Ezio! How are you? I know... you just arrived and the riot was not at all comforting... are you alright?

I-I'm fine now... the men chased me but I wasn't hurt. I'm sorry I didn't call e-everything was so terribly mad and I didn't... I didn't call anyone but daddy.

Contact me. We have work to do.

Where are you?

Ezio, we need to talk. Call me immediately.

You really must not keep me waiting there are important matters that need our immediate attention. I have pressing needs.

Call me.

I have good news. Where are you?

Ezio! I will not stand for your continued defiance of our agreement. If you do not respond by to-night I will consider any association between the two of us not only broken but tainted permanently.

You do not want to become my enemy.

[SILENCE


FOR A GOOD BIT

MAKING YOU WAIT.]

Good morning. It is the ninth.

[More silence and when he speaks this time it's VERY ANGRY.]

Where have you been?

[So many mistakes made in her long life, more in the past few weeks than recently. Was this just another mistake? Would he even speak with her? Would he want to? How could a woman her age be so insecure? Acting like nothing more than a teenager? But she needed someone she could speak to. Someone who was not bound to her by duty or herself only younger. Someone she could trust to keep things private. She stared at the dreamberry in her hand and then, borrowing on the rashness of her youth, she made the call.

She would accept the consequences she knew were to come.]

Ezio... I know... and understand you may never wish to speak or see me ever again. [Nor could she blame him on any level.] There is enough I can do to apologize.

But [So selfishly...] Please, I need someone to speak with.

If you do not answer, I will understand.

[She was surprised when she heard from him an hour or so after her contact. She had expected him to never wish to see her again. And she could not blame him for his choices.]

If you never forgive me, I will always understand. [She said first.]

I... everything... [She rests her face in her hands.] I feel so lost and I needed someone to speak with. But perhaps this was another mistake, coming to you to only burden you with more of my troubles.

[Their M.O. thus far had been communicating via text but Jackson thought that was a little too impersonal right now, considering the situation. Not just the situation of the reason for his calling in the first place, Serenity's Dreamberry broadcast, but also the situation involving him and Ezio specifically. The whole "double date" thing (if you wanted to call it that). Which still had Jackson feeling a little out of sorts, but he never planned on letting anyone know why he felt that way and especially not his mentor, Ezio.]

Hey... Ezio. It's Jackson.

[He lets out a small breath, wondering just what to say here, whether to broach the topic why he's calling or play it off and invite Ezio over which is now for two reasons. He had already invited Ezio to come ride his motorcycle, which was finally complete, but now he wanted Ezio to come hang out for another reason: Jax thought it'd be good for Ezio to have the opportunity to talk to him and maybe get his mind off things. He decides to go ahead and be blunt about it.]

Yeah, so. Uh. I saw that uhm, that broadcast.

[Another pause, but this one is shorter.]

If you need to talk or whatever, I'm here. But yeah, so, my bike is finally done if you want to come over anyway, you know, we could do like we said. You could ride it.

So, yeah. Just let me know.

[Jackson's relieved when he finally hears back from Ezio]

Yeah, sure man. That sounds good. Whenever. I'll probably be spendin less time at the garage now my bike's done. We're making another one for my friend Isaac but it'll be done real soon. Dude's a mechanical genius.

But yeah, anyway, Mandy and Brittany called and asked about you, heh. [Because maybe mentioning that night would cheer the man up some? It was worth a shot.] I knew they'd like you.

[As odd as it still feels Altaïr decides to send this man a video call, as he's learned its name as, rather than simply a text message. Surely his hood, his clothing and his words altogether will put weight to the message. Even if he has put off calling this number for several days he is here now, feeling contact does need to be made.

The assassin looks down into the device as he speaks slowly and clearly, though there is a mix of both urgency and caution to his voice.]

Ezio. I was given your name and told you wear the colors and cut that I too wear. If this means to you what it does to me, you will contact me in return.

[A pause for a moment]

My name is Altaïr.

[Altaïr thinks a moment, staring at the white hood and feeling a strange sort of comfort in that. The Italian accent of the man does not go unnoticed.]

The south market in the business district, the roof of the factory.

[It will be a very secluded and private place for them to discuss what they may.]