audio

[alltenfingers]

[The audio comes into life and the usually smooth Italian voice is, instead, rough and breathless. Ezio's breathing is shallow and ragged, and it takes some time for him to finally be able to talk, but it doesn't make much sense.]

Sofia... I-- merda... Helen, I... [A pause comes as Ezio just tries to breathe.] ...the villa-- [There is a rough

Comments

[notanemptymotto]

voice;

Ezio. Ezio. Stai bene? Sono sulla mia strada alla villa. [ A good thing that the Sanctuary has a few motorcycles (that aren't Ashley's) that she can use. It's quicker than a car or the van. She leaves a message for Kate, Henry and Will that she has an urgent matter on her hands and she'll return as soon as possible. ]

[alltenfingers]

[When Ezio responds, his voice is raspy and he is still a bit breathless, but he doesn't sound as out of it as before.] Helen, I'm alright. Do not worry. [It's silly to even ask her not to worry, but he tries. Still, he feels like death warmed up and it's been a long time coming since Aliunde.]

[notanemptymotto]

You collapsed. In every medical sense of the situation, that points to you not being alright. [ Too bad she's already packing up the motorcycle to leave. ]

[alltenfingers]

Cazzo... Helen, I am alright now. Mi dispiace, I did not mean to cause you concern.

[notanemptymotto]

You're not alright, and you know that. For God's sake, I've been a doctor for longer than you've been alive. I don't need to see that you're exhausted to know that you are. I'm coming over, and that's that.

[alltenfingers]

[A sigh.] Fine. See yourself in when you arrive. [He doesn't want to talk over the phone anymore, however, because he doesn't want to admit he's not in good shape. He wants to sulk.]

[notanemptymotto]

I'll see you then. [ Helen cuts the conversation at that. There are times he is completely childish and it makes her want to shake him.

A short ride later, Helen arrives outside Villa Auditore. She kicks the bike stand down, pulling off her helmet and heading straight up into the villa. With a brief pause, she peaks into the study to see if anyone is there before turning and heading to Ezio's room. She does know the way. ]

[alltenfingers]

[Ezio just remains in bed. He's changed out of his robes and has on only his light cotton pants but he still feels somewhat too hot. He supposes he hasn't been taking good enough care of himself. He forgot that he's not young for a man of his time, and all the additional changes to his lifestyle have knocked him for six.

Still, he can't help being somewhat glad there are people who would care if this was the beginning of the end, no matter how little he sees his life as important in the grand scale of things.]

[notanemptymotto]

[ Dressed in jeans and a jacket, Helen knocks on his door before entering the room. Even if she is being rather insistent, it's still his house. He has every right and chance to tell her to turn and leave, although she may not follow through with it all the way. Her hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail, not bothering to hide the cut along her eye or the bruise on her face. ]

I see you've made yourself comfortable.

[alltenfingers]

[Ezio looks up as she comes in, pausing for a second and then getting out of bed quickly to cross over to her, not caring how getting up so quickly makes his vision darken for a second. His hands are instantly on her face, gently of course, and he's looking at the wounds she has.]

What happened to you? Who did this?

[notanemptymotto]

[ Helen reaches straight out to help him stand and gather his center his balance. She can tell fatigue a mile away and sighs. There is a shake of her head as she turns to head towards the bed. ]

John. I took care of it.

[alltenfingers]

Took care of it how? [He lets her head for the bed and moves to sit down too, resting back against the pillows. He's certainly fatigued. He has barely eaten, barely slept, spent his waking hours overworking and worrying about the situations his assassins are in, as well as the problem of being in another world entirely. Age and lack of self-concern have simply caught up with him.]

[notanemptymotto]

[ She stands beside the bed, folding her hands together. Knowing that John was some sort of hallucination just makes her feel absolutely ridiculous. She fought like she was fighting for her life. She gives him a bit of a smile before pulling out a small medical kit. ]

I shot him.

[alltenfingers]

[Ezio sighs a bit but nods, moving to sit on the bed more comfortably, dragging a hand over his face. He doesn't like that he wasn't there to help her, that he was too exhausted and sickened, but he supposes that she made it out well enough is a small consolation. Still, he should have been there.]

You did not need to come, Helen. I know to eat more and rest...

[notanemptymotto]

[ And she would find that thought absolutely ridiculous. She's managed for this long without him, and while she does care a great deal for him and wants to spend as much time as she can with him? Helen hardly relies on him to save her. She, like him, has been able to shoulder everything on herself. ]

Which is why you haven't been doing it? [ It's pointed, but, she's frustrated and a little worried. ] As a doctor, you hear that excuse often enough. "I know I should sleep more." "I know I need to eat." "I know I should be more active." The fact of the matter is, Ezio, that you're not. And it's going to cost you. You need to start putting yourself before everything else. Otherwise? You won't be able to be there for the others.

[alltenfingers]

[Ezio sighs, burying his face in one hand, the other slumped across his waist, and he shakes his head faintly. He knows all this, but sometimes he simply needs to get things done before he can think about eating or resting. He has neglected himself like this before, but mostly in his younger years when his body could withstand it.]

Merda, you sound like Claudia. [He sighs again, looking up at her and resting his head back, giving her a tired but still very charming smile.] What do you suggest then, dottore?