[CLOSED] What will you do when they know you? What will you do when they see the truth?

[sicarius]

Who: All the Assassins. ALL OF THEM.
What: Someone's leaked the information of the Bureau existing. Context found here and here.
When: Day 190!
Where: A Needle In A Haystack, upstairs, in the Bureau.
Rating: PG-13 at the worst. There will be lecturing. Lots of lecturing. And disappointment. B(

[Ah, this brings back memories.

The searing words: he leaves the eye and seeks the mark, the coldness found within the home of the Brotherhood, the harsh glares and the seemingly harsher accusations thrown about to make a point. It seems like it was only yesterday. Malik and Altaïr, at the top of the roof, waiting for him. Speaking with him. Telling him that he had betrayed their trust and the Order by admitting his true identity to an ally, and not relaying it back to them.

Hard to believe it had happened so long ago. Yet here he was again, with the same words, the same tenant broken, only now he was the one issuing them, to others within the Order. Alice had somehow learned of the Bureau existing within the shop, though there was no idea nor word of who had told her.

Regardless, it's not something he can toss aside. The code sent out, his thoughts in order, now he waits. Waits for Malik to arrive so he can explain and have someone else in a higher rank explain (and hopefully not completely destroy in the process), waits for his recruits to join him and get used to being called. Waits for the newcomers to realize that upon arrival, it's something important, and something they shouldn't shove aside.

This will either end on a good note, or in disaster. He sincerely hopes it won't be both.]

Comments

PRE-MEETING

[sicarius]

[seventeenth]

[Having already been downstairs when the message went out, Desmond is one of the first (if not the first) to arrive after Ezio's message is sent out. He slips inside quietly and offers a nod of greeting to Ezio, and though he doesn't expect to get an actual answer out of him just yet...]

What happened? [Well, not asking just doesn't occur to him.]

MEETING

[sicarius]

[There is a silence from Ezio as everyone is gathered. A stern quiet, one that speaks volumes compared to his usual lighthearted nature and constant joking. Here his eyes are not lit with joy but of hardness, of being a Mentor and knowing what is at stake whenever a tenant is breached.

He paces. Not quickly, but slowly. Voice stern, leading, unwavering. This is not a gentle Italian storekeeper who jokes with others to pass the time. No. Standing here and now is the legendary Assassin and Mentor Ezio Auditore da Firenze, head of the Italian Branch in Renaissance Italy.]

When you became a part of the this Order, you pledged to give your life for the people, as well as your brothers. Some of you may work alone, at home. Others may have assassins to rely on. Whatever the case, we are here, together, and therefore it means we work together, differences aside. We follow the Creed and what it stands for. And most importantly, we take care of each other, as brothers.

[There is a distinct pause as he stops moving, looks over the group with sharp eyes, disappointment apparent in them.]

I was told today that the Bureau's existence was revealed to an innocent outside of our network. While the innocent has no intention of pursuing us or the meaning behind it, that is still a breach of the third tenant, and one of the most important parts of our Creed. "Never compromise the Brotherhood."

[His voice is stern, one who watches, is alert. He lets out a sigh and then continues.]

I do not know who is responsible, nor do I intend to find out. But if it happens again, know that there will be consequences, and we will all search for the one who defied it. I will not have the Order fall apart because of careless words or thoughtless actions. Every one of us is put at risk when that happens. Therefore, think before you act.

[[no tagging order is necessary! just kind of tag in and threadjack where you please, i'll handle ezio replying to people all over.]]

[sicarius]

[Ezio is tending to a map with the newly added warehouse training grounds when Desmond arrives. He doesn't look up.]

Someone told Alice of the Bureau's existence.

[It's simple, to the point. He has no time to dance around the question, and there's only going to be limited time before he has to address the Order as a whole. But he sighs shortly after, lifting his head and meeting the eyes of the other, disappointment all too familiar in his own.]

I had hoped, perhaps, that in running the Order here, it would not be any more difficult than back home.

[Look how well that's turning out.]

POST-MEETING

[sicarius]

[MINGLE TIME. GET TO KNOW ALL YOUR BROTHERS HERE and have mentore lecture you 8)]

[secondborn]

[When Alastair finally makes it to the Bureau, he's not looking that great. His clothes are dirty and he looks exhausted, and there's probably unseen bruises already blossoming on his arms and legs.

But he's here.

He's just... going to find an empty seat and sit down, yeah? Yeah.]

[seventeenth]

-- Wait, really? [Not that Desmond thinks Ezio would lie to him, but it wasn't something Desmond had expected all the same. He crosses his arms and frowns down at the map for a moment before looking back up to his ancestor. He manages a tired sort of grin for Ezio.]

No way. It's like herding cats, you know? [Which Desmond can relate to, even though he's done no leading himself -- the memories he has of Ezio's time in Rome are enough. His grin fades after a second, however.] Do we know who did it?

[seventeenth]

[There's simply no other way to put it: Desmond is a social guy. Once the meeting is done he's seeking out as many of the Assassins that he doesn't know, or doesn't know that well, and getting to know them. At least he's making himself easy to recognize, approaching each of them with a simple:] Hey, I don't think I ever really introduced myself. I'm Desmond.

[sicarius]

Sì, and as far as we can tell, it was recently. [Which is unsettling.]

Herding cats? [Desmond's smile is echoed, if only slightly, by his last remark.]

No, but knowing Alice, she will not pry. So this will be more or less a warning, if it is to be considered that at all. [A pause, as he looks back at Desmond while he walks.] If it is continued, however-

[He doesn't need to continue. Desmond already knows that answer.]

[secondborn]

[Alastair glances up at Desmond a tad warily. Look, he's had a really rough day, okay? First he ends up in an argument with some crazy lady who shoots at him and chases him off the roof and then he gets an emergency call to a meeting at the Bureau where he finds out that said crazy woman is actually an Assassin.

Not to mention he's still really new to all of this.

But he nods anyway.]

Alastair.

[affranchise]

[The main thing on Aveline's mind is that she didn't eat enough for this shit.

Getting the message so soon killed her appetite, as well as plans for the day. Mostly to explore another district and brood in some dark alley after her talk with Connor. It's been hardly a day and now something has some up and she has to meet all her brothers?

She doesn't drop down into the Bureau with any grace; she lands rather heavily, almost angry. And walks into the room looking for all the world rather unimpressed, like she wasn't brimming with anxiety at meeting Altaïr and the rest.

There's just some guy looking out of place. Whatever. She'll just make her way over to a shelf to find something to keep her occupied.]

[secondborn]

[Alastair can't help but glance up when someone walks right past him, it's just a natural reaction.

As is staring openly when he realizes the person who passed him is the same person who threatened him and shot at him.]

...what?

[Oh no.]

[affranchise]

[Her head snaps around at the voice - oh.

... Oh.

This was just too rich.

Aveline faces Alastair, hand on her hips and a widening grin on her face.]

[secondborn]

[...well he had suspected she was an Assassin, but the fact that she shot at him had kind of blown that suspicion right out of his mind.

He stares at her incredulously for a moment.]

This is just not my day.

Re: MEETING

[isanovice]

How can you say that you do not wish to find the perpetrator of this crime? [ There is no disguising the anger in his tone; the disgust. After all he had suffered for such an injustice- (a penalty still too high, in his arrogant eyes) -that Ezio would allow this disgrace to go unpunished sickened him. It was an even greater loss of respect towards Ezio, in Altaïr's eyes. ]

You weaken us with your spineless action, Ezio. [ In Altaïr's eyes there was a fine line between mercy and cowardice- this was cowardice. ] Our Creed has been broken, and you are no leader at all if you cannot take the steps necessary to defend it. This disgraces us all.

[affranchise]

Hello to you, too, camarade.

[She just keeps grinning, rather amused that he's a novice. A very, very green one.]

How nice to see you again!

[secondborn]

[HOW ARE YOU... NO. YOU KNOW WHAT. NO.]

No! It's not!

You shot at me!

[oops is he yelling

...a little bit, yeah]

[affranchise]

[OMG NO KEEP IT DOWN Aveline even starts at him to shut him up but stops, folding her arms instead. There are witnesses here she can't just stab into silence. Merde.]

And you proved not to be such a waste of time. See? Everything worked out just fine, you can stop crying.

[God she's hoping no one heard that outburst.]

[seventeenth]

It's not like Alice is gonna blab our secrets. [Desmond should learn to not sass his ancestors, but the hypocrisy from Altaïr is just too much. This is bound to get him yelled at by Altaïr and everyone with a brain, but he feels like he has a point.] And what would we do if we did find him? We don't really have any quests for redemption waiting in the wings.

[eldestson]

[ Darim has been mostly quiet throughout this whole thing, but when Altaïr speaks he feels compelled to respond. ]

What would you have him do? We can't give him a list of nine Templars to kill and killing him or kicking him out would only be detrimental to us. Our numbers here are still small, would you have that number become even smaller because of this one mistake?

[ it's strange speaking to his father-- no, Altaïr-- like this and he's honestly surprised with himself that he has the courage to speak up. at home, he'd almost always keep his opinions to himself if they went against what Altaïr said. he was a child at home, no matter what his age-- his opinion would never be heard over his father's thoughts. here it's different. giving voice to his opinions and making his thoughts known is a nice surprise, if somewhat depressing.

it reminds him of how different everything is here and that the Altaïr that's here is not his father. in all honesty, he wishes he hadn't said anything. he's just adding to the list of things that prove his life will never be the same again. ]

[seventeenth]

[Desmond knows how it is with the whole 'rough days' thing. Even been kidnapped? It sucks. He gives Alistair a sympathetic grin and offers his hand out to him.] You're one of the guys Ezio recruited, right?

[secondborn]

[He nods.]

Yes.

[He sighs, glancing around the room. He's starting to kind of regret it. He's not going to say that, though.]

[seventeenth]

Jeez, and Alice? She's just a kid... [That she's actually nineteen is unknown to Desmond. As far as he's concerned, she still counts as a kid.]

Any idea who spilled the beans?

[seventeenth]

... You okay? [Desmond frowns, but he looks more confused than concerned.] You're kinda looking like someone ran over your dog, there.

[sicarius]

[Oh. That is so not what he needs right now. The purpose of Mentor is to guide, not threaten or frighten. There is a glare thrown right back at Altaïr for his words, and while every nerve inside him screams to throw him to the ground, his patience wins out and he only lets out what can be described as a taught response.]

Because forgiveness is just as important a part as is teaching the Creed, and making sure we keep to it, fratello. Perhaps you've forgotten about it in all that pride you let yourself drown in, sì?