The Fixing Mishap (ACII x Xover, Ezio's Twin!SI)
Florence, 1474
To be a middle-to-high class citizen of the Florentine Republic, one has to abide to a set rule of conduct and regulation in regard to the business that each entertains.
Some were simpler to handle such as being mere shop-keepers, or even burdersome as guards part of the republican militia, but the true heart of Florence was the 'coin' - the Bankers had an important sway in political affairs in the city.
To be a banker, it meant to also be a politician, a diplomat, a polyglot, a lawyer, and, at times, a reformer. When I first joined the Medici Bank in Florence, the highest economic institution in Italy and the southern side of Europe, I was given time to grow accustomed with the system while my father, already an esteemed member of the bank, ended up coercing me to be a bit more 'social' towards one of his closest friend at the time.
For him to be Lorenzo 'il Magnifico' de Medici was indeed a surprise, but since I already knew where I was from the day I was re-born, I would say the shock was limited to merely be introduced to such an important man in Renaissance Italian politics.
Ah yes, I think this is also important: I am not from here. Not of this time, or dimension. My name (new name) is Gianni Auditore da Firenze, son of Giovanni and Maria, and second oldest son that I contended with my twin brother Ezio.
Yes, to those that realized what was up, I was indeed in the world of Assassin's Creed, specifically around the time of Assassin's Creed II. The plot had yet to kick in as we were two years early before the Templar Plot unfolded, but I wasn't hesitating in taking chances in preparing myself and my family for the troubles to come.
I was the 'opposite' of Ezio. Where the rambuctious young man was a womanizer from the get-go that loved to get in brawls to prove his toughness, I was sticking my nose on books and I focused on the banking skills that our father had tried to impart to our older brother, Federico, but failed to accomplish so due to him being a slacker.
In a way, I was supposed to be the 'first of the innocent children' of an Assassin. With Federico already trained, and Ezio being coerced into learning skills needed for a future Assassin agent, I was seemingly left to books and on the job of accounting. It was an easy job, but I wasn't an idiot.
While Federico and Ezio didn't notice it, I would check on them from time to time, learning some steps in parkour to keep up with their efforts. Since I was also a modern soul reincarnated in a renaissance body, I knew habits to pick to 'discipline' my body.
Calmly and yet steadily I saw progress being made in two years of rigid exercise, but it was the banking that truly gave me the tools to make those physical skills worth it and more. My mental strength was able to match my physical stamina, and I was regarded by many as a reasonably impressive accountant.
Within a year, I had gained enough income to pursue some personal investments. It wasn't uncommon for citizens of high rank to use their coins to fund what they felt fancy about, with most focusing on arts to upstage their rivals, but I was a young man with no true enemy.
The Pazzi were indeed a worrisome bunch, but neither father and son seemed to give a dime to a mere 'note-writer' such as myself. That meant the only reason to fund people was to either improve my personal standing or to coerce a greater technological upswing in the country rather than a mere artistic and cultural one.
Today was going to be one of those pleasant days as I sat by one of the available chairs, waiting for the illustrious group of guests I had invited to this 'humble' shop owned by someone that was busy pacing back and forth before his invention.
"Wh-What if it breaks down mid-presentation?" The nervous voice of Leonardo da Vinci was met with a eyeroll from yours truly. "G-Gianni, this isn't a joke."
"And I am not taking it as such, Leonardo. But we have spent a solid week working on rendering the machine in one of the finest devices possible. It will not break down- not when you changed its pieces twice in the last three days."
He offered a brief sheepish smile at being remarked that, and it sure felt odd that someone as young as 16 was being more 'calm' than a 24 years-old man. Then again, Leonardo was a man of little success as of recent times, so it was fair to say that he was quite the pessimist in terms of potential success.
Nonetheless, his nerves bowed down to a need to behave properly as the guests arrived. Lorenzo de Medici, followed by Uberto Alberti, stepped into the shop together with a few guards. Albeit not officially deemed the ruler of Florence, Lorenzo's power overruled the known political chairs within the city-state, with some even considering him 'king without a crown' due to his princely nature and his overall wealthy house on his back.
"My dear friend, I hope that I didn't steal you from your hard work. Likewise, Confaloniere, I know that your duties are indeed many and at times quite tedious."
"None of that, signor Gianni. I was most intrigued by your presentation of a 'revolution for literature and standard book-keeping'," Lorenzo intruded with a cordial tone, his smile offering regality and yet a touch of childish curiosity moved by a deep interest to expand his growing banking empire. "And I suppose this is the good inventor. Signor... Da Vinci."
"Please, do address me as Leonardo, buon signore," The man bowed his head humbly. "I hope that this place isn't too cumbersome. I have yet... to finish cleaning up some of the space."
"Not at all," Umberto remarked curtly, gaze zeroing to one of the few paintings that Leonardo had finished bringing to his new place.
Albeit the man was still an apprentice under Verrocchio, he had been funded by me enough to find his own space outside the man's own 'bottega', locating himself in a small but nonetheless bigger space to keep his pieces conserved.
The rotund Confaloniere's gaze was aimed at one of the most famous pieces of the time, L'Annunciazione.
"A fascinating piece, the message of Gabriel of Jesus' upcoming birth," The man mumbled, mesmerized by the sight he was presented by. "I assume this can be bought."
"I suppose, but-"
"It's not the point of this invitation, Umberto," Lorenzo interjected the topic, his attention aimed at the small machine that I had been sitting beside for a while now. "From what I can tell, this is the tool that could change 'everything', Gianni."
"That would be correct, Lorenzo. I present you the Da Vinci Printing Machine," I explained as I sat up. "I will leave the technical details to Leonardo to establish since he is the fine creator of this revolutionary improvement over the Printing Machine created by Johannes Gutenberg. And while its size already is telling of a major change in its existence, I will provide the few important details that truly matter at any investor's heart: the machine is able to produce roughly 300 to 350 papers per hour. It's easy to clean, there's a need of just two handlers and a mechanic to clean up the various pieces and, most important of all, it's affordable."
"Could we have a test?" The Confaloniere pressed and I nodded, with Leonardo joining me as we printed down an edict that was produced earlier this morning. Copying it took just five seconds once the device was properly geared, with cylinders and keys working as intended and soon providing the two wealthy men with proof of what was up at this point.
"A wonderful machine. One that should render ledgers easy to handle, but also prepare edicts at an easier and more reasonable pace."
I nodded, but the next part was the toughest in terms of the price. I couldn't ask much without inflating the chances of this selling, but after crunching numbers regarding the Gutenberg Print's value in Florins, I was able to banter for a reasonably high price.
When the guests left, Leonardo had his hands on his head as he gazed at the two fat bags of 12000 and 15000 Florins. That should be enough to actually keep him afloat, improve his bottega, and even hire assistants if he so wished without worrying about bankrupty for at least a few years.
"Gianni. You... You are a mad."
"And a genius, don't forget that," I hummed mirthfully as I patted his back. "So, about that special commission I asked from you-"
"They are on the back but... if I may ask, out of respect for your mother, why did you want a... hook on those wrist blades?"
"It's an aid for climbing," I assured the concerned inventor, the man still willingly helped me in getting two proper wristblades done in less than a few months. The design was impeccable and the addition of the hook that Ezio would have gained in AC: Revelations means that I would have an easier time moving around once I used it as an Assassin.
After all, while I may be plotting to have an economic position to screw the Templars, I also planned to have a hand in fucking them in the shadows. One step at the time, one Borgia at the time, and, hopefully, I would be able to find the Eden Pieces and get them out of sight from anyone trying to get their filthy hands on them. But alas, I had to get back home soon or I would face the wrath of my caring and very stern mother.
Plotting could be fully expanded later on, and yet I can say these two years were going to be quite important before the big game start unfolded.
AN
This story will be a mix of 'economic-sim' plus Assassin's Creed. I really miss the old games' means to just have your little hub to expand and have your own army at your disposal...
