[ Kyouko stands there beside him, noticeably aloof. Most of their interaction has been safe and glib, at least on her part, and now... her worry was escaping through her words, slight as it was. ]
That he's an idiot. [ She holds up one finger; then a second and a third. ] And he's got a weird face, and makes dumb jokes that aren't even funny. [ Then a fourth. ] He says he's a computer program, or something like that.
[ Her head tilts downward, as her gaze traces a deep silver scratch in the metal beneath her boots. A dilatory pause. She favors her words. Uncertainty. A fifth finger joins the others, but then she lets her hand fall into a fist. ]
That he hurts himself, because he isn't really happy at all.
[ Because in her head, Kyouko keeps on thinking that Clay chopped off his fingers on purpose. After throwing himself off the crane... ]
And he's an idiot.
Edited (SPELLING..... AGAIN SCREECHES) 2013-05-05 04:39 (UTC)
[Ezio takes a deep breath and lets it out, a way of agreeing with Kyouko on all accounts, even if he will never say so. Clay is far more damaged than he has ever expected, with hardly any care for himself or liking of what he does. In a sense, it reminds him of how he was after his family had been killed.]
I understand. [There is a long pause at this, where he decides how to word himself, how to properly speak of who they are, what they are, compared to everything around them in this conglomerate of worlds.]
Has he told you who he is?
[A simple question, but one that is important to ask for the layers of subtlety and for what she does and does not know. The more he knows, the better he will have to speak with her about this entire ordeal.]
I get it. [ Anger constricts her voice. ] But no matter how unhappy you are, no matter what you lost, you've gotta keep fighting and fighting... 'cause in the end that's all you got. Yourself.
[ A beat.
She stares him down, as though to make a point.]
You can't lose that last part.
[ Fists tighten, nails digging into her palms. The blockhead's a waste of her time, frustrating, insufferable— but he's her friend, and how many friends has Kyouko ever had? ]
Clay's a coward. [She doubts that was the answer Ezio was fishing for, and so she tries to remember what Clay might've said to her. Problem is, he's said a lot of things, and the word Assassin doesn't resonate with the same frequency to someone who doesn't comprehend its importance, who maybe can't comprehend it, coming from a different world.
She thinks. A minute passes, and then- ]
Oh, yeah, he said he kills people. Or somethin' like that.
[There is silence, mostly, for her words, but he does watch her as she stares him down. She's passionate when something hits home, something they all are, really. It's not that hard to think that in some way, perhaps in another timeline, in another realm, they are family.
Some bonds and understandings are far stronger than the place that intends to break them.
So when she mentions him telling her he's an assassin, it doesn't surprise him. Not entirely. A part of him wishes Clay had told him, and just how many others know exactly of their secret. Not that it was much of a secret anymore, thanks to Daniel. Still, this makes it easier to explain. Somewhat.
Ezio gives her a slight smile for all that she says, and he nods.]
Sì, an assassin. As am I.
[Kyouko's proven to be trustworthy enough- that's enough for Ezio.]
It is a long and complicated history, but we are more than likely not the kind of assassin you are familiar with. We protect the freedom of the people, and kill those who would destroy it for "peace." They are called Templars. [A beat.] It has been an endless war that has been fought for countless centuries, with no true victor over another.
Still, in my time, and previously, we carry a weapon that distinguishes us from them. The hidden blade. [He openly shows her the back of his wrist, and flicks it out, allowing the blade to slide forward and be seen openly.] The original blade required that a finger be cut off in order for the it to slide out for our duties. A man called Altaïr created a new design that no longer required this sacrifice, but it was still prominent among Assassins in his era.
[He has a point, and he's getting to it.] Clay recently asked for a hidden blade, from the Engineer. And he received one.
However, he did not use it until now, and that was against Daniel. Daniel is a Templar, and so you can imagine how well any of us get along with him.
[So basically, he killed Daniel, but cut off his finger in the process. Welcome to the fucked up world that is modern day Assassinhood.]
[ Kyouko wouldn't have to try so hard not to care, if she didn't always put everything of herself into caring. To save her family, she gave up her soul. For Sayaka, she'd make sure that she didn't die alone. And to protect Clay, Kyouko would give up her life. It's either all or nothing.
And that's why she understands the Assassins, despite only knowing so much about them. Not because she gets why they fight. Fighting for peace, for freedom-- they might as well be fighting for the words themselves. How could she conceive of fighting for an intangible idea, when all she's known are monsters? ]
You know, I don't get you guys. Adults. Seems like you always gotta find some reason to fight over something.
[ Kyouko may not understand their cause, but she does understand how they must feel. Cutting off fingers, trading your soul, risking your life for something because nothing else is more important? That, she gets.
A sigh escapes her, and she takes a seat beside Ezio, shoulders bending in a tired slouch.The heel of her boot starts to hit the metal container with a soft, continuous bang. An absentminded twitch. ]
If an idiot stabbed me, I'd want stab him back extra hard. [ Her expression might not change, but there is something in her voice that shifts. ] Clay promised that only I could kill him.
no subject
That he's an idiot. [ She holds up one finger; then a second and a third. ] And he's got a weird face, and makes dumb jokes that aren't even funny. [ Then a fourth. ] He says he's a computer program, or something like that.
[ Her head tilts downward, as her gaze traces a deep silver scratch in the metal beneath her boots. A dilatory pause. She favors her words. Uncertainty. A fifth finger joins the others, but then she lets her hand fall into a fist. ]
That he hurts himself, because he isn't really happy at all.
[ Because in her head, Kyouko keeps on thinking that Clay chopped off his fingers on purpose. After throwing himself off the crane... ]
And he's an idiot.
no subject
I understand. [There is a long pause at this, where he decides how to word himself, how to properly speak of who they are, what they are, compared to everything around them in this conglomerate of worlds.]
Has he told you who he is?
[A simple question, but one that is important to ask for the layers of subtlety and for what she does and does not know. The more he knows, the better he will have to speak with her about this entire ordeal.]
no subject
[ A beat.
She stares him down, as though to make a point.]
You can't lose that last part.
[ Fists tighten, nails digging into her palms. The blockhead's a waste of her time, frustrating, insufferable— but he's her friend, and how many friends has Kyouko ever had? ]
Clay's a coward. [She doubts that was the answer Ezio was fishing for, and so she tries to remember what Clay might've said to her. Problem is, he's said a lot of things, and the word Assassin doesn't resonate with the same frequency to someone who doesn't comprehend its importance, who maybe can't comprehend it, coming from a different world.
She thinks. A minute passes, and then- ]
Oh, yeah, he said he kills people. Or somethin' like that.
[ Close enough?? ]
no subject
Some bonds and understandings are far stronger than the place that intends to break them.
So when she mentions him telling her he's an assassin, it doesn't surprise him. Not entirely. A part of him wishes Clay had told him, and just how many others know exactly of their secret. Not that it was much of a secret anymore, thanks to Daniel. Still, this makes it easier to explain. Somewhat.
Ezio gives her a slight smile for all that she says, and he nods.]
Sì, an assassin. As am I.
[Kyouko's proven to be trustworthy enough- that's enough for Ezio.]
It is a long and complicated history, but we are more than likely not the kind of assassin you are familiar with. We protect the freedom of the people, and kill those who would destroy it for "peace." They are called Templars. [A beat.] It has been an endless war that has been fought for countless centuries, with no true victor over another.
Still, in my time, and previously, we carry a weapon that distinguishes us from them. The hidden blade. [He openly shows her the back of his wrist, and flicks it out, allowing the blade to slide forward and be seen openly.] The original blade required that a finger be cut off in order for the it to slide out for our duties. A man called Altaïr created a new design that no longer required this sacrifice, but it was still prominent among Assassins in his era.
[He has a point, and he's getting to it.] Clay recently asked for a hidden blade, from the Engineer. And he received one.
However, he did not use it until now, and that was against Daniel. Daniel is a Templar, and so you can imagine how well any of us get along with him.
[So basically, he killed Daniel, but cut off his finger in the process. Welcome to the fucked up world that is modern day Assassinhood.]
no subject
And that's why she understands the Assassins, despite only knowing so much about them. Not because she gets why they fight. Fighting for peace, for freedom-- they might as well be fighting for the words themselves. How could she conceive of fighting for an intangible idea, when all she's known are monsters? ]
You know, I don't get you guys. Adults. Seems like you always gotta find some reason to fight over something.
[ Kyouko may not understand their cause, but she does understand how they must feel. Cutting off fingers, trading your soul, risking your life for something because nothing else is more important? That, she gets.
A sigh escapes her, and she takes a seat beside Ezio, shoulders bending in a tired slouch.The heel of her boot starts to hit the metal container with a soft, continuous bang. An absentminded twitch. ]
If an idiot stabbed me, I'd want stab him back extra hard. [ Her expression might not change, but there is something in her voice that shifts. ] Clay promised that only I could kill him.
[ The next bang echoes louder. ]
And I don't like liars.