with a bear hug and shook him back and forth, I don't care if its awkward, I was happy!
He froze slightly before wrapping his arms around my waist and hugging me back. I grinned and let go, apologizing for the sudden show of affection. He simply smiled and said he expected it. We discussed my living arrangement, and it turns out that room would be mine until I had to leave for home.
The clock on the wall struck ten and Leonardo yawn "I believe it's time for bed, we have a long day tomorrow and you must be tired" I shook my head "Actually, I was planning on going for a run." He gave me the weirdest of all looks and the shrugged "Ok be back before twelve" I nod and head back upstairs, I pulled on my jeans and tank top and my boots. Then sliding open the window and gripping the the edges,I stared at the moon and sighed " thanks mom... for everything" I pulled myself out onto the ledge.
I examined the wall and smiled "Well this is going to be easy" I said as I stepped back onto the ledge and then jumped at the wall, my hands grabbed the pole sticking out of the wall and I pulled my self up onto the rooftop. I felt my muscles scream at my when I started running, the red singles flashed by in a blur as I raced from roof top to roof top.
When I finally slowed down to a hault I found my self only about five minutes away from Leonardo's, I could still see his roof from where I stood. I was sweating heavily and my limps felt like lead weights, well that's what I get for not practicing my Parkour for a long time.
"Assassin!!" I turn around and saw a flash of white dart above the roof tops, guards were screaming and throwing rocks. I think Monkey Man got into trouble. I watch until he was out of sight and the guards were cursing up a storm. Then I shrugged and head back to Leonardo's. I slid through the front door and saw that Leo was bent over a black leather book, scratching furiously with a quill pen.
" Leonardo! I'm back" I informed as I walk in, he glanced up and smiled "Oh bene! I was getting worried about you, I heard that there was an assassin on the loose."
"I know. I heard." I think the whole country heard the way those guards were screaming.
"Good thing your back." Leonardo handed me a mug and the smell of tea wafted into my nose. I smiled gratefully and took a sip. "I'm going to bed Leo, see you tomorrow."
"Buona notte"
"Night." I made a painful treak up stairs my legs felt so heavy. I slid into my room and into my pj's. I then sat back into bed and closed my eyes, for some reason I felt so tired today. I guess thats what happens when you get sucked into a video game, get chased down by guards and met a world famous artist. I turned over and buried my head into a soft pillow and yawned.
And right before I feel asleep I thought I heard another male voice talking to Leonardo down stairs. I was to tired to care though and I fell asleep.
~ Leonardo~
After Adeliz went to bed, I return to working on the blueprints for my newest idea, a machine that will enable to allow man to fly! I started to let my mind wonder and I started to think about the Auditore family, poor Maria. To lose both her sons and her husband. I sighed and suddenly there was a loud know at the door. I stood up and walked over.
"Now who would be out this late." I muttered as I open the door.
I squint into the dark and then my face lit up "Oh Ezio, my boy, come in! come in!" He stepped into the light and I noticed his new outfit, a white robe tied together with a red sash and multiple weapons connected to his sides.
"I'm sorry Leonardo but I need help" he sounded desperate, something must have been wrong...
"What has happened my boy?"
"I don't know, all these things just happened at once, and now Father is--" he looked away and I patted him on his shoulder "Ezio, go home. Come back when your mind is clear."
He looked at me and nodded "Ok.. I'll see you in the morning" He turned and left, disappearing in to the dark. I closed my door, and then remembered I had forgotten to tell him about my new apprentice. Oh well, it will have to wait until morning...
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End of chapter two
Next chapter: The Run Of Life
~Translations~
"Ha così strano!" ( Shes so strange)
"Da dove provengono?" (where did she come from?)
"Perché lei vestito come un uomo?" (Why does she dress like a man?)
"Oh mio, forse è un nuovo tipo di cortigiana?" (Oh my, do you things shes a new type of courtesan?)
"THERE SHE IS! AL LADORO! " (Stop theif!)
"Non ti preoccupare, va bene. (no problem, Its fine) I have a friend just like you. He's always messing with the guards, you two might become close friends one day." He smiled that cute little boy smile that I had grown used to. Now that I could focus on him, I could see that he looked really familier... hmm.
"Davvero (really)? Where? Not many people have seen my work"
"(Well then, we'll have to change that)E allora, dovremo cambiare la situazione! You are more than welcome to stay here for the night!"
"Fine, hurry up! Le donne sono un buono a nulla puttane! (Women are good for nothing whores)"