Higurashi aftermath

[sharpasafawkes]

[IN OUR LAST EPISODE Shaun and Cesare had a little trip down to the labs, if by "trip" we mean "a magical adventure full of torture-filled antics". Needless to say there's one historian laid up in a hospital bed, more or less asleep and bandaged like you wouldn't believe.]

Comments

[maleborgia]

*continues!*

Perhaps it is a little of each.

[sharpasafawkes]

... May I ask something?

[maleborgia]

What is it?

[sharpasafawkes]

If you could realize your goal, what would it be? I'm not talking about anything like "survive Rodrigo's death without the lot of it going sour", I mean if you could make it past every obstacle.

[maleborgia]

*quiet for a moment, then, in a slow and deliberate voice that shows he is clearly thinking of something much larger than the tiny hospital room and much grander than his words on their own let on:*

I have heard it referred to as the process of unifying Italy or of bringing her under the Papacy's control, but it is more than that. I want to create something new. The city-states are weak and impotent, capable only of warring amongst themselves or temporarily staving off a larger enemy. It will require more than simply bringing them together under a single name. Rome herself is weak and all too bloated with corruption. She cannot be the head, not in her current form, much less the crown she claims to be. I want to take part in the birth of a new nation, one which will offer the stability and protection to its citizens that is currently all too hard to find. And in return, my name will be held up for men to learn and remember and I will be able to prove all of them wrong about the family of Borgia.

1/2

[sharpasafawkes]

[Thinking over that for a good long time, mulling over the fine details and eventually nodding]

As long as freedom and equality are still on the table, that's not a bad dream at all.

[sharpasafawkes]

... You know, you're not like him, well you are a bit, but not in some of the places where it counts.

[maleborgia]

...Thank you.

[sharpasafawkes]

Oh don't sound so shocked.

[maleborgia]

I am not shocked. It was simply not something I expected to hear you say.

[sharpasafawkes]

If I thought you were the same I wouldn't even want you around, not that hard to figure out.

[maleborgia]

There is a difference between believing something and actually saying it.

[sharpasafawkes]

If I didn't want you around and safe, I wouldn't be keeping what happened a secret.

[maleborgia]

I appreciate that very much. I would prefer it if no one had to know about this.

[sharpasafawkes]

[shaking his head]

No plans for that, just about every possibility would turn out horribly, at the very best a few people would be suspicious and overprotective, at the worst... Well I'm not thinking about that, and I don't want anybody drawing their swords at imaginary adders.

[maleborgia]

I agree. I do not recall if you told me as a child... For how much longer will you need to be here?

[sharpasafawkes]

[looking at the spots of blood on his feathers a bit sheepishly]

Possibly another week, and checkups to make sure the graft is coming along fine.

[maleborgia]

Is there anything you would like to help you pass the time? I brought you a book earlier...

[sharpasafawkes]

I'm going to be honest, but it didn't really interest me much, neither did the other books or much of anything else recently. Frankly I don't understand it, I keep feeling like there's something else I should be doing, but I don't know what.

[maleborgia]

Maybe you just need to get out of here. Have you even left this room? If you remain in that form I could take you on a walk.

[sharpasafawkes]

Yeah, down into a few other hospital rooms while they treated me, and yes, please, I'd like to see a little more than just outside of my window.

[maleborgia]

*chuckles* All right. Would you like to sit on your pillow or shall we forgo it?

[sharpasafawkes]

I'm not royalty, I think I can live without the pillow.

[maleborgia]

Then come here. *carefully picking up and cradling a bit in one arm* I want to go to the roof.

[sharpasafawkes]

[making himself comfortable~]