asgardmeridiem | JUNE INTRO MINGLE

Entry tags:

JUNE INTRO MINGLE

Who: Newbies and anyone who wishes to greet them!
What: Getting used to the city
When: Days 274 and forward
Where: Anywhere in town!
Rating: PG-13 tops! If it gets worse, move to a private log please.

[Please include your location and the IC day (ex. Day 275) in your top-level comment or your subject line when starting a thread! It can be any welcome hall, major attraction, or just out an about in any district. For newbies making a top-level thread, you may include your character's name/canon/house in your subject line if you'd like, to make housemates easy to find! :) If a God is needed or wanted, please ping the mods and depending on availability we might be able to throw them in where asked.

Also, keep an eye on the event schedule for June! If you're ICly introing during an event, make sure you take that into account. Thank you!

Have fun!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Inside the shop is much like the outside- more memories of Syria, of the world there and the life built around it. There are Italian touches, Renaissance additions that add flair and a certain ambiance to the place as a whole, but it is well kept and those inside seem to be enjoying themselves.

Ezio nods at her question, looking a bit amused.]

Sì, that much was promised. If we win the war, we will return home. Time has been stopped until then- nothing will happen or change until we return.

[Now....... to find someone to keep her busy. His eyes survey the store quickly, and come across a familiar novice just finishing with another customer. Ah. Bene. He sets his supplies on the counter, crossing back over to Alastair in an instant, walking by and gently placing a hand on his shoulder.

Quietly, his attention away from the boy, but spoken directly to him and him alone:]

Keep her busy. Do not let her leave the store.

[The tone is one he uses in issuing orders for the Brotherhood, so Alastair should recognize it immediately. It's a serious moment, one he hopes not to use often, but trains his assassins in, regardless.

From there, Ezio moves back to his guest, giving her another smile.]

Allora, allow me to go into the back, I will try to see if I can find anything to explain the situation in Asgard better. Feel free to explore the shop while you wait.

[And off he goes. Your turn, Alastair.]

[It's a surprising moment. It's not as if Ezio brings people in to be detained frequently, and it's not as if Alastair has much practice in doing it. Still, he does recognize that tone of voice, so he nods once and glances back at her. When Ezio departs into the back, he crosses over.]

...can I get you anything while you're waiting? Tea, maybe?

[For someone who had promised to give her answers, her helpful Italian friend seemed remarkably swift to leave her once he had enticed her inside his shop. The interior was even more startlingly reminiscent of her home, and it was then that Maria’s instincts- already shouting that something about this did not sit well- began to tell her that something was amiss.

A banker- a Templar profession- taking her somewhere that bore more than a slight resemblance to Masyaf? It could not be a coincidence.

Wait. Her cloak. He hadn't thought that she-?

A boy appears to offer her hospitality and Maria's not sure whether she particularly fancies making nice and taking tea when she has the distinct impression that there is more to all this than she first thought. But if she has been lured to a Templar's den, unarmed though she might be, she does not plan to stay here for long.

Could he get her anything? A broadsword would be nice. Instead, she schools her features into a tense smile.]

Tea would be most welcome, thank you.

[His entrance into the back is quick, quietly making his way to the back room without much else on his mind. There is only one person he's looking for at this point, and he's certain he'll find him there.

When he arrives, he doesn't burst in with speed, or worry. But there is a tenseness in his footsteps, a rigid way in which he holds himself, as if he's finally coming to terms with something he's been concerned about for a long time.]

Altaïr- [His voice is immediately sharp, asking for attention.] Come quickly. We have a Templar in our midst.

[Not the most graceful way of saying WE MAY JUST BE FUCKED but hey, at least it will get him to react, and fast.]

Edited 2013-07-26 05:47 (UTC)

[Altaïr is occupied with a number of mundane shop-related matters when Ezio makes his sudden appearance in the back, but he snaps to attention immediately at the urgent tone of voice.

He understands as soon as Ezio says the word. Templar. Their greatest enemy had been the one thing Altaïr hadn't needed to worry about since arriving here, but it seems nothing lasts forever.]

A Templar? [He gets to his feet, abandoning what he was working on.] How did they find us?

[At that, Ezio brings his lips to a firm line. Altaïr is not going to like what he says.]

Because I brought her here.

[Awww shit, is that a close breakage of the third tenent of the Creed? OOPS. But no, he has his reasons- when a Grandmaster Templar arrived a few months ago, Ezio did not keep an eye on him well enough, and he vanished out of sight. So as of right now, losing this Templar is not an option.]

Forgive me, but I did not wish to lose her in the crowd, fratello, much less the city. It happened once, and I do not want it to happen again.

Her?

[Altaïr almost hesitates then, remembering—but a Templar in Asgard could have come from any time, and it's no surprise that they, too, would have changed over the centuries. Besides, even in his own time, not all Templars overlooked that women could be deadly, too.

In any case, the thought is quickly pushed aside by surprise and a certain amount of disapproval.]

I'm not certain that was a good idea, Ezio. If she's perceptive... [He sighs. Well, what's done is done.] What do you suggest?

[Ah, he sees that. If he had time he might inwardly cringe, but things are happening right as they are. He has no time to waste.]

We cannot kill her, as death only means they return again. The most we can do is to find a way to subdue her, and talk.

[And by talk he means "knock her out and force her to spill what she knows." Perfect Assassin chat lingo.]

[He understands perfectly, and after a moment he relents and nods.]

If she's already here, that's the best option. Is Alastair keeping watch?

[That has him a little concerned. He has faith in the recruit's skills, but the presence of a Templar most often brings deadly danger.]

Edited 2013-07-26 06:21 (UTC)

[A nod, though it's quick.]

Sì. He's keeping her company, but the other novices are there as well.

["In case it gets ugly" goes unsaid, but he's certain Altaïr understands. A cornered Templar is also a dangerous Templar, whether they want her to be or not.]

Then let's not keep them waiting.

[If it's only the novices, fine. None of this should be hidden from them; they have a right to see how the Assassins deal with Templars.

The two of them don't waste any time making their way back to the front of the shop, and Altaïr is already steeling himself for what's to come, facing the first Templar to get so close in a long time—

—only to stop dead and stare at what he sees.]

[Alastair had really only wanted to try to get her to stay by talking to her, keeping her in conversation until Ezio got back. He didn't know why the Mentor wanted her here, but he didn't think it automatically had to be for any bad reason.

When she tried to escape however, he began to have other thoughts.

By the time Ezio and Altaïr reenter the shop, Alastair has one of Maria's hands in a wrist lock behind her back, holding her firm.]

I'm really sorry, but he said you couldn't leave.

[It had been a long time since Maria had been blindsided by anyone- a year spent rearing a baby had apparently not been as kind to her reflexes as she might have hoped, and before she had had any idea what was going on on her way out, this upstart boy who she had hoped to avoid hurting had grabbed her by the wrist and every attempt she made to get free resulted in a sudden sharp, terrible stab of pain.

She grits her teeth against a yelp, refusing to show weakness, and grows angrier by the second.]

Let me go you insolent little whelp!

[Altaïr wants to rub at his eyes, to clear them of this vision that can't possibly be real—but he doesn't dare, because it's Maria in there, his wife, and he's wanted to see her every day he's been here.

He keeps staring and nothing changes. It's not a Templar, it's Maria, real and here—and, he realizes as the shock begins to fade, angry and in pain.]

Alastair, let her go. Now.

[That's not a tone of voice he would ever argue with. Completely shocked, Alastair immediately lets the woman go and steps back.]

I'm sorry sir, Ezio said she wasn't to leave, so when she tried to...

[But his explanations falter in the face of the anger in his voice and on his face and he looks down at the floor.]

I'm sorry, sir.

Altaïr.

[There is a sharp and biting tone from Ezio at that. Altaïr seemed fine and willing to take on the enemy until he came to the shop front, and now he's angry and telling the boy to let the Templar go????

There is no amount of "what the everloving fuck" to describe how much his head is swimming at the current event.

Christ, grandpa, could you have picked anything worse to react with? YELLING AT THE NOVICE WHO HAS CONFIDENCE ISSUES AND SLIDES BACKWARDS WHEN HE MESSES SOMETHING UP, GOOD FUCKING JOB. The entire shop has gone silent in this sudden change of everything, and some customers are even quickly taking their leave, hoping to avoid more of the conflict. Others just popcorn.gif and wait for the tension to build.

When Alastair lets go, Ezio quickly steps forward, between him and Maria, ~~being papa eagle~~ and stays there. He highly doubts Altaïr will strike at the boy, but then again, there is a bit of hesitance. One, he's angry, and Ezio has faced Altaïr when he's angry. He was not above using violence. And two, he just did a complete 180 to his previous attitude and now stands more as a threat than the Templar herself.]

Madre del Dio, did you plan to explode so easily when you stepped in?

[EVERYONE IS GIVING HIM GREY HAIRS. WHY IS EVERYONE GIVING HIM GREY HAIRS HE DOESN'T LIKE GREY HAIRS oh my god if he could facepalm, he would right about now. There is not enough words to convey his confusion and anger and frustration at everything happening all at once.]

[Ezio's confusion and anger are understandable—were it anyone else but him in any situation but this, Altaïr would share these feelings. He may regret this later. Alastair has done nothing wrong, and though he has no intention of striking anyone, even Ezio's defensive response is warranted by the sudden turn of things.

But he's not even looking at either of the Assassins, and he's not opening his mouth to apologize or explain himself, because for a few heartbeats all he can do is look at Maria. She's as surprised as he is, maybe even more upset, but after so many weeks alone, his wife is also the most beautiful he's ever seen her.]

Maryam.

[The affectionate, Arabic version of her name slips out. And then, sorry grandson and beebin—he completely ignores Ezio's question and both Assassins' stares and any remaining nosy bystanders to stride forward and pull Maria into his arms. His eyes close for a moment as he holds her tight, finally convinced this isn't some taunting illusion or other trick.

Perhaps he should ask her why she's wearing her old cloak.]

[For her part, Maria is a just as confused and baffled by the situation and she stands her ground, not sure whether or not to swing for the insolent boy who seemed hell bent on almost snapping her wrist or turn her ire to the Italian who dares to reprimand her husband for being righteously angry.

She does not have the time to decide when Altaïr is upon her and sweeping her into his arms like a desperate man. He stares at her like he has seen a ghost and she can't fathom what it is that has made him so completely overwhelmed at the sight of her. She would ask him what's going on, but she too is so heartily relieved that when he takes her into his embrace she can do nothing else but hold him back as tightly and bury her face in his shoulder, unable to speak.]

[Alastair watches, completely and utterly confused. He has no idea if he did something wrong or not, and he has no idea who this woman is or why Altaïr is hugging her or why Ezio was so concerned about her presence.

He looks up at Ezio, standing in front of him, and asks quietly,]

Ezio, what's going on?

[...

OKAY NO WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON. ALTAÏR WHAT ARE YOU EVEN

WHAT IS THIS

IS THIS SOME KIND OF ANTI-ASSASSIN ANTI-TEMPLAR MERGE THAT LETS ASSASSINS AND TEMPLARS DUKE IT OUT IN HUGS????????

HE IS SO LOST RIGHT NOW

He doesn't really respond Alastair, when the question is asked. But his head tilts at a rather alarming rate and he shoots a "what the fuck" look at Altaïr. GRANDPA YOU GOT SOME 'SPLAININ' TO DO.]

[The baffled silence speaks volumes by self, and it's only with some reluctance that Altaïr pulls away from Maria, letting her go but remaining close beside her—he's not the sort to engage in such a public display of affection under normal circumstances, but these are clearly not normal circumstances.

The anger is already gone as he looks at Alastair, then Ezio, and there's something almost apologetic in his expression.]

This is not a Templar, Ezio.

[He looks back at Maria for a moment, then back at the Master Assassin.]

This is my wife.

[...his wife. His wife.

Oh, now Ezio has seen and heard it all. The look of incredulity on his face is enough to give the other an idea of just how confused and lost he is. WHERE DOES THIS MADNESS STOP. Both eyebrows raised, the Italian blinks, rather silent, looking for Altaïr, then to Maria. Maria, then to Altaïr.

Finally, with a reluctance, completely out of disbelief-]

...you have a wife?

[HUDURR brilliant words there, signore Auditore. If he were any younger, he'd probably walk out with his hands in the air by now. TOO OLD FOR THIS SHIT.]

[Oh. The fact that Altaïr has a wife is a little unexpected, but not that unexpected. Not everyone talks freely about their lives back home, after all. Most people in Asgard still don't know Alastair is technically a prince. It's not exactly the same thing, but Alastair can understand.

There's another part of this conversation that he doesn't understand however, and it seems like a pretty important part. Looking between all three parties in front of him, he poses his question.]

...What's a Templar?

[Maria takes a moment to boggle in disbelief at this frankly bizarre situation, perplexed enough to completely ignore the boy's question. What is Altaïr doing here? Why was he giving orders to the boy who had just tried to snap her wrist? And, more pressingly:]

Of course he has a wife fool, he just said so! Are you deaf as well as an abductor of bewildered women?

Edited 2013-07-27 12:28 (UTC)

[It's a good question from Alastair, one he's a little surprised they've never answered before, but then Maria's temper gets the better of her and he knows he has to step in there before this gets even worse. Judging from the look on Ezio's face, it may already be too late.]

Maria, please—there's no need for that. This has all been a mistake.

[She may direct her wrath at him next for that, but right now it's more important to help his co-master understand; he can pepper Maria with his many questions afterward.]

Yes, I have a wife, and this is her. I had no idea she'd been brought to Asgard. But we're in no danger.

[Well, he might be for placating Maria's 'abductor'.]

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