Caio my friends :) I've completed Brotherhood :D Verdict: Awesome, but not as good as AC2. That's just me though. Onwards to "Thank you reviewers"
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I'm pretty sure I sent you all thank you messages, but what the hell, I'll write your names here too to make you all feel special :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Assassin's Creed. Blunt, short and sweet, I know. But I'm in a rush :p
Chapter 11: What Pass?
Wow. What a shithole. I always thought Forli was a depressingly bleak place when I visited it in the game, but in real life…just, wow. Beggars, drunks, dirt and filth everywhere and water covering a great deal of the land which is making it smell horrendous, by the way. The people aren't helping with the smell, either. Someone get me a friggin' peg to put on my poor, violated nose.
"I hope Ezio is ok…" mutters Leonardo quietly as he unloads the wagon. I decide to give him a hand.
As I set the bags on the ground, I reply, "Me too. But we both know Ezio. He's fine, I know it."
I stand up straight and look at Leonardo, with a smile emerging on my face. "But if he's late, he sure as hell won't be."
Leonardo lets out a small chuckle and pats me on the shoulder as he walks past me. "Come on, lets take these to the boat"
"Sure" I smile, "Right behind you". I follow with one bag slung over my shoulder, and a crate tucked under my arm.
"Wait!" Ezio calls whilst dismounting from his chestnut brown horse he obviously pinched from a poor farmer. "Don't- Don't leave yet, I want to board!"
Poor bastard, he thinks the boat is leaving. Ha!
"Speak of the devil" I say aloud, turning my face slightly to Leonardo's direction. "Here comes Ezio now, with all his…class" I smile, and proceed to hand Leonardo's goods to the man by the boat.
"Ezio!" Leonardo calls cheerfully. "Ezio, over here!"
I can already see the breath leave Ezio's mouth as he lets out a sigh of relief after seeing that we are still here. And the boat.
As Ezio gets closer and is approaching us I call out, "Worried you weren't going to make it?"
"Me, worried? Never!" Ezio charmingly smiles, trying to play it cool after making a twat of himself. I could be wrong, but I think one young man sitting on the edge of the dock with his feet dangling over the edge almost fell in the water as he was beside himself with laughter.
"Are you sure about that?" I question, an eyebrow raised. "Oh! Wait!" I mimic, my voice a deeper tone. Flailing my arms through the air and jogging on the spot like a retard, I continue to tease Ezio, "Don't-Don't go yet!"
"You done?" Ezio responds, folding his arms across his chest and raising both eyebrows and smirking.
"Yeah, pretty much. Sorry, couldn't resist. I can blow your ego back up later if you want?"
Leonardo lets out a cough and busies himself with his belongings to hide his laughter.
"Very funny, mia cara" Ezio chuckles as he gives me a gentle, playful push to my shoulder. I grin back at him.
"So, everyone in good health from the trip here? No-one was hurt, no?" Ezio enquires. How very considerate of him.
"I think I got winded after you nearly made the carriage turn over. But apart from that…I'm just swell" I bluntly reply.
"I am fine as well, Ezio. Are you?" says Leonardo, walking away from his belongings to join me and Ezio.
"Yeah, no arrows lodged in your head?" I joke. Ezio rolls his eyes and smirks, clearly growing tired of my cracks which are in full supply today for some unknown reason.
"I am just fine, amici" he answers, still smiling.
"Thank you Ezio" Leonardo starts, "you saved my life. You saved our lives" he corrects himself, and rests a hand on my shoulder.
"I did what had to be done" Ezio casually replies, shrugging his shoulders. "You would have done the same." Me? Do the same? Haha! Oh, that's funny! Oh wait, I think he's being serious…
"I doubt it," Leonardo laughs, "Bravery is not my strong suit" Leonardo sheepishly replies.
"Nor mine. I get scared by the goddamn toaster" I say, sympathising with Leonardo. I don't know about you, but the suspense of waiting for the toast and not knowing when the little mofo if gonna pop up is too much for me. Being used to my odd and random comments that come out of nowhere, Ezio and Leonardo merely blink quickly several times, look at each other and then raise their eyebrows whilst slightly smiling. I clear my throat, and with that we carry on as normal.
"I owe you a debt, brother" Leonardo finishes. It then occurs to me that I'm starting to rack up quite a bill myself. Since I've been here all that Ezio has done is save my sorry arse. I don't think I've done anything memorably good for Ezio. Help with missions? No, I actually did quite the opposite of that a while ago… but under duress, remember! Be a friend and provide laughs? Yeah. Yeah, that will do for now.
"Yeah, thank you, Ezio. Since I've been here all you've done is save my life and look out for me. I owe you…big"
"It's nothing." Ezio chuckles.
"All aboard! We're leaving soon!" announces the, err, boat man.
"That's our ferry. Venezia awaits!" Leonardo cheerfully informs me and Ezio.
As me and Ezio make our way to the wooden ramp to board the boat, the man stops us with the question, "Where are your passes?"
Me and Ezio merely look at each other, pouting our lips and sporting dumbfounded expressions.
"What pass?" Ezio asks, totally confused. I'm not much more clued up, either.
"You don't have a pass?" Leonardo answers, also confused and surprised Ezio doesn't have a pass. "Megan, do you have one?"
"Well, er," I rub the back of my neck and squint my eyes slightly, "No…"
"You cannot enter Venezia without a pass. Who invited you?" butts in the boat man. I really feel like pointing at Leonardo, but that's not exactly appropriate.
"Um…nobody" Ezio answers, shrugging his shoulders. Wow, that's made me feel totally unloved. It's quite embarrassing too. Trying to sneak on a boat and not being invited or wanted. Oh God…
"Basta! No pass, no entrance!" responds the man, his voice taking a more aggressive tone and raising in volume. Ok, firstly, hearing him say 'Basta' has made me want pasta. Not helpful when I'm already hungry. Secondly, he's a little bit stressy. Calm it, Kermit!
"Don't worry, Leonardo. We'll come up with something" Ezio reassures his friend. Leonardo simply responds by sighing and sporting a concerned facial expression as he considers the prospect of going to Venice alone.
"Well, great! What are we gonna do now?" I mutter under my breath to Ezio as we walk a few steps away from Leonardo and 'stress head' boat man to conjure a plan. We need to get on that boat…
"Don't just stand there! I need help!" an angry female's voice yells. Oh, I know who that is. Caterina 'foul mouth' Forza. That should totally be her facebook name, if it existed here. But it doesn't. Oh shut up brain!
"Well, I don't know what you're doing, but I know what I'm going to do" Ezio smirks, taking a step closer to the edge.
"No, Ezio wait!" I say, taking quick steps to the edge towards him.
But he gives me a little salute gesture before diving in. Arsehole!
"Or…don't?" I mutter, raising my eyebrows. Well, I guess I'll have to find a way to get on the boat myself. I can be independent! Who says I need help from a man? I scan the area, looking for any opportunity to get on that goddamn boat. Any people I can use to cause a distraction? Animals? No. Great start, Megan. Or I could take a leaf out of Ezio's book and try to help someone to get my way on board. My eyes flit over the docks, secretly hoping someone will be in trouble. No people in need of a Good Samaritan though. Ezio's snagged the only one! Bastard. Maybe I'll just wait until he gets back...
"Yes, Signora. Whatever you say, Signoria…" the man says glumly.
Caterina makes her way over to Ezio, before stating, "He won't trouble you anymore. I…took care of it."
"Thank you, Caterina" Ezio graciously replies whilst bowing his head slightly.
"Perhaps we'll see each other again. Should you ever find yourself in the city of Forli, it would be my…" she pauses, choosing her words carefully, "pleasure to welcome you"
Ezio takes a step forward closer to Caterina.
"I look forward to enjoying your hospitality" Hmm, what exactly does he think he'll be getting that will be so enjoyable? I roll my eyes at the flirting going on in front of me and Leonardo and let out a series of small coughs. If that isn't a hint then I don't know what is. Caterina nods and smiles at Ezio, before walking away with her head held high. I don't know if my eyes just deceived me, but I think I just saw Ezio check out Caterina's arse as she walked away. He's totally thinking, 'I'd tap that.'
"You done?" I sigh, slight irritation present.
"Done doing what?" Ezio asks, eyebrows raised.
"Considering whether you want to spend the night with Caterina." Ezio tries to hide his smirk, "You may have your ticket to Venice, but I don't!"
"Ok, ok, mia cara. You want your ticket to Venezia? We'll get you your ticket to Venezia!" Ezio counters, and his eyes focus on something on his far right. What is he looking at? I follow his gaze, and then I realise just what he's thinking.
"Oh no. No, no no no! And no!" I exclaim quickly, my finger wagging at him.
"Do you want to get to Venezia or not?" Ezio laughs.
"Well, yes… but-" I stutter, and stop short because I realise that there is no other way.
"Gah! Why couldn't I rescue Caterina and you get on the boat this way?" I moan, taking steps towards the crate. Yes, that is right, my friends. Ezio wants me to crawl into a big box with a lid that still needs to be loaded on to the boat.
"Because I like to rescue damsels in distress"
"Is there really no other option?" I hopefully ask. Ezio takes a quick look around, looking to his left, then his right, before concluding, "No. This is your only option, bella. If you want to come to Venezia you're going to have to use this crate"
"Ezio, I don't even think there's going to be enough room for my arse, let alone the rest of my body"
"I didn't say it was going to be comfortable, but it is only until the boat gets moving. You're going to have to make your decision quickly because the boat is going to be leaving in a couple of minutes, and the crate will be loaded onto it in less time than that" Ezio wisely states and pats my shoulder.
I turn my head to look at Ezio. "Well, I'm sure as hell not staying here on my own and missing out on seeing Venice. You're still stuck with me, I'm afraid" I grin, and Ezio returns it. Sighing, I take the lid off the crate and step inside, get on my knees and into a weird foetal position.
"See you on board" Ezio whispers, before putting the lid on top and enclosing me in darkness.
Are they ever going to take the lid off? Is this some prank that has gone way too far? My thoughts are interrupted as bright light pours in and blinds my eyes. Squinting like a mole, I get into a kneeling position. My back is absolutely killing me. It's so good to finally stretch it.
"Ah, loved that. Being shoved in a crate, bouncing around, being more squished than a rabbit in a burrow and having little air and no light," I say sarcastically, coughing here and there due to the amount of dust and lack of air in there. Woah, I reminded myself of someone when I said that. Desmond. And I wasn't even aware I was saying something similar to what he says in the game. Oh God, is that healthy?
"Sorry, dear. But you're out now and we're all on our way to Venezia! Isn't this exciting?" Leonardo says as he paces across the deck with a beaming smile on his face. I can't help but smile.
"I suppose it is rath- ow! Oh, my back…" I yelp as I stretch my back with a grimace on my face.
"This is all your fault" I mouth to Ezio narrowing my eyes jokingly. Guess what? He just laughs. Bloody cheek. It's his fault my back is all stiff!
"Seriously, Ezio. Next time you can go in the crate box thingy majiggy"
"Why not Leonardo?" Ezio asks. And he's being dead serious.
"Because it's Leonardo. You can't put Leonardo in a box, that's just mean!" I reply after not believing what I've just heard Ezio say about his adorable friend. Put Leonardo in a box? Not on my watch!
"Thank you, my dear" Leonardo says cheerfully as he looks over to me from the edge of the boat with a soft smile on his face. I can only return it.
"Yeah, so next time, if there even is a next time, you shall be going in the crate, my friend" I announce as I walk up to Ezio and pat him on the shoulder before walking past him towards Leonardo, smiling throughout.
"Whatever you say, bella…" is all Ezio can return as he makes his way over to me and Leonardo as we watch the clouds float across the sky and the setting sun disappear over the water. After the way he said that, why do I get the feeling that I'll be ending up in a box again?
Will she end up in another box? *Strokes epically long imaginary beard* :p Ok, there's a reason I added this author comment here and that's to ask a question. A vote actually.
Do you want Ezio and Megan to become more than good friends? Yes I'm talking about them being a couple. Y'see, I don't mind either way, but I care what you want so I can make the story as enjoyable as possible for you guys :) So lemme know in your review for this chapter if you leave me one.
