[OPEN] The Eagle Has Landed

[ezio_auditore]

Characters: Ezio and people on Silvana
Content: Ezio has just landed aboard the Silvana in his little plane
Setting: Silvana's hangar
Time: is relative
Warnings: Ezio

Comments

[justdeduceit]

Ezio de Firenze -- no, Ezio Auditore. What a strange happenstance that he should board the vessel chosen by Sherlock Holmes. What could the man be doing here? Holmes wondered as he strode briskly down to the hangar. The man was a wanted murderer. He had been on the run for ten years. Why would he resurface now?

Holmes needed answers, both to these questions and to older ones left unsolved for a decade. He slowed his pace as he approached the open hangar door, and leaned against the frame with perfect nonchalance. "Well, well! This really is a turnup for the books, isn't it?" he said, tipping his hat to the visitor. "Ezio....de Firenze, is it? Fancy meeting you here." His entire manner was casual, all but his eyes. They were sharp, taking in every detail of the newcomer's appearance: his stance, his manner, and other more mundane things like the cut of his clothes, dirt on his nails, and potential places for hidden weapons.

[ezio_auditore]

The man leaning in the door certainly caught Ezio's attention, and it took him a moment to recognize who he was talking to. Sherlock Holmes, though he had changed since the last time Ezio had seen him. Ezio supposed he had changed a great deal as well, though apparently not enough to avoid being recognized

[justdeduceit]

"One does what one must," Holmes answered cordially. "After all, it is a rare case indeed when a criminal comes to me." The words were laced with double-meaning, but his voice was light as ever. "Perhaps you have heard something of my recent activities? Ah, maybe not. I have heard nothing of you over the years, old schoolmate, and there are some things I would like to discuss."

He glanced around the hangar, holding up one long finger. "But not here. An open hangar is not the place to dig up old ghosts. Will you come with me?" he asked, face darkening to a more serious expression.

The possibility that Ezio was merely a skilled actor could not be ruled out, but it was apparent that the man had changed since Holmes had known him. But to what end? Holmes would not denounce the man: not yet. At the very least, the detective wished to get a few answers from Ezio first.

[ezio_auditore]

The double meaning of Sherlock's words was not lost on Ezio, and it was abundantly clear that he was going to have to do quite a bit of explaining if he wanted to avoid being turned in. Not that Ezio would go quietly if Holmes tried. That was something Ezio wanted to avoid if it was at all possible. Holmes had always seemed like a good person, if a little too 'by the books' for Ezio's tastes.

"I'm afraid I haven't really kept up with anyone from school," Ezio admitted almost hesitantly, "Nor have I done anything particularly noteworthy in quite a while." This was a conversation Ezio did not want to have in such an open location, so he was pleased Holmes had suggested they take this somewhere else. The mention of digging up old ghosts was enough to have Ezio dreading this conversation. Just how much did Sherlock know?

"After you, Sherlock," Ezio said, gesturing for Holmes to lead the way. He would have to memorize the route they took on the chance that Ezio would need to make a quick escape after the conversation.

[justdeduceit]

Holmes stepped through the door once more, beckoning for Ezio to follow. The best place to talk would be on the deck, in the open air. The winter air was cold, and few would be out there unless it was necessary. Holmes doubted that the other man would risk an attack in such a place, if he did decide to kill Holmes. But judging from the man's demeanor, that was quite unlikely. How curious

[ezio_auditore]

"I doubt me minding will do anything to change your mind about making such judgments," Ezio responded. People tended to do what they wanted in Ezio's experience. Asking if he minded was likely just a polite formality. Ezio followed Sherlock, memorizing each turn and door they went through. Despite the opening he was offered, Ezio made no move to attack. It would be a bad move to do so before they had a chance to talk this over

[justdeduceit]

"Not likely, no," Holmes replied, turning to face Ezio. "Before we talk of your history, I would like you to know that your past as an assassin is known to me, and if your intentions are anything less than peaceful toward this ship's crew, said past will be made known to the captain and officers, as well. And if you intend to silence me, well....let's just say that the killer will be made known."

The part about Ezio being an assassin Holmes had guessed from murders in Melior, but it was not something he had confirmed. Hopefully, Ezio's reaction to the quiet accusation would serve as confirmation. As for the second, well, he had told Watson that if he did not return within the hour to suspect the newest arrival. He'd left the man in a worried state, but he trusted Watson to trust him.

"Now....the most pressing question on my mind is, what are your intentions here, Mr. Auditore?"

[ezio_auditore]

This was a bit of a new situation for Ezio. Generally, people who knew what he was fell into two categories. Enemies, those who could and would be killed as soon as Ezio had whatever information he could get from them, and allies, those that aided him in seeking his targets. He remained quiet at the accusation of being an assassin, but didn't deny it. Ezio was far past denying what he was

[justdeduceit]

"Then you are still employed in the same trade?" Holmes asked, very serious. Ezio must understand: it was not just the crew that was under Sherlock's protection. As a detective, Holmes could not in good conscience allow an assassin who intended to kill again to roam free, not when Holmes had the power to stop him. He would need a very good reason to keep quiet.

The Silvana certainly was a fascinating ship, Holmes would admit freely, its passengers especially. It had its own agenda, to be sure, but whether Holmes would divulge that agenda to this assassin from his past remained to be seen.

[ezio_auditore]

"Employed? Hardly. I don't do this for money." Even if Lorenzo had seen fit to dig into his treasury on occasion, Ezio was in this for much more important reasons. The next question, the question of why, was sure to follow, so Ezio continued.

"I do this for revenge, though I've run out of responsible people to kill." Ezio was sure there were more out there, but the trail had gone cold. A group like that would not be able to remain hidden from him forever. Sooner or later they would act, and he would again have names. "So now I do it because there is no one else to bring these men to justice." It was probably very obvious that Ezio's faith in the legal system simply did not exist.

Ezio didn't think Holmes would entirely understand why this had to be done, but it probably couldn't hurt to try to explain it to him. And if Ezio was wrong about that, there were still other options. Not good options, but they did exist.

[justdeduceit]

"Because the case your father made fell apart." Holmes understood where Ezio's feelings came from, though he did not share them. "I understand why some of the murders were committed, and yet there is something else that troubles me. There were other deaths in Melior, ones that matched your modus operandi. Regrettably, it is impossible even for me to say for sure which ones were committed by you and which were not. Some were linked to illegal activity. Were they part of your revenge?"

This was actually good, as far as Holmes was concerned. He would ask more questions, of course, and if the details didn't add up, then he could always turn this man in. Still, Ezio was giving off no sign that he was lying, and few could lie with such skill that Holmes was fooled. Though he could draw no conclusions now....if Ezio killed out of revenge, then as un-commendable as that was, it kept the crew out of danger.

[ezio_auditore]

"Fell apart?!" Ezio's temper was always quick to rise where that part of his history was concerned. "There was proof! Proof he was innocent, proof that would support his testimony against the Pazzi! If that traitor Uberto hadn't gotten rid of it..." Ezio realized he was raising his voice, and did his best to calm himself again.

He was silent for several moments, mostly hiding beneath his hood. When he continued, he decided to answer the question of the other murders, of the men Lorenzo had uncovered for him. "They were part of a conspiracy as well, a much larger one. It runs much deeper than simply having my family killed. I have continued to dig, but the roots go deep. They may not have taken part in the conspiracy that killed my family, but they were surely part of the conspiracy my father was investigating."

Ezio didn't particularly enjoy giving up this information, and that was obvious. While he was starting to reign in his temper, it was also quite apparent this was a touchy subject for him.

[justdeduceit]

Holmes held up a placating hand. "I cannot say either way, not being involved directly in the case. But you talk of conspiracy. Tell me, what were they after, this group you are hunting?" He knew Ezio did not relish giving information like this, but unless he was met with a stark refusal, he would not outright offer to trade information. "If it was not simply the death of your family they sought, what was their true agenda?"

Though it was a possibility.

[ezio_auditore]

Ezio was silent for a few moments, considering how much he could or should tell Holmes. The more people that were working to stop the conspiracy, the better. At the same time, it was dangerous to involve someone that wasn't already working against them.

"I have said too much already. This is dangerous, Holmes. If you go looking into the wrong people and places it could get you and everyone close to you killed," Ezio said, the last of his anger gone and replaced by a more serious tone.

From what Ezio could tell, he'd said enough to keep Sherlock from giving away his identity to the crew or the authorities. Ezio didn't want to give away more information than necessary, not when it might get Holmes killed later.

[justdeduceit]

"It is fortunate, then, that I keep no one close to me." Well, except Watson, a part of his brain added, the part that was just nicely getting used to a companion. But that part was still the minority. "Do you truly believe that I would hear of a conspiracy -- in my home city, no less! -- and then choose to ignore it? No, Ezio, if what you say is true, I believe I can help you." Both for the sake of Melior, and....well, truth be told, it interested Holmes. He couldn't stand to be idle, and Captain Rowe's reluctance to let him aid in the investigation of Denouement irked him. Here was a problem, one that warranted solving

[ezio_auditore]

It seemed that Holmes wasn't going to be talked out of this. Ezio did remember that it was nearly impossible to talk him into or out of anything once he got set on it.

Ezio was silent for while as he considered his options. If Sherlock was going to get involved, he'd have a much better chance of surviving with Ezio around to watch his back. Holmes was also undeniably smart, and would probably be very useful for tracking down new leads. Since he was going to go investigating with or without Ezio, the choice was a fairly easy one to make.

"Stubborn bastard," Ezio said, putting one hand on Sherlock's back and grinning at him. "We can work together on this," his grin widened as he continued, "I'll even let you copy my notes."

Ezio had spent a lot of time hurriedly copying Holmes notes back in school, and asking him to explain a lot of the more difficult concepts.