I really am very sorry about the super late update. Things got a little hectic there for while there was school and then my computer broke and then I was out of the county. But I am back and guess what we are finally going to get to the main part of the story. The cross dressing!
"You want me to go out... in a dress?"
Lovino rolled her eyes at the exasperated artist. "Yes, I have only said that about six times now. You are going out, in this dress,"
She held up a long plain white and green dress. "To see how well you have learned your lessons. Carnival is only two weeks away, and
Rosetta has been training you in the ways of being a woman for a week and a half now."
The artist eyed the dress, uneasy. "But I am hardly ready!"
"You are. You just need to believe in yourself." Lovino held out the dress to him. "We are only sending you to get some things from the market. Rosetta will be nearby if anything goes wrong,"
It looked like there was no way out of the test. Then Leonardo suddenly remembered. "But I have a beard. I can not dress as a woman with a beard!"
Lovino grinned widely. "I know. That is why we are going to shave it off,"
"No you can not!" Leonardo quickly backed across his bedroom away from the manic woman.
"Sorry Leonardo, but it has to go. As you said women do not have beards. Unless they are an ugly woman," The assassin put the dress down on the bed and turned to leave the room. "I want you in that dress in three minutes," she stopped when she reached the door and reached out to close it behind her. "Just be happy I am not making you wear a corset, yet," With that the door closed.
Leonardo sighed and moved back to the bed. He gingerly picked up the dress and looked it over. It appeared to be about the right size for him. Slowly he removed his top and pants. "Why do I always do what Lovino says?" He thought over his compliance to
Lovino's orders over the past few weeks. If he could just be more resistant, if only he could learn to say no to those girls. Certainly his life would be much more peaceful. Imagine if he had never let them stay at his workshop in the first place. None of this madness would have happened.
He pulled the dress over his head and started doing up the ties at the front chuckling when he saw that Lovino had added padding at the front of the dress that gave off the illusion of breasts.
Just as he finished the last tie Lovino burst into the room followed by Rosetta.
"Lovino it is polite to Knock," The brunette chastised her friend.
"Yes," the artist glared. "What if I was still undressed?"
"Then I would see you naked," Lovino shrugged and sat on the edge of the bed. "I have seen a man naked before,"
"Let us just get the shaving done with," Rosetta changed the subject.
"Must we," Lonardo gave her a pleading look.
Rosetta shook her head. "There is no way around it. Come follow me into the kitchen I have everything set up there," she left.
Before Leonardo followed, he had a question for Lovino. "What will you be doing while we are out?"
"I need to find a house to rent for carnival, and I must make it look like you are going to Rome, along with faking Rosetta and I's departure from the city. I also need some costume things, a some masks and a man's outfit for me. See I have this whole plan. Rosetta is going to pose as your grandmother, I am going to pose as your horrible but very rich suitor. We will need a house for you and Rosetta to pretend to live at for the duration of the festivities. "
"Ah," Was all the blond man could manage. He nodded slowly and vaguely wondered if Lovino was overdoing things, as he left the room.
An hour later found Leonado beardless and looking very much like a tall woman.
As he inspected himself in the looking glass he could not help but smile. He looked utterly unlike himself. His hair had been put up in some sort of bun with a gold hair pin stick through it. Rosetta had applied some cosmetics on his face that accented the blue of eyes his eyes and made his lips look fuller and more red. All this paired with the padded dress lead to him looking like a rather attractive woman.
"Much better than I expected," He turned to Rosetta.
"I have to agree," She smiled at him. "We should get going it is past midday," Rosetta reached into a bag around her waist and pulled out a piece of paper. "This is the list of things we would like you to buy," She handed it to him then moved to the door and picked up a wicker basket. The same one Lovino and Rosetta would often use when buying food. "The money you will need is in here. If anyone should ask your name is Lisa Incendio and you are Lovino's cousin," She held out the basket. "I will be nearby should anything go wrong,"
Leonardo nodded and took the basket, feeling himself begin to shake.
The brunette assassin smiled kindly. "No need to be nervous,"
"I know,"
Rosetta opened the door, stepping outside.
The sunlight was bright and hot as Leonardo stepped into it. shading his eyes he looked around the square outside of his door. He was surprised when the people passing by did not start yelling that he was a man right away. Despite the disguise, he had been expecting to be outed right away.
He was distracted when Rosetta gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder before she ran to the wall of the workshop and began climbing with experienced grace.
He watched her until she disappeared over the roof smiling to himself as he hear people around him whispering about how she must be mad to climb buildings.
After her white clad figure was out of sight he began walking toward the market.
As he walked he watched people's faces. Looking for a trace of recognition. For a call of his name. But none came and he felt himself growing more confident as he passed by each person. A few times he passed by an acquaintance and laughed to himself as the man whose wife he had painted not more than two weeks ago gave him an obviously flirtatious look. This was going so much better than he had hoped! In a way it was rather freeing, being anonymous. He almost wondered why he never did this before. Of course the answer to that was obvious. In all his life he had never heard of a man dressing as a woman except for a joke. Where did Lovino get such an idea?
But now was no time to ponder the workings of Lovino's mind. No. He was on a mission.
As he reached the edge of the market he stopped and pulled out the paper looking over the items he needed, all penned out in Rosetta's neat letters.
3 Apples
6 Carrots
Bread
A yard of silk
The last item was written in a messy scrawl that he recognized as Lovino's.
White lilies
He held the list in his hand and stepped into the crowd.
The first three items on the list were easy to obtain. Leonardo had no issue with disguising his voice or mannerisms.
The silk was a bit more of a challenge mostly because he was unsure of what colour he has supposed to get, or what the fabric was going to be used for. Not to mention that the man selling the bright fabrics had been rather over zealous showing Leonardo piece after piece of fabric and explaining the beauty and quality of each in aloud voice. Finally he decided on a shade of blue that he thought was rather pretty. After handing over the rather large sum of money he quickly left the stand. One left. The disguised man made his way across the market to the flower stand he had seen Lovino at the first time the two of them had gone there together.
Upon spotting the stand he was not surprised to see the same young man happily selling the bright bouquets of flowers. Lovino wanted white lilies. he stepped up to the stand and smiled when the young man greeted him.
"Ciao! How may I help you?"
"I would like some white lilies,"
"Ah yes," Leonardo saw the man's face fall at bit as he turned to gather some of the flowers.
That was odd. Why would asking for white lilies make the young blonde man sad? "Excuse me, I know it is not my place to ask, seeing as I do not know you, but you looked rather upset when I asked for the flowers. I was curious as to why,"
"Oh," the man turned around the flowers in one hand. "Well white lilies are my favorite flower. About a month ago I gave a white lily to a beautiful girl for free. I thought I would see her again in the market but I have not. I did not even bother to ask her name," he looked so forlorn, his blue eyes gazing at the ground.
"Her name is Lovino," Oh, good going Leonardo!
The young man looked up. Hope sparking in his eyes. "What,"
"Her name is Lovino," Leonardo repeated. Everything was okay he could work with this.
"Lovino," he tested the name and smiles. "That is-"
"A boys name," Leonardo said before he could finish.
He gave the disguised man a confused look. "Well yes it is, but, I was going to say beautiful. How do you know her name?"
"Oh!" he was so glad Rosetta had given him a story to fall back on. "She is my cousin. She was staying with me when she came home with a lily in her hair and told me about where it came from,"
A happy smile lit up the flower boy's face. "Can you tell me how to get into contact with her?"
Leonardo thought for a moment. Was it a good idea to let this boy try to start something with Lovino? He seemed sincere. "Perhaps it would be best for me to inform her that you are interested and let her decide to contact you. My cousin is rather suspicious about men, she has been hurt before," The man nodded in understanding. "What is your name so that I may tell her,"
"Lodovico Fiore," The young man seemed to be bursting with excitement.
Of course Lodovico, it was so ironically close to the name of Lovino's dead friend. "Very well Lodovico, I shall inform her,"
"Oh! thank you, thank you! Here," he held out the flowers "You can have these for free. Of course I do not think these will make up for what a wonderful thing you are doing for me,"
"It is no trouble really, I think my cousin is rather lonely, she could use someone as nice as you," Leonardo smiled and took the flowers. "I hope she returns your affections,"
"I am sure she will,"
He smiled at Lodovico's confidence. "Goodbye,"
"Yes, goodbye and thank you again,"
As Leonardo exited the market he felt like humming to himself. His day had been so much better than expected. People seemed to be a lot nicer when you are a woman.
A voice from behind him immediately broke his good mood.
"Ciao, bella donna,"
He turned to see Ezio behind him, a flirtatious smile on his face.
Of all the people to meet. The artist felt himself begin to panic; surely Ezio would see through his disguise!
"C-ciao…"
Ezio moved toward Leonardo. "I have never seen you before, and I like to make a point of knowing everyone in the city,"
"Oh, I um," Leonardo quickly looked at the ground as the assassin came closer. "I… I am only here for carnival. I have never been to this city before,"
Ezio, aware that the woman he is talking to is nervous, tones down the flirtiness. He does not want to scare her away. "Oh, what brings you to the beautiful city of Venecia?"
"My, Grandmother lives here,"
Ezio smiles and reaches to take the basket from Leonardo. "Well then, would you allow me the honor of escorting you home? It would be horrible if something were to happen to such a beautiful woman and it is getting rather late,"
Without thinking Leonardo spouted out a yes. He let Ezio take the basket and his arm, his mind chastising him the whole time. Where was he supposed to let Ezio escort him to? Lovino did not have a house rented yet, but Ezio knew his workshop.
"I just realized I neglected to ask you what your name is," Ezio began walking in Leonardo's original direction.
"My name is Lisa Incendio," Hell! He just gave Ezio Lovino's last name! Curse the handsome assassin for making him feel so nervous.
Ezio gave him a look of surprise. "Are you related to Lovino Incendio?"
"Y-yes, she is my cousin,"
The brunette laughed. "What a coincidence, she is a very good friend of mine. however she neglected to tell me how lovely her cousin is,"
Leonardo felt his face going red.
"Perhaps she has mentioned me to you? I am Ezio Auditore,"
Leonardo glanced at Ezio's face and quickly away. "No, I do not believe she has. But I only just arrived here today and she immediately sent me on a shopping earned,"
Ezio nodded. "If you are related to Lovino, does that make you an Assassin as well?"
The artist could not help but laugh at that. The idea of him being an assassin like Ezio and the girls was ridiculous. "No, but I know of the cause and I fully support you," He smiled at Ezio.
"Where does your Grandmother live," Ezio looked around them.
Need an excuse to go to my workshop. "Actually, I was heading to the workshop of Leonardo da Vinci. Sence Lovino is staying there,"
The assassin grinned. "I know Leonardo he is a wonderful friend,"
At least he now knew that Ezio did think of him as a good friend.
"Really?" Seeing as things were going alright Leonardo decided to have a little fun. "I just adore his paintings,"
Ezio nodded.
"The way he captures the expressions of people, it is just amazing. I wish I could have that skill. I hope to have him do one of me at some point," Leonardo placed the hand Ezio was not supporting over his heart and looked as wistful as he could. "To have a painting done by the great Leonardo!" He was turning into quite the actor, or actress.
A quick glance at Ezio revealed that he had a rather angry look on his face, was he jealous of the artist? Leonardo almost laughed out loud at the thought of Ezio being mad because he thought that leonardo liked himself.
"Since you are such good friends with him do you think you could get him to do it," Leonardo tilted his head down and looked at Ezio through his eyelashes, a move he had seen done by countless women.
"Of course," Ezio smiled to cover up his jealousy.
They were entering the square that Leonardo's workshop was situated in. The for just one last bit of fun.
"Oh, you are the best," Leonardo leaned over and kissed Ezio's cheek.
He grinned as he saw Ezio go just the slightest shade of red.
When they reached the door of the workshop Ezio dropped Leonardo's arm then knocked twice and opened the door, walking in, just as he always did. Leonardo following after.
"Welcome back Leo-Lisa," Lovino looked up from the almost finished red dress, quickly correcting herself when she spotted Ezio with the disguised Leonardo.
"I managed to buy everything you asked for," Leonardo took the basket from Ezio and walked across the room to Lovino, with a bit of a smirk.
Lovino was too busy blinking at Ezio to really hear what was said. "Ah," She glanced at Leonardo asking with her eyes if Ezio had figured it out.
The artist shook his head and grinned.
"Lovino," The assassin strolled across the room to the short blonde. "You neglected to tell me that you had such a lovely cousin,"
Lovino gave him a glare. "Well excuse me for not telling you about every pretty girl I know,"
Ezio chuckled. "Yes, how dare you,"
"Do you not have someone else to be bothering right now?" Lovino attempted to get him to leave.
Just as Ezio started to speak the Workshop door opened.
"Sorry! I got distracted there were guards! Oh!" In the door stood Rosetta looking back and forth at the three people in the room.
"Yes," Lovino stalked across the room. "How dare you be so late I was worried! Do not get so distracted on future missions," she was glaring but winked at Rosetta to make sure she knew that Lovino was not actually mad. "Come in Lisa just came back with the things we asked for and she met Ezio along the way,"
"Oh, good," Was all the still slightly confused assassin could say as she stepped inside.
"I hate to say this," Ezio spoke up. "But I must leave, Va Lope wishes to give me some important information. I hate to leave the company of such lovely woman," He truly looks regretful. He turns to Leonardo and takes his hand, bending down to kiss it. "I shall see you again Lisa," With a swish of robes he turned, leaving a stunned Lovino, a confused Rosetta and a blushing Leonardo.
"My God," Leonardo sank to the floor.
"I can not believe that just happened!" Lovino squealed.
"He did not figure it out?" Rosetta sat on one of the benches.
"Well we all know Ezio is a bit dense," Lovino nodded expertly, then squealed again and quickly kneeled and hugged Leonardo. "You did so well! And he kissed your hand. He was so interested in you!" She let go of him. "Now all we need to do is make him fall so in love with you that he will not care that you are a man,"
The artist sighed and pulled the gold pin out of his hair letting it fall around his face. If only it was as simple as Lovino made it sound.