(no subject)
Title: Carnevale
Characters: Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Notes: The Carnevale comes once a year to Venice, a masquerade held for all citizens, rich and poor alike. Everyone wears a mask of silver, except for those who have been invited to the Doge's speech. They wear a golden mask.
The night was clear, the streets lit with fire torches and strings hung with a multitude of colored papers, creating an array of colors in the night. Music floated in and out as people passed through, the cheerful tunes giving the people a spring to their step and a laugh in their eyes. Fire-breathers blew into the air, amazing their audience, and others stood on their hands and walked around. But there were games, too. And only by playing these games could you win a special prize, a literal pass into the comfort of the Doge's private party: The Golden Mask. Women were given ribbons to hide from the men who searched for them, thieves and nobles alike raced on the rooftops to gain the prize, those who thought they had a good chance fought in the arena bare-handed, each punch given a loud cheer and each winner given a chance to win the Mask. The food was good, the paintings wonderful, even the canals didn't seem as rank this wonderful night, this date of mystery and wonderment as couples tried to figure out who their partner was, whether she be Cortezana or a young girl of noble blood.
The young man gently moved through the crowd, faces hidden with masks of many colors while his own was a simple silver one, crimson embroidered cape hanging about his left shoulder as he reached a gloved hand to steer a woman out of the way, no one seeing the metal mechanics that glinted beneath it. It was his job, now, to ruin this festival with a death under the fireworks and music. He, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, survivor of Alberti's betrayal of the Auditores and the cunning assassino of Firenze, was responsible for winning that Mask he had heard so much about. An announcer came onto the stage built for the occasion and shouted into the crowd, a very important announcement.
"Welcome to Venice's Carnevale! Please enjoy yourselves; but first, the prize! As with every year, a Golden Mask is given to anyone who wins the three contests we have set up around the area. This Golden Mask allows the wearer entry to hear the Doge's speech at the end of the night, as only those wearing it will be allowed in. Good luck to everyone!"
The men and women dispersed, continuing their laughter and dancing, painters smiling as they sketched the scene and musicians playing their hearts out to a crowd that so willingly enjoyed their profession. To one side a man called out to them, announcing that a contest was held there, one that many men would enjoy. The young Assassin, face hidden by mask and hood, stepped towards the man, and asked the rules of such a contest.
"To win, you must collect fifteen ribbons from the lovely ladies around the Carnevale within one minute. Are you up for the challenge, young man?"
As soon as he nodded, the man produced one of those new clocks that rich man had, what were they called... Pocket-watches? The young man shook the distraction from his head and strode over to a group of ladies, smiling and chatting with them as he reached behind and plucked ribbons out of their pockets, leaving them with a charming smile and fluttering hearts as he went to the next group. Once he had enough ribbons, he raced back to the man and smiled as he held up the fifteen colored ribbons. The announcer took the stage again, and the world was silent as he spoke.
"Congratulations on those who entered the first contest! There were many players, but only one winner got it in the nick of time. This young man here was quick-tongued and quick fingered enough to steal the ribbons, as well as the hearts of fifteen of our charming young women."
The crowd cheered and clapped, though the ones who had lost not as enthusiastically. Ezio smiled slightly, bowing his head in thanks as his Templar rival, Dante Moro, a grave looking man, frowned and left for the next challenge. The next was a race across the rooftops, one the young Assassin knew he would win. Running across the Venice rooftops was one of the few assets he had, next to his pretty face and "creative outlet" of women. He leaped and landed on the next, climbing down swiftly as he saw the flag laying on the ground of the open area. Scooping it up, he ran towards the canals of Venice and climbed the wall there, careful to keep away from the man who was his opponent. Three times he ran, three times he won. The announcer cleared his throat a third time and grinned at the crowd slowly regathering around him.
"Fleeter foots have never been seen! Risking life and limb, participants risked everything as they dashed across the roofs and leaped over alleys for the flag that would win them the round. Though many had their share of pain and, erm, broken souls, one man turned his pain into power and conquered this contest! The same who was quick enough to steal the ribbons and hearts of the ladies was quick enough to take the flag and wave it in victory!" The announcer declared, pointing at Ezio as the crowd erupted into cheers. Dante growled and shoved his way through the crowd to the third game, one he was sure he would win. But the young Auditore surprised him once more.
The game was of a fighting one, unarmed combat with guards and men alike. Ezio knocked them out almost as fast as they came in, but things became unfair as the gamemaster turned a blind eye to ten or so guards stepping into the arena with swords and axes drawn. When one swung at him, the Assassin disarmed him and ran him through, holding the sword in a defensive stance to the next guards. After the last one was cut down, the announcer took his final stand for the night.
"Well done everyone! Three contests done, three games won, only one man had won them all! The one who wins our prize of the Golden Mask is--" He was pulled aside by a grey-haired man, a pouch of money slipped into his hand along with a whisper in his ear.
"Please excuse me, the winner of the Golden Mask is Dante Moro!"
The crowd cheered, unaware of the dirty bribery that had taken place. Just another bump in the road, thought the young Assassin as he took to the rooftops of Venice.
Characters: Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Notes: The Carnevale comes once a year to Venice, a masquerade held for all citizens, rich and poor alike. Everyone wears a mask of silver, except for those who have been invited to the Doge's speech. They wear a golden mask.
The night was clear, the streets lit with fire torches and strings hung with a multitude of colored papers, creating an array of colors in the night. Music floated in and out as people passed through, the cheerful tunes giving the people a spring to their step and a laugh in their eyes. Fire-breathers blew into the air, amazing their audience, and others stood on their hands and walked around. But there were games, too. And only by playing these games could you win a special prize, a literal pass into the comfort of the Doge's private party: The Golden Mask. Women were given ribbons to hide from the men who searched for them, thieves and nobles alike raced on the rooftops to gain the prize, those who thought they had a good chance fought in the arena bare-handed, each punch given a loud cheer and each winner given a chance to win the Mask. The food was good, the paintings wonderful, even the canals didn't seem as rank this wonderful night, this date of mystery and wonderment as couples tried to figure out who their partner was, whether she be Cortezana or a young girl of noble blood.
The young man gently moved through the crowd, faces hidden with masks of many colors while his own was a simple silver one, crimson embroidered cape hanging about his left shoulder as he reached a gloved hand to steer a woman out of the way, no one seeing the metal mechanics that glinted beneath it. It was his job, now, to ruin this festival with a death under the fireworks and music. He, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, survivor of Alberti's betrayal of the Auditores and the cunning assassino of Firenze, was responsible for winning that Mask he had heard so much about. An announcer came onto the stage built for the occasion and shouted into the crowd, a very important announcement.
"Welcome to Venice's Carnevale! Please enjoy yourselves; but first, the prize! As with every year, a Golden Mask is given to anyone who wins the three contests we have set up around the area. This Golden Mask allows the wearer entry to hear the Doge's speech at the end of the night, as only those wearing it will be allowed in. Good luck to everyone!"
The men and women dispersed, continuing their laughter and dancing, painters smiling as they sketched the scene and musicians playing their hearts out to a crowd that so willingly enjoyed their profession. To one side a man called out to them, announcing that a contest was held there, one that many men would enjoy. The young Assassin, face hidden by mask and hood, stepped towards the man, and asked the rules of such a contest.
"To win, you must collect fifteen ribbons from the lovely ladies around the Carnevale within one minute. Are you up for the challenge, young man?"
As soon as he nodded, the man produced one of those new clocks that rich man had, what were they called... Pocket-watches? The young man shook the distraction from his head and strode over to a group of ladies, smiling and chatting with them as he reached behind and plucked ribbons out of their pockets, leaving them with a charming smile and fluttering hearts as he went to the next group. Once he had enough ribbons, he raced back to the man and smiled as he held up the fifteen colored ribbons. The announcer took the stage again, and the world was silent as he spoke.
"Congratulations on those who entered the first contest! There were many players, but only one winner got it in the nick of time. This young man here was quick-tongued and quick fingered enough to steal the ribbons, as well as the hearts of fifteen of our charming young women."
The crowd cheered and clapped, though the ones who had lost not as enthusiastically. Ezio smiled slightly, bowing his head in thanks as his Templar rival, Dante Moro, a grave looking man, frowned and left for the next challenge. The next was a race across the rooftops, one the young Assassin knew he would win. Running across the Venice rooftops was one of the few assets he had, next to his pretty face and "creative outlet" of women. He leaped and landed on the next, climbing down swiftly as he saw the flag laying on the ground of the open area. Scooping it up, he ran towards the canals of Venice and climbed the wall there, careful to keep away from the man who was his opponent. Three times he ran, three times he won. The announcer cleared his throat a third time and grinned at the crowd slowly regathering around him.
"Fleeter foots have never been seen! Risking life and limb, participants risked everything as they dashed across the roofs and leaped over alleys for the flag that would win them the round. Though many had their share of pain and, erm, broken souls, one man turned his pain into power and conquered this contest! The same who was quick enough to steal the ribbons and hearts of the ladies was quick enough to take the flag and wave it in victory!" The announcer declared, pointing at Ezio as the crowd erupted into cheers. Dante growled and shoved his way through the crowd to the third game, one he was sure he would win. But the young Auditore surprised him once more.
The game was of a fighting one, unarmed combat with guards and men alike. Ezio knocked them out almost as fast as they came in, but things became unfair as the gamemaster turned a blind eye to ten or so guards stepping into the arena with swords and axes drawn. When one swung at him, the Assassin disarmed him and ran him through, holding the sword in a defensive stance to the next guards. After the last one was cut down, the announcer took his final stand for the night.
"Well done everyone! Three contests done, three games won, only one man had won them all! The one who wins our prize of the Golden Mask is--" He was pulled aside by a grey-haired man, a pouch of money slipped into his hand along with a whisper in his ear.
"Please excuse me, the winner of the Golden Mask is Dante Moro!"
The crowd cheered, unaware of the dirty bribery that had taken place. Just another bump in the road, thought the young Assassin as he took to the rooftops of Venice.