asgardmeridiem | JUNE INTRO MINGLE

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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

[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'.]

[Too late? Oh, it's far beyond too late. At Maria's biting tongue, Ezio's eyes narrow, mouth going into a straight line. His tone is irked.]

He failed to mention you. Or where your allegiance lies.

[There may just be a moment where Ezio is shooting daggers at Altaïr, for that lack of information. Sorry, bro.

Still, after a tense moment and listening to what the other says, he breathes, keeping his inner thoughts to himself and simply staring back at the other.]

Fine. I trust you, fratello. But there will be much that needs to be explained when this is over.

[Poor Alastair's question is ignored in favor of trying to make the situation less tense overall. He probably won't be answered at this point at all.]

[Well.

He really should've expected that.

Alastair glances around at everyone glaring at each other, throws up his hands and walks away. The last few customers left in the shop he gently urges to gtfo and when they're all out he shuts the door, locks it, and flips the sign to "CLOSED."

With that done, he walks over to the counter and hops up onto it, leaning against the register and crossing his arms as he watches.]

Might as well explain it now.

[He still has no idea what's going on but he knows they need to talk it out or they're going to be pissed for days.]

[Maria is on the verge of being absolutely livid, and she does not for one second miss the glower Ezio shoots at Altaïr and, frayed as her temper already is, mistakes it for hostility.

She counts to ten as the customers leave, trying to get her temper under control before she blows her top spectacularly, and she squares her stance as she lifts her chin and intercepts one dirty look with another of her own making. Her tone is positively icy when she does speak, dangerously calm.]

I'm going to assume that you know precisely what sort of man my husband is or you wouldn't be assuming that I'm a Templar and treating me as though I'm about to bring havoc down upon you, and if that is the case then do you honestly think he'd be that stupid? And if I was a Templar then don't you think I'd be a little more interested in taking his head rather than his hand?

[And now she's going to shoot a dangerous look at Altaïr.]

I suppose you while you were busy not telling anyone about your wife you neglected to mention your son too. Altaïr, if you are here then who is with Darim?

[

what

Now it's Altaïr's turn to look at Maria and stare like she's something bizarre and unknown, as if what she's said makes no sense.]

My son?

[His wide eyes and the absolute shock on his face should make it perfectly clear that this is not something he knew about and neglected to mention. Which doesn't actually help the situation at all.]

[It is deadly quiet on Ezio's end after Maria's rant. Mostly because he's doing his utmost to not just explode from everything happening and walk out the door. No, that won't solve anything, and only cause more chaos to erupt in its place. Instead, he breathe in and out, calms himself, reminding him of the time he lost his temper at Claudia, and how that ended.

There are words that will be said. Something about Assassins and befriending Templars and the trusting between the two- but all of that goes flying out the window when Maria mentions son and more importantly, Darim.

It's as if two pieces of a long connected puzzle suddenly clicked.

His head snaps back towards Alastair at this point, steps forward a little to him, and tilts his head.]

Alastair- Darim.

[It's his way of asking "do you remember him?" Because Darim was here. Not as a baby, nor a child, but a grown man. It would explain a lot, in how much he knew of Altaïr, and his past.]

[Well hey the plot just keeps thickening, doesn't it. If Alastair knew anything about soap operas he'd think he was watching one, but he doesn't.

In any case, when Ezio looks at him he sits up, and at first Alastair isn't certain what he's talking about.]

What about...

[And then it clicks. His eyes widen and he glances back at Maria and Altaïr before looking back to Ezio.]

...oh. You think...?

Sì.

[There is an eyebrow raise at that, and he pulls away slightly from the other two. There is a quick flash of a finger to his lips, telling Alastair to keep it quiet, and then it is gone.

But there is something less in the tension in the air, now. He has no intent to further aggravate Maria, or badger her with questions. Let Altaïr explain what he can, though Ezio is still rather uncertain about her cloak and why he has it.]

[Maria, for her part, is paying no attention to what might be going on between the other two because for the moment, what is happening in front of her on her husband's face is considerably more alarming.

He looks at her in astonishment and not for the first time today she feels a sick sense of wrongness about everything.]

Yes. Our son, Darim.

[Her voice is a little softer from uncertainty, and she can't quite work out what's going wrong here but she can feel it in her gut that nothing about this is right at all.]

What's going to happen to him if we can't go home?

[Altaïr doesn't even hear anything that his brothers might say, because he's too busy processing what he's just heard. A son—his son. They'd talked about such a thing, wanted it, but the last day he'd been in Masyaf before being taken here, it had been very much a part of the future. So how could she possibly—

And then the reality of the way Asgard functions crashes down on him again. This is definitely another twisting of time, isn't it?]

Things will be...fine.

[Altaïr almost shakes his head at that. He sounds ridiculously uncertain even to his own ears.]

Maria, what is the last thing you remember before you found yourself here? What were you doing right before they took you? And where was I?

What are you talking about? We were at home, I was coming to see you, you'd been riding and you had just returned. Malik said you were in your chambers, I was coming to welcome you home and fetch you for dinner.

[She is utterly perplexed by this, looking at him in disbelief that is bordering on pained. Heedless of their audience, she finds his hand and grasps it between hers.]

Altaïr you are scaring me, why are you looking at me like that?

[He squeezes back automatically, but for a moment longer he can only try to put the words together in his head. It's not going very well.]

Because for me, that hasn't happened yet. I haven't seen you—or Malik—in weeks now. It's to do with how time works here.

But you were with me this morning. Before you left to ride you took our son from my arms and kissed him and set him before you in the saddle on your horse. The motion scared him and he cried too much, you had to hand him back to me. Remember?

[Her grip on his hands tightens as she sees no sign of recognition.]

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