Writer is glad to hear it! (And if I get anymore plotbunnies for the Shaun/Des, I'll throw them up here or link to them, don't worry.)
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The execution of the House Auditore sends a ripple down Firenze's power structure. Despite the fact that the mother and daughter still live, the greedy nobles who have sought what Giovanni sat on for so long still reach forward in a desperate bid to claim whatever is left. The mother is broken and the daughter traumatized; neither would put up much of a legal fight over land or possessions. The Pazzi are the ones who end up benefiting the most; Vieri Pazzi and his father claim insult against the former House, and the judges decide that it is only fitting they get what remains to answer for the damage done to the Pazzi. Within three simple days both Maria Auditore and Claudia Auditore are forced from Firenze, banished by the Pazzi's power and dirty coin. They carry nothing more than the clothes on their back and what they can carry in their pockets.
Leonardo had offered to house them, and even Lord Lorenzo had attempted to step in and sway the judges favor. But without Giovanni as his grounding, Lorenzo could only push so far, and was forced to concede in the end. As for Leonardo, he was quickly written over and ignored. The duo were forced to retreat and watch as the last decent House in the city crumbled under the Pazzi's boots. There was no doubt in Leonardo's mind that there were a number of reasons Vieri Pazzi and his father had claimed insult on the former House, but perhaps the most prominent was to spite Lorenzo, who controlled the bank that had outgrown their own. The artist knew it wouldn't be long before all of Florence would be under their control, especially now that Vieri's father was out of jail.
Of course, Lorenzo was no fool either; despite relying mostly on Giovanni, he had numerous other eyes and ears about the city that reported to him at least every day, if not every week. What was surprising to Leonardo though was when the leader called for HIM to come in -- something that had never occurred before. He was made all the more nervous by the fact that Lorenzo sent armed guards to pick him up. Still, he didn't resist, and mutely followed the group all the way to the Lord's chambers, where he was left to stand on his own, the door shutting and locking behind him. Only then was Leonardo able to finally get a decent look at what the past few days had done to the man.
He looked paler than usual, and the dark bags under his eyes said that he had gotten little to no sleep lately. Leonardo could relate, but for a different reason. For all that he man held himself upright and proud, the artist could see how badly he was fraying at the edges. "Milord--"
Yet before Leonardo could even get started, Lorenzo held up a hand. "I am aware, Leonardo, so still any warnings you are about to give to me. I did not bring you here so we could discuss what I already know."
Leonardo sighed shakily, nodding. "Very well then. What can I help you with, Altezza?"
"House Auditore is not dead."
Leonardo froze where he stood, eyes wide. "That... that is...impossibile! I was there, Altezza, I witnessed their deaths with my own eyes!"
Lorenzo nodded thoughtfully, throat bobbing as he swallowed, a great sadness lurking behind his stoic expression. "Yes, I know. But as it turns out, Uberto did not pay attention when he tossed my hawk and his nest into the fire. There is one still remaining that has not been cast out or cut down. And we need to find him very quickly."
"Who?" Leonardo found himself whispering, stepping forward as his heart hammered in his chest. "Who is it? I give you my word I will search everywhere I can--"
Lorenzo nodded, eyes shutting. "Ezio Auditore. He lives still, somewhere out in Florence. I find myself fearing for him - he is Giovanni's last foothold within this city, and his family's last chance for vengeance. If we do not find him and get him up to speed by the time the Pazzi put their plans into motion, this city and I will crumble and burn."
The warning was dire, but not unexpected. Still, the gravity of the situation weighed down as heavily on Leonardo as one of his stone statues. He fought to stay still, fists clenched at his sides. "Do we have any idea where he could be?"
Lorenzo hesitated, and Leonardo knew the answer. "Then we must search. By day and by night, until we find him. And we must pray against all odds that we get to him before the Pazzi do."
FILL: The Lost Eaglet 1/?
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The execution of the House Auditore sends a ripple down Firenze's power structure. Despite the fact that the mother and daughter still live, the greedy nobles who have sought what Giovanni sat on for so long still reach forward in a desperate bid to claim whatever is left. The mother is broken and the daughter traumatized; neither would put up much of a legal fight over land or possessions. The Pazzi are the ones who end up benefiting the most; Vieri Pazzi and his father claim insult against the former House, and the judges decide that it is only fitting they get what remains to answer for the damage done to the Pazzi. Within three simple days both Maria Auditore and Claudia Auditore are forced from Firenze, banished by the Pazzi's power and dirty coin. They carry nothing more than the clothes on their back and what they can carry in their pockets.
Leonardo had offered to house them, and even Lord Lorenzo had attempted to step in and sway the judges favor. But without Giovanni as his grounding, Lorenzo could only push so far, and was forced to concede in the end. As for Leonardo, he was quickly written over and ignored. The duo were forced to retreat and watch as the last decent House in the city crumbled under the Pazzi's boots. There was no doubt in Leonardo's mind that there were a number of reasons Vieri Pazzi and his father had claimed insult on the former House, but perhaps the most prominent was to spite Lorenzo, who controlled the bank that had outgrown their own. The artist knew it wouldn't be long before all of Florence would be under their control, especially now that Vieri's father was out of jail.
Of course, Lorenzo was no fool either; despite relying mostly on Giovanni, he had numerous other eyes and ears about the city that reported to him at least every day, if not every week. What was surprising to Leonardo though was when the leader called for HIM to come in -- something that had never occurred before. He was made all the more nervous by the fact that Lorenzo sent armed guards to pick him up. Still, he didn't resist, and mutely followed the group all the way to the Lord's chambers, where he was left to stand on his own, the door shutting and locking behind him. Only then was Leonardo able to finally get a decent look at what the past few days had done to the man.
He looked paler than usual, and the dark bags under his eyes said that he had gotten little to no sleep lately. Leonardo could relate, but for a different reason. For all that he man held himself upright and proud, the artist could see how badly he was fraying at the edges. "Milord--"
Yet before Leonardo could even get started, Lorenzo held up a hand. "I am aware, Leonardo, so still any warnings you are about to give to me. I did not bring you here so we could discuss what I already know."
Leonardo sighed shakily, nodding. "Very well then. What can I help you with, Altezza?"
"House Auditore is not dead."
Leonardo froze where he stood, eyes wide. "That... that is...impossibile! I was there, Altezza, I witnessed their deaths with my own eyes!"
Lorenzo nodded thoughtfully, throat bobbing as he swallowed, a great sadness lurking behind his stoic expression. "Yes, I know. But as it turns out, Uberto did not pay attention when he tossed my hawk and his nest into the fire. There is one still remaining that has not been cast out or cut down. And we need to find him very quickly."
"Who?" Leonardo found himself whispering, stepping forward as his heart hammered in his chest. "Who is it? I give you my word I will search everywhere I can--"
Lorenzo nodded, eyes shutting. "Ezio Auditore. He lives still, somewhere out in Florence. I find myself fearing for him - he is Giovanni's last foothold within this city, and his family's last chance for vengeance. If we do not find him and get him up to speed by the time the Pazzi put their plans into motion, this city and I will crumble and burn."
The warning was dire, but not unexpected. Still, the gravity of the situation weighed down as heavily on Leonardo as one of his stone statues. He fought to stay still, fists clenched at his sides. "Do we have any idea where he could be?"
Lorenzo hesitated, and Leonardo knew the answer. "Then we must search. By day and by night, until we find him. And we must pray against all odds that we get to him before the Pazzi do."