DEAR GOD WHAT IS THIS. AN UPDATE? SURELY NOT.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to announce the arrival of a half term and a much needed break from school. MUCH UPDATING WILL BE DONE. This one's another one uploaded in two phases. Enjoy. :)

SOME QUICK TRANSLATIONS:
Paradosso -

March 17th, 1500. Rome

It was the small hours of the morning. And yet, so much had happened that time had become something ignored – it existed, but it wasn't considered.

Leonardo had been the first to run from the box, circling it while muttering furiously under his breath, coming in again, going out, coming in again until he finally exhausted himself to the point where he sat inside on one of the curious chairs, hand on his chin, muttering under his breath and dismissing anyone who came near with an abrupt wave while his brain tried to make sense of it all. Ezio had taken the lantern gently from his sister's hand before she stormed out and stood outside with her arms folded over her chest, refusing to come back inside because it simply isn't possible, for heaven's sake! And while La Volpe and Bartolomeo did much the same but returned to uncover the mirrors that made this trick work, Machiavelli stood inside, raised an eyebrow at all he could see in the dim lantern light and made a sort of non committal noise, while his insides churned.

It had been a while before anyone noticed the fact that Ezio and his recruits were strangely quiet. And, upon further exploration, found that they had found the three people unconscious and unmoving on the other whole room inside the little blue box, behind the strange pillar and what circled it. They had watched, silent, as Ezio placed the lantern down on the floor and approached the first prone figure – a man stressed strangely and a look of pain on his face. Ezio had considered him for a while before laying two fingers on the side of the man's neck.

'He lives,' He'd determined after a short while. Before he knew it, Leonardo was shooing him away as if the diagnosis of life needed confirming by a professional, and found himself looking up at the sound of Giovanni's voice.

'The lady breathes, but I'm not sure about the wound on her head…'

'This man breathes too. He has a Roman's nose.' Zita's voice determined.

The Assassins moved towards the three not as outsiders, but as people who had overcome their fears of this strange, new and impossible thing with the intention of aid.

They moved as human beings.

They carried the three from their strange box as gently as they could, and shut the door behind them. In the quiet of night, they rode back towards the Tiber.

The problem of where to put the men while they recovered was a problem everyone worried over. The woman wasn't a problem – Zita had insisted that she have her hammock in the women's quarters and that she would sleep elsewhere. It was then pointed out by Giovanni himself that there was a spare bed in the men's quarters after the novice it had belonged to met a painful but swift end from Papal guards, so that was where the man with the nose went – a dead man's bed. Leonardo could not find any wounds that could have sent the man into his unconscious state, but he stirred often. It wouldn't be long before he awoke.

And after the problem of the other and the most peculiar man had been discussed some more, Ezio had stated that he would give up his bed for him.

Consciousness came back to Amy like a reluctant and disobedient child – slowly and painfully. The first thing she knew was pain – her head throbbed with it, and it muddled her brain for a while as her thought processes sorted themselves out. Her senses came back slowly when she vaguely realised that the pain in her head wasn't the worst of her problems. Sound first – a crackle and a snap, probably a fire – and the murmur of voices. Touch – a blanket, a pillow under her head, and something pressed against her temple where the pain was worst. Smell – perfume and something nasty smelling that was probably medicinal. And then motion – rocking. She had to be on a hammock. It was making her feel sick.

Conclusion? She wasn't in the TARDIS, and she didn't know where the hell she was.

Her eyes snapped open.

'Ezio, you need to sleep.'

'I've gone long enough without to wait a little longer.'

'Fine, fine,' Leonardo threw up his hands as he took a seat opposite Ezio. 'I should know by now that you only listen to reason when it suits you.' His words sounded serious, but his smile was not. Ezio smiled at him in return, and both men looked towards the man unconscious on his bed, marvelling out how out of place he looked. It wasn't that he was strangely dressed (All three of them were), but it was his very manner, even when unconscious that radiated awkwardness. They'd made him as comfortable as possible with his hands resting on his chest, but he seemed to be frowning as if in deep thought even in his unconscious state – perhaps they were misjudging it – maybe it was a look of pain, but however it stood, the man was a mystery.

And Ezio could safely say that no other had fascinated him more.

'Who is he?' Leonardo murmured, almost to himself.

'Who knows? This day has been strange enough for me to accept any explanation as the truth.' Ezio said, rubbing his face with his hand.

'Indeed. We have to tread carefully here.' Leonardo agreed. 'But there's something about him…' Leonardo pinched his chin as he appraised the sleeping man thoughtfully. 'Something lost, wouldn't you say?'

'Indeed.' Ezio agreed, reaching over to the table at his side and sipping the wine that Claudia had thoughtfully poured for him. Dio knew that he needed it.

'What did it feel like, Ezio?'

'How did what feel like?'

'When the box was calling to you! Are you sure that it wasn't him?' Leonardo jerked his thumb in the direction of the bed.

'No,' Ezio shook his head. 'When I touched the box I felt something…' Ezio struggled for the word.'Familiare. It knew me.'

'When it is light again, I will have another look inside that thing. It simply cannot exist, and yet, it does!'

Ezio smiled at Leonardo's enthusiasm. 'You don't mind this paradosso?'

'On the contrary, Ezio, it makes everything much more exciting,' Leonardo grinned, but as realization slammed into him, his eyes widened. 'Merda!Ezio, I have to get back to the workshop before dawn, or I'll be missed by the Borgia guards!' He jumped to his feet, and Ezio followed him.

'Don't worry – La Volpe will be sure to organise a few of his thieves to accompany you on your journey back. If not, Machiavelli will fetch an Assassin for you.' Ezio said, holding up a hand. Relief was evident in Leonardo's face.

'Thank you. I forget my friends, sometimes.' He said, grinning.

'Be assured, we do not forget you.' Ezio returned, and embraced Leonardo knowing that it would be a while before he could again.

'Don't hesitate to send a pigeon when our guests wake up,' Leonardo said when they broke apart. 'I want to know everything! He snatched up the black cloak from his chair, and was buttoning it around his throat as he sped from the room. 'Arrivederci, Ezio!'

'Velocitàdi Dio, Leonardo.' Ezio said as his door closed. He turned back to the sleeping stranger on his bed, and briefly wondered what he could tell them when he woke up as he picked up his goblet of wine, which he promptly dropped to the floor when an ear splitting scream sounded from down stairs. He bolted out of the door and slammed it behind him, just as the man began to mumble.

Next phase up in a 'mo.