Giovanni Auditores' office

a nice room, lots of light and windows, a modern stylish desk with desktop computer, a book case and filing cabinet. pretty impersonal and standard office.

Giovanni Auditore’s transfer in Berlin had gone faster than expected and he was home a few days early thanks to business going well. Back at the University he felt the air was better here and he was home at last. He’d been away almost 6 weeks from the family and he couldn’t wait to see them later that day for proper food and then later to spend some time with his wife.

It wasn't a long walk through the faculty building to his office and he smile and waved at colleagues and students as he passed in a good mood. His office had been aired out by the secretary and was nice and orderly, a pile of letters awaited him at the desk and he briefly scanned them before settling into his chair, leaving his suitcases by the door. He sent a text to both boys, “I’m home early, so proud of both of you, will see you later at home for dinner?”

Arriving back a the Uni campus, La Volpe made a determined line straight to Giovanni's office. They had a lot to catch up on and share.

Tapping at the door, he smiled to himself.. "A little birdy told me someone had returned." He chimed.

“La Volpe! A pleasure! How are you?” Giovanni smiled broadly at his comrade, “how are things? come in, come in, would you like a coffee? have a seat"

It was a relief to see the other man looking so well, he always had a passing thought that while he was away something would happen to the other mentors and there would be trouble. But here he was, looking smooth as ever.

"A coffee would be brilliant.." Sitting down, La Volpe smiled broadly.. "Glad to see you looking so well, Giovanni... I can honestly say you've been missed. Niccolo has been stressed to high heavens.." He chuckled.

"Dealing... With him has been challenging at best.." They both knew what Machiavelli could be like and La Volpe's voice held no animosity, just amusement.

"yes, well, i'm sorry about that, i thought he'd do fine, give him a chance to grow a little." he made La Volpe his milky sweet coffee and himself a black instant with one sugar and added some biscuits to the desk for them both.

"I thought he might have been ready for some more responsibility, he could be a decent mentor." he sipped his scalding drink.

"never mind about him, what about you? You're looking rather pleased with yourself?"

"No, no.. Don't get me wrong, his level of work is always to standard.." Taking up his coffee, he took a sip.. Ahh, at least someone knew how to make a good cuppa around here.

"He will be.. I feel as though he needs to learn to to unwind a bit more, so I took it upon myself to assist him..." The expression on his face didn't really change, making his last comment not all that easy to read into, but Giovanni was wise and it didn't much bother La Volpe either way.

"I am doing fine, Giovanni... You know I don't let things get on top of me... I am just pleased at how everything has worked out." The biscuits were simply too hard to resist, he dunked one into his coffee before continuing.. "And you, how were your travels? Have you seen your boys yet?"

Giovanni helped himself to a couple of biscuits and dunked one in his coffee before eating.

"La Volpe...you haven't done anything rash have you? I know what you're like and i've heard about the pranks you pull on him..." he finished his second biscuit.

"but no, i haven't seen them yet, they weren't expecting me for two more days."

"I have done nothing that wouldn't benefit Niccolo.. As I said, he could do with lightening up a little... You know how it is, if we took everything that seriously, it would be the death of us." It might have sounded like a bit of a joke, but La Volpe's voice had a slightly more serious edge to it.

Shoveling another soggy biscuit into his mouth, he looked at the other man a bit surprised.. "Oh, I thought you may have checked in on Ezio.."

Helping himself tomore biscuits he took a sip of coffee, "be careful with Niccolo, La Volpe, he's a more fragile than he appears, poor boy. But Ezio? why would i need to check on him especially?" he frowned

"What better way to toughen him up?" He smirked a little.

"Oh, did you not know? He's ill, he didn't make it to the meeting yesterday.. I guess he didn't want to worry you."

Giovanni frowned. "he didn't tell me, i hope it's nothing serious, i better check on him shortly."
He sat eating a moment.
"wait, what do you mean toughen Machiavelli up? Normally i would have said your smirk was because you had another lover, but if you're getting pleasure out of tormenting Niccolo, be very very careful. He can be... unpredictable, and when he loses it, deadly."

"I don't know, Federico seemed pretty rough too, but I'm sure they'd have spoken to you if it was anything serious.. Could just be flu."

Suddenly La Volpe's smirk broadened... "Oh... Trust me, Giovanni.. I know how to handle him.." Standing up, he finished the last dregs of his soggy crumb filled coffee and stole the last biscuit, putting it between his lips without a second of hesitation... "However, I should get going, I have a few things to sort out before class that I didn't get around to yesterday.." It really wasn't so bad, La Volpe had learned to wing it pretty well by now.

"It really is great to see you, Giovanni, we will have to catch up on the less pleasant things later..."

Giovanni smiled, it was good to be back, things seemed steady here for the moment and a chance to catch his breath was welcome.
"Bene, like i said though be very careful with Niccolo, he's likely to stab you if you go too far with these pranks. I'll check on the boys in a minute. Catch you later Gilberto"
He sat a moment savouring his coffee as it was now cool enough and wondered what the boys had been up to lately. it had been a while since he'd seen them.

Federico reached his father's office after his first few classes, he hesitated as he stood outside, knocking eventually after a few moments. He kind of hoped the older man wasn't in his office, but he figured he shoukd get their catch up over with.

"come in."
Giovanni wasn't expecting anyone but with free time, some socialising would be welcome.

Opening the door, Federico stepped in, smiling awkwardly as he entered. He closed the door softly, looking over to the older man. "Hey...welcome back padre.~"

Giovanni smiled broadly and rose. Going towards the other man he gave him a big hug.
"Federico! How are you! I saw Ezio earlier, he looks like he's been fighting again! i hope it wasn't with you? Help yourself to coffee, sit down and tell me what i've missed this last month."

Federico smiled back, hugging his father, he found some comfort in it, holding the hug for a moment before releasing him. "I'm doing okay thank you, padre. It...wasn't with me....well...we did have a few vocal arguments." He nodded, making himself a bkackncoffee no sugar. After earlier's incident he wasn't sure whether he could stomach the thoyght of either.

Chuckling awkwardly he smiled to Giovanni. "Not much to be honest, mostly helping Ezio settle in and studying ready for the year." It wasn't the entire truth but it wasn't a lie.

Giovanni dragged his chair around to the side of his desk so he could reach his own freshly brewed coffee but not have the desk between them.
"I bet he's been a pain in your arse since he arrived and driven you mad! I know what he's like when he's enthusiastic about something. He's too much like I was. You look tired, not been sleeping well?"

Shuffling uncomfortably, Federico nodded slightly. "We've had out share of butting heads but mostly it's been like old times back home, I had missed how it was like to be home. Of course it's without your's and madre's fussing bit it's been fun.", he laughed, smile genuine. It truly had been brilliant especially bot being alone in a big empty dorm room. At least it had been until had ruined it.

"Yeah...heh...he's same old trouble making Ezio.." His smile faltered.Better than a dead beat like me.

He shrugged off his father's worries. "I am fine padre, just a little tired is all. With all the night life and studying I guess."

"tch" he responded with a smile, "you boys!"
He sipped at his coffee, "i'm proud of you, you know. It's not easy being a big brother, and i know we put a lot of pressure on you, sometimes too much when you were growing up, and for that i have to apologise to you. Federico, you've grown up to be a man your mother and i are proud to call a son."
he wagged a finger at his oldest boy, "BUT don't over do that partying...too much eh!"

Federico was stunned into silence by his father's words. He hesitated, then forced a smile. "I....I know padre. I am grateful and always have been honoured to help the other's find their path, especially if it meant helping you both. It was my duty the oldest and was more than happy to."

He smiled a tad more now."Thank you padre. I had better get back to my classes, but I will see you soon at home yes? You can tell me all about your travels!" He stood up now, hugging his father once more before leaving.

"Have a good day Federico, see you at home later!"
Giovanni was still a little concerned about his sons but hoped it would all be fine soon enough, if they didn't talk to him, maybe they'd talk to each other or the other mentors.

Hurridly returning from machiavellis office Giovanni blinked a few times. it was quite unlike Niccolo but not so much of a stretch for La Volpe. But he hoped Gil knew what he was doing getting involved there.

Sitting behind his desk he cleared up some paper work that had built up instead of worrying.